Sicilian Circles
ELM RIVER SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, Palma Heming, and Alan Parker, August 2015 for Mahone Bay
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: Jigs
A1 (8) Ladies Dosado;
(8) Gents Dosado;
A2 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B1 (8) Ladies Right Arm Turn (back to place);
(8) Gents Left Arm Turn;
B2 (8) Pick up partner Half Promenade;
(8) Wheel Around on to the next and Bow ;
ICY ROAD
By Dottie Welch, February 2010
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple
Music: "Pushed in a Corner" on MacGregor 2411
A1 (8) Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Ladies Dosado;
(8) Gents Dosado;
B1 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B2 (8) Veer Right and Veer Left;
(8) New Opposite Two-hand Turn;
JSK WEDDING CONTRA
Author: Pat Kelm – Oct. 2012
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple
Music: "C'est L'Amour" - Track 17 on The Complete Caledonian
A1 (8) Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B1 (8) Ladies Dosado;
(8) Gents Dosado;
B2 (8) Forward and Clap, Back and Stamp;
(8) Veer Left, then Veer Right (to face new couple);
PAT'S CIRCLE CONTRA
Author: Pat Kelm
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple
A1 (8) Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B1 (8) Ladies Chain;
(8) Ladies Chain back;
B2 (8) Dosado the one facing you;
(8) Pass Thru, go to a new couple;
IRISH HOLIDAY CONTRA
Author: Pat Kelm (Dec. 13, 2015)
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple
Music: "Christmas in Killarney"
A1 (8) Dosado;
(8) Swing Thru and Boys Run;
A2 (8) Promenade (either clockwise or counter-clockwise);
(8) Turn as a couple and Promenade back;
B1 (8) Weathervane across (Couples Trade), Bend the Line;
(8) Ladies Chain;
B2 (16) Slow Square Thru;
Various Clap Sequences
HAWKEYE SICILIAN
Author: Dottie Welch, January 2016 for 65th US National in Des Moines, Iowa
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "Sioux City Sue" Michigan Summer CD by Ruffwater Stringband
A1 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
A2 (8) Opposite Claps (own knees twice, own hands twice, opposite 3 times);
(8) Partner Claps;
B1 (8) Partner Dosado
(8) Opposite Dosado;
B2 (8) All four Circle Left full around;
(8) Gents turn left to lead Inside Out and around to the next two (= Pass Thru)
GENDERLESS AND TOUCHLESS
By Dottie Welch, November 2014
Formation: Sicilian or Alternate Duple Facing Up & Down
Music: "Braveheart", GMP 507,
A1 (8) Facing dancers Clap: (knees, knees, hands, hands, opposite 3 times);
(8) Face Partner and Clap;
A2 (8) Each four Make a Right-Hand Star;
(8) Same four Left-Hand Star;
B1 (8) Opposite Dosado;
(8) Partner Dosado;
B2 (8) As Couples Dosado;
(8) Once and a Half and move on;
PRAIRIE DOG SICILIAN
Dottie Welch, March 2017 for International Students
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "Nail That Catfish / Sandy Boys", on Michigan Ruffwater Stringband Summer
A1 (8) Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Opposite Right Elbow Turn;
(8) Opposite Left Elbow Turn;
B1 (8) Partner Claps (knees, hands, other, "Hey"), Right Solo Turn with right-arm up;
(8) Partner Claps (knees, hands, other, "Ho"), Left Solo Turn with left-arm up;
B2 (8) Star Left full around;
(8) With partner Veer Right and Veer Left on to the next;
SIEGE OF CARRICK
From Internet, Traditional Irish Dance
Music: “Christmas in Killarney” or “Haste to the Wedding”
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple
A1 (8) Circle Left (side steps finishing with two short "threes");
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Right Hand Star (Ladies hands joined above the Gents);
(8) Left Hand Star;
B1 (8) Mirror Dosado (top couples or those facing CCW (1s) between the bottom couple first);
(8) Clap own hands twice and Partner Right elbow turn;
B2 (8) Mirror Dosado (bottoms or those facing CW (2s) between tops first);
(8) Clap twice and Partner Right elbow turn partner while passing other couple
(Veer Right and then Veer Left around the other couple)
Siege of Carrick Description:
Ring: Each set of four dancers hold hands to form a ring.
All sidestep to the left finishing with two short "threes" (set steps),
and return to the right, finishing as before.
Right and Left Wheels: The four now give right hands across centre, shoulder high,
with ladies' hands above gents' and dance around clockwise, with Promenade Step.
