Contra Callers January 2013

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

98 participants
82 discussions

YouTube of contra dancing to entice nondancers?

by Leslie Gotfrit

I'm a new contra caller who does community/family dances, kitchen parties and one night stands. I'm calling a dance for about 60 adults, almost none of whom have even heard of contra dancing, but they do know each other. The organizers have asked for a YouTube that would convey the fun of contra dancing, without scaring off newbies. I've looked at dozens and can't find one where 1. The calls and music are heard (otherwise they'll really wonder what they are paying me and the band for) 2. People are having fun (but not twirling and flourishing so much people will think they need to be experts 3. The dancers look a bit "cool" and aren't all on the other side of middle aged (it's a young adult crowd and most people in my (red)neck of the woods only know about western squares,/retired couples in costumes) 4. The quality of the filming and music recording is good or great (again, to avoid the hokey label). 5. Does all of that in under five minutes. I know it's a tall order. Any suggestions? I'll take 4/5. Leslie Sent from my iPad On 2013-01-02, at 7:00 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > callers(a)sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > callers-request(a)sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Alternate Role Terms (Jeff Kaufman) > 2. Re: Alternate Role Terms (Perry Shafran) > 3. Re: gender (Perry Shafran) > 4. Re: Square Dance Tunes (rich sbardella) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 10:38:09 -0500 > From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu> > To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms > Message-ID: > <CAK36jCOM7L2=QKdobJXzm3MJrxYvzt=fx-vDZk7Vn-SQ_iduWA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 5:52 PM, Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> It does seem that some women dancers depend on leadership >> from the gent role, and some men dancers feel pressure to direct >> the non-gent role dancers. But I don't think there's any lead/follow >> component inherent in the contra dance form. >> > > To some dancers the lead/follow aspect of contra dance is central > while to others it's a minor component or an unwelcome intrusion. > Viewing it as lead/follow is more common among younger dancers, more > frequent dancers, and varies by dance series (in MA it's common at the > Scout House and Greenfield, rare at Medway and Northboro.) > > Jeff > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 08:08:35 -0800 (PST) > From: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms > Message-ID: > <1357142915.76089.YahooMailNeo(a)web120701.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > It would be interesting to know why some of these younger folks view it as a lead/follow dance.?? Is it the flourishes/dips that do indeed have a lead/follow aspect to the dance, becoming the focal point of why they dance?? Or is it something else?? Contra by its very nature is a community dance, and while it does have some couple aspects, I find it difficult to see where it could bring someone to view it as lead/follow.? In an evening of dance, both men and women usually have their opportunities to "lead" a move.? Even the swing is an equal move - both dancers move around a common point and are both expected to carry their own weight, whereas in a couples dance the lead does indeed guide the follow on where to go.? > > Perry > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Sent: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 10:38 AM > Subject: Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms > > On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 5:52 PM, Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> It does seem that some women dancers depend on leadership >> from the gent role, and some men dancers feel pressure to direct >> the non-gent role dancers.? But I don't think there's any lead/follow >> component inherent in the contra dance form. >> > > To some dancers the lead/follow aspect of contra dance is central > while to others it's a minor component or an unwelcome intrusion. > Viewing it as lead/follow is more common among younger dancers, more > frequent dancers, and varies by dance series (in MA it's common at the > Scout House and Greenfield, rare at Medway and Northboro.) > > Jeff > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 08:12:42 -0800 (PST) > From: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] gender > Message-ID: > <1357143162.59466.YahooMailNeo(a)web120701.