Contra Callers November 2006

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

31 participants
19 discussions

Re: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Hello Joy, If you're going to be doing similar gigs with less experienced dancers, I'd suggest getting copies of Chimes of Dunkirk and Listen to the Mockingbird (New England Dancing Masters) plus Dudley Laufman's two books (with CDs)-- White Mountain Reel and Sweets of May-- as useful sources for lots of material. Marian Rose's books (the Step Lively series) also have some wonderful dances in them. (All available through Country Dance and Song Society.) Yes, it's an investment in resources, but armed with the material in these books (and CDs, too) you'll have plenty of excellent material-- contras, circles, squares, simple line dances, mixers, suitable for working with beginners of all ages. For your first dance coming up in early December, you have your hands tied-- "required by organizers to be all contra (no circles or squares)." WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? Is the next list of requirements going to be that they want lots of newcomers to be there and oh, by the way, they want the first dance of the evening to include a hey for four on the left diagonal? Have they told you that every contra has to have a partner swing and a neighbor swing? Or are they waiting to spring that on you later on? Sheesh. Okay, stepping back off my soapbox... In the meantime, here are two simple contras that work with folks who are new to this kind of dancing. Don't have to worry about proper/improper, just line 'em up across from a partner, set up your minor sets of four, and you're off. David Millstone P.S. It really is worth having a discussion with the organizers to see if you can come to a better understanding of how to build a dance series. I would suggest that contra contra contra is not the best recipe for success. ------- Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) A1 Balance ring 2x ("Go IN... and OUT... and IN... and OUT), circle left 1x A2 Balance ring 2x, circle right 1x B1 DSD with neighbor, DSD with partner B2 DSD 1.5 as a couple ------ Ellen's Green Jig (Roy Dommett) A1 Do-si-do neighbor Do-si-do partner A2 Ones balance and swing B1 Circle left Circle right B2 Square dance figure, Duck for the Oyster, Dive for the Clam: (Still joined in a circle, twos arch and ones duck partially under and then back up to place. Ones arch and twos duck under and then back up. Ones duck all the way through Twos' arch to meet new neighbors.) "Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in the old tin can" or similar patter

17 years, 5 months

Callers and Musicians Workshop - Belfast, ME Nov 3 & 4

by Chrissy Fowler

Hello there, We still have some space left if anyone has been putting off registering. Call me if you have questions, or respond via email with your registration info (copied at bottom of message). Thanks! Chrissy Fowler >From: "Chrissy Fowler" <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> > >Hi all, > > >Four of us are putting on an interactive workshop here in Belfast, in >conjunction with the 1st Friday Belfast Flying Shoes Dance Series. Callers >and Musicians: Making Connections! Open to 25 intermediate level callers >and musicians, and facilitated by Amy Richardson Larkin, Shirley White, >Linda Henry and Chrissy Fowler. > >We're all very excited about it, as it's an unusual opportunity for BOTH >callers and musicians to join in an extended workshop about band-caller >collaboration, communication and cooperation (and some of the various ways >we do that for the benefit of all of our community -- musicians callers and >perhaps most importantly, dancers!) > >We're very committed to making this an experiential workshop, meaning that >we plan to do a lot of experimenting, dancing, playing and hearing tunes, >sharing ideas, testing theories, taking some risks, and so forth. There >will be some sitting in a circle and talking as well, but we hope to do >more doing than talking. (If we were putting this in a college course >catalog it would be described as some lecture, with a substantial lab >component.) > >If out-of-state folks want to come, we would heartily welcome you and I >could help you track down hotel rooms, b&bs, or even local hospitality! >:-) Belfast is pretty groovy, and in November most of the tourists have >gone home. > >If you have any more questions, let me know. I'll also post a .pdf flyer >in the next few days. > > >Thanks! :-) Chrissy > > >Here are some of the details: >Fri, November 3rd evening dance >Sat, November 4th daytime sessions > >To register, contact Chrissy Fowler >207-338-0979 or ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com >Cost $50 >Scholarships available > > >Workshop presented by North Twin Education Programs with support from The >Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) > --------------------------------------------------------------- WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM: Dear Callers and Musicians, Hooray! You have indicated that you plan to attend the upcoming workshop in Belfast on November 3 & 4. It looks to be an interesting group so far, with varied experience and from various places. (There are still some spaces, so if you know anyone who is hoping to come, have them get in touch with me soon.) I'll send out some more information in October. Cheers! Chrissy -------------------------------------- Please complete the following information and mail a check (payable to North Twin Education Programs) to Chrissy Fowler, 93 Kaler Road, Belfast, ME 04915 Name: Address: Phone: Email: Are you a caller, musician or both? If musician, what instrument(s)? About how long have you been calling/playing for dances? Please describe (1 sentence or so) your caller/musician experience. If you are applying for a scholarship, please indicate how much you are applying for: If you would like help finding hospitality, please let me know any special needs (e.g. pet allergies) What amount are you sending? ___ full amount $50 ___ deposit $25 THANKS! Chrissy ** IMPORTANT FYI ** My email use is sporadic. If time-sensitive, please call: home 207-338-0979 cell 603-498-3506 thanks!! :-) chf

17 years, 5 months

Help! Need a caller at MIT 11/14

by Chris Weiler

Hello everyone, I was booked to call at MIT on Tuesday 11/14. Now I have to take a trip for business and can't call that night. Is there someone in Eastern Mass. that could take over for me? Contact me directly and I'll forward your name to the organizer. Thanks!! Chris

17 years, 5 months

Question about the Squeaking Wheel

by Walter Daves

Can someone draw a word picture of A2 in the Squeaking Wheel? I've never danced or even seen the dance, but it looks like fun. Walter Daves The Squeaking Wheel Cary Ravitz 4-02 Improper contra A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16). A2 - Go down the hall (6). - Keeping hands, twos turn back to back to face up while ones take hands behind the twos (2). - Go up the hall (6). - Twos duck and ones bring joined hands over the twos to form a four leaf clover (2). B1 - Turn the clover left 3/4 (8). - Partners swing (8). B2 - Right and left through across (8). - Ladies chain across (8).

