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
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
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>
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
I would like to thank you all for your dances.
Joe
In a message dated 7/27/2012 12:00:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
callers-request(a)sharedweight.net writes:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 7 (Martha Wild)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:07:09 -0700
From: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 7
Message-ID: <2754FC34-3460-4C7D-ADC7-EB53756C7777(a)sbcglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Do-si-do neighbor (who cares if it's the same sex or not?_
#1s do-si-do
#1s balance and swing
Circle left
Circle right
Duck for the oyster figure, 1s under to start.
Swing can be a 2 hand turn or elbow swing
On Jul 26, 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. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com)
> 2. Ellen's Green Jig (David Millstone)
> 3. Re: Ellen's Green Jig (Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:13:48 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <1756.31c7646f.3d41f3cc(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> The dance that Martha referenced (see below) Ellen's Green Jig
>
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/25/2012 11:18:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> richsbardella(a)snet.net writes:
>
> Which dance are you asking for?
>
> --- On Tue, 7/24/12, Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 7:57 PM
>
>
> Would you please share that choreography? I used to have that dance
but
> no longer.
> Thanks.
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we
should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/24/2012 11:30:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> mawild(a)sbcglobal.net writes:
>
> Ellen's Green JIg, by Roy Dommett,
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: 25 Jul 2012 20:24:33 -0400
> From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Ellen's Green Jig
> Message-ID: <154870233(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Hi Donna et. al.,
>
> See the archives of this group for a discussion of the dance, with
instructions
> and commentary:
>
> http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-October/001066.html
>
> David Millstone
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:04:33 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Ellen's Green Jig
> Message-ID: <2aca.6dad406a.3d41ffb1(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Thanks David.
> I had this dance when I first started calling (20 years ago). About 10
> years ago my caller bag (and all my cards) was stolen out of my car and
I lost
> everything! I've replaced a lot of the dances but occasionally one pops
up
> that I missed.
>
>
> I agree. This is one dance that was very accessible to a room full of
> beginners.
>
> P.s. I still use cards, but now they are backed up on my computer!!
>
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/25/2012 9:22:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> David.Millstone(a)valley.net writes:
>
> Hi Donna et. al.,
>
> See the archives of this group for a discussion of the dance, with
> instructions
> and commentary:
>
> http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-October/001066.html
>
> David Millstone
> _______________________________________________
> 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 95, Issue 7
> **************************************
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 8
**************************************
Do-si-do neighbor (who cares if it's the same sex or not?_
#1s do-si-do
#1s balance and swing
Circle left
Circle right
Duck for the oyster figure, 1s under to start.
Swing can be a 2 hand turn or elbow swing
On Jul 26, 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. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com)
> 2. Ellen's Green Jig (David Millstone)
> 3. Re: Ellen's Green Jig (Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:13:48 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <1756.31c7646f.3d41f3cc(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> The dance that Martha referenced (see below) Ellen's Green Jig
>
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/25/2012 11:18:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> richsbardella(a)snet.net writes:
>
> Which dance are you asking for?
>
> --- On Tue, 7/24/12, Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 7:57 PM
>
>
> Would you please share that choreography? I used to have that dance but
> no longer.
> Thanks.
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/24/2012 11:30:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> mawild(a)sbcglobal.net writes:
>
> Ellen's Green JIg, by Roy Dommett,
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: 25 Jul 2012 20:24:33 -0400
> From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Ellen's Green Jig
> Message-ID: <154870233(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Hi Donna et. al.,
>
> See the archives of this group for a discussion of the dance, with instructions
> and commentary:
>
> http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-October/001066.html
>
> David Millstone
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:04:33 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Ellen's Green Jig
> Message-ID: <2aca.6dad406a.3d41ffb1(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Thanks David.
> I had this dance when I first started calling (20 years ago). About 10
> years ago my caller bag (and all my cards) was stolen out of my car and I lost
> everything! I've replaced a lot of the dances but occasionally one pops up
> that I missed.
>
>
> I agree. This is one dance that was very accessible to a room full of
> beginners.
>
> P.s. I still use cards, but now they are backed up on my computer!!
>
> Donna
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 7/25/2012 9:22:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> David.Millstone(a)valley.net writes:
>
> Hi Donna et. al.,
>
> See the archives of this group for a discussion of the dance, with
> instructions
> and commentary:
>
> http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-October/001066.html
>
> David Millstone
> _______________________________________________
> 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 95, Issue 7
> **************************************
Thanks David.
I had this dance when I first started calling (20 years ago). About 10
years ago my caller bag (and all my cards) was stolen out of my car and I lost
everything! I've replaced a lot of the dances but occasionally one pops up
that I missed.
I agree. This is one dance that was very accessible to a room full of
beginners.
P.s. I still use cards, but now they are backed up on my computer!!
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 7/25/2012 9:22:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
David.Millstone(a)valley.net writes:
Hi Donna et. al.,
See the archives of this group for a discussion of the dance, with
instructions
and commentary:
http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-October/001066.html
David Millstone
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
The dance that Martha referenced (see below) Ellen's Green Jig
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 7/25/2012 11:18:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
richsbardella(a)snet.net writes:
Which dance are you asking for?
--- On Tue, 7/24/12, Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 7:57 PM
Would you please share that choreography? I used to have that dance but
no longer.
Thanks.
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 7/24/2012 11:30:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
mawild(a)sbcglobal.net writes:
Ellen's Green JIg, by Roy Dommett,
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
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http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
