Contra Callers June 2012

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

17 participants
13 discussions

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 months

Appropriate Tempos

by Dugan Murphy

Callers, What is your experience working with bands to establish an appropriate tempo? Do bands ever ask you what tempo you want? Do you ever request a particular tempo to fit a dance? Do you communicate tempo requirements numerically (beats per minute) or maybe by tapping your feet? When are slower tempos appropriate and when are faster ones appropriate? What do you consider to be the range in beats per minute that is appropriate for contra? Some preliminary research told me that a range of 112-120 beats per minute is appropriate. Do you agree? I've called with maybe 20-25 bands in my young calling career and only 2 have asked me for guidance or confirmation concerning the tempo of their music (both bands play primarily for non-contra audiences, I believe). I told both bands to use their judgment, which produced satisfactory results in all cases except one dance in which the band misunderstood my request for a sultry/flirty tune to mean that they should play at about half the tempo one would normally expect for contra, which proved terribly confusing for the dancers. The lesson I learned is that I ought to know more about the range of tempo that is expected for contra and what tempos are appropriate when so that I can provide that information to bands when asked. -- Dugan Murphy Cincinnati, Ohio http://caller.duganmurphy.com <http://www.linkedin.com/in/duganmurphy>

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] mentorship

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Ron wrote, "One of the biggest challenges is learning dances. A library of shared dances would be invaluable." I'll call folks' attention to a resource that's been mentioned here before, the detailed syllabi from the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/ralph-page-dance-legacy-weekend The whole collection contains hundreds of dances-- mostly contras, as well as squares, triplets, dances in odd formations, chestnuts, new compositions. Each dance is carefully notated, and there is frequently backgroun information to round out the interested caller's knowledge. Some dances are easier, suitable for mixed crowds, and some are more complex. (Occasionally, the syllabus editor, David Smukler, will add a cautionary note that clues in the reader that this particular dance may be more complicated than it appears.) All in all, this is a superb resource for callers both experienced and those newer to the mic. I think it's the best collection available on the web. > - I'd love a list of every dance everywhere, divided by region, with listings >of address, organizers, contact info, links to websites, and their policies toward >callers. (does this resource exist?) Don't think you'll find the "policies toward callers" but there are several excellent resources that do the rest: * http://www.contradancelinks.com/ * http://www.neffa.org/Top/Folk_Dancing/Contras/Dances/index.shtml * http://tedcrane.com/dancedb/ * http://www.thedancegypsy.com/ * http://www.contracorners.net/contra/links/dancemap.html Hope this helps. David Millstone

8 years, 1 month

Anyone Up late can you send me Bananna by Becky Hill!!

by Laur

Thanks - don't have my cards and need the dance. Laurie West Michigan ~ When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance. ~Hans Bos~ ~

8 years, 3 months

Fwd: prison gig

by Amy Cann

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Amy Cann <acann(a)putneyschool.org> Date: Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 11:33 PM Subject: Re: prison gig To: millstone(a)valley.net David, somehow I knew it would be you that would know what I didn't. Pourparler, not Sharedweight. A ha. Thank you, many times over. Cheers, Amy On Sun, Jun 17, 2012 at 11:46 AM, David Millstone < David.Millstone(a)valley.net> wrote: > Here's a link to your original post to the Pourlarler list, and I've > copied that to a PDF file, attached. > > David > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/**pourparler/message/956<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pourparler/message/956> >

8 years, 3 months

Dancing in prison at Christmas: does anyone remember this? Did I post it here?

by Amy Cann

I'm currently sitting in an airport with balky wifi and my google-fu has deserted me. Many moons and several computers ago I went on a post-gig rant. The gig was in the correctional facility up in St. J at Christmastime, and it was...thoughtprovoking. I'm in the midst of some work that relates to the for-profit prison industry and wish I could put my hands on it, but I can't. Is it archived somewhere? Why can't I get to it from the sharedweight homepage? Does anyone remember if it was printed in the NEFFA newsletter or CDSS? (am I just a moron?) I would dearly appreciate any links you could pass on. And thank you for not laughing at me (at least not audibly) :) Cheers, Amy

