Mad Slice

By Rick Mohr; September 2009

Contra, Duple Improper Caller's Box

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

A1:

Ladies allemande left (6)

Swing neighbor (10)

A2:

Double slice left (8)

Right hand star 3/4 (with shadow #2) (6)

Pass shadow #1 by left shoulder (2)

B1:

Balance and swing partner (16)

B2:

Circle left 3/4 (6)

Pass through up and down (2)

Mad Robin around new neighbor (ladies cross in front to start) (8)

Here's a dance with two figures introduced fairly recently to contra dancing. "Double slice" is Bob Isaacs's term for the move in A2: dancers take hands in long lines and head for the couple on the left diagonal (always containing shadow #1), then continue moving left to back away from that couple and face a third couple (always containing shadow #2). I encourage dancers to move all together as a line.

Star right with that couple 3/4 until you see shadow #1, then pass by to balance and swing your partner.

The second newish figure is the "Mad Robin" which ends the dance; I borrowed this nice transition from an English dance by Jim Kitch. As you pass thru to progress, turn to face your partner and continue momentum smoothly into the Mad Robin (a sideways neighbor dosido keeping partner eye contact).

Then still continuing momentum, the ladies catch left hands to start the dance anew.

Video: Cis Hinkle & Notorious at Dancing Fool 2010, Seattle WA (posted by Matt Fisher):