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.
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
Speaking of dances with missing details, I have a great dance called
Fruit Punch. Diane Silver called it at Bogue Banks Boogie a few years
ago. Not sure who wrote it (maybe Diane?).
I evidently wrote it down wrong since it doesn't progress but instead
keeps sending the dancers back and forth. Someone said it felt like
it was missing a circle somewhere. Does it start with a circle left
half way into a slide left? Does anyone have the correct
choreography? I haven't heard back from Diane yet about this question.
What I have is this:
Fruit Punch by Diane or?
I have Improper written down, but it looks like a Becket.
A1 With couple on L diagonal, Yearn to new Neighbors and fall straight
back (8)
Ladies Allem R 1+1/2 (8)
A2 N Balance & Swing (16)
B1 Take hands in a ring.
Balance the ring (4)
Pass through to an ocean wave (4)
Balance the wave (4)
N Allemande R x1 (4)
B2 Ladies Allemande L 1+1/2 to partner (8)
Partner swing (8)
Thanks for any clarification anyone might have.
Joy Greenwolfe
Durham, NC
Talent agent (who probably just had his coffee enema): TOM HINDS, ARE
YOU AVAILABLE TO CALL A SQUARE DANCE ON SUCH AND SUCH DATE?
Tom: Yes I'm free. What kind of........
Talent agent: GREAT! I'LL PUT YOU DOWN! click
So I get to the gig and discover that the band plays top 40 music.
The hundred or so dancers all wanted to dance and each square had
about a 5 foot by 5 foot space.
The band decided to play blues progressions. It was actually fun
because I had to really adapt.
T
Hello Friends!
Many of you will be calling dances tomorrow night. Wouldn't it be fun if we all called the same dance at 11:30-ish pm? We could all share a wider-community experience within our respective time zones.
I was thinking about something like 333, but am looking for any ideas especially if you would like to participate. If we can settle on something and post it to F-book by tonight it might work!
Louie Cromartie
Oh, Mark, that is so awesome! What a great nightmare. I've had them too, but it mostly involves showing up in a strange place without any cards or totally forgetting I was going to call or having my slippers on - no lovely Zwiefacher's or Dave Brubeck band music. My real caller's nightmare was calling for a bunch of airline personnel at a large company party in a tent opposite a climbing wall and a craps table who were all drunk and new people kept crashing into the dance and dragging other people along with them.
Martha
On Dec 29, 2012, 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. Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices) (Mark Hillegonds)
> 2. Re: Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices) (Dorcas Hand)
> 3. Re: Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices) (Donald Perley)
> 4. Re: Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices) (Kalia Kliban)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:41:25 -0500
> From: "Mark Hillegonds" <mhillegonds(a)comcast.net>
> To: "'Caller's discussion list'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices)
> Message-ID: <001301cde522$8f66cc20$ae346460$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi all,
>
> Hope you're all enjoying the holiday season.
>
> I had one of the worst dreams of my life last night and thought I'd share
> it.
>
> I was calling a contra dance where I didn't know the dancers very well.
> There were a good number of people, but most of them were square dancers who
> insisted in doing the contra dances in square formation. The contra dancers
> were experienced and wanted to dance in lines.
>
> When I looked at the card for the first dance, it was a combination of
> contra and square dance calls. I went back to my box of dance cards and
> found that it was filled with restaurant menus. I opened one of the menus
> and found some dances, but every one of them referenced some sort of slice,
> like cucumber slice and tomato slice and pizza slice. (I guess I had the
> Slices thread on my mind!)
>
> The band (which only knew zwiefachers and Dave Brubeck's Take Five) began
> playing some tunes and one of the dancers started a conga line.
>
> I rang a hand bell to get everyone's attention and realized it was my alarm
> going off. I was never so relieved to hear my alarm. 8-)
>
> Hope you all have better dreams!!!
>
> Mark Hillegonds
>
> cell: 734-756-8441
> email: mhillegonds(a)comcast.net
> blog: www.defriction.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:29:31 -0600
> From: Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices)
> Message-ID:
> <68BE1BAE269CBC4B80BD58B034C86C9901D66E5DC5E5(a)mx1.networkservice.local>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> If the SNL writers knew anything about contradancing, they could have a heck of a good time with that one!
> Dorcas Hand
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Mark Hillegonds
> Sent: Friday, December 28, 2012 11:41 AM
> To: 'Caller's discussion list'
> Subject: [Callers] Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices)
>
> Hi all,
>
> Hope you're all enjoying the holiday season.
>
> I had one of the worst dreams of my life last night and thought I'd share it.
>
> I was calling a contra dance where I didn't know the dancers very well.
> There were a good number of people, but most of them were square dancers who insisted in doing the contra dances in square formation. The contra dancers were experienced and wanted to dance in lines.
>
> When I looked at the card for the first dance, it was a combination of contra and square dance calls. I went back to my box of dance cards and found that it was filled with restaurant menus. I opened one of the menus and found some dances, but every one of them referenced some sort of slice, like cucumber slice and tomato slice and pizza slice. (I guess I had the Slices thread on my mind!)
