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
> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 18:01:13 -0800
> From: Alan Winston <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Fw: Creating a CDSS dance depository
> Message-ID: <52A918E9.6090708(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 12/11/2013 5:35 PM, Chris Lahey wrote:
>> You're absolutely right that something like that could go up fairly
>> quickly. I'm just afraid that it would take away from the possibility
>> of something much more useful, though harder to obtain. I don't think
>> it's forking the discussion to discuss whether this is a good idea.
> Fair enough.
>
> I've witnessed a number of volunteer web things things that never got
> off the ground at all because the requirements snowballed to the point
> where it would be really hard to get started. I've now come around to
> the position that sometimes, given limited time and resources, and when
> one isn't working on life-critical projects, it's worth figuring out
> what the minimum effort to do something useful would be, with the idea
> that once something is useful it will be easier to find more resources,
> and if you get bogged down you've at least got something useful.
>
> So that's my bias in this discussion.
>
> -- Alan
Good point Alan.
It would be worth asking CDSS whether they are interested in officially supporting this effort in some way, perhaps even with resources - an intern??
Also it is worth thinking about the purpose of this database. I see two different distinctly different important ones:
- one is to provide a comprehensive historical archive of dances.
- the other is to provide good information to new callers to help them become better callers. I believe that Contra Dancing is going to get to be more popular and as a result there is going to be the need for more callers. A good database with demos, notations, etc. would help.
Compatibility with Caller's Companion would be valuable for this purpose.
Friends,
I have a small weekly dance session with seniors in CT and often lack dancers. If anyone could share dances for 5 or 7 people, or two or three couples, I would greatly appreciate it. I often fall back on solo lines similar to the electric slide, or I dance them in squares with a phantom (not too successful).
Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
I've come to the conclusion that in an effort to please and wow the
dancers the contra movement may at times change in ways I don't feel
comfortable with.
Several years ago I called with "the latest rage band". At one point
I asked the musicians to slow down. "No can do" was their reply.
Turns out they were doing this thang called looping. This country
boy ain't never heard of no loopin'.
How about warning me ahead of time?
My wife recently called to a band where, after several times through
the dance she asked them to slow down. "No can do" was their reply.
Turns out they were using a metronome to keep a steady beat. And
they have a drummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????
How about warning her ahead of time?
A couple of months ago I was doing sound for a band that has copied
"a couple of the latest rage bands" and they handed me a cord. "This
is our mix" they said. For years we've been balancing the volume of
the monitor mix independently from the house mix. Not that night.
So what if the guitar is louder than the fiddle.
In the future will the role of the caller (and sound dude) change for
the worse or the better or will it just be different? Maybe you've
had similar experiences.
Tom
Hi Rich,
Small numbers are common here, especially this winter. Here are some dances that have worked well for me:
LONGWAYS - even cpls
DoSiThree - Linda Leslie (3 - 5 cpls)
Snowball - Martin Hayes (3 - 4 cpls)
Waves of Tory, or Ted's Dip & Dive (Triplet #3) - Ted Sanella (3 - 6 cpls)
Cumberland Reel (3 - 6 cpls)
Weave the Top (3-7 cpls) (variation of "Over the Top")
OXO dances (3-6 cpls) (single cpls use Hand Turns instead of Circle/Star)
Microchase* (3 cpls) (easier version of Anne Fallon's Microchasmic)
MIXERS - even cpls
Lucky Six (3+ cpls) (Lucky Seven if 5, 7, or more cpls)
Two's Out (4+ cpls) (if 4 cpls works better if back to neighbor instead of back to center) (my favorite of the many Easy Circle Mixers)
Cabot School Mixer (4+ cpls)
Sheehana's Reel* (3 - 4 cpls) (variation of Roger Whynot's Sheehan's Reel) (a little crowded with 3 cpls but it works)
Three Track (3 cpl)* (variation of Three Stop which I miscalled but dancers liked so kept it this way)
Two Track (3 cpl)* (simpler version of Three Track as some dancers got disoriented with the turns) (many similar dances to these two)
OTHER and ODD Number
Gelding of the Devil (3 cpls, or 2 cpls plus one with ghost) (B variation with 4 cpls, or 3 cpls plus one and ghost -- F&B 2 x, cpls cross & cast as usual)
Sellengers Round (4+, easy to dance with a ghost)
Rufty Tufty (2 cpl) (not particularly easy but OK if the music isn't too fast) (variation 3-4 cpl longways)
On-the-Fly-Circles* (2, 3, or 4 cpls plus 1, longways mixer) (came up with this and the following one big snowstorm night when I had 5 and no dances to suit. Decided to keep them.)
