Red-Tailed Hawk

This dance is the only dance I wrote during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, before some dancing opened up when vaccinations became available. I wrote it on May 14, and finalized it on July 2, 2021. We started dancing again in small groups (vaccination and masks required) in June 2021. I intentionally set out to write an easy dance, since most of my dances so far have been intermediate at best, and I was at first worried that it was too boring to live. Happily, people enjoy dancing it! 🙂

The tune was written by Lael Whitehead of the band The Dancehall Players, from their 2020 album, Out of the Silence, an album of brand new original tunes written during the pandemic. Much thanks to Lael and the Dancehall Players for their permission, and to Dancehall’s Ann Schau for her encouragement and communication while I was writing the dance.

This video was recorded in Skandia Hall in Pasadena, CA, on June 16, 2021, at the Dance Kitchen, a special opportunity for callers to practice and choreographers to test out new choreographies. Thanks to all the dancers, and please excuse any minor mistakes. 🙂

Red-Tailed Hawk

An English Country Dance by Renée Camus
©May 14, 2021
Final Version: July 2, 2021
Tune: Red-Tailed Hawk, by Lael Whitehead, 2020

Duple minor longways
Easy
AABB ad lib (AB=8 mm each)
3/4

A1	1-4	All set Right and Left (on the diagonal, moving forward) and turn single Right back to place
	5-8	Circle 4-hands Left halfway, and turn single L
A2	1-8	Repeat A1 back to place
B1	1-4	1s take 2-hands and chassé step down the center (step close), two steps down and two steps back up
	5-6	1s cross R-shoulder and cast to 2nd place while 2s meet and lead up
	7-8	1s Hole-in-the-Wall cross, to proper side, progressed
B2	1-4	1st (Right) diagonals cross; then 2nd (Left) diagonals cross
	5-8	All circle Left halfway and turn single L

See more of my English country dance choreographies.