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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Hi Lorraine,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> As has been said, if you really want to do contras the you need to have a program which teaches basic concepts and builds on them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Family Contra is a great dance for teaching the concept of progression:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-contra-usa.html">https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-contra-usa.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the man on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who get in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer like:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>or<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>You can have lots of fun without swings:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/CheekboneCity.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/CheekboneCity.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/Duck.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/Duck.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GrapevineJig.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GrapevineJig.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Here’s an easy one with a swing:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GirlsofOakhill.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GirlsofOakhill.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>East Litchfield Volunteers is a great dance for beginners:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.biteyourownelbow.com/conndanc.htm">http://www.biteyourownelbow.com/conndanc.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I would agree that Right & Left Through is to be avoided. It is the most non-intuitive move in contra dancing. If you really want to use it in some of your dances then I would use something like this to help teach it:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/ToMoveorNottoMove.html">http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/ToMoveorNottoMove.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Flirtation Reel is great and I use this a lot with beginners as well – the Chris Page version:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>= = = = = = = = = <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Ellen's Green Jig (by Roy Dommett)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Contra; Improper<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>A1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>A2: #1s Balance & Swing (Step, Kick) – finish facing down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>B1: Circle Left; Circle Right – keep holding hands in the Circle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>B2: Duck for Oysters: #2s Arch - #1s Peek; #1s Arch - #2s Peek<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> #2s Arch over #1s who pass through to New Neighbours<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>"Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in the old tin can."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Alt (Chris Page):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>A1: Dosido Neighbour; Men Dosido<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>A2: Ladies Dosido; #1s Swing, end facing down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>= = = = = = = = = <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> I hope that helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> Happy dancing, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> John <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>John Sweeney, Dancer, England john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> Callers <callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lorraine Sutton via Callers<br><b>Sent:</b> 24 July 2018 15:49<br><b>To:</b> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition of easy vs complicated ) <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks so much. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Lorraine Sutton ( <a href="mailto:lorrainesutton7@gmail.com">lorrainesutton7@gmail.com</a> )<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>...<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>