Hi,
I am wondering if you have any dances for low numbers of dancers (perhaps 6
or less), when most or all of the dancers are beginners and adults. I am
also wondering if you have any dances (presumably different dances), that do
not require choosing a partner and are good openers for beginner adults.
Thanks as always to all,
Rickey Holt.
I can only speak with reference to calling at NEFFA, as I have never applied to DownEast. As some of you may know that Linda Leslie is NEFFA's program chair, I will note that the program chair does not select performers for contra sessions.
Regarding NEFFA 2007, the following notice is now posted at http://neffa.org/perf_app.html - The Program Committee is not prepared to take your application at this time, since it is too late to apply for this year's NEFFA Festival. Please note that the application to perform is always available during the month of September, with a deadline in October. If you'd like to get an e-mail notice of application availability, send a blank e-mail to NEFFA_Performers-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com
So you can note on your calendar that September is a good time to check the NEFFA web site, and also arrange for a notice to pop up in your e-mail.
The NEFFA application invites you to come up with a briefly-described theme for your session, with a title of 20 characters or less. IMO, use your own judgment as to how important the theme is. If you are offering a concept that's really meaningful to you, don't be afraid to describe it. If what you really want to do is just call some hot contras, then IMO I wouldn't go overboard on the theme.
Unlike Northwest Folklife, callers and bands apply SEPARATELY to the New England Folk Festival. And I believe that this is a very good thing for beginning callers who hope to have a chance at getting onstage. This mix-and-match policy gives a fresh perspective for experienced performers, and can be an eye-opening experience for newcomers who may get to work with seasoned veterans. I will never forget calling at NEFFA with Northern Spy, a band that has worked with caller David Millstone for 25 years. And where was David during this session? Out on the floor, happily dancing to the music of his own band. NEFFA's selection process made that wonderful hour possible for me.
For what it's worth, the first year I successfully applied I asked for a "Festival Orchestra" slot, which means that instead of calling a themed, hour-long session I called two dances in the Main Hall with the assembled orchestra and then got off the stage as the next Festival Orchestra caller had a turn. IMO, the key here (as well as in submitting a session proposal) is to choose dances that you know by heart, can teach well, fully believe in, and love to share with a crowd. You don't want to have second thoughts as you approach the microphone.
If you're wondering why performer applications are required so far in advance of a festival, note that NEFFA may have 1700 performers, many of whom perform in multiple sessions (perhaps performing alone, and with a participatory dance group, and also with a concert performance group!). You can't doublebook a performer (or larger groups to which she may belong), you have to give her time to move from one venue to another, plus a bunch of other scheduling etceteras that would drive me loony to contemplate further. How scheduling was done in the days before computers is beyond me.
--
Robert Jon Golder
164 Maxfield St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-2486
The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend committee is happy to announce
that the 2014 weekend will happen on MLK weekend in January at the
University of New Hampshire. We are also happy to welcome Dudley
Laufman and Susan Kevra as our featured callers, along with music by
Calliuope and Maivish. The Friday night dance will include calling by
Lisa Sieverts and Trip to Nelson, along with Susan and Dudley at the
microphone.
Details at the website: http://www.ralphpage.neffa.org/
Those are good questions. As far as teaching I'm guessing that it
would make sense to identify new men and new women, maybe just before
the first half hey.
I'm terrible at naming dances. How about The New Combination if it
hasn't been taken.
Tom
This looks like a really cool dance. How do you plan on explaining it to
people so they can understand it?
> Becket
> A1 Circle left three-quarters and swing neighbor.
>
> A2 Long lines forward and back. Half hey, women by right.
>
> B1 Women ricochet.*
> New men ricochet**
> Half hey, new women by the left.
>
> B2 Gypsy and swing partner
>
> *In the B1 the women move from right to left while they ricochet.
> They keep moving right to left behind a new man the then start the
> second hey.
>
> **While the women ricochet, the men move left to right behind their
> current neighbor. They keep moving to the right in order to ricochet
> with a new man (moving in front of a new neighbor).
>
>
>
>
>
Often I write a new dance and then discover that the idea or
combination has already been invented by someone else.
Here's a dance I just wrote that has what I think might be a new way
to progress. Please let me know if this has been done before. I
haven't tried it out yet.
Becket
A1 Circle left three-quarters and swing neighbor.
A2 Long lines forward and back. Half hey, women by right.
B1 Women ricochet.*
New men ricochet**
Half hey, new women by the left.
B2 Gypsy and swing partner
*In the B1 the women move from right to left while they ricochet.
They keep moving right to left behind a new man the then start the
second hey.
**While the women ricochet, the men move left to right behind their
current neighbor. They keep moving to the right in order to ricochet
with a new man (moving in front of a new neighbor).
