By Bill Olson
Composed December 18, 1999
| Level | med (assigned by the editor) |
| Type | Contra |
| Formation | Improper |
| A1 | (8) Circle left 3/4 to a wave across (partners by the right, gents in the center) (4) Balance the wave (4) Gents allemande left |
| A2 | (16) Hey across, partners pass right shoulders to start |
| B1 | (16) Partners gypsy and swing (alternative: balance and swing) |
| B2 | (8) Circle left 3/4 (4) Balance the ring (4) Partne California twirl |
Author's Notes:
This dance was written on Dec 18, 1999 and named Dec 22. The winter solstice of 1999, aside from being the last solstice of millennium (well at least the century!), is also the night of the brightest full moon in 133 years. This is because the solstice, full moon, moon's perigee and earth's perihelion all occur nearly at the same time. The dance incorporates the circle to wave figure from Paul Balliet's "Summer Sunshine" and I wanted to name this dance "Winter Moonshine" or something like that. When I remembered this special astronomical event was in part due to the closeness of the earth to the sun, decided the dance HAD to be called "Perihelion" because it was such a cool name!!
This dance is from American Country Dances On Line
All rights reserved by the author; used by permission.
Added to database 12/16/2002; edited by Russell Owen