Formation: 4 couples in a longways set with two facing one end and two facing the other end of the set. The couples at either end will be called enders and the two couples in the middle will be called inners
A1 Bars 1-8 (16 Counts) Double Figure Eight across the set: Enders dance figure 8 across the set followed by inners who cast out to the end to follow the ender of the same gender. Ladies pass in front of their partner at the X in the center of the 8. The loop on the ladies side of the 8 is left-shouldered while the loop on the men's side is right shouldered. Don't tail gate on the track, follow at a distance.
A2 Bars 1-8 (16 Counts) Double Figure Eight down the set: Enders, still followed by the same inner, dance down the center (parallel to partner), separate halfway down the set and turn in at the far end to meet partner for the return trip to home.
B1 Bars 1-2 (4 Counts) Both ender couples go down the center to meet in the center as the inners finish their 8's by moving up the outside to the nearest end.
Bars 3-4 (4 Counts) Ender ladies (now in center) pass left shoulder 2 counts and pause facing to the new end, then ender men pass right shoulder 2 counts and remain facing the new end.
Bars 4-8 (8 Counts) Circle once round with the facing groups of 4.
B2 Bars 1-4 (8 Counts) Original inners (now on the ends) gate the original enders thru the ends and around to their current inner spots
Bars 5-8 (8 Counts) Entire circle of Eight slip/chassez to the left halfway to finish in new positions; Enders have become inners and inners have become enders. Repeat in new positions for a total of four times thru the dance to end in original positions.
Music and dance figures for Amazed Geneticist were composed by Pat Shaw in 1974 with an alternative title of Ramsay' Reelings.
Formation: Couples in double circle , men inside facing out, women outside facing in. A Mixer (Tune: “The Little Burnt Potato”)
A1 Bars 1-2 (4 Counts) Right hand with partner 1/2 (change places)
Bars 3-4 (4 Counts) Left hand back to places plus a bit more to join right hand with the right hand opposite while retaining partner's left hand--forming a wavy circle
Bars 5-6 (4 Counts) Balance forward and back
Bars 7-8 (4 Counts) Box the Gnat with corner (right hand); men are now in the outside circle and women inside.
A2 Bars 1-8 Repeat A as above to place
B1 Bars 9-12 (8 Counts) Men pass partner by right shoulder, behind their partner, in front of the next woman,
Bars 13-16 (8 Counts) swing the next woman with the men ending on the inside (don't swing too long)
B2 Bars 9-12 (8 Counts) Women pass this man by right shoulder, behind him, in front of the next man,
Bars 13-16 (8 Counts) swing the next man with the men ending on the inside (don't swing too long) and ladies on the outside ready to begin dance with new partner
Note from Dr. John Ramsay: "I learned Arnold's Circle from Pat Shaw at Pinewoods Camp the summer of 1974. It is a modern country dance from The Netherlands."
Danced to the tune "Siobeg and Siomor" by O'Carolan or
Gail Ticknor's book Gail's Maggots is available through CDSS
A1 first couple down center below third couple, cast up one place (twos up)
first couple cross, right hand, and change with third couple on side, left hand
A2 fourth couple up center above third couple, cast down one place (ones dwn)
fourth couple cross, right hand; and change with third couple on side, left hand
B1 All circle left, 12 steps
All balance in to center and out (6)
Women dance in three steps, fall back three, moving right;
While Men fall back three,
forward three, moving left.
B2 All circle right, 12 steps
All balance in to center and back (6)
All turn partner to progressed places, proper (order: 2,3,4,1)
Danced to the tune "Zephyrs and Flora"
Longways Duple Minor
| A1 | 1. Ones cast below the twos, twos move up 2. Two's gate the ones back to second place |
| A2 | 3. Twos cast below the ones, ones move up 4. Ones gate the twos back to second place |
| B1 | 5&6. Double figure of eight (ones cast, twos cross and lead up) |
| B2 | 7. Ones two-hand turn half way, cast below the twos 8. Ones two-hand turn once and a half to place |
Longways Duple Minor
Danced to the tune "Corelli's Maggot"
| A1: | 1. first corners set forward to each other, and turn single back to place 2. first corners turn two hands. |
| A2: | 3. second corners set forward to each other, and turn single back to place 4. second corners turn two hands. |
| B1: | 5.ones cross and go down the outside to second place; twos move up. 6.ones half-figure eight up through twos. |
| B2: | 7.ones gate down with the couple below (next twos). 8.ones gate UP with their original twos. |
The Millars are active with the Williamsburg Heritage Dancers.
The following four dances are from the 2007 book by Loretta Holz Dancing Across the Atlantic, available from CDSS. Companion CD available also.
Danced to the tune "Elizabeth" by Colin Hume
Formation: Single circle of 5 couples
A1 Bars 1-6 (12 Counts) Allemande left with corner in 6 counts and then allemande right with partner in the remaining 6 counts
Bars 7-8 (4 Counts) Balance with partner at the end of the phrase (retaining right hands--this is a good point to imprint who your partner is so you can meet her/him on the other side)
A2 Bars 1-4 (8 Counts) Men circle clockwise outside the women who circle counter-clockwise on the inside and meet partner on the other side of the set
Bars 5-8 (8 Counts) Partner swing. I like to end the swing with the women "rolling" clockwise off of the men. The women end the phrase standing behind their partner. As the women take positions, the men join hands in a men's circle and raise them to make "looby-loo" arches and step back a half step.
B1 Bars 9-15 (14 Counts) Women go under the arch on their partner's left, pass in front of the next man and go out thru his left arch, behind the next man, and go in the next arch where the women join hands in a circle inside the men (who retain their circle of arches).
Bar 16 (2 Counts) Women circle left one more position and make the rose (women make arches and men duck under)
B2 Bars 9-16 (16 Counts) Basket with buzz step. It does not matter how fast or how many times the basket circles to the left; just stop in time to open out into a single circle for the next round which begins with an allemande left with the new partner (the old corner who is one place from the original partner)
Note from Dr. John Ramsay: The dance, Levi Jackson Rose was put together in London 27 October 1985 by Bernard Chalk, John Ramsay and the Berea College Country Dancers. We were in London representing the USA for the United Nations Year of Youth and performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Ruth McLain Smith composed the music for the dance.
Danced to the tune "Mistwold" by Dudley Laufman
Longways duple minor
| A1 | 1. Partners back-to-back 2. Circle four to the left. |
| A2 | 3. Neighbors back to back, 4. Circle four to the left. |
| B1 | 5&6. Ones cast down while twos lead up (4); ones half figure up through the twos (8); ones cross to own side passing right shoulders(4). |
| B2 | 7. Taking hands with neighbor on the sides, fall back a double, 8. Come forward turning single, turn partner two hands. |
Danced to the tune "Saturday Morning Waltz" by Dave Wiesler
Their books Impropriety and Impropriety2 available through CDSS.
Danced to the tune "Take a Dance"
| A1 | 1.ones right-hand turn halfway and set 2.ones lead down and cast back to place (ones are improper ) |
| A2 | 3. twos right-hand turn halfway and set 4. twos lead up and cast back to place (All are improper ) |
| B1 | 5. neighbors fall back a double, come forward setting 6. right-hand staright halfway, turn single Left |
| B2 | 7&8. four changes of rights and lefts |
Danced to the tune "The Lost Boys" by George Paul
Longways Duple Minor
A1 Circle left three quarters
Set to corner, turn single
A2 Circle left
Back to back with partner
B1 Right hand star
Balance the star, first corners change
B2 Circle left half way, balance the circle
Two hand turn partner