Chris,
There is not "correct" answer for this. This is "folk dance".
That said, do you know your audience? I've been leading a family dance
series for 21 years now. We've learned to plan a wide variety of dances because
we never know who is going to show up. I am a huge fan of play party singing
games and very simple dances for a younger set. We usually have a group
of high school foreign exchange students show up for either our January or
February dance. I've warned the band and the other leaders to be prepared!
Many simple play party games can be done to almost any reel or jig if YOU
make it okay. If this is an ONS, then make it fun and don't worry too much
about form or what is "correct". Keep it simple and keep it fun.
You should be able to find a ton of play party games and simple dances
online.
Good luck!
John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ
Hello everyone!
Once again, this weekend is the Ralph Page event at the University of
New Hampshire in Durham, NH. Once again, many of us will be there.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this year, as I have for the
past several years.
I sincerely hope that all of you that are attending will continue the
SharedWeight lunches on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. Would
someone like to step up and volunteer to push tables together for
everyone? Maybe this year someone would like to coordinate a potluck?
I'll miss seeing everyone and all of the wonderful dancing and
conversations that happen every year. Have a blast!
Thanks, everyone, for your participation on these lists in 2011. You
make these lists the valuable resources that they are. Looking forward
to an even better 2012!
Happy dancing!
Chris Weiler
Craftsbury, VT
>
> From: Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing
> Subject: [Callers] Changing on the last round for a partner swing
>
> Callers --
>
>
>
> So what do y'all think? What do you do? How you do think people like it?
There are some dances where you are placed far from your partner at the end which I think should always be altered for a partner swing. Otherwise, I'd say just sometimes is appropriate.
I also speak from limited calling experience (4 years, in Maine and more
recently Boston). I do give more programmatic weight to becket dances
towards the end of the halves, and occasionally i'll modify a B part that
already circles left to end with a partner swing.
(I take a fairly conservative approach based on my own experience as a
dancer. I may be atypical but i rarely find partners i'm so into that i
want every dance to end with a swing. IMO, if this were all about partners,
people would be dancing salsa or swing; i prefer the more
communally-oriented tradition of contra. No doubt there are also a variety
of opinions among the dancers.)
I'd say there are two basic approaches a caller can take to this question:
develop a style that is authentically your own (if you love to end with a
swing, do it; if not, why bother?) or consult people in the dance
communities you're visiting as a caller and modify your approach to suit
local tastes.
There is however a technique no one has brought up so far, one used by
several callers i know. I don't think it at all awkward to acknowledge a
new neighbor and then acknowledge my partner, and to that end some callers
simply say "and bow to your partner" as the music finishes, always careful
to ensure it dovetails with what the band is doing.
Will however agree with Chris, the most disappointing of common B2 options
to end with is ladies chain to a left hand star, though i do not think
disappointment is intrinsic to the moves. Perhaps it is because we have
failed to cultivate the basic sense of dancing 'with' the others on all
moves, even the most mundane connective tissue of the dance.
The great strength of this tradition is its plurality.
contra dance music and calling workshops deerfield, nh
Feb. 4 - Carol Compton, "Play in the Band": Feb. 4 - David Millstone, "Call
Chestnuts" March 3 - Chris Ricciotti, "CALLER'S WORKSHOP - A SOLID
FOUNDATION" Sylvia Miskoe "Play Your Accordion for Dancing".
*** RSVP, ASAP to reserve a space. Info and reservations:
<mailto:holt.e@comcast.net> holt.e(a)comcast.net, (603) 679-1915 ***
*** PRICE: $25.00, includes admission to the evening dance where workshop
leaders will be calling and playing. *** (Contact us at the above address to
explore the possibility of a few limited scholarships if needed).
*** Additional details will be sent to workshop participants.
*** Additional info: contact holt.e(a)comcast.net and I will send you a copy
of the flyer.
FYI
Choreography, choreographer.
Martha Wild
On Dec 31, 2011, at 9:00 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> callers-request(a)sharedweight.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Do you share - or don't you? (Greg McKenzie)
> 2. Re: Do you share - or don't you? (Ron Nelson)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:17:20 -0800
> From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you?
> Message-ID:
> <CAFqkWLvY-vB7_bpbn2YMTgHV5-jn_RtDEKaynAT15u4uORf2QA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hanny wrote:
>
>> Valid reasons indeed, Colin. But what about dances that are NOT
>> your own
>> and that you call? Does anybody ever announce 'please don't call
>> this dance
>> without speaking to me first' or somesuch?
>>
>
> I can see why some coriographers may want to insulate a new dance
> from the
> folk process...for a time. Eventually, however, the folks will get
> a hold
> of it and you will lose control. I don't know of many dances that are
> being hoarded by callers. It seems like a doomed effort in any
> case. If
> someone doesn't want their dance called I will remove it from my
> database
> and allow it to spiral into the oblivion of "protected works" where it
> belongs. The musicians play public domain music and I feel that we
> should
> call dances that are also available for free use. There are plenty of
> great dances available without restriction and more being written
> all the
> time. I always give credit to the alleged coriographer on my cards
> and
> when I pass a dance on. If you want to become immortalized by your
> work it
> is best not to keep it in a lockbox.
>
> - Greg
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:24:21 +0000
> From: Ron Nelson <callerman(a)hotmail.com>
> To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you?
> Message-ID: <BAY171-W136DA2E1056637AF29B2850B8920(a)phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> When I first started calling square dances, some 50 years ago, I
> would attend other callers' dances to research my own presentation.
> i would carry a little notebook in my pocket to make notes. The
> point is, once you have presented the figure in public, it is no
> longer within your control. You can only control its being
> reprinted without proper recognition and permission.
>
> Ron Nelson
> Chula Vista, CA
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:17:20 -0800
>> From: grekenzie(a)gmail.com
>> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you?
>>
>> Hanny wrote:
>>
>>> Valid reasons indeed, Colin. But what about dances that are NOT
>>> your own
>>> and that you call? Does anybody ever announce 'please don't call
>>> this dance
>>> without speaking to me first' or somesuch?
>>>
>>
>> I can see why some coriographers may want to insulate a new dance
>> from the
>> folk process...for a time. Eventually, however, the folks will get
>> a hold
>> of it and you will lose control. I don't know of many dances that are
>> being hoarded by callers. It seems like a doomed effort in any
>> case. If
>> someone doesn't want their dance called I will remove it from my
>> database
>> and allow it to spiral into the oblivion of "protected works"
>> where it
>> belongs. The musicians play public domain music and I feel that we
>> should
>> call dances that are also available for free use. There are plenty of
>> great dances available without restriction and more being written
>> all the
>> time. I always give credit to the alleged coriographer on my cards
>> and
>> when I pass a dance on. If you want to become immortalized by your
>> work it
>> is best not to keep it in a lockbox.
>>
>> - Greg
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 88, Issue 36
> ***************************************