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > There are several issues here.? One is the terminology that is used to > differentiate the two dance roles and second, whether we will ever move > contra dancing to a completely gender-free system. > > I think that > we all have to understand that everyone has their own comfort zone.? > Some people do NOT want to dance with a same-gendered person no matter > how much you prod them, shame them, or even force them to do so.?? Some > are willing to try it from time to time, others enjoy it a lot, and others want to make all > contra dances completely gender free regardless of whether or not it > will chase some members from the community.? > > It is a strong > uphill battle to at least move from a heteronormative way of thinking.? > Just recently it was suggested that the way to get someone to contra > dance (a man) was to tell him that a > new woman will be thrown into his arms every 30 seconds.? Reason being > that most people are heterosexual and might be drawn to dance thinking > he's going to dance with women.? I suggested that this was a bad idea > due to the fact that in most dances you'll see men dancing with men, > women dancing with women, and people switching roles.? > > I think > that the best compromise is to continue with the gents/ladies > terminology, but emphasize that these are merely titles of traditional > roles, but anyone can play them regardless of physical gender.? That is > what I say in my workshops, and it's usually generally understood.? Any > new terminology that you use will force people to translate which means > "man" and which means "woman".?? However, I do understand the baggage > that these gender-loaded terms do bring.?? > > > Perry > > > > ________________________________ > From: JoLaine Jones-Pokorney <jolaine(a)gmail.com> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net; callers-request(a)sharedweight.net > Sent: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 9:23 AM > Subject: [Callers] gender > > In reply to Read who said "When gendered terms are used, people are more > likely to sort themselves by gender. Newcomers are unlikely to even > consider the possibility of not doing so." > I disagree.? When I teach the introductory workshop I say, "You will see > women dancing the men's role and men dancing the women's role."? They see > this happening immediately, even in the introductory workshop.? In our > community, men dancing the women's role is less common, but it will happen > at least once at each dance so newcomers are seeing it. > We often get new women who want to dance the men's role so that they can > dance with their women friends that they came with.? Of course this isn't a > great plan since they're all newbies, but my point is that they don't > hesitate to switch roles. > I find that the long-time contra dancers are often the ones who are less > willing.? At a dance just a few days ago, I asked a woman to dance.? Right > beside us were two men dancing together.? She declared that it was silly > for two men to dance together when there were women available to dance > with.? Another time I asked a woman to dance and she said she would if she > couldn't find a man to dance with.? Another time I was lined up with my > woman partner when two men came running over and declared "We know you'd > rather dance with us!" and one of them grabbed my partner away and the > other one grabbed me.? These are long time dancers who are operating under > the notion that a couple equals one man and one woman and anything else is > only to be tolerated if the ideal cannot be had. > So perhaps a non-gendered term would help the long-time dancers more than > the new dancers!? I notice that in this conversation thread - no one has > actually proposed another option.? I've thought it ought to be something > totally random like "blue" and "yellow" but a shift that drastic just > wouldn't happen I don't think. > I'm reminded of the time I was asked to call a gender-free dance where > where they were using "bands and bares."? I spent a tremendous amount of > time practicing calling bands and bares and getting dances I felt > comfortable calling that way.? IN the introductory workshop, I was passing > out bandanas for the bands and one man was asking his friend what I meant > by the "bands."? She said to him - "She means the mens part."? I thought > why did I just bother to learn bare and band when they're just thinking > women and men? > > -- > JoLaine Jones-Pokorney > > "We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" > - Stewart Brand > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2013 08:33:37 -0800 (PST) > From: rich sbardella <richsbardella(a)snet.net> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Square Dance Tunes > Message-ID: > <1357144417.42841.YahooMailClassic(a)web184706.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > > Hello folks! > I am interested in finding some good modal tunes for squares.? Any suggestions? > Rich Sbardella > Stafford, CT > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 101, Issue 4 > ***************************************

