The CHAINMAKERS
40 bars AB AB B
(32 bars followed by a balance & swing)
A contra-style contra by John Pitcock 2005
I’ve named this dance chainmakers because there’s lots of chains in it and I come from the black-country – famous for chainmaking. I wrote this dance because I believe in equality.
Longways.
ones improper.
(Abbreviated version, walk-through version below)
Face other couple
1-3 ½ Ladies chain (starting with r.h.)
4-7 ½ Mans chain (starting with l.h.)
Face other couple
8-11 Shuttle partner
12-15 Those on side of set: short swing,
all face across
16-19 ½ R person’s chain (starting with r.h.)
20-23 ½ L person’s chain (starting with l.h.)
Face across set
24-27 Shuttle one to your side
28-31 Those on side of set: short swing
all face across
32-40 Balance and Swing
Face next couple
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Detailed walk through version
Longways
First couple improper
There's only three sorts of moves in this dance:
Chains like ladies' chains… but different
Dis-y-dos.. but with a difference
And normal swings
Face other couple
ones are nearest the caller,
twos facew the caller
Ladies chain half way.
Don't move yet but what you are going to do is in effect a mans chain but men have a problem with this. So walk it through slowly with me.
The men are going to do a mirror image of what the women just did.
As you are starting on the L give the other man your L hand and cross to the other woman R hand turn with the other woman with a curtesy turn (the men have their L hand on their hip and the women help them round,turning to their right), so the men have changed places.
Now, keep facing up and down the set.
The next move is called a shuttle.
Smile at the person facing you.
Keeping eye-contact with the person facing you without turning at all Sideways dos-y-do partner.
You should circulate clockwise, as in a normal dos-y-do (men starting forwards and R, women backwwards and L)
finishing back where you started that move.
First man and second woman hands up (should all be on caller's left)
short swing,
others face them, finishing facing across, man on the left as usual after a swing
you should be facing someone of the same sex
You are going to do chains across the set.
Again walk through the next figure with me as the men might get confused
you’re going to do a ½ Right person’s chain
All face across
The person on the R give R hand to your partner,
pull past then the L hand to the opposite person R hand on your hip
and go round to the R and then behind them they turn to their L and help them round
now the other couple are going to change places with their partner
by ½ L person’s chain (starting with L.h.)
Again walk through the next figure with me
Face across, Give the L hand to your partner
then the R hand to the oposite person of the same sex, L hand on hip
and go to to the L and behind the other person
they turn to their R and help them round
Now, keeping facing across Keeping eye-contact with the person facing you
without turning round Sideways dos-y-do the person to your side going clockwise around them
First man and second woman hands up (should all be on caller's left)
short swing,
All face across to face partner
All balance and Swing partner (longer swing)
Face next couple in original dierection woman on right