Bill Olson's Dance Compositions

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WEEKS ON THE ROAD

A Becket(*) formation contra by Bill Olson. Single Progression to left

A1 Balance in a ring and swing partner (face across and to left) (16)

A2 Ladies chain on Left diagonal (8) 1/2 hey for four across (with new couple) (8)

B1 Balance and swing (the one you chained to) (face across) (16)

B2 Circle L 3/4 (8) Balance the ring (4) Calif. twirl (4)

 

Notes: This is one of those "leave your partner, build up anxiety and finally be reunited with your partner" dances. I had never seen this done in the Becket formation where you California twirled at the end to finally meet your partner. I like the circle balance to partner swing. The hey across in A2 must be done with big loops, especially the man starting out or he will arrive early for the balance and swing. This will get compensated for as the dance progresses. This swing is with the NEXT neighbor, not a shadow, however the shadow person does show up each time in the hey and the circle L. As usual the couple waiting out counts as a couple on the left diagonal and the woman waiting out will chain away from her partner. This couple waiting out (with "new" woman) should square off at the end of the set after the chain to await the California twirl. I often have the band play an extra B part at the end of the final time through and call a final partner balance and swing. This dance was written "on the road" on the way to a Freeport dance Jan 11, 1997. This was a couple days after Pam Weeks had returned from a recording trip out in NY state and had spent some time (not weeks though) on the road. In the dance the women go away but eventually come back home... Best done with "chunky" reels at a lively tempo. We did it last with Whiskey before Breakfast (D) and some other old time tunes but New England reels work well too.

*Gene Hubert pointed out to me that this is actually a "Backwards Becket" dance. That is to say each time the dance sequence starts, partners are on the side with men to the womens' right! Gene also pointed out that it doesn't really matter 'cause after the swing partners are in true Becket formation. But for the purist, it's Backwards Becket, line up improper and just have the women switch places to start.

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