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] YouTube of contra dancing to entice nondancers?

by Chris Weiler (home)

Hi Leslie, Try this one out. It's not my favorite way to portray the dance community (because of the comments on "segregating" and the focus only the younger part of the communty instead of the inclusiveness of it), but it might be what you need to get your group excited about the dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuPbte5knOY Chris Weiler Craftsbury, VT On 1/2/2013 4:16 PM, Leslie Gotfrit wrote: > I'm a new contra caller who does community/family dances, kitchen parties and one night stands. I'm calling a dance for about 60 adults, almost none of whom have even heard of contra dancing, but they do know each other. The organizers have asked for a YouTube that would convey the fun of contra dancing, without scaring off newbies. I've looked at dozens and can't find one where 1. The calls and music are heard (otherwise they'll really wonder what they are paying me and the band for) 2. People are having fun (but not twirling and flourishing so much people will think they need to be experts 3. The dancers look a bit "cool" and aren't all on the other side of middle aged (it's a young adult crowd and most people in my (red)neck of the woods only know about western squares,/retired couples in costumes) 4. The quality of the filming and music recording is good or great (again, to avoid the hokey label). 5. Does all of that in under five minutes. > > I know it's a tall order. Any suggestions? I'll take 4/5. > > Leslie > >

11 years, 10 months

Last minute New years idea

by Louie.cromartie

Hello Friends! Many of you will be calling dances tomorrow night. Wouldn't it be fun if we all called the same dance at 11:30-ish pm? We could all share a wider-community experience within our respective time zones. I was thinking about something like 333, but am looking for any ideas especially if you would like to participate. If we can settle on something and post it to F-book by tonight it might work! Louie Cromartie

11 years, 10 months

Gender Role Terms

by Hgrastorf＠aol.com

I vote for "Leddies" -- which means ladies OR laddies OR leddies (the ones who are led) for those who end the swing on the right and change sides during a "leddies" chain. And "Gens" -- the "other" gender role -- those who end a swing on the left and who do not change sides during a chain. Alternatives I've read so far seem strained and clumsy. April Blum In a message dated 1/3/2013 3:08:01 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net writes: Send Callers mailing list submissions to callers(a)sharedweight.net

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Last minute New years idea

by Becky Nankivell

We had the annual "cavalcade of callers" (all four of us) for New Year's Eve in Tucson, Arizona. I had pulled my card for the dance out, but kind of forgot about it and opted for some others. I was pleased when Claire Zucker called it later in the evening -- without knowing of the Grand Plan. (That's what happens with a dance that's consistently in everyone's top 10!) She was happy when I told her afterwards. The dancers were happy doing the dance, too. :-) ~ Becky Nankivell Kalia Kliban wrote: On 1/3/2013 5:50 AM, Louie Cromartie wrote: > Hi Rich, > Yes that's the same dance. I left out a hyphen and in shorthand always leave out the last 33. > > I know Adina called it at Glen Echo, Keith Cornett Eustis called it in Charlotte, Steve Z-A called it a couple nights earlier as his last called dance of 2012. Joyce Miller on the west coast had plans to call it. I called it in Chapel Hill. Anyone else? I didn't have a gig until last night, but called it in Berkeley then. 2 days late. Oh well. Great dance!

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms

by Brian Hamshar

Don, that's an interesting point. Having experienced some of those chestnuts only very recently in my dance experience, I can now see that much of the lead/follow dynamic probably was brought in by modern choreography. Fron what ive seen, the chestnuts do not emphasize swinging, and the older right-and-left figures did not include a courtesy turn as we now know it. So maybe the lead/follow dynamic is increasingly characteristic of modern contra dances but not intrinsic to the basic form itself. Of course I bet many would argue that they come to dance because of the modern choreography that is so unlike those chestnuts. Please bear in mind, I'm hoping to not imply my own biases here, just trying to brainstorm some logical conclusions. I personally love all position dancing, and I love flourishes of every stripe when in the company of like-minded folks. If anything I have failed thus far to adequately develop my skill and confidence at leading swings from the right-hand position. As in, if we end the swing late, I feel like I had little to no recourse in preventing that, but maybe that attitude needs to be changed by learning some better follow skills. Oops :-) Brian Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 101, Issue 10

by Chrissy Fowler

These illustrate/amplify what I was trying to say, with my emphasis added. And someone asked why such strong feelings. Who knows, but something to do with treasuring an (ideally) egalitarian, equal opportunity, cooperative nature of the social dance form which everyone has equal agency (and responsibility) to make delightful for all. Chrissy Fowler from Andrea--- (A swing) is a mutually decided thing, and from the right side I can time the end, stop, or alter a flourish so it puts me in the right place, control the speed of the swing and help a new dancer swing better just with my body. There is no special leadership in the left role during a swing. And in a courtesy turn, while it is true you are doing two different things, the forward walker can get where she is going unassisted. The courtesy is in engaging with her with hand and eye, not in propelling her. The action is in the joined left hands, and that only works if both give equal resistance. I think even modern choreography does not require one gender role to lead. They may choose to, and to add embellishments, but it is not essential. I matter which gender role I dance, what I want from my partner is good connection and counterbalance. from Donna--- > Anyone who has learned ballroom/couple dances (waltz, foxtrot, swing,tango) understands what the lead/follow roles are. Contra dancing is not lead/follow.

