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THE STROLL
Choreographed by: Dancers on American Bandstand (circa 1958)
DESCRIPTION: Beginner contra dance and fixed pattern partner/freestyle
couple dance done in 28 + beats of music. The duration of each
cycle will depend on the number of dancers.
POSITION: Contra lines then stroll side by side. Men start side
by side in one line, ladies start side by side in one line facing
men, keeping the two lines far enough apart for couples to "stroll"
down the "aisle" between them. Men and Ladies use opposite
feet (mirror image) throughout the dance. The dance becomes a
Mixer dance when there are an uneven number of ladies to gentlemen,
since you will stroll with a different partner each time down
the aisle and face that new partner for much of the next Contra
portion.. Man and lady become a couple when they reach the far
right of the contra line. They then stroll down the aisle between
the contra lines doing the Stroll portion of the dance to the
other end of the line. During the Stroll portion, the couple may
execute any variety of freestyle turns and other movements. This
is sort of a waterfall mixer. To keep the whole shebang from moving
across the room take bigger steps when doing the right vine.
MUSIC: "Some Sunny Day It Is" Track 1 on "Sweet
Fire" CD by Michael Elvin Hunt (Originally, The Stroll by
The Diamonds)
SOURCE: A very fond memory! This is how we danced The Stroll on
American Bandstand in the late (Oh, m'god, now I'm really dating
myself now!) '50s.
BEATS/STEP DESCRIPTION:
Contra portion, Man's steps Feet start about a foot apart
Note: Take shorter steps 5 through 8
Left Crosses and Vines
| 1, 2 |
Cross Right in front of Left, bring Right home |
| 3, 4 |
Repeat 1 & 2 |
| 5 |
Step Right across front of Left |
| 6 |
Step Left to left |
| 7 |
Step Right across and behind Left |
| 8 |
Step Left to left |
Right Crosses and Vines
Note: Take longer steps 13 through 15.
| 9, 10 |
Cross Left in front of Right, bring Right home |
| 11, 12 |
Repeat 9 & 10 |
| 13 |
Step Left across front of Right |
| 14 |
Step Right to right |
| 15 |
Step Left across and behind Left and pivot 1/4
turn CCW |
| 16 |
Step Right forward to right coming together with
lady |
Stroll Portion (Gent and lady lock arms to begin forward
stroll down the aisle. This can also be done "free style"
usually holding hands and doing lock steps, rolling turns, etc.)
| 17 |
Step forward on Left |
| 18 |
Step Right forward and to left of
and just behind Left |
| 19 |
Step Left forward |
| 20 |
Step Right forward |
| 21 |
Step Left forward and to right of
and just behind Right |
| 22 |
Step forward on Right |
| 23 - 28 |
Repeat 17 through 22 |
Repeat pattern Alternating beats 1 through 16 with Stroll
Portion for the duration of song, repeating 17 through 22 for
however long it takes to arrive at the end of the aisle. Then
fall into Contra position finding the place in the vines the others
are dancing, or, lengthen or shorten stroll steps as to wind up
at the end of the aisle and begin in step one with the others.
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