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,
Rich Sbardella sent a link to a simple longways dance that usually uses
"Montego Bay" as the music. I first saw it at an English country dance,
introduced as a "colonial" dance. When the music started (Montego Bay), the
caller then noted that the "colony" was Jamaica. Worth a laugh, or at least
a chuckle.
-- Jerome Grisanti
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:10:30 -0700 (PDT)
> From: rich sbardella <richsbardella(a)snet.net>
>
>
> Gender Free EZ dance lnk.? Taped at Bob Livingston's monthly dance in
> Killingly CT.? The dance was prompted by me and I call it bay rollers
> because it has the solo rolls and because I usually use "Montego Bay" as
> the music.? I do not know the origin of the dance.? I learned it from a
> Western MA caller named Gene King.? I have used this dance with all age
> groups and with various group compositions,? It is a favorite at ONS
> parties.
> ?
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDceiX8W5lA
>
>
--
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
This is very helpful Thank you so much.
Joe
In a message dated 7/24/2012 11:30:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
callers-request(a)sharedweight.net writes:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (rich sbardella)
2. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com)
3. Re: Callers Gender Free Dances (Bob Green)
4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Martha Wild)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:10:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: rich sbardella <richsbardella(a)snet.net>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343092230.2428.YahooMailClassic(a)web180003.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Gender Free EZ dance lnk.? Taped at Bob Livingston's monthly dance in
Killingly CT.? The dance was prompted by me and I call it bay rollers because
it has the solo rolls and because I usually use "Montego Bay" as the music.?
I do not know the origin of the dance.? I learned it from a Western MA
caller named Gene King.? I have used this dance with all age groups and with
various group compositions,? It is a favorite at ONS parties.
?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDceiX8W5lA
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a? few contras.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
? Thanks,
? ? ? ? ???Joe?
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:35:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <2f05c.7ca9bba1.3d3f55df(a)aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I guess the most important question I would ask is this: is this group
planning on continuing as a contra dance series or are they only
interested in
a one-night stand dance? And how many is "a large group"?
If it's a one night stand then I'd stay away from contras completely
(other
than Virginia Reel, OXO and Boston Tea Party), but if they are interested
in continuing as a contra dance series that's another story.
Donna Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 7/23/2012 4:25:57 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
winston(a)slac.stanford.edu writes:
Joseph --
Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to
non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who
wanted
to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it
instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and
then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances
with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've
got
this covered.
Even so, some suggestions:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
Orcadian Strip the Willow
(Long line of couples.)
Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
Left elbow 1x with neighbor
Right elbow 1x with partner
Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or
not, in gender-neutral version)
Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples
are still going. (So at
the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is
probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if
people go
too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one
they
come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falling Masonry
Easy, ceilidh
4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay facing
out.
(Variants possible here with arching).
A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional),
forward,
drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
(A new couple starts every two bars).
B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
in progressed place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two
functionally gender-free
dances named after Cumberland (in England):
CUMBERLAND REEL
>From "Barn Dance Book"
Four-couple longways
32-bar JIGs
A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
B:
1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
then make an arch at the bottom;
everyone goes through with their partner.
9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and back
up the middle to start the dance again.
(Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar
B,
not repeated.
Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or jig.
Square set
A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try "couples
pass
keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
A2: Sides the same.
B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
B2: Sides the same.
A1: Tops basket.
A2: Sides the same.
B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from
square formation is on
The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the
outside.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
_______________________________________________
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: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 23:23:05 -0500
From: Bob Green <bobgreen(a)swbell.net>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers Gender Free Dances
Message-ID:
<CALRzhZKKGJx_stNzgp4AbEVsp4z1+hXpOT31Ubncu-JLW37BBQ(a)mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
too funny...* *called an ONS dance Sat.....Jefferson & Liberty, Galopede,
Cumberland Square 8....you pretty much recited my program.
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:30:40 -0700
From: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <F31024AF-D61C-44FC-B6C6-63D21B370277(a)sbcglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I call Ellen's Green JIg, by Roy Dommett, to weddings and Catholic girl's
schools etc. (usually after doing something like Virginia Reel to get the
idea of lines of facing couples)
This dance does not matter if the number one people open up on their side
of the set or not when they face their neighbor, and I don't worry about
it. People are almost always connected (the circling and the dip and diving)
so it's hard to go wrong. The one thing I've seen go wrong is facing across
the set for the dip and dive instead of up and down! So I make sure to get
them oriented for that.
I also do the square dance Birdie in the Cage. I tell each couple to
choose who is going to be the Birdie, and who is going to be the Crow. Then when
I get to the break figure, I can say "Crows (or Birdies) to the middle
with a right hand star" and go from there. Similarly Crows in the middle on
the promenade around. I don't worry about whether they stand on the side of
the set with the crow on the left or the birdie on the right as they are
waiting or after they swing (which is sometimes just a two hand turn or elbow
swing for beginnners and children). Doesn't matter. I even do Birdie in the
Cage with 5 couples in a circle if I have a couple out.
Martha Wild
On Jul 23, 2012, at 4:30 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
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Gender Neutral Dance Request (JsphDeP(a)aol.com)
> 2. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
> 3. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
> 4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Winston, Alan P.)
> 5. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Jonathan Sivier)
> 6. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Liz and Bill)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:58:07 -0400 (EDT)
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <2fbdb.51334e0f.3d3ef8bf(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Hi All,
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few
gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a few contras.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:21:32 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <1343071292.77627.YahooMailClassic(a)web161801.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the
VA Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's
series of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have
had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.?