17 years, 5 months

3 Part Dance

by Mortland, Jo

D'oh! I didn't see that there was a dance here - sorry. I didn't look far enough down the page. Jo Mortland

17 years, 5 months

3 Part Dance

by Mortland, Jo

Hi, Peter, I'm a caller from Chicago, looking for a good 3-part contra dance. Did anyone answer you when you put out that request? Did you get anything you liked? If so, would you be willing to share it with me? I'm going to take a look at my favorite dances, too, and see if I can "create" a 3-part contra by adding a couple of 16 count moves to an existing dance. Thanks. Jo Mortland

17 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Question about the Squeaking Wheel

by Jerome Grisanti

Walter, I would add just a bit to Cynthia's description, which is that the middle two turn back to back (or butt to butt) on their way to facing back up. I've heard this called "come back cozy." Positionally, it's the same as turning alone (i.e. nobody trades places with anyone else). As a practical matter, people may have to adjust for (a) pronounced height differences and (b) folks with limited arm mobility. --Jerome p.s. Walter I believe we met at Dance Callers Week 2005 in Brasstown. I hope you're doing well. > Rather than a picture, I think you will get a better feeling for it if > you simply get three willing friends to stand with you in a line of > four, then ask the two people in the middle to turn around WITHOUT > letting go of the hands they are holding. It's hard to imagine, but easy > to do, and then you will understand it. Once they are turned around, the > next part is easy - the outside people join hands with each other behind > the backs of the two who already turned. It's lots of fun to do in a > dance. > > -cynthia > > -----Original Message----- > From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net > [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Walter Daves > Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 9:33 AM > To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] Question about the Squeaking Wheel > > Can someone draw a word picture of A2 in the Squeaking Wheel? I've > never danced or even seen the dance, but it looks like fun. > Walter Daves > > The Squeaking Wheel Cary Ravitz 4-02 > > Improper contra > > A1 - Neighbors balance and swing (16). > > A2 - Go down the hall (6). > - Keeping hands, twos turn back to back to face up while ones > take hands behind the twos (2). > - Go up the hall (6). > - Twos duck and ones bring joined hands over the twos to form > a four leaf clover (2). > > B1 - Turn the clover left 3/4 (8). > - Partners swing (8). > > B2 - Right and left through across (8). > - Ladies chain across (8). > _______________________________________________ -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Compilation of 'Hey' dances, and further requests (Jillian Hovey)

by Jerome Grisanti

> The other request is for suggestions on how to teach a hey. (I am a little bit terrified.) > I suggest teaching via analogy or via demonstration rather than via description. Experienced dancers are your greatest ally in the demonstration. The essential teaching piece is: everyone will end up where they started (presuming a full hey). Demonstration: Pick a set of experienced dancers in the middle (not the top) of the hall and have everyone else hunker down. Ask folks to watch the person in their position and ask them to walk the hey. Thank them and have everybody try it. Analogy: Picture yourself on a slolom ski run. Each other person in the hey is a gate. Pass each in turn, left-right-left or right-left-right. Experienced dancers can point to the shoulder you should be passing by. Mention that when you cross, you have plenty of time to make a loop before reentering the hey. (Note to you for picking a dance: Heys that end with a partner balance & swing have a definite "goal" and are easier for many than heys ending with another move, particularly a progression to the next set.) TRUST: If the crowd has more than 70% experienced dancers, the danger is in overteaching. Shoot for one demo, one practice hey. If you walk through dance twice, on second time just let them walk it without additional teaching unless there's a set that's "completely" broken. A "little" confusion is OK. Remind beginner dancers that they are in good hands, they'll have fun as they learn, and if they don't get it perfect the first time that's fine because the goal is fun. Good luck! And once the music starts, don't forget to breath. And have fun. -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Compilation of 'Hey' dances, and further requests

by page＠physics.upenn.edu

I'm coming in a little late to this, but: Another vote in favor of Delphiniums and Daisies -- along with Butter (a becket dance by Gene Hubert) it's my favorite basic hey dance. I've also found The Carousel to be nice for those purposes. Two that I haven't yet seen mentioned are: Flirtation Reel Improper Tony Parkes A1 Down the hall in a line of four, turn alone, return, face your neighbor A2 Hey B1 Balance and swing your neighbor B2 Long lines forward and back Ones swing Centrifugal Hey Improper Gene Hubert A1 Neighbor allemande right 1 & 1/2 Men allemande left 1 & 1/2 A2 Hey B1 (Balance) and swing partner B2 Right and left through Circle left 3/4 Pass through (The timing on Centrifugal Hey is a bit tighter than the others, the timing on Flirtation Reel is a bit kinder.) A question I'd like to explore is what are the ideal characteristics of a dance to teach a hey. My early working guesses are: -Exactly one full hey, as opposed to half a hey, or a hey and a quarter. -Ending with a full sixteen count something and swing, giving people eight seconds of slack to find your partner/neigbhor. -Having the previous figures walk the path of the hey, like the allemandes in The Carousel or Centrifugal Hey; or the ladies chain beforehand. -Recovery time somewhere else, and having the rest of the dance be simple and have a strong story-line, so newcomers need only panic over the hey. Thoughts? -Chris Page page(a)mail.sas.upenn.edu San Diego

17 years, 5 months

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Contra Callers November 2006