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
Hey All,
I just wrote a new dance and wanted to see if the name, or the dance has been written before.
The Erik Effect - Imp, Becket
By Danielle Boudreau and Ben Werner - written for Erik Erhardt
A1: (16) Yearn Left, give and take, ladies take gents, Neighbor Swing
A2: (8) right and left through
(8) Ladies chain
B1: (16) full hey
B2: (16) partner gypsy & Swing
Cheers,
Ben
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I'll second that, A1 Reel is a great ender dance and as you know I love calling it. Thank you Chris!
-----Original Message-----
From: "Chris Weiler (home) via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 6/3/2014 7:54 PM
To: "Kalia Kliban" <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
Cc: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Good ender
You're very welcome.
Chris
> On Jun 3, 2014, at 7:20 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> If Chris Weiler, who wrote A1 Reel, is reading this, I'd like to thank you for a really good ender dance.
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If Chris Weiler, who wrote A1 Reel, is reading this, I'd like to thank
you for a really good ender dance. It's a simple, low-piece count
Becket that ends with a partner balance and swing. It gets the caller
out of the way in a hurry and lets the dancers and the band have a great
time at the end of the program.
Here's a link to Chris's website, for those who'd like to find the notes:
http://caller.chrisweiler.ws/dances.htm
Kalia
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Hi all,
Cleaning out my pile of notes on excellent and unknown dances again. If
anyone knows names/authors for these, shout it out! Thanks so much!
Cheers,
Maia
-----
*#1: *?????, imp. ("cool shadow dance")
A1: new neighbor balance and swing
A2: ladies bull by right to allemande partner L 3/4; shadow allemande 1 1/2
B1: in wavy lines w/ ladies facing out, balance, spin right to partner
(like a half Rory O'Moore); partner swing
B2: circle L 3; do-si-do neighbor 1 1/2 to the next
*#2: *Becket – Left prog.
Long lines F&B / Ladies chain (to Nbr)
(Petronella) balance ring, spin to Right / Balance ring, spin to Right
[Square thru two]: Right hand balance w/partner, Pull by partner to
face Nbr,
Along set pull by Nbr to face next neighbor
Swing new neighbor
Circle Left ¾ / Partners Swing
*#3: *Imp.
A1: long lines
Gents alle L 1 ½ to short waves (partner in R)
A2: balance, partner alle R ¾ to long waves
Balance and circulate
B1: balance and circulate
Balance and partner cross to swing
B2: circle L ¾
Pass thru and swing next
(Greenfield, Halloween Extravadance 2013)
*#4: *???, becket
A1: long lines
Circle L ¾
A2: N swing
Next N swing
B1: Prom across and face R
Ladies R 1 ½
B2: shadow swing
Partner swing
(NEFFA ’14)
*#5: *???, becket
A1: yearn L
Gents chain
A2: bal ring, roll P away
N swing
B1: R/L thru
Ladies chain
B2: bal ring, roll N away
P swing
(NEFFA ’14)
*#6: *???, imp
A1: star R
star L
A2: P courtesy turn and ladies cross
Swing N
B1: gents by R(?)
P swing
B2: long lines (and gent roll lady)
Pass thru, turn R, prom single file to next
(NEFFA ’14)
*#7: *???, imp.
A1: N b&s
Pass ocean and balance
A2: N R ½, gents pull by L, P R ¾
B1: Shadow alle L 1x
P swing
B2: pass ocean, bal
P R ½, gents pull by, N R ¾ to next N
(NEFFA ’14)
*#8: *a frustrating fragment--loved this dance, but have no idea what the
rest of the choreography is!!
mad robin gents in front à gents cross for long waves
balance and circ.
Balance and circ
P swing
(NEFFA ’14, Saturday)
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