Also, do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't
have the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a
definite factor.?
>
> Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
> A1? Circle Left
> ?????? Circle Right
> A2? Right Hand Star
> ?????? Left Hand Star back to place
> B1? 1's Go down the outside
> ?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to
form a line of 4
> B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
> ?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
> ?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
>
> There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions
of this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA?
>
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
>
> Hi All,
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few
gender
> neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
> few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a? few contras.
>
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> ? Thanks,
> ? ? ? ? ???Joe?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:30:30 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <1343071830.59312.YahooMailClassic(a)web161802.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> I should add that Longways Set Dances like the VA Reel and Boston Tea
Party also usually have the top couple in the line doing a figure where they
end up at the end of the line (and there is a new top couple), so there is
some downtime for the dancers who are not yet the top couple in the line.?
During that time the other people in the line will not be "dancing", and
will often clap to the beat (like when the top couple is reeling the line in
the VA Reel - that series of left and right allemandes that take the top
couple to the bottom of the line).? You can encourage the clapping if they
don't just do it themselves.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 3:21 PM
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the
VA Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's
series of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I
have had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.?
Also, do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't
have the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is
a definite factor.?
>
> Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
> A1? Circle Left
> ?????? Circle Right
> A2? Right Hand Star
> ?????? Left Hand Star back to place
> B1? 1's Go down the outside
> ?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to
form a line of 4
> B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
> ?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
> ?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
>
> There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions
of this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA?
>
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
>
> Hi All,
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few
gender
> neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
> few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a? few contras.
>
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> ? Thanks,
> ? ? ? ? ???Joe?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 4
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:25:47 -0700
> From: "Winston, Alan P." <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> To: "'callers(a)sharedweight.net'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <4E2DE3A1B7A7A94D9538F8A28D424AAC41D4BAD50E@EXCH
CLUSTER1-05.win.slac.stanford.edu>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Joseph --
>
> Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to
non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who
wanted to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it
instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and
then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
>
> Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances
with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've got
this covered.
>
> Even so, some suggestions:
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Orcadian Strip the Willow
> (Long line of couples.)
>
> Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
> Left elbow 1x with neighbor
> Right elbow 1x with partner
> Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
> Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or
not, in gender-neutral version)
>
> Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples
are still going. (So at
> the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
>
> Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is
probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if people go
too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one they
come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
>
> ["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Falling Masonry
> Easy, ceilidh
> 4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
>
> A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay
facing out.
> (Variants possible here with arching).
>
> A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional),
forward,
> drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
>
> B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
> Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
> new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
> (A new couple starts every two bars).
>
> B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
> in progressed place.
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two
functionally gender-free
> dances named after Cumberland (in England):
>
>
> CUMBERLAND REEL
>> From "Barn Dance Book"
> Four-couple longways
> 32-bar JIGs
>
> A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
>
> A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
>
> B:
>
> 1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
> then make an arch at the bottom;
> everyone goes through with their partner.
>
> 9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and
back
> up the middle to start the dance again.
>
> (Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar
B, not repeated.
> Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
>
>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
> CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or
jig.
> Square set
>
> A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
> second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try
"couples pass
> keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
>
> A2: Sides the same.
>
> B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
>
> B2: Sides the same.
>
> A1: Tops basket.
>
> A2: Sides the same.
>
> B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
>
> B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from
square formation is on
> The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the
outside.]
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
>
> Hi All,
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a few contras.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:10:00 -0500
> From: Jonathan Sivier <jsivier(a)illinois.edu>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <500DCBB8.9020607(a)illinois.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
> On 7/23/2012 1:58 PM, JsphDeP(a)aol.com wrote:
>> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
>> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
>> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
>> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
>> a few contras.
>
> Many of the dances I do for non-dancer groups of any sort have
> little or no distinction between the two members of a couple. Most of
> these are proper and whole-set. You interact with your partner and
> possibly your neighbor, but there's no need to specify gender roles.
> Dances like Cumberland Reel and Galopede are always good for this sort
> of event. If the people are doing well you might try an easy contra
> such as Jefferson's Reel. The Community Dances Manual is a good source.
> Here are a few dances you might like to use. They all work with 32
> bar tunes.
>
> Jonathan
> -----
> Jonathan Sivier
> Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
> -----
> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>
> -----
>
> Cumberland Reel
> Traditional
> longways for 4 to 6 couples
> Tune: eponymous tune or AST (any square tune)
>
> A1 top 2 couples right hands across star and then left hands across
> star back to place
> A2 top couple chasse down the center and back
> B1 top couple casts off down their own proper sides leading their
> line to the bottom and back to place
> B2 all couples, except top couple, make arches, top couple goes to the
> bottom of the set under the arches
>
> Cumberland Square Eight
> a quadrille, 4 couples in a square
> Tune: My Love She's But A Lassie Yet or AST
>
> A1 Head couples chasse across the set and back, going CCW around
> the other couple
> A2 Sides the same
> B1 Heads right hands across, left hands back
> B2 Sides the same
> A1 Heads basket swing in the center
> A2 Sides the same
> B1 All circle left
> B2 Promenade back to place
>
> Galopede
> Traditional
> proper longways for 8-12 couples
> Tune: eponymous tune or AST
>
> A1 - all forward and back,
> pass through across, taking partners place
> A2 - all forward and back,
> pass through across, returning to original place
> B - do-si-do partner,
> two-hand turn with partner
> C - top couple sashay down the center to the bottom
> of the set, other couples move up one place
>
> Jefferson's Reel
> Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty
> duple proper
> Tune: Jefferson and Liberty or AST
>
> 1 - circle left
> 2 - circle right
> 3 - star right
> 4 - star left
> 5 - actives down the outside
> 6 - return to place
> 7 - down the hall 4 in line, actives in the center
> 8 - actives arch joined hands and back up,
> inactives duck through the arch
>
> Sanita Hill Circle
> Ed Durlacher
> Sicilian circle
>
> 1 - circle left
> 2 - circle right
> 3 - do-si-do neighbor
> 4 - do-si-do partner
> 5 - star right
> 6 - star left
> 7 - forward and back
> 8 - pass through to next couple
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:30:02 +1200
> From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <500DDE7A.9070201(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> Both of these can be done as Sicilian circles or contras, and the
progression
> is as straight forward as Jefferson and Liberty and done gender free,
it doesn't
> matter if couples swap or not when they come back it.
