Dick and Geneva's Western Barndance

Music: Wild Wild West by the Escape Club or Early in the Morning by Hank Williams, Jr.
Choreographer: D & G Enterprises (Dick Matteis and Geneva Owsley)
Position: Gentleman faces outside edge of dance floor, lady faces center of dance floor. Originally choreographed for the closed western dance position, which would have the gentleman's right hand on the lady's left shoulder. The lady's left arm would be under the gentleman's right arm and she would place her left hand in the bend of his right elbow. Many North Carolina instructors teach the ballroom dance position; gentleman's left hand holds lady's right hand in full frame at eye level; gentleman's right hand on lady's left shoulder blade, her left hand on his right upper arm or shoulder.
Description: A mixer dance, moving CCW around dance floor, couples form the largest circle possible on the floor. When danced as a non-mixer, each dancer returns to the same partner. It can be danced by several couples on a large floor, by having the lead gentleman start the vine to the left and then join the last lady in the line with all other gentlemen moving up one lady (This may provoke more than a few laughs as the line gets longer).
Comment: Adapted from a British country dance.

Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996 by Ronald L. Still. Merida Business Group, 1413 Kenbrook Drive, Garner, NC 27529-4447; 919-772-2082. If the Subject is Dance Steps ... Volume I, Third Edition, January 1996. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Steps are different for the gentleman and lady.

Gentleman's Steps

1. Left foot step to the left

2. Right foot close to the left foot

3. Left foot step to the left

4. Right toe touch to close to the left foot

5. Right foot step to the right

6. Left foot close to the right foot

7. Right foot step to the right

8. Left toe touch to close to the right foot

9. Left foot step to the left—spin lady CW—left hand leads her and right hand pushes lightly on her back to start, then drops to gentleman's right hip

10. Right foot close to the left foot

11. Left foot step to the left

12. Right toe touch to close to the left foot

13. Right foot step to the right—start spinning lady CCW back to original starting position

14. Left foot close to the right foot

15. Right foot step to the right

16. Left toe touch to close to the right foot, replace right hand on her left shoulder blade

Face Forward to Line of Dance

17. Left foot step left 1/4 turn CCW—you will now be facing the line of dance, gentleman's left hand still holds lady's hand, but the handhold is now waist high, the gentleman's right hand goes behind the lady's back to hold her right side at the waist

18. Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left

19. Right foot step forward

20. Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right—touching the lady's right foot

21. Left foot step forward

22. Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left

23. Right foot step forward

24. Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right—touching the lady's right foot

These vines are with a slightly forward movement in the line of dance in order that the gentleman leaves one lady and advances to the next lady forward in the line of dance.

Vine to the Left

25. Left foot step left, dropping hands

26. Right foot step behind left leg to the left

27. Left foot step to the left

28. Right foot scuff into low forward kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left and clap

Vine to the Right

29. Right foot step to the right

30. Left foot step behind right leg to the right

31. Right foot step 1/4 turn CW (face new partner and outside edge of the dance floor)

32. Left foot close—resume closed country/ballroom position with new partner who was one position forward in the line of dance

Repeat Counts 1 to 32 until the end of song.

Lady's Steps

1. Right foot step to the right

2. Left foot close to the right foot

3. Right foot step to the right

4. Left toe touch to close to the right foot

5. Left foot step to the left

6. Right foot close to the left foot

7. Left foot step to the left

8. Right toe touch to close to the left foot

Full Turn CW

9. Right foot step to the right 1/3 turn CW—drop left arm

10. Left foot step to the right 1/3 turn CW

11. Right foot step to the right 1/3 turn CW

12. Left toe touch to close to the right foot

Full Turn CCW

13. Left foot step to the left 1/3 turn CCW

14. Right foot step to the left 1/3 turn CCW

15. Left foot step to the left 1/3 turn CCW

16. Right toe touch to close to the left foot—put left hand on the gentleman's right upper arm or shoulder

Face Forward to Line of Dance

17. Right foot step 1/4 turn CW—you will now be facing the line of dance, gentleman's left hand still holds lady's hand, but the handhold is now waist high, lady's left hand goes behind gentleman's back to hold his left side at the waist

18. Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right

19. Left foot step forward

20. Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left—touching the gentleman's left foot

21. Right foot step forward

22. Hop/scoot on right foot, left foot scuff into low kick in front of the right foot aimed to the right

23. Left foot step forward

24. Hop/scoot on left foot, right foot scuff into low kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left—touching the gentleman's left foot

3/4 Turn CW

25. Right foot step 1/4 turn CW

26. Left foot step 1/4 turn CW

27. Right foot step 1/4 turn CW

28. Left foot hitch to 6" off the floor

3/4 Turn CCW

29. Left foot step to the left—1/4 turn CCW

30. Right foot step to the left—1/4 turn CCW

31. Left foot step to the left—1/4 turn CCW

32. Right foot close to the left foot—resume closed ballroom position with next partner

Repeat Counts 1 to 32 until the end of song.

Option 1

Position: Dancers face each other, but holding hands at arms length.

Option 2

Gentleman lead: On Counts 9 and 13 when using Option 1—spin the lady using both hands in and out of the turn.

Option 3

The original choreography had the lady do a vine to the right on Counts 25-28 and vine to the left on Counts 29-32. Raleigh instructors favor the lady's turns instead, so these vines dropped to the option area.

Vine to the Right

25. Right foot step right

26. Left foot step behind the right leg to the right

27. Right foot step to the right

28. Left foot scuff into low forward kick

Vine to the Left with 1/4 Turn CCW

29. Left foot step left

30. Right foot step behind the left leg to the left

31. Left foot step 1/4 turn CCW

32. Right toe touch to close to left foot

Option 4

Lady steps in place for the eight Counts 25-32.

Option 5

Gentleman can do a full turn CCW and then 1 1/2 turns CW instead of his vines to the center and return for Counts 25-32.

Full Turn CCW

25. Left foot step to the left 1/3 turn CCW

26. Right foot step 1/3 turn CCW

27. Left foot step 1/3 turn CCW

28. Right foot scuff into low forward kick in front of the left foot aimed to the left and clap

1 1/2 Turns CW

29. Right foot step to the right 1/2 turn CW

30. Left foot step 1/2 turn CW

31. Right foot step 1/2 turn CW (face new partner and outside edge of the dance floor)

32. Left foot close—resume closed country/ballroom position with new partner who was one position forward in the line of dance

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