Crow Flight

By Rick Mohr; April 2006

Contra, Progressed Improper Caller's Box

Level: Intermediate

(Join right hands with neighbor, left hands with previous neighbor to form long waves)

A1:

Balance the long wave (4)

Slide or spin right, past this neighbor (4)

Swing next neighbor (8)

A2:

Circle left 7/8 (8)

Half hey (partners pass right shoulders to start) (8)

B1:

Balance and swing partner (16)

B2:

Gents allemande left 1 1/2 (8)

Allemande right with neighbor 1 1/4 (8)

(Join left hands with previous neighbor to form long waves)

A "Rory O'More" spin into a swing can be great fun, and works well here as a progression to the next neighbor.

Even though this progression technically begins the dance I find it simpler to start the walk-through (and the first dance-through) with a long neighbor swing, skipping the initial balance and spin.

The circle left to half hey in A2 (stolen from Sue Rosen's excellent dance "Mood Swings") is not difficult, but some care in the walk-through helps to avoid confusion. Circle almost once until the gents are at the points of a diamond facing across the set, with the ladies facing up and down the set. The ladies then "tuck in" to the center and stand back-to-back facing their partners. When clearly taught, the ladies will easily slip into the center to start the hey smoothly.

For my friends Adam Broome, Jaige Trudel, and Nicholas Williams, and their awesome band Crowfoot.

Video: Joyce Miller & Lift Ticket at a 2011 Sprung Floor Contradance, Santa Barbara CA (posted by Peter Bergonzi):