>
> Easy Progressive Sicilian Circle
> Sicilian Circle of couples 32 bar
> A CL(8) CR(8)
> A RH turn opp(8) LH turn opp(8)
> B RH turn part(8) LH turn part(8)
> B Ad(4)Ret(4) Ad(4)Pass(4)
> (clockwise couples arch)
>
>
> Easy Progressive Contra 3 Improper or Sicilian Circle
>
> A1 Circle Left Circle Right
> A2 Left Hand Star; Right Hand Star
> B1 Left diagonal (i.e. Ladies position) Dosido; Right diagonal
(Gents) Dosido
> B2 Neighbor Allemand Right 1x (or 2x if keen and energetic);
> Neighbor Right hand Balance (4)
> and Right pull by (4)
>
> Note: when teaching transition A1/A2 I say keep moving but put your left
> hands in to make a star. Also helps them learn to move the stars first
and
> make the grip on the move.
>
> A very simple dance was mentioned on SW a few years ago.
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Utterly Introductory dance input sought
> Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:33:09 -0500
> From: Lisa Sieverts <lisa(a)lisasieverts.com>
>
> Blobs
> longways sets, gender doesn't matter
>
> 1. F&B
> 2. F&B
>
> BEGIN TEACHING HERE (Blobs begin at the top, make circles of 2, 4, or
> 6 people -- or more as long as they don't tell you about it!)
> 3. Blob Circle LEFT
> 4. Blob Circle RIGHT
>
> 5. Blob RIGHT hand STAR
> 6. Blob LEFT hand STAR
>
> 7&8. Blob sashay down, others move up
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 2
> **************************************
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 4
**************************************
I call Ellen's Green JIg, by Roy Dommett, to weddings and Catholic girl's schools etc. (usually after doing something like Virginia Reel to get the idea of lines of facing couples)
This dance does not matter if the number one people open up on their side of the set or not when they face their neighbor, and I don't worry about it. People are almost always connected (the circling and the dip and diving) so it's hard to go wrong. The one thing I've seen go wrong is facing across the set for the dip and dive instead of up and down! So I make sure to get them oriented for that.
I also do the square dance Birdie in the Cage. I tell each couple to choose who is going to be the Birdie, and who is going to be the Crow. Then when I get to the break figure, I can say "Crows (or Birdies) to the middle with a right hand star" and go from there. Similarly Crows in the middle on the promenade around. I don't worry about whether they stand on the side of the set with the crow on the left or the birdie on the right as they are waiting or after they swing (which is sometimes just a two hand turn or elbow swing for beginnners and children). Doesn't matter. I even do Birdie in the Cage with 5 couples in a circle if I have a couple out.
Martha Wild
On Jul 23, 2012, at 4:30 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
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>
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Gender Neutral Dance Request (JsphDeP(a)aol.com)
> 2. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
> 3. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
> 4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Winston, Alan P.)
> 5. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Jonathan Sivier)
> 6. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Liz and Bill)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:58:07 -0400 (EDT)
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <2fbdb.51334e0f.3d3ef8bf(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Hi All,
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
> a few contras.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:21:32 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <1343071292.77627.YahooMailClassic(a)web161801.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also, do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a definite factor.?
>
> Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
> A1? Circle Left
> ?????? Circle Right
> A2? Right Hand Star
> ?????? Left Hand Star back to place
> B1? 1's Go down the outside
> ?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form a line of 4
> B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
> ?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
> ?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new neighbors.
>
> There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and 2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line (waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my favorite version.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA?
>
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
>
> Hi All,
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of calling a
> few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
> a? few contras.
>
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> ? Thanks,
> ? ? ? ? ???Joe?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:30:30 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <1343071830.59312.YahooMailClassic(a)web161802.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> I should add that Longways Set Dances like the VA Reel and Boston Tea Party also usually have the top couple in the line doing a figure where they end up at the end of the line (and there is a new top couple), so there is some downtime for the dancers who are not yet the top couple in the line.? During that time the other people in the line will not be "dancing", and will often clap to the beat (like when the top couple is reeling the line in the VA Reel - that series of left and right allemandes that take the top couple to the bottom of the line).? You can encourage the clapping if they don't just do it themselves.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 3:21 PM
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also, do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a definite factor.?