On-the-Fly-Stars* (2, 3, or 4 cpls plus 1, longways mixer)
Raatikko (any number cpls - I haven't done this with small numbers but it works fine in a line as well as a circle so seems it would be good) (fun Finnish folk dance)
The Carding (from Dudley Laufman's book) (Quad but easy to include an extra couple or two or a single even) (Depends on how your folks are with sashays, my current group have too many knee and hip replacements to enjoy this one).
* I'll put the instructions in another post for those interested. Others all in the archives or common.
Big cheers for the small dances!
Sue R. , U.P.M.
Different genre but those working with seniors might find this book
helpful: http://www.cdss.org/product-details/product/dont-stop-calling.html -
from CDSS.
David Chandler
On Fri, Feb 28, 2014 at 12:00 PM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:01:29 -0800 (PST)
> From: rich sbardella <richsbardella(a)snet.net>
> To: "callers(a)sharedweight.net" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Three Couples or Less Dances
> Message-ID:
> <1393603289.48866.YahooMailNeo(a)web181503.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Friends,
> I have a small weekly dance session with seniors in CT and often lack
> dancers.? If anyone could share dances for 5 or 7 people, or two or three
> couples, I would?greatly appreciate it.? I often fall back on solo lines
> similar to the electric slide, or I dance them in squares with a phantom
> (not too successful).
> Thanks,
> Rich Sbardella
> Stafford, CT
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 114, Issue 63
> ****************************************
>
Tom,
You shared some of the concerns that have pretty much driven me from the
microphone. What a shame.
I began calling in 1981, after dancing and playing for two years. I began
calling as part of the music curriculum at a psychiatric hospital. Little did
I know how things would turn out.
I began as a "Mr. Microphone", like many of us have. This didn't last long.
Bill Alkire set me straight a few years later. He got me to think of my
role as a recreation leader. This changed my whole outlook about calling.
I have only called one gig to recorded music...and hated it! Oh, I taught
some classes to recorded music, by often had at least a fiddler play along.
There are many gigs that I turned down because they would not pay for a band.
I look at a dance as a three-legged stool. The legs are caller, band, and
dancers. The "legs" have to be even for the dance to work best for everyone.
I early on chose to work with mostly beginning dancers as everyone else
wanted to call for "real" dancers. Feedback showed me that my teaching and
calling styles were easy to follow and friendly.
Most of the bands I've worked with have been able and fun to work with.
Some were nationally known..some were beginner bands. When possible, I contact
a new band prior to the dance to make sure that we will be on the same page.
I worked with a few bands who needed little guidance from me, since we knew
each other so well.
I've been out-of-the-loop for a few years. The changes in many contra dance
series seemed to lose the sense of "community" I used to feel. It ceased to
be fun. I cut down my calling to a monthly family dance and the occasional
ONS.
I now live on an island that doesn't have much music or dancing. The local
band is great fun, but I hipe to have them learn some of the tunes I am used
to.
So, the caller is still the "conductor" of the evening. The band may have
its preferences, but they are not more important than helping the dancers to
have a grea time.
John B. Freeman
We have a band in the LA area that does the looping thing, but they are able to change speed. It DOES mean that somebody has to step on the foot treadle to stop the loop, so the bass is live again, rather than recorded. In their case it is only the bass that gets looped, and as a caller I am aware of the fact that if I want them to change speed, it is a whole lot easier on everyone if I make that decision in the first 32 bars, before the guitarist hits the loop button and swaps his guitar for a mandolin. I can't say I like the arrangement, but I have learned to live with it, and being aware of how they operate helps a lot.
On Feb 27, 2014, at 9:00 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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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. Re: Role Play (Ben Hornstein)
> 2. Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist? (Ben Werner)
> 3. Re: Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist? (Alan Winston)
> 4. Re: Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist? (Michael Dyck)
> 5. Re: Role Play (Jeff Kaufman)
> 6. Re: Role play (Tim Klein)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:44:34 -0600
> From: Ben Hornstein <bhornstein5189(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Role Play
> Message-ID:
> <CAG+H1oo3xrzo9dAHP7aj50s55aDV8jPaANvqgf16o-iUQdGFLQ(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> As callers, it's our responsibility to be aware of the gig we booked. We
> should be familiar with the level of the dancers, the style of the band,
> and what this particular community expects. It is the band's responsibility
> to provide good music for the dancers, so they also need to be aware
> (albeit perhaps to a lesser degree) of the level of the dancers, the
> ability of the caller, and what this particular community expects.
