Contra Callers March 2010

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

33 participants
21 discussions

by Rickey

Hi, I am wondering if you have any dances for low numbers of dancers (perhaps 6 or less), when most or all of the dancers are beginners and adults. I am also wondering if you have any dances (presumably different dances), that do not require choosing a partner and are good openers for beginner adults. Thanks as always to all, Rickey Holt.

2 years

Re: [Callers] Festival Applications

by robertgolder＠comcast.net

I can only speak with reference to calling at NEFFA, as I have never applied to DownEast. As some of you may know that Linda Leslie is NEFFA's program chair, I will note that the program chair does not select performers for contra sessions. Regarding NEFFA 2007, the following notice is now posted at http://neffa.org/perf_app.html - The Program Committee is not prepared to take your application at this time, since it is too late to apply for this year's NEFFA Festival. Please note that the application to perform is always available during the month of September, with a deadline in October. If you'd like to get an e-mail notice of application availability, send a blank e-mail to NEFFA_Performers-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com So you can note on your calendar that September is a good time to check the NEFFA web site, and also arrange for a notice to pop up in your e-mail. The NEFFA application invites you to come up with a briefly-described theme for your session, with a title of 20 characters or less. IMO, use your own judgment as to how important the theme is. If you are offering a concept that's really meaningful to you, don't be afraid to describe it. If what you really want to do is just call some hot contras, then IMO I wouldn't go overboard on the theme. Unlike Northwest Folklife, callers and bands apply SEPARATELY to the New England Folk Festival. And I believe that this is a very good thing for beginning callers who hope to have a chance at getting onstage. This mix-and-match policy gives a fresh perspective for experienced performers, and can be an eye-opening experience for newcomers who may get to work with seasoned veterans. I will never forget calling at NEFFA with Northern Spy, a band that has worked with caller David Millstone for 25 years. And where was David during this session? Out on the floor, happily dancing to the music of his own band. NEFFA's selection process made that wonderful hour possible for me. For what it's worth, the first year I successfully applied I asked for a "Festival Orchestra" slot, which means that instead of calling a themed, hour-long session I called two dances in the Main Hall with the assembled orchestra and then got off the stage as the next Festival Orchestra caller had a turn. IMO, the key here (as well as in submitting a session proposal) is to choose dances that you know by heart, can teach well, fully believe in, and love to share with a crowd. You don't want to have second thoughts as you approach the microphone. If you're wondering why performer applications are required so far in advance of a festival, note that NEFFA may have 1700 performers, many of whom perform in multiple sessions (perhaps performing alone, and with a participatory dance group, and also with a concert performance group!). You can't doublebook a performer (or larger groups to which she may belong), you have to give her time to move from one venue to another, plus a bunch of other scheduling etceteras that would drive me loony to contemplate further. How scheduling was done in the days before computers is beyond me. -- Robert Jon Golder 164 Maxfield St New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 999-2486

4 years, 6 months

Spreading out the "Inexperience"

by Jerome Grisanti

I recently had the following exchange on a different list with Michael Shapiro (guitarist with U4): Michael wrote: >>> U4 just played the SwingShift weekend in Lexington/Berea. The caller was Barbara Groh. She did something that I think most callers should do, but I haven't seen before. After the sets were formed and people had done the hand four, she then broke up the beginners sets that had formed at the end of the lines. She asked then to move forward and intersperse themselves with the more advanced dancers (so that they were more toward the beggining of the line and the foursomes were not all beginners). She was also good at letting the music be heard ... I wrote: >> Regarding the caller asking sets to reform in order to spread the less experienced dancers throughout the hall, much tact is required. Generally, callers strive to avoid calling attention to particular dancers other than when asking people to watch a demonstration, but asking people to change sets can have the effect of making them feel like there is attention on them. In addition, newish dancers want to dance with people they know, even if those friends may also be newish dancers. >> Speaking to the entire crowd, I do encourage experienced dancers to share their experience by asking someone they've never met to dance at least once in the evening, and praise the community for being so welcoming to newcomer dancers. So while I might be thinking "let's break up this clump of confusion," it would not be good to say something that draws attention to "you people right here." >> I have asked, off mic, for a set of experienced dancers to offer to repartner with a set of inexperienced dancers down the line. To this list, I ask: I'd be interested in the wording that Barbara Groh used (which I'm assuming was quite gentle). I'm also guessing other callers on this list have developed tactful ways to address this issue. Thanks, Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

14 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Question about Venus & Mars timing....

by The Witful Turnip

Thanks everyone who chimed in to help! Makes perfect sense now that I look at it, that the circle and rollaway should be in the first phrase of the A2, and the gents allemanding and ladies orbiting in the second phrase. Thank you David for reminding me about the RPLDW syllabi. I've said for years that I need to get to that weekend and still haven't made it. Probably why I never think to look there but I've added the link to my favorites now. Bill actually got the answer to me first since I get this list as the digest version and he emailed me directly as well. I was going to call the dance again tonight but ended up switching it out for Money Musk instead!! Yes Martha, I know all about your husband! I met both of you at the English Weekend in STL last Labor Day. I think it's really cool that you went to school with Martin, Lisa. What a great resource this group is! Thanks again everyone. Bev