>
> Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
> A1? Circle Left
> ?????? Circle Right
> A2? Right Hand Star
> ?????? Left Hand Star back to place
> B1? 1's Go down the outside
> ?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form a line of 4
> B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
> ?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
> ?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new neighbors.
>
> There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and 2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line (waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my favorite version.
>
> Dave Colestock
> New Cumberland, PA?
>
>
> --- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
>
> From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
>
> Hi All,
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of calling a
> few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
> a? few contras.
>
> ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> ? Thanks,
> ? ? ? ? ???Joe?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 4
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:25:47 -0700
> From: "Winston, Alan P." <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> To: "'callers(a)sharedweight.net'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID:
> <4E2DE3A1B7A7A94D9538F8A28D424AAC41D4BAD50E(a)EXCHCLUSTER1-05.win.slac.stanford.edu>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Joseph --
>
> Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who wanted to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
>
> Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've got this covered.
>
> Even so, some suggestions:
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Orcadian Strip the Willow
> (Long line of couples.)
>
> Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
> Left elbow 1x with neighbor
> Right elbow 1x with partner
> Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
> Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or not, in gender-neutral version)
>
> Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples are still going. (So at
> the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
>
> Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if people go too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one they come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
>
> ["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Falling Masonry
> Easy, ceilidh
> 4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
>
> A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay facing out.
> (Variants possible here with arching).
>
> A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional), forward,
> drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
>
> B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
> Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
> new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
> (A new couple starts every two bars).
>
> B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
> in progressed place.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two functionally gender-free
> dances named after Cumberland (in England):
>
>
> CUMBERLAND REEL
>> From "Barn Dance Book"
> Four-couple longways
> 32-bar JIGs
>
> A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
>
> A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
>
> B:
>
> 1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
> then make an arch at the bottom;
> everyone goes through with their partner.
>
> 9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and back
> up the middle to start the dance again.
>
> (Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar B, not repeated.
> Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
> CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or jig.
> Square set
>
> A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
> second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try "couples pass
> keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
>
> A2: Sides the same.
>
> B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
>
> B2: Sides the same.
>
> A1: Tops basket.
>
> A2: Sides the same.
>
> B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
>
> B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from square formation is on
> The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the outside.]
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
>
> Hi All,
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
> a few contras.
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:10:00 -0500
> From: Jonathan Sivier <jsivier(a)illinois.edu>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <500DCBB8.9020607(a)illinois.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
> On 7/23/2012 1:58 PM, JsphDeP(a)aol.com wrote:
>> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
>> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
>> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of calling a
>> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
>> a few contras.
>
> Many of the dances I do for non-dancer groups of any sort have
> little or no distinction between the two members of a couple. Most of
> these are proper and whole-set. You interact with your partner and
> possibly your neighbor, but there's no need to specify gender roles.
> Dances like Cumberland Reel and Galopede are always good for this sort
> of event. If the people are doing well you might try an easy contra
> such as Jefferson's Reel. The Community Dances Manual is a good source.
> Here are a few dances you might like to use. They all work with 32
> bar tunes.
>
> Jonathan
> -----
> Jonathan Sivier
> Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
> -----
> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>
> -----
>
> Cumberland Reel
> Traditional
> longways for 4 to 6 couples
> Tune: eponymous tune or AST (any square tune)
>
> A1 top 2 couples right hands across star and then left hands across
> star back to place
> A2 top couple chasse down the center and back
> B1 top couple casts off down their own proper sides leading their
> line to the bottom and back to place
> B2 all couples, except top couple, make arches, top couple goes to the
> bottom of the set under the arches
>
> Cumberland Square Eight
> a quadrille, 4 couples in a square
> Tune: My Love She's But A Lassie Yet or AST
>
> A1 Head couples chasse across the set and back, going CCW around
> the other couple
> A2 Sides the same
> B1 Heads right hands across, left hands back
> B2 Sides the same
> A1 Heads basket swing in the center
> A2 Sides the same
> B1 All circle left
> B2 Promenade back to place
>
> Galopede
> Traditional
> proper longways for 8-12 couples
> Tune: eponymous tune or AST
>
> A1 - all forward and back,
> pass through across, taking partners place
> A2 - all forward and back,
> pass through across, returning to original place
> B - do-si-do partner,
> two-hand turn with partner
> C - top couple sashay down the center to the bottom
> of the set, other couples move up one place
>
> Jefferson's Reel
> Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty
> duple proper
> Tune: Jefferson and Liberty or AST
>
> 1 - circle left
> 2 - circle right
> 3 - star right
> 4 - star left
> 5 - actives down the outside
> 6 - return to place
> 7 - down the hall 4 in line, actives in the center
> 8 - actives arch joined hands and back up,
> inactives duck through the arch
>
> Sanita Hill Circle
> Ed Durlacher
> Sicilian circle
>
> 1 - circle left
> 2 - circle right
> 3 - do-si-do neighbor
> 4 - do-si-do partner
> 5 - star right
> 6 - star left
> 7 - forward and back
> 8 - pass through to next couple
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:30:02 +1200
> From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
> Message-ID: <500DDE7A.9070201(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> Both of these can be done as Sicilian circles or contras, and the progression
> is as straight forward as Jefferson and Liberty and done gender free, it doesn't
> matter if couples swap or not when they come back it.
