Contra Callers March 2016

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1 participants
42 discussions

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

I called Young Adult Rose last night and experienced a near-complete dancer revolt about the shadow allemande. The dance is written with a circle left 3/4, pass P by R along the line then allemande shadow R 1x, before coming back to P for a balance and swing. The dancers all _really_ wanted to do the allemande by the left. I tried calling it a few times with the R hand, then gave up and called it L and they were all much happier. Anyone else experienced this? Kalia

8 years, 8 months

Calling and timing

by Roger Hayes via Callers

Some thoughts on timing, in part inspired by the recent discussion of "Young Adult Rose" (btw, I hope we get a series of dances up to and including "Revered Elder Rose" -- alternatively "That Old Rascal Rose"). As the dancers get the dance into their body, I'll shift from calling early for direction to calling on the beat for timing. Of course it would be ideal to be able to do both; I think it's possible with artful word choice, but not always, not for me. Sometimes I get the control thing going and want to exert a strong influence over the timing -- "balance Now!". It's often more fun to shut up and let the dancers sort out the timing - it's great to see people adjust to make a dance flow. Sometimes I enjoy dancing a dance with imperfect timing or flow, just to see how the hall will adjust and make sense of it. A lot of the figures we dance are not so precise as we think they are; for example, many "allemande once" figures are really more like 1/2, to reverse direction. This is why I prefer to teach with "far enough so you can..." rather than "exactly N" -- I want the dancers to think about flow and connection, not about completing one figure before attending to the next. On the other hand, I'm a total curmudgeon about lazy not-quite-far-enough circles. And being late for your neighbor? Awful. Breaks down the trust that builds up when we're all there for each other, on time and in the right place. - Roger Hayes

8 years, 8 months

Thoughts on B2/A1 swings and having time to flourish

by tavi merrill via Callers

Hola all, So Amy's followup to her "Is this a new dance" query brought up something i've been thinking about for a while. (Amy & Tom - i'm collecting it with Tom's B2 modification and attributing it as Wimmer, variation Hinds.) A 16-count swing does go on forever. But it is also awesome - and i mean truly awesome - to have a full 12-count swing plus 4 counts to pull off one of the more time consuming flourishes (like the ripcord twirl, seen in the wild here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpR6SxWsM4&list=RDIVquC0jqCXs&t=2m2s and taught here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbyoOPc0rHQ, one of my favorite swing ending flourishes but one that takes too much time to be executed in an 8-count swing window). I know attitudes on twirls vary, so i should state clearly my opinion: i think flourishes, while neither traditional nor intrinsic to our dance form, add a lot to contra when they are executed safely, consensually, and in a manner mindful of the foursome and set as a whole. That to me implies that when and how to use twirls well - and how to time them - can be a potential style point when dances allow for them, particularly where a 16-count swing may bore or tire dancers, yet allows plenty of time to flourish and arrive on time for the next move. We could, as choreographers, maybe even write more 16-count swings for use with the crowds that love to flourish. Less subtle: If you're calling a 16-count swing, why not point out to the dancers there's no excuse for arriving late after a flourish? The A1 placement of the partner swing in Amy's dance "Feelin' the Bern" also appeals to me for a quite specific reason. Some callers are of a mind that every dance should end with a swing, while others (this camp including myself) feel that getting back on the microphone to change the final B to accomplish that is bad form, but do appreciate the elegance of being with or at least aimed toward your partner at the end of a dance and try to facilitate that effect when possible, and others don't give a crap about where dancers are facing when the music stops. (NOTE: This is to acknowledge the various camps, not to launch a thread on which approach is better!!!) Flowing from this, i fully support A1 partner swings, because it's another way to accomplish the aimed-toward-partner-when-dance-ends thing that doesn't involve an A1 circle L or slide. ;-) On a slightly different but related note: As i work to assemble a DJ repertoire of contradanceable EDM, i've noticed that many remixes are perfectly contra-ready save for a "build to drop" element that occurs in the music where the B2 ends, in effect adding from 4 to 8 counts to the B2 but usually only once through. Rather than re-working the track to eliminate the build/drop element, which would create the feeling something substantial is missing, I'm toying with the notion of pairing such material with B2 swings so dancers get a slightly longer swing during that iteration of the dance. Thinking getting back on microphone to say "keep swinging" and then prompt the A1 with recorded music isn't such bad form. Open to feedback on that. I'd appreciate if folks keep responses to this message positive/constructive in tone (vis-a-vis argumentative or dismissive) as i've been super depressed lately and positivity helps. Hope you all are having a good holiday weekend whether you're celebrating Easter or recovering from a raucous Purim or burning off all those Newroz treats or still doing laundry after Holi (did i get them all?!) Tavi