>
> The band (which only knew zwiefachers and Dave Brubeck's Take Five) began playing some tunes and one of the dancers started a conga line.
>
> I rang a hand bell to get everyone's attention and realized it was my alarm going off. I was never so relieved to hear my alarm. 8-)
>
> Hope you all have better dreams!!!
>
> Mark Hillegonds
>
> cell: 734-756-8441
> email: mhillegonds(a)comcast.net
> blog: www.defriction.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:10:24 -0500
> From: Donald Perley <donperley(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices)
> Message-ID:
> <CAMKNU+8pxKEzE9p278UcHsf19aH7N3WU4=M81F39xMkk5sLAyA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Just the other day I was contemplating Take 5 as a dance tune. Must
> be the obituary put it in our heads.
>
> On Fri, Dec 28, 2012 at 12:41 PM, Mark Hillegonds
> <mhillegonds(a)comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> The band (which only knew zwiefachers and Dave Brubeck's Take Five) began
>> playing some tunes and one of the dancers started a conga line.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:30:47 -0800
> From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Dance Caller's Nightmare (was Slices)
> Message-ID: <50DE0F87.4030104(a)sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 12/28/2012 1:10 PM, Donald Perley wrote:
>> Just the other day I was contemplating Take 5 as a dance tune. Must
>> be the obituary put it in our heads.
>
> Here's a video of the stellar (sorry for the pun) Orion Longsword and
> their original dance Take 5:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnZZlEEyJ8c
>
> For those unfamiliar with the tradition of English longsword dance, you
> can find a fair number of videos out there on Youtube. Orion (based in
> the Boston area) does some of the traditional dances, but mostly
> performs their own compositions. If you ever go to NEFFA you might get
> to see them there.
>
> Kalia
>
> p.s. Though it was the Dave Brubeck Quintet who recorded the tune, it
> was actually written by the group's sax player, Paul Desmond.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 100, Issue 18
> ****************************************
There was a two-part video previously available on the WMUR TV (Manchester,
NH) web site on the history of contra dancing. IIRC, it had footage from
the RPDLW. I'd linked to it from the http://mondaycontras.com site but WMUR
apparently redesigned their site and those links no longer work (and
searching uncovered nothing). Does anyone have an alternative location
where that material is posted?
Thanks,
Don
Once, I dreamed that I looked down at my card, and it was a recipe card, a d so I said, "go down the hall, four in line, turn by yourself and return with a pound of hand-rolled pasta."
Nothing gives me anxiety dreams like calling ....
Meg
Sent from my iPhone
From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
>> John: We have slices, double slices and half slices as well.
> Just curious, can you tell us how to dance a double slice and a
> half slice? It's great to have all of these different ideas when
> writing dances.
> Thanks, Tom
Hi Tom,
A Double Slice is just another name for what some people call a
Yearn, forwards as a couple on the left (usually) diagonal to the next
couple, then backwards on a left diagonal to the next couple along - a
double progression.
Half a Slice: This was posted on this or another caller forum,
so I hope Bob won't mind me posting it again:
Half a Slice: As a couple, go forward towards each other on the
diagonal. The top two dancers join hands; the bottom two push off to
make a line of four facing down. This is an efficient way to get
everyone progressed and facing down in 8 beats, so there is time for
creative or dramatic push-offs.
Half a Slice (by Bob Isaacs)
Contra; Becket
A1: Half a Slice on Left Diagonal to a Line of Four Facing Down
Down the Hall in Lines of Four - Turn Alone
A2: Up the Hall in Lines of Four - Bend the Line
Ladies Allemande L 1 & 1/2
B1: Neighbour Balance & Swing
B2: Circle L 3/4
Partner Swing - finish facing on the Left Diagonal
= = = =
I had some ideas about using the Half a Slice move, but when I wrote
the dance it changed itself (these dances do that sometimes when you're
not looking!) and I ended up with:
The Pattern Unfolds (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Becket (CW) (when out wait Improper)
A1: Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross by the Left Shoulder (Lady
coming Up makes an Arch) - look for a New Neighbour - Men
turn to the new Circle as well (now progressed - couples out)
Balance the New Ring x 2 - on the second Unfold into a Line of
Four Facing Down
A2: Down the Hall in Lines of Four
Neighbour Swing - finish facing across
B1: Balance the Ring x 2 - on the second Unfold into a Line of Four
Facing Up
Up the Hall in Lines of Four - Bend the Line
B2: Neighbour Allemande Right; Ladies Allemande Left 1/2
Partner Swing
The Unfold is like the end of Half a Slice: the appropriate two push off
to make a line of four.
I haven't had a chance to try this one much. Feedback much appreciated
if anyone tries it.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Yes, everyone swings their own partner in the center of the
set. Extra room is needed up and down the set.
Jacob
>Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:11:46 -0500
>From: Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com>
>To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>Subject: Re: [Callers] Genderless beginner dances
>Message-ID:
> <CAFrKOZYWECpnnc4sHyhAuuP_V0mOp3NxWbEnHy9+Jnws59hdkw(a)mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>Jacob, thanks for the dance. If I understand it correctly, you're having
>them swing along the set, rather than on the sides of the set?
