Table of Contents

0-9

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
40 Years of Penguin Pam		Seth Tepfer ~2019		Becket

A

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Albert Memorial Square		Pat Shaw ~1971		Square
Always Love Contra		Jacqui Grennan 2019		Becket
Another Cure For The Claps		Bob Isaacs (date unknown) Rich Goss		Duple Minor
Apothecary Reel		Ted Sannella 1982		Duple Minor
Appetizer		Scott Higgs (date unknown)		Duple Minor

B

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Barry's Best		Al Brundage 1952		Triple Minor
Bayswater Breakdown		Colin Hume 1980	Kafoozalum	Duple Minor
Beaux of Oak Hill		Elias Howe 1862 Smukler & Millstone ~2008		Duple Minor
Becket Reel		Herbie Gaudreau ~1957		Becket
Becky's Becket		David Zinkin (date unknown)		Becket
Beginners' Nightmare		Bob Lilley 1987		4 Couple Longways
Bouncing Back Again		Eric Black 2010		Becket CCW
Buzzsaw Reel		Herbie Gaudreau ~1957		Becket

C

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
California Twirlin'		Janet Levatin (date unknown)		Duple Minor
Camille's Quadrille		Walter Lenk ~1993		Square
Church in the Highlands		Fried de Metz Herman 1992		Square
Circassian Circle ~ Burchenal		G.M.S. Chivers 1822 Elizabeth Burchenal 1918	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
Clusterphobia		Fried de Metz Herman 1994		Duple Minor
The Crooked Stovepipe #1		Ralph Page 1949		Square

D

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Dandies' Hornpipe Dandies' Hornpipe ~ Duple Traditional ~1820 Ralph Page 1968 Cracking Chestnuts Duple Minor Dandies' Hornpipe ~ Triple Traditional ~1820 Ralph Page 1968 Cracking Chestnuts Triple Minor
The David Circle		Gary Roodman 1987		Lines of Four
Debbie's Dilemma		Vic Ceder 2019		Becket
Devil's Dream		Saltator 1802 Ralph Page 1967 Cracking Chestnuts		Duple Minor
The Devil's Dream - Burchenal		Elias Howe 1858 Elizabeth Burchenal 1918		Duple Minor
Double Allemande		Vic Ceder 2019		Short Waves
Double Chocolate		Jim Kitch ~1993		Quadruple Minor
Double Mud Pig		Rick Mohr 2012		Becket

E

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
East Meets West		Herbie Gaudreau ~1960		Duple Minor
Easy Living		Al Olson ~1983		Triple Minor
Elegance and Simplicity		Ladies and Gentlemen's Companion 1803 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts		Triple Minor

F

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Fast Living		David Kirchner (date unknown)		Four Face Four
Lady Round the Lady - Hume Lady Round the Lady - Hume Ralph Page 1956 Colin Hume 2022 Colin Hume Square Lady Round the Lady - Page Ralph Page 1956 Colin Hume 2022 Colin Hume Square
First Hey		Paul Balliet (date unknown)		Duple Minor
Food, Sex, and Beer		Carol Ormand 2008		Duple Minor
Forgotten Treasure		Beth Parkes (date unknown)		Duple Minor

G

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Going at Sixty		Colin Hume 2007	Colin Hume	Custom
Golden Gate		Jacqui Grennan 2017		Duple Minor
Golden Gate (Marr)		Jacqui Grennan 2017 Frannie Marr		Duple Minor

H

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
A Health to all Good Dancers		Joseph Pimentel 2014		Duple Minor
Hey is for Humpbacks		George Williams 2019		Four Face Four
Hocus Pocus		Lisa Greenleaf (date unknown)		Duple Minor
The Hopatcong Hop		Fried de Metz Herman 1991		Duple Minor
Hopkinton Lasses		Gary Roodman 2012		Duple Minor
Hume Fogg Reel		Susan Kevra (date unknown)		Becket

I

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
If I Had Maggie in the Wood		Colin Hume 1985	Wild Thyme	Duple Minor

J

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Jack's Own Circle		Cathy Stephens ~1993		Duple Minor
Jealous Sally		Keith Hunt 1970		Duple Minor
Johnny's Quadrille		Pat Shaw ~1960		Square
Joyride		Erik Weberg 2007		Duple Minor

K

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Keys in the Fridge		Gary Roodman 1992		Duple Minor
Kim's Game		Colin Hume 1995	Masquerade	Four Face Four
Kindred Spirits		Chris Page (date unknown)		Becket
Kindred Spirits (variant)		Chris Page (date unknown)		Becket
Kylie's Homecoming		Jean Gorrindo (date unknown)		Duple Minor