On fourth bar all release hands and reverse.
All now give left hands across and dance back to places.
Down Centre and Turn: Top and bottom couples of each set advance to each others' places,
without taking hands (top couples passing between the other two dancers) (2 bars);
all retire without turning, but this time bottom couple pass between other two (2 bars).
All clap own hands together twice to one bar of music, and then hook right arms and turn once in place, (4 bars)
Up Centre and Swing: Couples again advance, but this time bottom couple pass through (2 bars);
on retiring as before, top couple pass between the other two dancers (2 bars).
All clap again twice to one bar of music, then hook right arms again,
but this time they swing out, and so change places (4 bars).
SIEGE OF CARRICK FOR SQUARE DANCERS
Version from Dancing for Busy People
Formation: Couples Facing Couples around the hall like spokes of a wheel
(#1 couple facing counterclockwise, #2 couple facing clockwise).
Music: LS 303 or Grenn 12204 “Sherbrooke”
A1 (8) Each Four Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Right Hand Star;
(8) Left Hand Star;
B1 (8) #1’s Split the #2’s around one to face Partner;
(8) Clap (own hands) twice, Right Arm Turn;
B2 (8) #2’s Split the #1’s around one to face Partner;
(8) Clap (own hands) four times, Face other couple, Pass Thru and Bow;
Dip and Dive
SPLIT THAT COUPLE
Author: Pat Kelm (Sept. 27, 2014)
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "O'Donal Abhu / Rocks of Brae / Meeting of the Waters"
on Contra Music, The Sound of New England, Track 9
A1 (8) Star Right (1's make a right-hand star with the 2's);
(8) Star Left;
A2 (8) Circle Left (or Slip Left);
(8) Circle Right (or Slip Right);
B1 (8) 1's Split the 2's, Separate, come around to face;
(8) 2's Split the 1's, Separate, come around to face;
B2 (8) Balance the Ring (twice);
(8) 2s Arch and the 1s Dive - go on to the next couple;
FROGGY GOES COURTING
Author: Pat Kelm – 2009
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "Ocean View Reel, My Love is But a Lassie & Flowers of Edinburgh" on LS 308
A1 (8) Hands Four Balance the Ring; California Twirl (or U-Turn Back);
(8) Balance the Ring (with couple behind them); California Twirl (or U-Turn Back);
A2 (8) Two Gents Dosado;
(8) Two Ladies Dosado;
B1 (8) Circle Left;
(8) Circle Right;
B2 (8) Dip and Dive – 2s Arch and the 1s Dive; 1s Arch and the 2s Dive;
(8) 2s Arch and the 1s Dive; 1s Arch and the 2s Dive;
Heel and Toe
LE MARCHANT HEEL AND TOE
By Dottie Welch, November 2014, for grade 4-6 or older
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple facing Up and Down
Music: “Callison Hall Jig”, Lloyd Shaw 320
A1 (8) Heel and Toe Out and In;
(outside foot touch heel, touch toe, side, close, side)
(8) Heel and Toe Out and In again;
A2 (8) Opposite (Right) Dosado;
(8) Circle Left;
B1 (8) Circle Right;
(8) Opposite Left Dosado;
B2 (8) Each four Balance Double (forward and back balance)
(8) Pass Thru (Bow and join hands)
GEORGE AND AMBER'S WEDDING
By Dottie Welch, Groves' Wedding Sept. 2010 (by candlelight after hurricane)
Formation: Sicilian Circle or Alternate Duple, begin facing Up and Down
Music: "Year End Two-Step and Rollstone Mountain" on Southerners Plus Two
A1 (8) Join both hands with opposite, Heel, Toe, Out, 2, 3; Heel, Toe, In, 2, 3;
(8) Heel, Toe, Out, 2, 3; Heel, Toe, In, 2, 3;
A2 (8) Opposite Dosado;
(8) Circle Left;
B1 (8) Circle Right;
(8) Veer Right and then Veer Left to move on to the next two;
B2 (8) With New Opposite Two-hand Right Hip Turn (Butterfly Banjo);
(8) Two-hand Left Hip Turn (Butterfly Sidecar) (At ends turns with partner);
CALLISON HALL JIG SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2006
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "Callison Hall Jig", Lloyd Shaw 320. (Intro is one long chord)
A1 (8) With Opposite Heel and Toe apart and together
(Beginning with foot away from partner, Heel, Toe, Side, Close, Side)
(8) Repeat the Heel and Toe apart and together
A2 (8) Dosado and Pass Thru
(8) With the next Left Dosado
B1 (8) Same four Circle Right
(8) Circle Left
B2 (8) Same four Left Hand Star
(8) Same four Right Hand Star
SQUARE DANCE CALLS FROM THE BASIC PROGRAM
CIRCLE AROUND CHRISTMAS
By Pat Kelm
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Music: "Braveheart", GMP 507,
A1 (8) Balance Forward and Back, STar Thru;
(8) Ladies Chain;
A2 (8) Keep your hand in for a Left-hand Star;
(8) Same four Right-hand Star;
B1 (8) Reverse the Flutterwheel;
(8) Partner Dosado;
B2 (16) Slow Square Thru and then move on to the next two;
RIGHT AND LEFT THRU SICILIANS
By Dottie Welch, 2013
Formation: Sicilian Circle
This is a series of Sicilian Circle figures for use when teaching.
