Contra Callers May 2015

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

1 participants
22 discussions

by Rickey

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.

2 years

Re: [Callers] Festival Applications

by robertgolder＠comcast.net

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

4 years, 7 months

Itty-bitty dances, triplets, odd numbers

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

I just called a tiny dance last night, and went through several of my triplets along with a big pile of English 3-couple dances that we did to old-time tunes (that was a little weird for me but the dancers enjoyed them, so what the heck). I was grateful to have the few triplets I had, and I'd like to expand my collection. The ones I used were Microchasmic, David's Triplet #7 and Ted's Triplet #24, which all have distinctive bits in them (contra corners, round two/drop through, and a cast to invert then 1s lead up, respectively). I like triplets that have some choreographic substance to them, something for the dancers to chew on. Do you have favorites you enjoy dancing as well as calling? I get the impression sometimes that triplets are "that thing you do to fill time until the real dancing starts," but 3-couple sets can be a whole lot of fun. And sometimes they can save your butt as a caller. We had lots of odd numbers last night, so in addition to the triplets and 3-couple English dances I used dances like Domino 5 (5 dancers) and Pride of Dingle (for 9). For a short while we had 4 couples and did contras but most of the evening was "other." Got any good dances for odd numbers? Kalia

9 years, 1 month

Jets / rubies genderfree terms redux: gems?

by Ron Blechner via Callers

For those interested in gender free contra dance terms: 1. Do you like or dislike jets / rubies ? 2. How would gems / rubies compare? In dance, Ron Blechner

9 years, 7 months

The Benefits of Difference (was: Jets / rubies genderfree terms redux: gems?)

by Jacob Nancy Bloom via Callers

On Sat, May 30, 2015 at 2:57 PM, Delia Clark via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > ... > > It will ultimately be a good thing if there is a generally accepted set > of words (certainly not a strict requirement, but something that’s > generally accepted across the country, if possible) that meet the range of > criteria, along the lines of those suggested by Ron in his matrix. > There is an assumption behind this statement which is often made, but which I find very disturbing. The assumption is that it is an unalloyed good thing for there to be standardization. This is the kind of thinking that led the Modern Western Square Dance movement to standardize all of their calls, and all of their teaching programs. They wanted any square dancer to be able to go to any square dance club in the country, or in the world, and immediately know exactly what was meant by everything that was said. There are some advantages to that kind of standardization, especially if you happen to be a globe-hopping square dancer who enjoys dancing hot hash, but it comes at a tremendous cost. It comes with a loss of the opportunity to experience, adapt to, and appreciate regional differences. I don't care about being able to go to a new place just to find that things there are done in the same way that I'm used to them being done back home. I care about being able to go to new places and learning the way things are done there. What this means for the current discussion, from my point of view, is that it's a good thing if dance callers and producers discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using different terminology, and consider what language will work best for their dance. It would be a BAD thing if anyone switched terminology JUST BECAUSE that's what other people were doing. It may well be that a certain set of terms will become generally accepted because it works better for the dancers in a lot of places. It may well be that dances which were written to be gender-neutral will be generally accepted because they work better for the dancers in a lot of places. In the meantime, if you find yourself assuming that it would a good thing if there was standardization across the country, please give some thought to what advantage you are trying to achieve, and what the disadvantages would be. Jacob Bloom

9 years, 7 months

Fwd: Wireless Headset

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

Hello friends, I recently called a dance and had trouble with my Shure wireless headset system. I had feedback as I called from the floor/field. That indicates that the mic pattern is probably to wide, since the volume was not that loud. It also droped out as I walked around the field at the outdoor dance. Can anyone recommend a good quality headset system for a singing caller who is often on the floor as he calls? Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT

9 years, 7 months

Wireless Headset

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I continue to gather information, and consider suggestions. Has anyone used the Audio Technica Pro HE series with a hypercardoid headset mic? Rich Stafford, CT

9 years, 7 months

from: Louie Cromartie

by Louie Cromartie via Callers

Hi http://losenlaces.es/totally.php?broken=k76dbsawubpm9w5 louie.cromartie(a)gmail.com Sent from my iPhone

9 years, 7 months

Regency-Era Dance & English Country Dance Workshop July 24-26, 2015

by Bengtson, Lissa via Callers

International Folk Culture Center in San Antonio, TX presents a workshop by John Gardiner-Garden and Aylwen Gardiner-Garden of Yarralumla, Australia on July 24-26, 2015 Please see details at: https://regencydance.eventbrite.com Lissa Bengtson Director, International Folk Culture Center Our Lady of the Lake University 411 S.W. 24th St. San Antonio, TX 78207 210-867-0692 www.ollufolkculturecenter.com<http://www.ollufolkculturecenter.com>

9 years, 7 months

Dances for Novice Crowds

by Ben Hornstein via Callers

Hi All, I'm calling a dance this weekend at Comicpalooza, a large comic book convention. The crowd will be at least 95% people who have never danced. What are some dances that you all recommend for this sort of crowd? -Ben

9 years, 7 months

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Contra Callers May 2015