>
> Easy Progressive Sicilian Circle
> Sicilian Circle of couples 32 bar
> A CL(8) CR(8)
> A RH turn opp(8) LH turn opp(8)
> B RH turn part(8) LH turn part(8)
> B Ad(4)Ret(4) Ad(4)Pass(4)
> (clockwise couples arch)
>
>
> Easy Progressive Contra 3 Improper or Sicilian Circle
>
> A1 Circle Left Circle Right
> A2 Left Hand Star; Right Hand Star
> B1 Left diagonal (i.e. Ladies position) Dosido; Right diagonal (Gents) Dosido
> B2 Neighbor Allemand Right 1x (or 2x if keen and energetic);
> Neighbor Right hand Balance (4)
> and Right pull by (4)
>
> Note: when teaching transition A1/A2 I say keep moving but put your left
> hands in to make a star. Also helps them learn to move the stars first and
> make the grip on the move.
>
> A very simple dance was mentioned on SW a few years ago.
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Utterly Introductory dance input sought
> Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:33:09 -0500
> From: Lisa Sieverts <lisa(a)lisasieverts.com>
>
> Blobs
> longways sets, gender doesn't matter
>
> 1. F&B
> 2. F&B
>
> BEGIN TEACHING HERE (Blobs begin at the top, make circles of 2, 4, or
> 6 people -- or more as long as they don't tell you about it!)
> 3. Blob Circle LEFT
> 4. Blob Circle RIGHT
>
> 5. Blob RIGHT hand STAR
> 6. Blob LEFT hand STAR
>
> 7&8. Blob sashay down, others move up
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 2
> **************************************
In a message dated 7/23/2012 7:30:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
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Today's Topics:
1. Gender Neutral Dance Request (JsphDeP(a)aol.com)
2. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
3. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Winston, Alan P.)
5. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Jonathan Sivier)
6. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Liz and Bill)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:58:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <2fbdb.51334e0f.3d3ef8bf(a)aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:21:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343071292.77627.YahooMailClassic(a)web161801.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Joe,
I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA
Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series
of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have
had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also,
do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have
the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a
definite factor.?
Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
A1? Circle Left
?????? Circle Right
A2? Right Hand Star
?????? Left Hand Star back to place
B1? 1's Go down the outside
?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form
a line of 4
B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of
this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA?
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a? few contras.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
? Thanks,
? ? ? ? ???Joe?
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:30:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343071830.59312.YahooMailClassic(a)web161802.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I should add that Longways Set Dances like the VA Reel and Boston Tea
Party also usually have the top couple in the line doing a figure where they
end up at the end of the line (and there is a new top couple), so there is
some downtime for the dancers who are not yet the top couple in the line.?
During that time the other people in the line will not be "dancing", and will
often clap to the beat (like when the top couple is reeling the line in
the VA Reel - that series of left and right allemandes that take the top
couple to the bottom of the line).? You can encourage the clapping if they
don't just do it themselves.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 3:21 PM
Hi Joe,
I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA
Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series
of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have
had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also,
do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have
the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a
definite factor.?
Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
A1? Circle Left
?????? Circle Right
A2? Right Hand Star
?????? Left Hand Star back to place
B1? 1's Go down the outside
?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form
a line of 4
B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of
this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA?
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a? few contras.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
? Thanks,
? ? ? ? ???Joe?
_______________________________________________
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: 4
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:25:47 -0700
From: "Winston, Alan P." <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
To: "'callers(a)sharedweight.net'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<4E2DE3A1B7A7A94D9538F8A28D424AAC41D4BAD50E(a)EXCHCLUSTER1-05.win.slac.stanfor
d.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Joseph --
Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to
non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who wanted
to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it
instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and
then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances
with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've got
this covered.
Even so, some suggestions:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
Orcadian Strip the Willow
(Long line of couples.)
Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
Left elbow 1x with neighbor
Right elbow 1x with partner
Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or
not, in gender-neutral version)
Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples
are still going. (So at
the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is
probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if people go
too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one they
come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falling Masonry
Easy, ceilidh
4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay facing
out.
(Variants possible here with arching).
A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional),
forward,
drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
(A new couple starts every two bars).
B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
in progressed place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two
functionally gender-free
dances named after Cumberland (in England):
CUMBERLAND REEL
>From "Barn Dance Book"
Four-couple longways
32-bar JIGs
A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
B:
1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
then make an arch at the bottom;
everyone goes through with their partner.
9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and back
up the middle to start the dance again.
(Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar B,
not repeated.
Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or jig.
Square set
A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try "couples
pass
keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
A2: Sides the same.
B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
B2: Sides the same.
A1: Tops basket.
A2: Sides the same.
B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from
square formation is on
The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the outside.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:10:00 -0500
From: Jonathan Sivier <jsivier(a)illinois.edu>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <500DCBB8.9020607(a)illinois.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
On 7/23/2012 1:58 PM, JsphDeP(a)aol.com wrote:
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a few contras.
Many of the dances I do for non-dancer groups of any sort have
little or no distinction between the two members of a couple. Most of
these are proper and whole-set. You interact with your partner and
possibly your neighbor, but there's no need to specify gender roles.
Dances like Cumberland Reel and Galopede are always good for this sort
of event. If the people are doing well you might try an easy contra
such as Jefferson's Reel. The Community Dances Manual is a good source.