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Right and Left Thru; Forward and Back;
B1: Right and Left Thru; Forward and Back;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Right and Left Thru; Right and Left Back;
B1: (Left hands in) Star Left; Star Right;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Two Ladies Chain; Chain Back;
B1: (all go) Right and Left Thru; Right and Left Back;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Right and Left Thru; Two Ladies Chain;
B1: Right and Left Back; Ladies Chain Back;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
BOX CIRCULATE SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2016
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Star Right; Star Left;
A2: Opposite Swing (End facing as you would be after a Star Thru); Ladies Chain
B1: Ladies Dosado; Ladies Pass Thru (to face out of box), Box Circulate;
B2: Partner Swing; Circle Left one quarter and Pass Thru;
ONES TRADE AND TWOS TRADE
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Designate the ones as those facing Promenade direction
(gents inside and facing counter-clockwise) and note that numbers will not change.
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Ladies Chain and Veer Left; Couple One Trade, Couple Two Trade;
B1: Bend the Line and Circle Left Halfway;
Partner Swing and end facing the other couple;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru on to the next;
LEFT SWING THRU SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Circle Right; Circle Left;
A2: Star Left full around; Left Dosado to a Left-Hand Wave;
B1: Left Swing Thru (take 8 beats); Left Swing Thru again;
B2: Left Pass Thru and Wheel Around; Veer Left and Veer Right on to the next;
RUN RIGHT SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Dosado to a Wave; Balance and Girls Trade;
B1: Swing Thru (take 8 beats); Boys Run Right, Bend the Line;
B2: Forward and Back; Star Thru and Pass Thru;
RUN LEFT SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Left Dosado to a Left-Hand Wave; Balance and Boys Trade;
B1: Left Swing Thru (take 8 beats); Girls Run Left, Bend the Line;
B2: Forward and Back; Star Thru and Pass Thru;
CROSS RUN SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Dosado to a Wave; (Begin in Center) Left Swing Thru;
B1: Boys Cross Run, and Balance; Girls Cross Run, and Balance;
B2: Boys Trade, Box the Gnat; Pass Thru on to the next;
PASS THE OCEAN SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
A1: Opposite Dosado; Pass the Ocean and Balance;
A2: Swing Thru (4 beats per turn); Boys Run and Bend the Line;
B1: Star Left; Star Right;
B2: Two Ladies Chain and Gents Flair; Pass Thru on to the next;
WHEEL AND DEAL SICILIAN
By Dottie Welch, 2017
Formation: Sicilian Circle
Designate the ones as those facing in Promenade direction
(gents inside facing counter-clockwise) and note that numbers will not change.
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Ladies Dosado; Gents Dosado;
B1: Right and Left Thru; Veer Left, Wheel and Deal;
B2: Twos Arch, Ones Dive Thru; Ones Arch, Twos Dive Thru;
FLUTTERWHEEL SICILIANS
By Dottie Welch, 2013
Formation: Sicilian Circle
This is a series of Sicilian Circle figures for use when teaching.
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Gents Dosado; Right and Left Thru;
B1: Two Ladies Chain; Ladies Lead Flutterwheel;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Gents Dosado; Ladies Dosado;
B1: Gents Lead with left Reverse Flutterwheel; Two Ladies Chain;
B2: Opposite Dosado; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Ladies Dosado; Gents Dosado;
B1: Right and Left Thru; Ladies Lead Flutterwheel;
B2: Gents Lead Reverse Flutterwheel; Pass Thru, Move On and Bow;
A1: Circle Left; Circle Right;
A2: Star Right; Star Left;
B1: Right and Left Thru; Ladies Lead Flutterwheel;
B2: Gents Lead Reverse the Flutter; Veer Right and Veer Left, Move on;