L

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Lady of the Lake		Elias Howe 1858 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts		Duple Minor
Lady Round the Lady - Hume Lady Round the Lady - Hume Ralph Page 1956 Colin Hume 2022 Colin Hume Square Lady Round the Lady - Page Ralph Page 1956 Colin Hume 2022 Colin Hume Square
Lady Walpole's Reel		Elias Howe 1862 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts		Duple Minor
Little Bug Reel		Gary Roodman 1987		Duple Minor

M

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Mad For You		Vic Ceder 2019		Short Waves
Madly Madly		Vic Ceder 2019		Becket
The Merry Haymakers The Merry Haymakers ~ Burchenal Elias Howe 1858 Elizabeth Burchenal 1918 Duple Minor The Merry Haymakers ~ Howe Elias Howe 1858 George Williams 2022 Duple Minor
Mevagissey Car Park Mevagissey Car Park Gary Roodman 2011 Cilantrio (Karen Axelrod, Peter Barnes, and Mary Lea) 4 Couple Longways Becket Mevagissey Car Park ~ Revisited Gary Roodman 2012 Cilantrio (Karen Axelrod, Peter Barnes, and Mary Lea) 4 Couple Longways Becket
The Mud Dauber		Fried de Metz Herman 1984		Duple Minor

N

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
New Century Hornpipe		Saltator 1802 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts		Duple Minor
Nineteen		Bob Lilley 1987		Duple Minor

O

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Ockham's Razor		Don Lennartson ~1993		Duple Minor
October Flurry		Joe Baker ~1993		Duple Minor
Old Time Elixer #2		Linda Leslie (date unknown)		Becket

P

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Peter's Maze		Colin Hume 1985	Wild Thyme	Square
The Phil-Harmonic		Shag Graetz 1978		Duple Minor
Please Don't Call Me Surely		Lynn Ackerson (date unknown)		Duple Minor
Portland Fancy Portland Fancy ~ 32bar Elias Howe 1862 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts Four Face Four Portland Fancy ~ 48bar Elias Howe 1862 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Four Face Four Portland Fancy ~ Howe Elias Howe 1862 George Williams 2021 Four Face Four

R

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Rational Reel		Gary Roodman 1987		Quadruple Minor Becket
Right and Left		Lloyd Shaw 1939		Square
Rise and Run		Gary Roodman 1987		4 Couple Longways Becket permutation: 2341
Roll Down		Mike Richardson ~1992		Duple Minor
Rowena's Romp		Gary Roodman 2023		Duple Minor

S

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Sasna's Swing		Joseph Pimentel 2004		Duple Minor
Saturday Night Fever		Erik Hoffman (date unknown)		Duple Minor
Scooter		Tom Hinds (date unknown)		Becket CCW
Sicilian Circle ~ Burchenal		G.M.S. Chivers 1822 Elizabeth Burchenal 1918	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
Slide and Slam		AmWeek Choreography Wkshp 2017		Becket
Soldier's Joy ~ Chestnuts		Elias Howe 1858 Smukler & Millstone ~2008 Cracking Chestnuts		Duple Minor
Speed the Plough ~ Howe		Elias Howe 1858		Duple Minor
Spinner's Delight		Vic Ceder 2019		Becket
Square Line Special		Gary Roodman 1987	Anna Patton, Naomi Morse, and Peter Barnes	4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Star Trek		Mike Richardson (date unknown)		Becket
Summer Circle		Fried de Metz Herman 2000		Becket
Summer Days		Philippe Callens 1986		Duple Minor
A Sure Thing		Chris Page (date unknown)		Duple Minor

T

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Take the Gent		Vic Ceder 2019		Becket
La Tempète La Tempète ~ Whale#2 Whale 1851 George Williams 2024 Four Face Four The Tempest ~ Holden #1 Washburn 1855 Rickey Holden 1956 Cracking Chestnuts Tempest The Tempest ~ Howe Howe 1858 George Williams 2024 Tempest The Tempest ~ Squire A. Squire 1887 George Williams 2024 Tempest The Tempest ~ Washburn Washburn 1855 George Williams 2024 Tempest The Tempest ~ Washburn/Modern Washburn 1855 Tempest La Tempète ~ Whale#2 Whale 1851 George Williams 2024 Four Face Four
There's your Shadow		Vic Ceder 2019		Duple Minor
This Old Riverboat This Old Riverboat ~ 4 Couple Johnny Davis ~1966 Square This Old Riverboat ~ 5 Couple Johnny Davis ~1966 Circle as many as will
Three Hand Star		Ralph Page 1949		Square
Tica Tica Timing		Dean Snipes (date unknown)		Becket
To Have and to Hold		Don Flaherty (date unknown)		Becket CCW
Trip to Lambertville		Steve Zakon-Anderson (date unknown)		Duple Minor
Twiddley Diddely		Walter Lenk ~1993		Duple Minor
Two Steps Forward		Chris Page (date unknown)		Becket

