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Hasta Livonia           Karen Missavage
Trio (3 facing 3, any genders)     3/10/92

A1   Circle of six slip left
        Slip back to the right

A2   Middles turn contra corners; return to place

B1    Hey for three (start by facing right)

B2    Forward & back
         Forward again and pass through to new group

Written for the final dance in a new series (Livonia Public Schools' 2nd Fridays in metro Detroit). Intended as a farm club for a novice promoter, band, and callers, it served as training ground for freshly-collected dances, and a social event for newcomers to country dancing. Many are ballroom dancers sans partners, hence this trio format. (A relatively painless introduction to contra corners and heys, since they can't get lost.) "Hasta" is Spanish; it translates as "until next time."

Friendship Basket                          Karen Missavage
open mixer, no partner                             August 1992

Start in two concentric circles

A1   Into the center and back
        Repeat

A2   Inners circle left; outers right (or promenade single file)
        Reverse all that

B1   Find 2 ++ people and circle left
B2   Same folks basket. Open out into concentric circles

N.B. Written expressly for dances with extreme gender imbalance. During B1, circling folks should look around to collect standees into their group. To enhance mingling, leave out the reverse in A2; "keep going, keep going." Nice ending--one big circle and basket.


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These are all 3 facing 3 dances, perfect for "extra gender" situations. I usually ask the band for bouncy jigs that can easily be sped up (i.e. not too many notes).

Three Hand Star                  Nibs Matthews
Trio--3 facing 3

A1  Circle left
       Back to the right

A2  Centers face right, right hand star with two end people (one partner, one neighbor)  
        Centers pass by left shoulder, left star with other two

B1  Swing right-hand partner
     Swing left-hand partner

B2  Forward and back
       Forward and pass through to the next


The Sewing Machine                       Birgit Nielsen
Circle trio--3 facing 3

A1    Middles do-si-do
         Ends right hand star

A2    Left star back to lines of three
         Lines sashay four steps to right; back to place

B1    Middles right elbow swing with right partner
         Left elbow swing with left partner

B2     Lines forward and back
          Pass through to the next

(optional: do-si-do with opposite)


Dashing White what?!         (I might have written this one, too)
Trio--3 facing 3

A1   Circle left
        and right

A2   Right allemande right end person
        Left allemande left end

B1   Contra corners  (Really! They can't get lost!)

B2   Lines of three pass through
        Basket three


Haste to the Divorce                 Tom Hinds
Trio--3 facing 3 lengthwise (or circle)

A1  Forward and back
     Circle left

A2  Circle right
       Do-si-do opposite

B1  3 on 3 do-si-do
      go 1 1/2 to face new group

B2  Basket 6; end facing same direction


The Margate Hoy                 Thompson 1783
Three-couple longways sets, proper

A1  Ladies make arches, gents run
(Women join hands, and HOLD STILL. Guys join hands and, led by gent #1, go through as many arches as they can to finish at home when the phrase of music ends)

A2  Gents make arches, ladies run

B1  Top couple lead down the hall
      Return, cast to foot

B2  All swing partners


Some of the hilarity that ensues as the gals run through the arches

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With Golden Griffon at the 10th Michigan re-enactment dance in 2003


Dutch Trade Faire - Maypole dance

I am calling, or otherwise affiliated with, these events. Each one takes place somewhere in Michigan; most have live music by Golden Griffon unless otherwise noted.
2009
February 20 (Fri) Allegan Woods Folk Arts Cooperative dance. Monthly third Friday dance at the Park Township Community Hall, Ottawa County Fairgrounds. 1286 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland, MI 49424. Music by Fiddlefire. 7:15 - 10:15 pm $8 admission, $20 family. For more info click here
February 28 (Sat) Mid-Winter Civil War Grand Ball. Fourteenth annual event hosted by the 8th Arkansas/22nd Michigan. Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol, Lansing. 6:30 - 11 pm. $15/person at the door. Refreshments, cash bar, door prizes, 50-50 raffle, rifle raffle. Preceeded by a CW swap meet 10 am - 3 pm. Swap meet info from Silas. Diana Long, 248/628-9212. Huge open wooden dance floor, plenty of space for hoopskirts and mingling.
May 2 (Sat) Dutch Trade Fair dance. For re-enactor participants of this opening event to Tulip Time in Holland, Mich. A Maypole dance to welcome spring, plus traditional vintage dances of the Netherlands and elsewhere. Held at Windmill Island Gardens. Contra dancers welcome, contact me. Period attire suggested. For more info click here
May 23 (Sat) Coldwater Civil War Days. Military ball 7-10 pm. Glen Morningstar calls to music by the Ruffwater Stringband, including yours truly on a large brass horn. For more info click here
May 30 (Sat) Private party Hawaiian theme at Doug's.
June 26 (Sat) Private party Square dance, Holland.
August 7 (Fri) Private party Square dance on the street, Ada.
August 8 (Sat) Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster. Michigan's newest annual Civil War reenactment. Battle, military and cavalry drills, medical scenarios, civilian encampment, period music. And a dance on Saturday night, 7-9 pm. For more info click here Holland Museum, 616/392-9084 or 888/200-9123
August 15 (Sat) Private party Barn dance, Gladwin. (tent)
September 12 (Sat) Marshall Civil War Ball & Social Event. Downtown Marshall, Michigan. Part of the annual historic home tour. On Exchange Street by the historic GAR Hall (402 E. Michigan Ave). (Click here for more info. 7 - 10 pm. Outdoors, rain, snow, or shine!
September 26 (Sat) Findlay Civil War Ball. Findlay, Ohio.
October 3 (Sat) Civil War Muster Dance. Held at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio. Outdoors, rain, snow, or shine! 7 -10 pm. Dance admission gratis, nominal fee for daily events. For more info click here 11th year we've done this dance.
Oct 30 (Fri) Private function. Harvest festival dances, Godwin Elementary, Grand Rapids (tent.)
2010
February 27 (Sat) Mid-Winter Civil War Grand Ball. Fifteenth annual event hosted by the 8th Arkansas/22nd Michigan. Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol, Lansing. 6:30 - 11 pm.