>
> To your first story about looping, the band should have been able to slow
> down the next time through the dance, even though it may be a pain to redo
> the looping. It would have affected the sound, so they could have let you
> know that they would only slow down if you thought it was extremely
> necessary.
>
> To your second story about the band using a metronome, that sounds like a
> band that isn't very good. They need to practice being more responsive to
> the dancers' ability.
>
> For your last story, if the band wants a certain mix, that is their right.
> Perhaps their style is for the guitar to be louder than the fiddle (maybe
> they think the fiddler isn't that good, but don't want to hurt his/her
> feelings). As a sound guy, you can do a sound check, then suggest
> modifications for the monitors or house. Ultimately, I think it should be
> up to the band to decide how they want to sound.
>
> In the future, I think the role of the caller will not be different, but as
> bands get more complicated, so will dealing with them. The band and caller
> should do their best to work well with each other to provide the best
> possible dance environment for the evening.
>
> -Ben Hornstein
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:26:00 -0700
> From: Ben Werner <benknobi89(a)gmail.com>
> To: Callers(a)SharedWeight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist?
> Message-ID: <1A38A3B6-F7A4-40B4-BDC4-660DBC36C8D1(a)gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> Hey All,
>
> I'm a new caller in the group and just wrote a dance and wanted to see if my chosen title has been used or if the dance has been written.
>
> The neat thing about it is that number one couples can remain connected during their duration as ones.
>
> Thanks!
> Ben
>
> Contra Connection
> Beckett
> Ben Werner
>
> A1: (16) Balance Square through 2 Left hand over connection
> A2: (16) Petronella x 2
> B1: (16) Balance & Swing Partner Calie Swing
> B2: (8) Promenade fishhook left
> (8) Star left 1 time around w new neighbors
>
> Inspired by Carol Ormand?s Contra Connection set @ Stellar Days and Nights 2014 in Buena Vista
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:44:08 -0800
> From: Alan Winston <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist?
> Message-ID: <530E8A58.2090403(a)slac.stanford.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
> Ben --
>
> Don't understand what you mean about the number one couples remaining
> connected during their duration as ones. Holding a hand?
> Are they holding on to each other during the Balance and square thru 2?
> How does that work?
>
> Also, it's "ceili swing", not "Calie". (It's an Irish Gaelic word -
> Scots Gaelic is 'ceilidh'.)
>
> Anyway, haven't seen the dance before. Title sounds maybe kinda generic.
>
> -- Alan
>
>
> On 2/26/2014 4:26 PM, Ben Werner wrote:
>> Hey All,
>>
>> I'm a new caller in the group and just wrote a dance and wanted to see if my chosen title has been used or if the dance has been written.
>>
>> The neat thing about it is that number one couples can remain connected during their duration as ones.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Ben
>>
>> Contra Connection
>> Beckett
>> Ben Werner
>>
>> A1: (16) Balance Square through 2 Left hand over connection
>> A2: (16) Petronella x 2
>> B1: (16) Balance & Swing Partner Calie Swing
>> B2: (8) Promenade fishhook left
>> (8) Star left 1 time around w new neighbors
>>
>> Inspired by Carol Ormand?s Contra Connection set @ Stellar Days and Nights 2014 in Buena Vista
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:13:19 -0800
> From: Michael Dyck <jmdyck(a)ibiblio.org>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Contra Connections - Does this Dance Exist?
> Message-ID: <530E912F.5060606(a)ibiblio.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>
> On 14-02-26 04:26 PM, Ben Werner wrote:
>> Hey All,
>>
>> I'm a new caller in the group and just wrote a dance and wanted to see
>> ifmy chosen title has been used or if the dance has been written.
>
> If you go to http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index and do a Title
> search for "Contra Connection", you'll get two hits:
> "Contra Connection" by Peter Baker
> (in 'Great Contras and Squares from the Great Lakes State')
> and
> "The Contra Connection" by Dale Rempert
> (in 'Hill Country Contras')
>
> The sequence of figures doesn't match anything in my personal collection.