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms

by Chrissy Fowler

Hah! I think I understand why I see no leader/follower dynamic in contradancing. (a) I think of it as "let's both help each other get to where we want to go, with maximal fun and flourishes as seems appropriate" - what Maia calls a 'team sport' with 'signals and tension from both partners.' It's an equal opportunity fun zone. My favorite 'hot' partners, regardless of the role I am dancing, are the ones who view it as a give and take. They are striving to read my response to their suggested flourishes or swing speed -and- are paying attention to the flourishes or swing speed that I might be suggesting. Or as Maia puts it, the ones who 'intuit' what I'm doing, regardless of the roles we're dancing. (b) I don't like giving up control to someone else. (In Maia's terms, I like being 'in control' and 'taking care of' the other dancers.) I simply don't like ceding all agency, in general, and I have never relied on the gent role to tell me where I am going when contradancing. I can imagine it could be sweet to feel that someone else is taking care of you, but what if they're taking you down the wrong path? Or what if they're forcibly making you do something you just don't want to do? Or what if they have no clue? No thanks. I like both suggesting and responding to suggestions for flourishes & swing speed (as a lady or as a gent) I like helping make sure everyone ends up in the right place (as a lady or a gent or a same role neighbor) and of course I greatly appreciate that help when I'm spacing out, or don't get the dance, or am distracted by the music. I like the feeling of teamwork and accomplishment that comes from contradancing, including that dynamic of teamwork with my partner, regardless of what role I'm dancing and regardless of who's more experienced. It boggles my mind that some women out there have no idea how/where to end a swing, and some men out there have no clue how to read whether someone does or doesn't want to twirl or how many times they'd like to do it. Intriguing topic and subtopics, but I have to say I'm glad I am not on FB. That larger conversation would be too damned distracting. ;) Chrissy Fowler

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms

by Jim Hemphill

I have a different take on going gender free. My application is with a really gender imbalanced homeschool group. Little kids don't get being called ladies and gents anyway. When the kids pair off I have them pick whether they are a righty or lefty, the only instruction associated with that assignment is that they end their swings standing on the right if they are righties, left for lefties. After that, there is a large subset of the contra moves that are gender free calls. Any move with your partner or neighbor, circles, stars petranella's, square thru's are all without gender reference. A couple of easy examples I like Promenade with Everyone improper A1 Neighbor Do si Do Neighbor swing A2 Promenade across the set Right hand star 3 B1Partner do si do Partner swing B2 Promenade across Circle left 3, pass thru up and down Stars of Fredericktown improper A1Star left Star right A2Neighbor do si do Neighbor swing B1Balance in a circle and petranella twirl Partner swing B2Circle left 3 Neighbor allemande right 1 1/2 Jim Hemphill

11 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Satisfying Sicilians

by Ric Goldman (letsdance)

Hi Kalia, My favorite of these is Walpole Dollhouse, a simplification of Pat Shaw's Walpole Cottage: Walpole Cottage- (attributed to) Erik Hoffman (3x3 Sicilian) A1 1-4 LL F+B 5-8 "Partners" (opposites) DSD A2 1-16 Middles dbl contra corners (PR, 1st Crnr L, PR, 2nd Crnr L, &c) B1 (continued) B2 1-4 Circle 6 L ½ way 5-8 Original trios circle L 3 as far as possibl, end facing next Notes: 1) Each time thru the trio can swap around who's active in the middle (or not) 2) Teaching: With lines facing each other, each middle finds their corners by pointing: 1st to the right of their opposite, 2nd to the left of their opposite, 3rd to their own immediate left, 4th to their immediate right. 3) Teaching: it helps if the middle does a twizzle to swap hands after turning 4th corner, now grabbing 3rd corner by the left as they start the circle 6. 4) Teaching: if I sense the crowd can handle it, I'll teach the B2 5-8 circle as a basket hold. I really like this dance because it's a very sneaky way to teach contra corners to almost anyone. Plus the circles both provide silly fun and any recovery needed after all the corners. :-) Thanx, Ric Goldman Mighty cold Californian in Montreal > -----Original Message----- > From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Kalia Kliban > Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2013 4:15 PM > To: Caller's discussion list > Subject: [Callers] Satisfying Sicilians > > I'm looking for recommendations of Sicilian circle dances that scratch > the contra itch, that is to say, dances that are pleasing to dance in > the same way that contras are. Joseph Pimentel's "Little Green Heron" > falls into that category for me. What Sicilians have you danced that > had that contra feel? > > Kalia > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

11 years, 10 months

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Contra Callers January 2013