I hope it's "toot your own horn day" because i'm about to do so
(shamelessly)...
Please check out my original "paper plate" contras for the emerging artists
evening: http://www.folkmads.org/wendy_dances.html
They might be a fit (and a hit!) during an emerging artist-themed evening.
Note: At CDNY's Synergy dance weekend (http://www.cdny.org/Synergy.html) next
month, I'll be exploring these, and other playful dances, that are
influenced by non-"native" dance and music traditions, such as Disco, The
Rockettes, Johnny Cash, Latin, and more.(cross-over contras?)
Good luck with what sounds like a fun evening!
Sincerely,
Wendy Graham
970-903-9402
www.folkmads.org/wendy.htmlwww.facebook.com/perkypants
"feels like some kind of ride but it's turning out just to be life going
absolutely perfect." - StoryPeople
Hi Janet,
That's a neat dance that I'd like to try. I would think the way it's written
(swinging your *next* neighbor) works best since the CA Twirl makes you
change the direction your facing. But since dancers have turned to face back
in the opposite directiona fter the previous two CA Twirls, it may be tough
to "switch modes" and do a regular CA Twirl. I'd have to dance it to see
what that feels like...
Anyway, if you changed the dance to "swing your current neighbor", you'd
lose a progression. You could then swap in the "2x progression" B2 option
you suggested (no roll away) and it would make a regular single progression
dance. Hmm...now I want to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
-Sargon
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:24:31 -0400
From: Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] California Twirlin' author
Message-ID: <E5186D70-4924-49AC-85ED-757AE9A86AD5(a)massmed.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Bill,
Thanks for letting me know the square dancing terminology. When I
wrote the dance I was trying to think of a move (or a variation on a
move) that I didn't see used in contra dancing, at least not in dances
I had done.
I think the swing in A2 is fine as the dancers are facing a new
neighbor and have plenty of time for the swing. Someone, like Seth,
who has called the dance a lot may have more feedback on that. If I
remember correctly, I think when he first called it he had the dancers
swing their current neighbor instead of their new neighbors. I'm not
sure how that would work.
Janet
On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Liz and Bill wrote:
> Hi Janet,
>
> An interesting use of California twirl. Looks like a neat dance.
> I'm getting a lot of square dancers
> at my contra dances in New Zealand. In MWSD terminology "California
> twirl and face back in" is
> "California twirl and roll". How do women find the swing coming out
> of the California twirl in A2?
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
It's a great dance, and I've generally not seen problems with the "face
back in" and "face the next" california twirls (though I have a couple
of times had people try to balance before the swing, only to discover
that they didn't have time for the swing. The balance, roll away,
balance, california twirl sequence feels really good, so I would,
personally, hesitate to take it out. If you do try different versions,
though, let us know how it goes. Whenever I've called it, I've had
people come up and comment about what a great dance it is (and callers
asking for a copy).
Jack
At 12:19 PM 9/1/2009, you wrote:
Hi Janet,
That's a neat dance that I'd like to try. I would think the way it's
written
(swinging your *next* neighbor) works best since the CA Twirl makes
you
change the direction your facing. But since dancers have turned to
face back
in the opposite directiona fter the previous two CA Twirls, it may
be tough
to "switch modes" and do a regular CA Twirl. I'd have to dance it to
see
what that feels like...
Anyway, if you changed the dance to "swing your current neighbor",
you'd
lose a progression. You could then swap in the "2x progression" B2
option
you suggested (no roll away) and it would make a regular single
progression
dance. Hmm...now I want to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
-Sargon
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:24:31 -0400
From: Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] California Twirlin' author
Message-ID: <E5186D70-4924-49AC-85ED-757AE9A86AD5(a)massmed.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Bill,
Thanks for letting me know the square dancing terminology. When I
wrote the dance I was trying to think of a move (or a variation on a
move) that I didn't see used in contra dancing, at least not in
dances
I had done.
I think the swing in A2 is fine as the dancers are facing a new
neighbor and have plenty of time for the swing. Someone, like Seth,
who has called the dance a lot may have more feedback on that. If I
remember correctly, I think when he first called it he had the
dancers
swing their current neighbor instead of their new neighbors. I'm not
sure how that would work.
Janet
On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Liz and Bill wrote:
> Hi Janet,
>
> An interesting use of California twirl. Looks like a neat
dance.
> I'm getting a lot of square dancers
> at my contra dances in New Zealand. In MWSD terminology
"California
> twirl and face back in" is
> "California twirl and roll". How do women find the swing coming
out
> of the California twirl in A2?
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> [1]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
[2]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
References
1. http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
2. http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
The dance "California Twirlin'" has been travelling all over the country. I've seen multiple versions of the B2, and I've seen the author's name spelled multiple ways. It's something like Janet Leviton or Levinson. Does anyone know Janet? I'd love to get the correct spelling of her name, and her version of the dance.
Thanks,
Lynn