>
> -Michael
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:25:31 -0800
> From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Role Play
> Message-ID:
> <CAK36jCNQ_9YH_KTG0Y7iDo79QyfLGVpVYqtSppkMy9TLenQXzA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 2:44 PM, Ben Hornstein <bhornstein5189(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>> For your last story, if the band wants a certain mix, that is their right.
>> Perhaps their style is for the guitar to be louder than the fiddle (maybe
>> they think the fiddler isn't that good, but don't want to hurt his/her
>> feelings). As a sound guy, you can do a sound check, then suggest
>> modifications for the monitors or house. Ultimately, I think it should be
>> up to the band to decide how they want to sound.
>>
>
> What mix is appropriate will depend on the hall. At the very least
> there's a difference between small venues where you're going to hear
> the instruments mostly acoustically and large ones where people are
> mostly hearing via the PA system. The sound person needs to be able
> to change relative levels, and maybe put eq or compression on
> individual instruments, to make the band sound best for the situation.
>
> But what makes what Tom described worse is that this band was relying
> on the hall sound system for monitors. This meant that if their needs
> for hearing themselves were different from the hall needs there just
> wasn't a way to make both sound right.
>
> If a band wants to supply a single mix to the hall PA system I think
> they need to at least (1) run it by the sound person in advance, (2)
> make it clear they're happy to make changes when requested to fit what
> the hall needs, and (3) send the hall a separate mix for the monitor.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 08:20:34 -0800 (PST)
> From: Tim Klein <mrtimklein(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Role play
> Message-ID:
> <1393518034.70435.YahooMailNeo(a)web160602.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Tom wrote: "In the future will the role of the caller (and sound dude) change for?the worse or the better or will it just be different?"
>
> For the recent Knoxville contra dance weekend, "Cabin Fever", we built a robot "C.H.A.D." that called a contra dance Friday night.
>
> It's not going to take our jobs anytime soon, but there's a precedent now.
>
> Tim Klein
> w/ Earl McGill
>
> P.S. Chad loops too, but has a dial to adjust his speed.
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 8:49 AM
> Subject: [Callers] Role play
>
>
> I've come to the conclusion that in an effort to please and wow the?
> dancers the contra movement may at times change in ways I don't feel?
> comfortable with.
>
> Several years ago I called with "the latest rage band".? At one point?
> I asked the musicians to slow down.? "No can do" was their reply.?
> Turns out they were doing this thang called looping.? This country?
> boy ain't never heard of no loopin'.
>
> How about warning me ahead of time?
>
>
> My wife recently called to a band where, after several times through?
> the dance she asked them to slow down.? "No can do" was their reply.?
> Turns out they were using a metronome to keep a steady beat.? And?
> they have a drummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????
>
> How about warning her ahead of time?
>
> A couple of months ago I was doing sound for a band that has copied?
> "a couple of the latest rage bands" and they handed me a cord.? "This?
> is our mix" they said.? For years we've been balancing the volume of?
> the monitor mix independently from the house mix.? Not that night.?
> So what if the guitar is louder than the fiddle.
>
> In the future will the role of the caller (and sound dude) change for?
> the worse or the better or will it just be different?? Maybe you've?
> had similar experiences.
>
> Tom
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 114, Issue 62
> ****************************************
>
As callers, it's our responsibility to be aware of the gig we booked. We
should be familiar with the level of the dancers, the style of the band,
and what this particular community expects. It is the band's responsibility
to provide good music for the dancers, so they also need to be aware
(albeit perhaps to a lesser degree) of the level of the dancers, the
ability of the caller, and what this particular community expects.
To your first story about looping, the band should have been able to slow
down the next time through the dance, even though it may be a pain to redo
the looping. It would have affected the sound, so they could have let you
know that they would only slow down if you thought it was extremely
necessary.
To your second story about the band using a metronome, that sounds like a
band that isn't very good. They need to practice being more responsive to
the dancers' ability.
For your last story, if the band wants a certain mix, that is their right.
Perhaps their style is for the guitar to be louder than the fiddle (maybe
they think the fiddler isn't that good, but don't want to hurt his/her
feelings). As a sound guy, you can do a sound check, then suggest
modifications for the monitors or house. Ultimately, I think it should be
up to the band to decide how they want to sound.
In the future, I think the role of the caller will not be different, but as
bands get more complicated, so will dealing with them. The band and caller
should do their best to work well with each other to provide the best
possible dance environment for the evening.
-Ben Hornstein
