Contra Callers October 2017

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

40 participants
25 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, 6 months

Calling a Halloween dance tonight? Try this circle mixer...

by Amy Cann via Callers

I try and call the dances of Rich Blazej whenever I can and this one's a Halloween favorite, re-done as "Werewolves and Zombies". *Garfield's Escape* -- circle of couples PLUS ONE EXTRA in the center (Garfield) A1 All into the center EIGHT steps and back, menacing the Garfield A2 Circle left, circle right B1 Women (werewolves) promenade single file to the right, while men (zombies) "star" by the right -- each man puts his right hand on right shoulder of the man in front - including Garfield. B2 Caller hollers "Escape!" ("Boo!", or maybe "Braaaiiins") and all men run to the outside and swing with a woman in the outer circle. A new Garfield remains in the center. Rich himself named this after Garfield the comic-strip cat, way back when he was cynical and funny (the cat, not Rich). "The single man remaining at the end of the dance is entitled to a pan of lasagna and some fresh kitty litter". My favorite normal tune for this is the minor jig Coleraine, played at a slightly slower lurch-y tempo, but if I'm lucky the band'll do the Alfred Hitchcock theme. Have fun, just thought I'd share -- and I'd love to hear how it goes if you do it, and what variations emerge. Cheers, Amy

5 years, 1 month

A new(?) dance, written with a gyre

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello all, Linda Leslie's suggestion of gyre as a replacement for gypsy bubbled around in my brain and a new (I think) dance percolated up. It has a twist that isn't the gyre (which I consider just new nomenclature); women casting out of the swing to travel from one minor set to another (similar to gent's movement in Scoot by Tom Hinds). I haven't gotten to test it with dancers yet, as I just finished running it through with pegs on my desk; but I wanted to share it in support of a new term. A Gyre for Linda by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CCW A1 ----------- (4) Pass through to an ocean wave (ladies left, catch right with partner) (4) Balance the short Wavy line (2) Walk forward (3) Shadow gyre right 1/2 (3) Gents gyre left 1/2 in the middle A2 ----------- (16) Neighbor gyre right and swing B1 ----------- MEANWHILE FIGURE: (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 WHILE women cast cw around whole set one woman’s place (8) 1/2 Hey, passing partner by right shoulder B2 ----------- (16) Partner gyre right and swing at home As for the other aspects that have been discussed: I pronounce it with a softer g sound. For reasons unclear to me, gyre has different accepted pronunciations; but (to my knowledge) gyration doesn't. As for using the term (which I clearly support); it costs me nearly nothing to switch and helps make the dance more accessible for some; both in dropping a term some find offensive and making the name more descriptive of the move. My job as a caller is to help share the joy of dancing, and if this does that I'm in favor of it. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

6 years, 8 months

pre-school dances?

by Luke Donforth

Hi Folks, I've got my collection of family dances that I use with mixed age groups. But I wonder if anyone has recommendations for family dance stuff when you don't have the full family? What's good for ~12 pre-schoolers (age 3 to 5) when they aren't dancing with their parents; and you have maybe 2 other adults total. It seems dubious they'd get through even two dances, so give me your favorite if you have one. Thanks! -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

7 years, 1 month

Preschool dances

by Andrea Nettleton

Luke, The age range you describe actually has extremely variable abilities. A three year old is just learning to control their body, likely cannot yet skip, or leap from one foot among the many as yet unlearned skills. A five year old is much more in control of both their body, and their social self. But the whole age range can enjoy follow the leader and other imitative dance, the elder end readily do two hand turns, elbow swings, circles. They might enjoy being led through individual movements, even in a sitting circle, (butterfly knees, swan wings, upside down beetle, cat loaf, etc) and scattered about but moving (different kinds of jumping (like a frog, like a kangaroo), walking in different styles (stomping like and elephant, wading like an egret, scurrying like a squirrel...)). Moving to different rhythms and moods, swaying to slow stuff but bopping to fast stuff can be fun. Dance that tells a story can work if more of the kids are older. Enjoy! Andrea Sent from my external brain