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 5

by Dan Pearl

I can't remember it in the NEFFA news. ________________________________ From: "callers-request(a)sharedweight.net" <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 12:00 PM Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 5 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. Dancing in prison at Christmas: does anyone remember this? Did I post it here? (Amy Cann) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:54:03 -0400 From: Amy Cann <acann(a)putneyschool.org> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Dancing in prison at Christmas: does anyone remember this? Did I post it here? Message-ID: <CALZWU+uBpzOkduLBQ8gncwWxmJVeuf_0+D+qv5bTUg5cX1F_0w(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I'm currently sitting in an airport with balky wifi and my google-fu has deserted me. Many moons and several computers ago I went on a post-gig rant. The gig was in the correctional facility up in St. J at Christmastime, and it was...thoughtprovoking. I'm in the midst of some work that relates to the for-profit prison industry and wish I could put my hands on it, but I can't. Is it archived somewhere? Why can't I get to it from the sharedweight homepage? Does anyone remember if it was printed in the NEFFA newsletter or CDSS? (am I just a moron?) I would dearly appreciate any links you could pass on. And thank you for not laughing at me (at least not audibly) :) Cheers, Amy ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 5 **************************************

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Dancing in prison at Christmas: does anyone remember this? Did I post it here?

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

Amy, your "Dancing in Prison" article appeared in the September/October, 2006, issue of the CDSS News. I cannot locate it online, but I can scan it and send you a PDF if you want. David Millstone

8 years, 3 months

caller's insurance?

by Amy Larkin

There's a dance instructor here who's planning to start a weekly Argentine Tango class. Any advice about insurance? The studio he wants to rent from requires him to have his own liability insurance. Thanks, Amy Larkin