Here are a few dances you might like to use. They all work with 32
bar tunes.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
-----
Cumberland Reel
Traditional
longways for 4 to 6 couples
Tune: eponymous tune or AST (any square tune)
A1 top 2 couples right hands across star and then left hands across
star back to place
A2 top couple chasse down the center and back
B1 top couple casts off down their own proper sides leading their
line to the bottom and back to place
B2 all couples, except top couple, make arches, top couple goes to the
bottom of the set under the arches
Cumberland Square Eight
a quadrille, 4 couples in a square
Tune: My Love She's But A Lassie Yet or AST
A1 Head couples chasse across the set and back, going CCW around
the other couple
A2 Sides the same
B1 Heads right hands across, left hands back
B2 Sides the same
A1 Heads basket swing in the center
A2 Sides the same
B1 All circle left
B2 Promenade back to place
Galopede
Traditional
proper longways for 8-12 couples
Tune: eponymous tune or AST
A1 - all forward and back,
pass through across, taking partners place
A2 - all forward and back,
pass through across, returning to original place
B - do-si-do partner,
two-hand turn with partner
C - top couple sashay down the center to the bottom
of the set, other couples move up one place
Jefferson's Reel
Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty
duple proper
Tune: Jefferson and Liberty or AST
1 - circle left
2 - circle right
3 - star right
4 - star left
5 - actives down the outside
6 - return to place
7 - down the hall 4 in line, actives in the center
8 - actives arch joined hands and back up,
inactives duck through the arch
Sanita Hill Circle
Ed Durlacher
Sicilian circle
1 - circle left
2 - circle right
3 - do-si-do neighbor
4 - do-si-do partner
5 - star right
6 - star left
7 - forward and back
8 - pass through to next couple
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:30:02 +1200
From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <500DDE7A.9070201(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Joe,
Both of these can be done as Sicilian circles or contras, and the
progression
is as straight forward as Jefferson and Liberty and done gender free, it
doesn't
matter if couples swap or not when they come back it.
Easy Progressive Sicilian Circle
Sicilian Circle of couples 32 bar
A CL(8) CR(8)
A RH turn opp(8) LH turn opp(8)
B RH turn part(8) LH turn part(8)
B Ad(4)Ret(4) Ad(4)Pass(4)
(clockwise couples arch)
Easy Progressive Contra 3 Improper or Sicilian Circle
A1 Circle Left Circle Right
A2 Left Hand Star; Right Hand Star
B1 Left diagonal (i.e. Ladies position) Dosido; Right diagonal (Gents)
Dosido
B2 Neighbor Allemand Right 1x (or 2x if keen and energetic);
Neighbor Right hand Balance (4)
and Right pull by (4)
Note: when teaching transition A1/A2 I say keep moving but put your left
hands in to make a star. Also helps them learn to move the stars first and
make the grip on the move.
A very simple dance was mentioned on SW a few years ago.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Callers] Utterly Introductory dance input sought
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:33:09 -0500
From: Lisa Sieverts <lisa(a)lisasieverts.com>
Blobs
longways sets, gender doesn't matter
1. F&B
2. F&B
BEGIN TEACHING HERE (Blobs begin at the top, make circles of 2, 4, or
6 people -- or more as long as they don't tell you about it!)
3. Blob Circle LEFT
4. Blob Circle RIGHT
5. Blob RIGHT hand STAR
6. Blob LEFT hand STAR
7&8. Blob sashay down, others move up
Cheers, Bill
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 2
**************************************
I guess the most important question I would ask is this: is this group
planning on continuing as a contra dance series or are they only interested in
a one-night stand dance? And how many is "a large group"?
If it's a one night stand then I'd stay away from contras completely (other
than Virginia Reel, OXO and Boston Tea Party), but if they are interested
in continuing as a contra dance series that's another story.
Donna Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 7/23/2012 4:25:57 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
winston(a)slac.stanford.edu writes:
Joseph --
Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to
non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who wanted
to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it
instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and
then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances
with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've got
this covered.
Even so, some suggestions:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
Orcadian Strip the Willow
(Long line of couples.)
Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
Left elbow 1x with neighbor
Right elbow 1x with partner
Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or
not, in gender-neutral version)
Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples
are still going. (So at
the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is
probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if people go
too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one they
come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falling Masonry
Easy, ceilidh
4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay facing
out.
(Variants possible here with arching).
A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional),
forward,
drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
(A new couple starts every two bars).
B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
in progressed place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two
functionally gender-free
dances named after Cumberland (in England):
CUMBERLAND REEL
>From "Barn Dance Book"
Four-couple longways
32-bar JIGs
A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
B:
1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
then make an arch at the bottom;
everyone goes through with their partner.
9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and back
up the middle to start the dance again.
(Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar B,
not repeated.
Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or jig.
Square set
A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try "couples
pass
keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
A2: Sides the same.
B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
B2: Sides the same.
A1: Tops basket.
A2: Sides the same.
B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from
square formation is on
The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the outside.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
_______________________________________________
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
Gender Free EZ dance lnk. Taped at Bob Livingston's monthly dance in Killingly CT. The dance was prompted by me and I call it bay rollers because it has the solo rolls and because I usually use "Montego Bay" as the music. I do not know the origin of the dance. I learned it from a Western MA caller named Gene King. I have used this dance with all age groups and with various group compositions, It is a favorite at ONS parties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDceiX8W5lA
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
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Hi Bill,
Thanks for the dances. This is very helpful.
Joe
In a message dated 7/23/2012 7:30:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
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Today's Topics:
1. Gender Neutral Dance Request (JsphDeP(a)aol.com)
2. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
3. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Dave C)
4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Winston, Alan P.)
5. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Jonathan Sivier)
6. Re: Gender Neutral Dance Request (Liz and Bill)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:58:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <2fbdb.51334e0f.3d3ef8bf(a)aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:21:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343071292.77627.YahooMailClassic(a)web161801.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Joe,
I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA
Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series
of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have
had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also,
do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have
the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a
definite factor.?
Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
A1? Circle Left
?????? Circle Right
A2? Right Hand Star
?????? Left Hand Star back to place
B1? 1's Go down the outside
?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form
a line of 4
B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of
this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA?
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a? few contras.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
? Thanks,
? ? ? ? ???Joe?
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:30:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343071830.59312.YahooMailClassic(a)web161802.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I should add that Longways Set Dances like the VA Reel and Boston Tea
Party also usually have the top couple in the line doing a figure where they
end up at the end of the line (and there is a new top couple), so there is
some downtime for the dancers who are not yet the top couple in the line.?
During that time the other people in the line will not be "dancing", and will
often clap to the beat (like when the top couple is reeling the line in
the VA Reel - that series of left and right allemandes that take the top
couple to the bottom of the line).? You can encourage the clapping if they
don't just do it themselves.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Dave C <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 3:21 PM
Hi Joe,
I would not recommend calling contras if they are not regular contra
dancers.? I would do circles, mixers, and longways set dances, similar to the VA
Reel - dances like Boston Tea Party or anything from Peter Amidon's series
of books (Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird,...) - or perhaps
some simple squares.? Contras (and their progression) often confuse new
dancers, and same sex partners can also make things difficult to teach.? You
don't want to spend more time teaching a dance than they actually get to
dance it.? Jefferson and Liberty is the only, repeat only, contra dance I have
had good success with when calling to a group of non-contra dancers.? Also,
do not run the dances as long as a contradance would run - they don't have
the stamina to dance continuously for 8-10 mins, and the hot weather is a
definite factor.?
Jefferson and Liberty, can be done proper or improper
A1? Circle Left
?????? Circle Right
A2? Right Hand Star
?????? Left Hand Star back to place
B1? 1's Go down the outside
?????? 1's come back up and around their 2's to step between them to form
a line of 4
B2? Line of 4 go Down the Hall
?????? Don't turn around - just back up,
?????? 1's Make Arch in center of line, 2's go thru the arch to new
neighbors.
There are no swings, it is an easy foolproof progression, and the dance
can be done proper or improper.? Remember to explain the concept of 1's and
2's and that the number changes when they get to the end of the line
(waiting out 1 round of the dance).? I don't know the author - I always announce
that it is a Traditional American Contra Dance.? There are other versions of
this dance where the B1 is changed to something else, but this is my
favorite version.
Dave Colestock
New Cumberland, PA?
--- On Mon, 7/23/12, JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com> wrote:
From: JsphDeP(a)aol.com <JsphDeP(a)aol.com>
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012, 2:58 PM
Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex couples.? I was thinking of
calling a
few? circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a? few contras.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.
? Thanks,
? ? ? ? ???Joe?
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
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Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:25:47 -0700
From: "Winston, Alan P." <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
To: "'callers(a)sharedweight.net'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:
<4E2DE3A1B7A7A94D9538F8A28D424AAC41D4BAD50E(a)EXCHCLUSTER1-05.win.slac.stanfor
d.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Joseph --
Unless you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple minors to
non-dancers -- I actually do, but it's in the context of people who wanted
to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for a party with some
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander away if they don't get it
instantly; this lets me get away with a somewhat rocky first longways and
then things get better - I would stay away from contras generally.
Don't know if by "Virginia-reel type dances" you mean "small set dances
with a ones-to-the-bottom progression". If you do, then I think you've got
this covered.
Even so, some suggestions:
-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orcadian Strip the Willow
(Long line of couples.)
Top couple right-elbow turn 1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
Left elbow 1x with neighbor
Right elbow 1x with partner
Left elbow 1x with next neighbor
Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their own side (or
not, in gender-neutral version)
Every 16 bars another couple starts the sequence while previous couples
are still going. (So at
the top of A1 and the top of B1 every time through the tune).
Biggest problem is keeping people from starting too soon. This is
probably even an easier dance gender-neutral than gendered because if people go
too far or not far enough you can still just get them to turn the one they
come to rather than stopping and trying to fix it.)
["Orcadian" means "of the Orkney Islands", incidentally.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Falling Masonry
Easy, ceilidh
4-couple longways; 32-bar jigs.
A1: Hands in lines, forward and back, drop hands, cross over, stay facing
out.
(Variants possible here with arching).
A2: Hands in lines, backward into the set (touching glutes optional),
forward,
drop hands, cross backward (same shoulder) into original lines.
B1: "Falling Masonry" figure (like a collapsing chimney):
Tops gallop down while everyone else moves up (important);
new tops the same, until all four have galloped down.
(A new couple starts every two bars).
B2: 1s to the bottom again, others move up, all swing when you arrive
in progressed place.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
And since I just got back from the Cumberland Gap dance week, here's two
functionally gender-free
dances named after Cumberland (in England):
CUMBERLAND REEL
>From "Barn Dance Book"
Four-couple longways
32-bar JIGs
A1: 1s and 2s only, RH*, LH*.
A2: 1s take two hands, gallop down to the bottom and back again.
B:
1-8:1s cast out to their own sides, lines following,
then make an arch at the bottom;
everyone goes through with their partner.
9-16:When the new 1s get to the top, they lead a double cast left and back
up the middle to start the dance again.