7 years, 1 month

pre-school dances?

by Claire T

Hi Luke I tried a preschool group and would not recommend any dances with formations, holding hands, or set moves. That’s just not where they are developmentally. What I’d recommend is the hokey pokey and other singing games. Old brass wagon, Sally goes round the sun, down by the station & you can do the trains. You can also bring colorful scarves, balloons, a parachute if there are enough adults to hold it up, bubbles etc with songs and wandering around. They would enjoy freeze games too. Good luck! Claire Takemori Sent from my iPhone Message: 1 Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2017 00:53:34 -0400 From: Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com> To: "Callers(a)Lists.Sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] pre-school dances? Message-ID: <CAFrKOZYg18_+mdsVJmzWb-EaDF9K9v31usxY+xrKYnZugaXF8Q(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Hi Folks, I've got my collection of family dances that I use with mixed age groups. But I wonder if anyone has recommendations for family dance stuff when you don't have the full family? What's good for ~12 pre-schoolers (age 3 to 5) when they aren't dancing with their parents; and you have maybe 2 other adults total. It seems dubious they'd get through even two dances, so give me your favorite if you have one. Thanks! -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

7 years, 1 month

Pre school dances

by Amy Carroll

There isn't a lot that will work well with just preschoolers and a couple adults. Holding hands in a circle and staying in a circle is challenge. I'd suggest really simple singing games because you can pause the music whenever you need to so they can follow the next instruction. Dusty bluebells works. Freeze dancing. The noble duke of York. Challenging to do that age w/o lots of adults or older kids. Yours, Amy 206 330 7408 Amy(a)calleramy.com

7 years, 1 month

Calling a Halloween dance tonight?

by Amy Cann

Here's my annual bid to keep the dances of Rich Blazej out there; I try and call his dances whenever I can and this one's a Halloween favorite, re-done as "Werewolves and Zombies". First the original: *Garfield's Escape* -- circle of couples PLUS ONE EXTRA in the center -- the Garfield A1 All into the center EIGHT steps and back, menacing the Garfield A2 Circle left, circle right B1 Women (*werewolves*) promenade single file to the right, while men ( *zombies*) "star" by the right -- each man puts his right hand on right shoulder of the man in front - including Garfield. B2 Caller hollers "Escape!" (*"Boo!", or maybe "Braaaiiins*") and all men run to the outside and swing with a woman in the outer circle. A new Garfield remains in the center. Rich himself named this after Garfield the comic-strip cat, way back when he was cynical and funny (the cat, not Rich) -- "The single man remaining at the end of the dance is entitled to a pan of lasagna and some fresh kitty litter". My favorite normal tune for this is the minor jig *Coleraine*, played at a slightly slower lurch-y tempo, but if I'm lucky the band'll do the Alfred Hitchcock theme. The thing that makes it is the *eight* counts in/out, the steps become small and tiptoe-y/menacing -- it gives dancers space and time to throw in all sorts of shenanigans, and each Garfield tends to try and top the last with the quivering and shivering. Kids especially love making a grownup cower. Have fun, just thought I'd share -- and I'd love to hear how it goes if you do it, and what variations emerge. Cheers, Amy

7 years, 1 month

Urgent need for caller 11/11/2017 at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT

by Chip Hedler

The long-established dance series in Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT urgently needs a caller for Nov. 11, 2017. The person we had scheduled is not be able to make that event. Efforts to find a replacement from within our usual pool have not borne fruit as of yet. We'd like to be able to announce the Nov. 11 caller at our 4th-Saturday dance (10/28, this weekend). Our musicians will include LIz and Dan Faiella, enthusiastic and talented young musicians. If you could fill this date, please reply to chip.hedler(a)gmail.com as soon as you can--we'd be extremely appreciative, can guarantee a decent fee, and could arrange lodging and meals if needed. Thanks to all for your consideration, Chip Hedler Norwich Dance Committee

7 years, 1 month

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Contra Callers October 2017