2008
February 5 (Tues) Mardi Gras. End of Times Orchestra Marching Band
February 23 (Sat) Mid-Winter Civil War Grand Ball.
April 12 (Sat) Private function. Young adult social event for a church in Belmont.
May 3 (Sat) Dutch Trade Fair dance. For more info click here!
July 12 (Sat) Private function. 25th anniversary luncheon dance party, Northville.
July 25 (Fri) Private function. Church dance party, Gobles.
August 1 (Fri) Private function. Second-annual Taylor family reunion dance party, Sawyer.
September 6 (Sat) Marshall Civil War Ball & Social Event. Downtown Marshall, Michigan.
Sepember 20 (Sat) Private function. Family barn dance, Gladwin.
October 4 (Sat) Civil War Muster Dance. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio. For more info click here
October 11 (Sat) The Grand Duke Alexis Dinner & Grand Ball. Monroe County Historical Society.
Oct 27 (Mon) Private function. Post Family Farm, Jenison
Oct 31 (Fri) Private function. Harvest festival dances, Godwin Elementary, Grand Rapids
Nov 3 (Mon) Private function. Daddy-daughter hoedown, Grand Haven
Nov 14 (Fri) Private function. Church hoedown, Dowagiac
December 14 (Sun) TUBACHRISTMAS Grand Rapids
Dec 19 (Fri) Allegan Woods Folk Arts Cooperative dance. Music by Fiddlefire. For more info click here
2007
February 11 (Sun) Private function. Wedding in Macomb County.
February 24 (Sat) Mid-Winter Civil War Grand Ball. 8th Arkansas/22nd Michigan. Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol, Lansing. 6:30 pm. $15/person at the door.
March 3 (Sat) Private function. Bat Mitzvah in Novi.
May 5 (Sat) Dutch Trade Fair dance.
June 4 (Sat) Festival of the Arts contra dance. Adult Involvement stage on Calder Plaza, downtown Grand Rapids. Music by the Calder City Open Jam String Band. 8:45 pm - til?? For more info click here!
July 27 (Fri) Private function. Company picnic in Holland.
July 29 (Sun) Private function. Family reunion in Sawyer.
August 18 (Sat) Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. Riverside Park, downtown Ypsi. For more info click here
September 7 (Fri) Private function. Forest Hills neighborhood block party.
September 8 (Sat) Marshall Civil War Ball & Social Event. Downtown Marshall, Michigan. Click here for more info. Outdoors, rain, snow, or shine!
September 22 (Sat) Crimson Leaf Ball. Thornton, Ind. Music by Hasty Pudding. For more info click here
October 6 (Sat) Civil War Muster Dance. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio. For more info click here
October 13 - 14 (Sat) Historic Bowens Mills CW Days. Saturday evening masked ball. Middleville, Mich. For more info click here
October 21 (Sun) Private function. All Souls Universalist-Unitarian youth barn dance, Grand Rapids.
October 27 (Sat) Big Rapids dance Music by the Rhythm Billies. Underground Dance Studio, 106 N. Michigan, Big Rapids. 7-10 pm. Admission $5. 231/796-2420.
November 3 (Sat) Private function. Birthday barn dance, Lowell. 6-10 pm.
November 24 (Sat) Private function. Civil War birthday bash, Fraser. 1-5 pm.
December 1 (Sat) Ypsilanti Civil War Holiday Ball EMU Student Center, 900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti. 8 - 11 pm.
December 16 (Sun) TUBACHRISTMAS Grand Rapids
December 21 (Fri) Allegan Woods Folk Arts Cooperative dance Music by Puddingstone. 7:30 pm. $8 admission. More info.
December 22 (Sat) OCTDS contra dance. Anniversary celebration of the Detroit Country Dance Society. Music by Stringtime. OCTDS(at) comcast (dot) net

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Karen Contra Caller

07/09