DOODAD BLUES

A simple dance in 2/4 time by Don and Marie Armstrong of Port
Richey, Florida.

Unfamiliar with dance cue terminology? Learn more here.

Music: "Doodad Blues"

Record: LS 227-45

Position: For intro, open, facing LOD; for dance, closed, man's
back to COH.

Footwork: Opposite throughout.

Note: To enjoy this dance the most, relax and interpret the rhythm
of the blues. The "side-back" steps in the first part can be dipped
slightly, creating a "slinky motion" which carries into the rock step
that follows. (Don't overdo it; keep it light and graceful) Very
slight exaggeration of the second part will produce an action
similar to that found in most rhythm and blues dancing. Blues
music is essentially simple, but played with great feeling and
expression. A dance set to the blues should follow this theme.
Enjoy it.

Intro: Wait 4 meas, then:
     1-4 ROCK FWD, TOUCH; BACK, TOUCH; FWD, TOUCH;
     CLOSE-UP, TOUCH
     Starting in open pos, on outside foot, facing LOD, inside
     hands joined, rock fwd on L, touch R; back on R, touch L;
     fwd on L, touch R; back on R, pivoting to face partner and
     assuming closed pos, touch L.

Measures
     1-4 SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE,
     BEHIND
     In closed pos, man's back to COH, move sideward in LOD
     with 8 short steps, first to the side with the L, then cross in
     back with the R; each time, slightly dipping and lifting as
     the music seems to tell you to.
     5-8 ROCK FWD, TOUCH; BACK, TOUCH; FWD TOUCH;
     BACK, TOUCH
     In closed pos, man's back to COH, rock fwd twd wall and
     touch (L, R); back and touch; fwd and touch; back and
     touch; (If you like, a quarter-turn may be made each time
     you rock fwd or back, thereby rotating once R-face CW,
     ending with man's back to COH.)
     9-12 SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE, BEHIND; SIDE,
     BEHIND
     Repeat meas 1-4.
          13-16     LADY TWIRL, 2; 3, TOUCH; REVERSE TWIRL, 2; 3,
          TOUCH
     Move in LOD 3 steps and touch, woman twirling under
     man's L and her R hand, as man moves swd to his L (side,
     behind; side, touch); then, reverse, moving in RLOD,
     woman twirling L-face still under same joined hands
     (man's L, woman's R) with 3 steps, and touch, as man
     moves swd to his R (sice, behind; side, touch;) ending with
     partners facing, momentarily touching both hands.
          17-20     FWD, POINT; FACE, TOUCH; APART, TOUCH;
          TOGETHER, TOUCH
     With inside hands joined (man's R, woman's L) step fwd in
     LOD with outside foot, turning slightly away from partner,
     and point inside foot fwd; with inside foot again step fwd
     while pivoting to face partner, then touch (man's L,
     woman's R) and join both hands as in butterfly pos, but
     with elbows lower and hands a little closer to the body at
     woman's shoulder height; back away from partner (L, R)
     man twd COH, woman twd wall, until joined hands are
     almost fully extended   but comfortably so   and touch;
     step together and touch, ending in semi-butterfly position as
     above.
          21-24     SIDE, CLOSE; SIDE, TOUCH; SIDE, CLOSE; SIDE,
          TOUCH
     Move swd in LOD with a slow two-step and touch; and
     then swd in RLOD with a slow two-step and touch,
     swaying naturally and retaining the semi-butterfly hand-
     hold throughout.
          25-28     FWD, POINT; FACE, TOUCH; APART, TOUCH;
          TOGETHER, TOUCH
     Repeat meas 17-20.
          29-32     ROLL AWAY, 2; 3, TOUCH; ROLL BACK, 2; 3, TOUCH
     Moving in LOD, roll away with 3 steps and touch (man
     rolls L-face, woman rolls R-face, and, on the touch count,
     snap your fingers or clap your hands, or clap both hands
     with partner, etc.); then reverse the action (man rolls R,
     woman rolls L) moving in RLOD, and omit the finger-snap
     or other interpretive hand-action. End in closed pos to
     begin the routine again.

Repeat the entire dance 3 more times (4 in all) and end as follows:

Ending
     1-4 In open pos, facing LOD, repeat intro, except, on the last
     meas, partners back away from each other and bow.