14 years, 8 months

Question about Venus & Mars timing...

by The Witful Turnip

Hi all, I have a dance called "Venus & Mars" noted as written by a Martin Sirk. I believe that I've danced it a number of times but had never called it until a week ago. I can't remember how/where I got the calls. I've tried searching for it online but can't seem to find anything resembling what I have. So, I thought I'd consult my panel of experts. First question is, do I have this written correctly? A1: Neighbor balance & swing A2: Circle L 3/4 Partners rollaway w half sashay (up/down)* B1: Gents allemande L 1 1/2, while the ladies orbit CW 1/2 way Partner swing B2: Circle L 3/4 Balance ring, partners california twirl My second question is about the timing in the A2, which is why I keep wondering if I've transcribed this incorrectly. There seems to be leftover time. I think people are used to circling L 3/4 in 8 counts. * But I'd say that the rollaway w half sashay is only worth 4 counts maybe 6, but not 8, especially if people have good weight and really move the circle around. Is the timing really that mushy? I found that many of the gents started the allemande early. The ladies often took a split second to remember they were orbiting, but everyone had quite a bit longer than 8 counts for the partner swing. While I was watching the dancers, it seemed like every circle of 4 was in a slightly different place in the dance. As it happened, I was calling the dance with an old time band and the tune didn't have particularly distinct phrasing, so I didn't think it was particularly problematic. I just don't remember there being that much spare time when I've danced it. Anyone call this dance that can comment? Thanks, Bev

14 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Question about Venus & Mars timing...

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Hi Bev, You have the bare bones of the dance transcribed correclty, but not the timing. >From the 2004 Syllabus for the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend: A2- Circle left 3/4, with partner on the side rollaway with a half sashay Gents allemande left 1&1/2 while women orbit clockwise halfway round I'll just repeat a suggestion I've made before: The collection of syllabi from the RPDLW is a great place to look for dances, especially given the handy index that David Smukler updates each year: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/ralph-page-dance-legacy-weekend David's notes for this dance: ---quoted material follows: The author, an astronomer says, "The only thing I would add is that when the ladies orbit, they pass right shoulders with the lady in the next square [i.e., minor set], that is they go around each other. This really adds to the sensation of swirling planets." Note that, except for its title, this contra dance is entirely unrelated to the "Venus and Mars" square dance figure. ---end quoted material David Millstone Lebanon, NH

14 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin

by Jerome Grisanti

Rich Goss wrote: > That would be an interesting discussion topic.? Has anyone encountered a > mad robin that is reversed? > -- > In the English dance "Mad Robin," the ones do the mad robin figure following the path of the do-si-do, but when the twos do the figure they are following the path of a see-saw. Not sure about modern contras, but I expect at least some involve a see-saw-path mad robin. --Jerome Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

14 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin

by richgoss＠comcast.net

That would be an interesting discussion topic. Has anyone encountered a mad robin that is reversed? I can't recall one. I know sometimes it's the gents passing in front and sometimes it's the ladies, but that just depends on where you start from. I think a mad robin always follows the dosido path, just depends on if you start from the gent below, or gent above. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack Mitchell" <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 7:34:32 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin If you teach it that way, make sure that it is actually the path of a Do Si Do and not a See Saw....

14 years, 9 months

Teaching Mad Robin

by Rickey

Hi all, I am looking for suggestions on how best to teach a "Mad Robin" to contra dancers who have not encountered it before. It is in "Joyride" after a Gypsy and I have tried suggesting that they just let their feet take them around on the same path as the Gypsy did while turning to face their partner, and I have tried describing how the women start going up and inside and the men down and outside - but there is still a bit too much confusion out there. I am planning on doing this in a venue where it may not be feasible to do a demo. Any additional ideas? Rickey

14 years, 9 months

Callers' Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf in central NC

by Jack Mitchell

Callers' Workshop -- Beyond the basics An intensive three-day workshop with Lisa Greenleaf May 21-23 near Durham, NC In this three day workshop, intermediate callers will have a chance to further develop as a caller and dance leader. The workshop will include discussion of such things as the language of teaching, time to practice calling with feedback from Lisa and the other workshop participants, and an evening dance on Saturday night with participants doing the calling. This weekend will also be an opportunity for callers who are just getting established to network with other callers and establish ties in the community. I've attached the flyer and registration information. Please pass this on to others who you think might be interested. This is being sent out to a number of mailing lists, so I apologize to folks who receive it multiple times.

14 years, 9 months

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Contra Callers March 2010