8 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Thoughts on B2/A1 swings and having time to flourish

by tavi merrill via Callers

Precisely. What Jeff says here is to me much more than an aside as it helps define and clarify my thoughts around the main point i was trying to make. Dancers are accustomed to swinging for anywhere from 8 to 12 counts (as a balance and swing is 16, minus the 4 counts a balance takes), thus a swing longer than 12 counts feels too long. "Counting from the end" is nigh impossible, as we get wrapped up in the experience of the swing and it's mostly those who are well-developed musicians and/or who know contra tunes by heart that can pick up on where in the musical phrase they are without counting and thus judge how far from the end of the phrase they are and correctly time the initiation of a 4-count flourish. But in the event that a 16-count swing happens, the moment when it suddenly feels like too long a swing (that moment where we pass 12 counts MAY be perceptible to everyone, not just musicians, because we're conditioned to swinging for no more than 12 counts) could perhaps become the cue to initiate a 4-count flourish and magically arrive on time. It's just a hypothesis based on dancer behavior and my experience as a caller and musician, but it may bear testing out. I'd be curious to hear how an experiment goes if someone calls 16 count swings where dancers have been instructed to initiate 4-count ending flourishes the moment they feel they've swung for a normal amount of time. (Might just try running that experiment myself at a May 7 workshop i'm co-leading.) On Sun, Mar 27, 2016 at 6:36 PM, Jeff Kaufman <jeff.t.kaufman(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hmm, I think I've seen people be late with it on twice count swings too? > My interpretation is more like, when dancers are starting to learn swing > ending flourishes the "counting from the end" to end things on time is > hard, and they tend to be late a lot. The longer the flourish they're > trying to lead, the longer in advance they need to start it and the less > likely they are to leave enough time? > > (This is all still an aside, though, and I'm interested in discussion of > the main point of your post.) > >

8 years, 8 months

Rates for private events (weddings etc)?

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Hey folks, I've just been asked to call a wedding, and I don't have a good idea for what the going rate for these things is. What do you all charge for a wedding (say, 30 mins-an hour of dancing)? (And how might you adjust this rate for NYC?) Thanks, Maia

8 years, 9 months

Young Adult Rose

by Michael Fuerst via Callers

May this be your biggest disappointment in life. :) (Allemande left works much better, because it gives dancers a better direction for starting the swing.When calling the dance on a Saturday I probably use left shoulder gypsy instead of the allemande.) Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 5844

8 years, 9 months

festival gigs

by Jeanette Mill via Callers

Any hints for quick and efficient ways to include the new dancers who join at the bottom of sets at festivals? If they have a good experience they are future regular dancers.

8 years, 9 months

Favorite Triplet ?

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Hi everyone. I’m enjoying all the great information that is shared on this list. Thank you! I’m wondering if you have a favorite Triplet that would work for a very small but experienced contra dance with just 6 dancers left after the break? Ideally more dancing together and less casting down/back, etc…. I’ve done Ted’s Triplet #5, and they loved the hey for 6. I will call Labor of Love by Kathy Anderson (contra corners) next time. I have the book of Zesty Contras & Give and Take, but not sure how all of the 33 Triplets work or if they are really fun….. Grateful for your help! Claire Takemori (Bay Area, CA)

8 years, 9 months

This dance or something like it?

by Ron Blechner via Callers

For a while I've wanted a dance with: - easy difficulty - 2 swings - a courtesy turn (promenade or chain) - everyone allemandes - a star - Ideally ladies doing one move together and gents doing one move together. - timing that isn't tight (Dayton 1.5 by Perry Shafran came very close, and I use that, but doesn't leave quite enough wiggle room for too many new dancers.) Basically, A Nice Combination / Simplicity Swing / The Baby Rose but with an everyone-allemandes. I was stumped. If you have a suggestion, I'm ears! This is what I've worked together. I called it last Friday at Greenfield, MA, with maybe 15% new dancers, and it worked well. Mistakes Happen, Have Fun Ron T Blechner Start: Duple Imp. Difficulty: Easy A1. Gents DSD 1x (6) NS (10) A2. Circle L 3/4 (6) PS (10) B1. LLFB (8) Ladies Chain (8) (to N) B2. Star L 1x (8) (to Next N) (Next) N Alle R 1.5x (8) (until gents face in)* * Technically, this dance is a reverse progression indecent dance. But don't tell the dancers this. It can be lined up improper and taught normally. Thanks, Ron

8 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

by Bree Kalb via Callers

8 years, 9 months

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Contra Callers March 2016