(Funny notation was because the suggested tune in the book had a 16-bar B,
not repeated.
Read that as B1, B2 if you want.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
THE SQUARE EIGHT (Cumberland)
CDM1 - Tune is "My love she's but a lassie yet" or any 32-bar reel or jig.
Square set
A1: Tops galop across and back; men pass back-to-back first time, women
second time. (But you don't have to express it that way. Try "couples
pass
keeping to the right each time, as if you were driving".)
A2: Sides the same.
B1: Tops: right hands across, left hands back.
B2: Sides the same.
A1: Tops basket.
A2: Sides the same.
B1: All eight circle left - polka or skip-change step.
B2: Change direction and promenade to place. [Left-side partner from
square formation is on
The left (inside) in the promenade; right-side partner is on the outside.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of JsphDeP(a)aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 11:58 AM
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:10:00 -0500
From: Jonathan Sivier <jsivier(a)illinois.edu>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <500DCBB8.9020607(a)illinois.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
On 7/23/2012 1:58 PM, JsphDeP(a)aol.com wrote:
> Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
> neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
> non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of
calling a
> few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and
perhaps
> a few contras.
Many of the dances I do for non-dancer groups of any sort have
little or no distinction between the two members of a couple. Most of
these are proper and whole-set. You interact with your partner and
possibly your neighbor, but there's no need to specify gender roles.
Dances like Cumberland Reel and Galopede are always good for this sort
of event. If the people are doing well you might try an easy contra
such as Jefferson's Reel. The Community Dances Manual is a good source.
Here are a few dances you might like to use. They all work with 32
bar tunes.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
-----
Cumberland Reel
Traditional
longways for 4 to 6 couples
Tune: eponymous tune or AST (any square tune)
A1 top 2 couples right hands across star and then left hands across
star back to place
A2 top couple chasse down the center and back
B1 top couple casts off down their own proper sides leading their
line to the bottom and back to place
B2 all couples, except top couple, make arches, top couple goes to the
bottom of the set under the arches
Cumberland Square Eight
a quadrille, 4 couples in a square
Tune: My Love She's But A Lassie Yet or AST
A1 Head couples chasse across the set and back, going CCW around
the other couple
A2 Sides the same
B1 Heads right hands across, left hands back
B2 Sides the same
A1 Heads basket swing in the center
A2 Sides the same
B1 All circle left
B2 Promenade back to place
Galopede
Traditional
proper longways for 8-12 couples
Tune: eponymous tune or AST
A1 - all forward and back,
pass through across, taking partners place
A2 - all forward and back,
pass through across, returning to original place
B - do-si-do partner,
two-hand turn with partner
C - top couple sashay down the center to the bottom
of the set, other couples move up one place
Jefferson's Reel
Dudley Briggs; adapted from Jefferson and Liberty
duple proper
Tune: Jefferson and Liberty or AST
1 - circle left
2 - circle right
3 - star right
4 - star left
5 - actives down the outside
6 - return to place
7 - down the hall 4 in line, actives in the center
8 - actives arch joined hands and back up,
inactives duck through the arch
Sanita Hill Circle
Ed Durlacher
Sicilian circle
1 - circle left
2 - circle right
3 - do-si-do neighbor
4 - do-si-do partner
5 - star right
6 - star left
7 - forward and back
8 - pass through to next couple
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:30:02 +1200
From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID: <500DDE7A.9070201(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Joe,
Both of these can be done as Sicilian circles or contras, and the
progression
is as straight forward as Jefferson and Liberty and done gender free, it
doesn't
matter if couples swap or not when they come back it.
Easy Progressive Sicilian Circle
Sicilian Circle of couples 32 bar
A CL(8) CR(8)
A RH turn opp(8) LH turn opp(8)
B RH turn part(8) LH turn part(8)
B Ad(4)Ret(4) Ad(4)Pass(4)
(clockwise couples arch)
Easy Progressive Contra 3 Improper or Sicilian Circle
A1 Circle Left Circle Right
A2 Left Hand Star; Right Hand Star
B1 Left diagonal (i.e. Ladies position) Dosido; Right diagonal (Gents)
Dosido
B2 Neighbor Allemand Right 1x (or 2x if keen and energetic);
Neighbor Right hand Balance (4)
and Right pull by (4)
Note: when teaching transition A1/A2 I say keep moving but put your left
hands in to make a star. Also helps them learn to move the stars first and
make the grip on the move.
A very simple dance was mentioned on SW a few years ago.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Callers] Utterly Introductory dance input sought
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:33:09 -0500
From: Lisa Sieverts <lisa(a)lisasieverts.com>
Blobs
longways sets, gender doesn't matter
1. F&B
2. F&B
BEGIN TEACHING HERE (Blobs begin at the top, make circles of 2, 4, or
6 people -- or more as long as they don't tell you about it!)
3. Blob Circle LEFT
4. Blob Circle RIGHT
5. Blob RIGHT hand STAR
6. Blob LEFT hand STAR
7&8. Blob sashay down, others move up
Cheers, Bill
------------------------------
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End of Callers Digest, Vol 95, Issue 2
**************************************
Hi All,
Just checking to see if someone would have a few gender
neutral dances to share with me. I will be calling to a large group of
non-dancers that will mostly be same-sex couples. I was thinking of calling a
few circle mixers, Sicilian circles, Virginia reel type dances and perhaps
a few contras.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe
