House Husband's Reel

Level	Intermediate
Type	Gender bender contra
Formation	Improper longways

A1	(16) Balance and swing opposite (end facing down)
A2	(8) Go down four in line, turn individually (8) Return and bend the line
B1	(8) Men chain (giving right hands in center) (8) Men chain back	see notes
B2	(8) Right and left over (women still have the lead) (4) Circle right 1/2 (4) Pass through along the line	see notes

Notes

• A sense of humor is helpful when teaching this dance.
• (B1) The men's chain is identical to the standard women's chain with men starting by giving right hands in the center. Since this is a role reversal, the courtesy turn typically needs to be taught.
• (B2) The women are to the left of the men for the right and left through. When couples cast to face, it is therefore the women who back up and the men who walk forward.

History

I wrote this dance in 1985 because I wanted a dance where the men chained. The House Husband's Reel was composed this dance at the Blue Danube Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, in 1985. I worked out the original choreography using a ketchup and a mustard bottle for the active couple and a salt and a pepper shaker for the inactives. I first called the dance in Cincinnati in 1986 at one of the Monday night contradances.

File prepared by Eric Conrad ( econrad@math.ohio-state.edu). Please mention my name if you call the dance. If you want to include it in a written collection, please ask.

Return to Eric's dance page.