W

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Walkaway		Pat Skelton 1980	Kafoozalum	Duple Minor
The Wampececk		Timothy Grant ~1993		Duple Minor

Warning: The figures for each dance is generated programmatically by regular expression matching and may be in error. Also, for old dances, they reflect the figures used by the interpreter which may not match those of the deviser.

Ladies' Chain (Courtesy Turn)

An online definition may be found here.

Bars: 4.

The ladies' chain used in Square and Contra dancing starts from two facing couples. The ladies move into the center and take right hands briefly as they pass by right. Meanwhile the men move over to where their partners had been. The ladies join left hands with the opposite man's left hand, she puts her right hand behind her back and he puts his right arm around her so that his right hand is now in hers. Then they turn in a circle, she going forward, he backing up until both are facing in.

Variants

In Square Dancing a Reverse Ladies' Chain would send the men into the middle to pass by left hands and be reverse courtesy turned by the opposite lady. While Four Ladies' Chain has all four ladies in the square form a right hand star, turn it half, and then be courtesy turned by the opposite man.

History

The first source for a ladies' chain with a courtesy turn is Burchenal's American Country Dances from 1918:

Ladies' Chain

This is danced by two couples facing each other, with the women on the right of their partners. The two women advance toward each other and join right hands; passing each other, they release right hands and join left hands with the opposite men. Without releasing her left hand, each man puts his right arm around the woman's waist and swings her half around, so that they face the dancers on the opposite side. All this is done in eight steps (4 measures). During the next four measures the same is repeated, so that the women return to their own partners, who swing them around in the same manner, so all finish in their original positions (8 measures).

Burchenal's ladies' chain does not quite end in a courtesy turn, as there is no indication that the ladies' right hands should receive the gentleman's hand on her waist.

Henry Ford's Good Morning, 1925, however still gives the open ladies' chain.

Lloyd Shaw's Cowboy Dances, 1937 (republished at least through 1948), defines on pages 127-131:

In the ladies chain two couples face each other. Each gentleman passes his lady toward the other lady. The two ladies take right hands in passing each other and then give their left hands to the left hands of the opposite gentlemen. The gentlemen put their right hands behind the ladies' waists and turn them completely around to the left as they themselves pivot in position. Each gentleman now passes his lady toward the other. The two ladies take right hands and pass again, giving their left hands to their partners this time, who again pivot and turn them to place. It is more graceful if the lady, when she gives her left hand to the gentleman, places her right hand well back on her hip, palm outward, so as to receive the gentleman's right hand when he turns her around.

In Sept 1949 Sets in Order published a short list of standardized calls, and in it define ladies' chain as just half what Lloyd Shaw said:

LADIES CHAIN—Chain back on call only. Hand clasp or hold recommended.

Rickey Holden's The Contra Dance Book, 1956, defines ladies' chain as an over and back movement.

The CALLERLAB publication The Basic Movements of Square Dancing, 1979 defines it as:

(14) TWO LADIES CHAIN Start with two facing couples. The two ladies advance, give a right hand to the other lady, pull by, then give a left hand to the partner of the lady with whom she is chaining. The men Courtesy Turn them around in place. The movement is completed when the couples are facing. The two ladies will have changed partners.

STYLING: The two ladies take regular "handshake" holds as they start, then release hands immediately as they move by each other and give a left to the man. Men, anticipate the approach of the lady you are to receive. In a standard Ladies Chain, starting from two facing couples, the man, after releasing his lady will move about two short steps to his right and will maneuver (turn slightly) one-quarter counter-clockwise (left face) so that his right shoulder is in toward the center of the square and he is then ready to turn the lady coming toward him.

This version is the first to use the term "courtesy turn", and the first for which the chain is not over and back.

Larry Jennings's Zesty Contras, 1983, does not define ladies' chain but he uses it in his dances, and since he says "½ W ch", one presumes that his ladies' chain is still over and back.

See Also

• Ladies' Chain (Open)

This website is copyright © 2021-2026 by George W. Williams V
My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.