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 3

by Joyce Isen

Thanks, Jacob. Some of my leads are starting to come together today. I hope to have the full story by the end of the week and will certainly update you. Best, Joyce On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM, <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. Rich Castner (Jacob & Nancy Bloom) > 2. Re: Looking for Rich Castner -- can you help? (John C. McIntire) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:57:41 -0400 > From: Jacob & Nancy Bloom <bloom(a)gis.net> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] Rich Castner > Message-ID: <133938771401(a)mx04.gis.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > Hi Joyce, > > Here's what I could find as contact info for Richer. He was > advertising himself five years ago as being available for calling, > and as far as I can tell without calling it, the 832-0888 number > seems to still be valid. > > Phone numbers: 207-832-0888 > 207-832-0889 > Email: richercastner(a)netscape.net > > Jacob Bloom > > At 12:00 PM 6/10/2012, you wrote: > > > >Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 14:46:27 -0400 > >From: Joyce Isen <joyceisen(a)gmail.com> > >To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > >Cc: Joyce Isen <joyceisen(a)gmail.com> > >Subject: [Callers] Looking for Rich Castner -- can you help? > >Message-ID: > > < > CALr5BzkgG0nLHxmTZvNn2J8ZF_ZV0gHFX777jqDeCvn3ohFbBg(a)mail.gmail.com> > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > > >Dear friends in the traditional dance community, > > > >I am looking for information that can help me locate Richard Castner, > >former head of the dance department at the State University of New York at > >Brockport, and accomplished square and contra dance caller. Rich authored > >some contra dances that are classics today, including ?The Road to > Boston,? > >and ?All the Way to Galway.? > > > >I am a musician (hammered dulcimer and percussion) who was often hired by > >Rich for dances in Rochester, NY, and it was through his mentoring that I > >attended my first Ralph Page dance camp at East Hill Farm and my first > >local contra dance in Nelson, NH. I moved to the Boston area in 1976 > >because this kind of music and dance was a living tradition in the > >northeast and I wanted to be part of it. > > > >I?ve been living in Concord lately and playing snare drum with a local > fife > >and drum company. I?m struck, as Rich must have been a long time ago, by > >the common ground in repertoire between the fiddle and fife in the > >18thcentury, and I finally bonded with ?The Downfall of Paris,? a tune > >Rich had > >asked me to play for him and that I never liked. The very first drum part > >I memorized was ?The Road to Boston,? so of course Rich was on my mind. > It > >would be wonderful to sit down with him and talk about old times, and to > >tell him about the ways in which my musical and personal life evolved as a > >result of his influence. > > > >I heard that he?d moved to Maine and was last seen at a festival in 2005. > The > >last information I got is that he was living in Waldoboro and had restored > >the old family homestead to its 18th century appearance. Unfortunately, > >the contact information is out of date and all my leads so far have been > >dead ends. > > > >I would be most grateful for any information anyone could provide about > >Rich recently or in the form of a story from the past. There are other > >friends here in Boston who would like to be in touch with him, too. We > >agree that even sad news would at least bring closure. > > > >With thanks, > > > >Joyce Desmarais Isen, Concord, MA > > > >978-369-2671 > > > >joyceisen(a)gmail.com > > > > > >------------------------------ > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Callers mailing list > >Callers(a)sharedweight.net > >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > >End of Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 2 > >************************************** > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:30:11 -0400 > From: "John C. McIntire" <circleleft(a)uninets.net> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Cc: Joyce Isen <joyceisen(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for Rich Castner -- can you help? > Message-ID: <4FD5D6C3.13076.6CA440D5(a)circleleft.uninets.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Hi Joyce & all, > > A quick phone call to the Waldoboro Town office revealed that his tax > bills are > being sent to his wife in Rochester NY at the following address: > > Janis Rickerman > 25 Lida Lane > Rochester NY 14616 > > The town office did not think he had passed on but the last time I spoke > with > him, several years ago, his health was not good. The phone # provided by > Jacob is out of service. > > best of luck, > > John, Unity ME > Date sent: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 14:46:27 -0400 > From: Joyce Isen <joyceisen(a)gmail.com> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Copies to: Joyce Isen <joyceisen(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [Callers] Looking for Rich Castner -- can you > help? > Send reply to: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net > > > <mailto:callers- > request(a)sharedweight.net?subject=unsubscribe> > <mailto:callers- > request(a)sharedweight.net?subject=subscribe> > > [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ] > > Dear friends in the traditional dance community, > > I am looking for information that can help me locate Richard Castner, > former head of the dance department at the State University of New York at > Brockport, and accomplished square and contra dance caller. Rich authored > some contra dances that are classics today, including "The Road to Boston," > and "All the Way to Galway." > > I am a musician (hammered dulcimer and percussion) who was often hired by > Rich for dances in Rochester, NY, and it was through his mentoring that I > attended my first Ralph Page dance camp at East Hill Farm and my first > local contra dance in Nelson, NH. I moved to the Boston area in 1976 > because this kind of music and dance was a living tradition in the > northeast and I wanted to be part of it. > > I?ve been living in Concord lately and playing snare drum with a local fife > and drum company. I?m struck, as Rich must have been a long time ago, by > the common ground in repertoire between the fiddle and fife in the > 18thcentury, and I finally bonded with "The Downfall of Paris," a tune > Rich had > asked me to play for him and that I never liked. The very first drum part > I memorized was "The Road to Boston," so of course Rich was on my mind. It > would be wonderful to sit down with him and talk about old times, and to > tell him about the ways in which my musical and personal life evolved as a > result of his influence. > > I heard that he?d moved to Maine and was last seen at a festival in 2005. > The > last information I got is that he was living in Waldoboro and had restored > the old family homestead to its 18th century appearance. Unfortunately, > the contact information is out of date and all my leads so far have been > dead ends. > > I would be most grateful for any information anyone could provide about > Rich recently or in the form of a story from the past. There are other > friends here in Boston who would like to be in touch with him, too. We > agree that even sad news would at least bring closure. > > With thanks, > > Joyce Desmarais Isen, Concord, MA > > 978-369-2671 > > joyceisen(a)gmail.com > _______________________________________________ > 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 94, Issue 3 > ************************************** >

8 years, 3 months

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Contra Callers June 2012