Trim The Sails by Chris Sackett and Brooke Friendly

In Impropriety Vol 2 (and recorded on the accompanying CD) Chris Sackett and I published a dance written in 2005 – a triple minor in 9/8 called Trim the Sails – with the following note:
A pessimist complains about the wind, an optimist hopes it will change, and a pragmatist trims the sails.

Lately I’ve been complaining, hoping, and trimming simultaneously. Anyway, here is a version of that dance. You can do it with a quarantine buddy or on your own.

For most of the dance, pretend you are a 2:
A1

1-2   Quarantine buddies pass R-shoulder and loop left to face CCW around imaginary circle (or do this move as if a buddy was there)

  3-4   Single-file circle (as big as you have room and time for) to end back where you started (home)

A2

1-2   Quarantine buddies pass L-shoulder and loop right to face CW around imaginary circle 
              (or do this move as if a buddy was there)

3-4   Single-file circle (as big as you have room and time for) to end home

B1

1-4    Slip to the left 6-steps and back to right (nobody will tell if you walk instead) (you can go in straight line if you have room or around a curve as if in a circle if you don’t)

Now pretend you are a 1:
B2

1-2    ‘Cast’ down into “2nd place” (or you could do a big ‘mirror’ turn single up and away)*
     3-4   Go forward 3 steps and fall back

Now you are a 2 again

*in B2 (when you become a ‘1’ briefly), if you cast down the previous round of the dance, this time cast up one place (if you do the mirror turn single it will remain the same each time)

Music: The Wishing Well, a traditional Irish slip jig – recorded on Impropriety Vol 2 available through CDSS (or single track download available through CD Baby)