Hi all-- Going through my "mystery dances" pile of cards, I discovered I
had copied this dance down three times! And I did try to call it once, but
there was no progression.
I think I've figured out how it works-- the dancers start "indecent", 1s
proper, 2s improper...
So, if anyone can name this dance...
A1 Star R 1 1/4; P swing
A2 Promenade across; pass thru to short wave, balance
B1 W allmnde L 1 1/2; N swing
B2 Long lines; balance across (w/P), CA twirl (to new Ns)
Thanks for the help!
Keith Tuxhorn,caller
Austin TX
thanks so much, Linda, Don, and Yoyo! - Nate
>
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:30:10 -0400
> > From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Author of Tranquility?
> > Message-ID: <96C1AD3D-3A1B-40DE-9BC2-7068FC9273F7(a)comcast.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed;
> > delsp=yes
> >
> > The author would be me, Don! Except that for the B2, the original
> > dance has the women do an allemande left just 1/2, then a long Partner
> > swing. Certainly the allemande left 1 and 1/2 also works!
> > warmly, Linda
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:18:12 -0400
> From: Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Tranquility
> Message-ID:
> <CAAJTtiLeo2LxFVU48hvVZXAX4=
> K81BKT1gkX62LOWWvL5vCX-g(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> At the end of the A2 you are on the side of the set with your N in standard
> "Gents on the left, Ladies on the right" orientation. G is on the opposite
> side from where they started the dance, L are on their home side.
>
> B1 starts with a pass the ocean (where Gs essentially just walk across the
> set and then turn to their right 1/4. At the same time L Allem. Lt. 1/2 to
> cross set and give Rt. to their same N to form a short wave across with L
> still holding Lt. in the center). Wave balance. (So everyone is now facing
> direction of progression up/down at this point, opposite direction of their
> current Ns.)
>
> All walk forward to new short wave across in same orientation (so Ps travel
> together but join wave with new Ns in their Rt. hand, new Ls holding Lt.
> hands). Wave balance before starting the B2.
>
> I suggest fwd & back balances to use the momentum to help timing. Just my
> opinion.
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 12:35 PM, Nathaniel Puffer <
> nathanielpuffer(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > This looks like a very nice dance. I'm not sure I'm picturing correctly
> > what happens in B1 part - is anyone able & willing to describe this in
> > slightly more detail?
> >
> > Nathaniel Puffer
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Message: 1
> > > Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:44:51 -0400
> > > From: Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com>
> > > To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> > > Subject: [Callers] Author of Tranquility?
> > > Message-ID:
> > > <CAAJTtiL2aU9WmsEsqXNwyRp2ZNUT=
> > > gMp0M6CQNTD-v-O80-b6A(a)mail.gmail.com>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> > >
> > > I got this one from a local caller but there was no author known.
> > Googling
> > > has failed to uncover them. Do you know?
> > >
> > > Tranquility ? Becket ? Unknown
> > >
> > > A1
> > >
> > > (8) LLFB
> > >
> > > (8) G Allem. Lt. 1+1/2 *to N*
> > >
> > > A2
> > >
> > > (4,12) N Bal. & Swing *end facing across*
> > >
> > > B1
> > >
> > > (4,4) Pass The Ocean to Wave/4, Bal. *Fwd/Bk*
> > >
> > > *Pass the Ocean: L take LH as cross, RH to N - G are back on home
> side, L
> > > away*
> > >
> > > (4,4) Pass Thru Up/Dn to new Wave/4, Bal. *Fwd./Bk.*
> > >
> > > B2
> > >
> > > (8) L Allem. Lt. 1+1/2 *to your P*
> > >
> > > (8) P Swing
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------
> > >
> > > Message: 2
> > > Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:30:10 -0400
> > > From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> > > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> > > Subject: Re: [Callers] Author of Tranquility?
> > > Message-ID: <96C1AD3D-3A1B-40DE-9BC2-7068FC9273F7(a)comcast.net>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed;
> > > delsp=yes
> > >
> > > The author would be me, Don! Except that for the B2, the original
> > > dance has the women do an allemande left just 1/2, then a long Partner
> > > swing. Certainly the allemande left 1 and 1/2 also works!
> > > warmly, Linda
> > >
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:32:59 -0700
> From: Yoyo Zhou <yozhov(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Tranquility
> Message-ID:
> <CAPNCXWhZMMUGSog9YZbnvfH=Fs23FCdAcKhdtwv2poYd=
> L0O4Q(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Here's an animation of pass the ocean (sometimes called pass thru to
> an (ocean) wave) from a square dance club, since it's a move borrowed
> from square dancing:
> http://www.tamtwirlers.org/tamination/b2/pass_the_ocean.html
>
> Yoyo Zhou
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 110, Issue 26
> ****************************************
>
