I was present, and dancing, at a dance once where Becky Hill taught the A1 of Dancing Bear with a demo.  I always teach it exactly this way.  This is how the Becky taught it:

Allemande right just 1/2, then do a little hop 
(dancers LOVE this little hop.  Alle 1/2 and hop takes 4 beats)
Then switch hands and allemande left one full time (another 4 beats) into the ladies chain.

That's the whole A1.  It works just fine.

Rich

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Rickey" <holt.e at comcast.net> 

> Hi, 
> 
> I have called this dance before but a part of my directions does not make 
> sense to me. Have you called it? The dance is Dancing Bear, by Becky Hill. 
> Duple Improper 
> 
> (A1) Neighbor Allemande Right (½ ) (4) / Same Neighbor Allemande Left (ONCE 
> AROUND) (also in 4!)/ Ladies Chain ( ½ ) (8) 
> 
> (A1) Hey (16) 
> 
> (B1) Partner Balance and Swing (16) 
> 
> (B2) Ladies Chain ( ½ ) (8) /Star left (once to new neighbors) (8) 
> 
> 
> 
> A Great dance!!!!!!!!!!!! 
> 
> 
> 
> What is puzzling me is this: The Allemande Left (in A1) seems to need to be 
> closer to ONCE AND A HALF to set up for the ladies chain and doing THAT in 4 
> counts would be too much. I have called it, and I called it as once around 
> and it did look like the dancers were going more than one half way around 
> (the other option), so what do you think was really going on. 
> 
> How do you call this dance? 
> 
> Rickey Holt, 
> 
> Fremont, NH 
> 
> 
> 
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