Contra Callers March 2017

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1 participants
27 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.

1 year, 4 months

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

3 years, 10 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

4 years, 5 months

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>

5 years, 12 months

In search of un-premiered contras!

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Hi choreographer folks, I'm leading a session at NEFFA called "Cutting-Edge Contras", consisting of un-premiered (or very sparsely called) contras. If anyone has any dances they'd like to throw my way for consideration, please do so! Cheers, Maia

7 years

Full hey spanning two phrases?

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Hi folks, I'm running up against a wall in a dance I'm currently writing, and it's making me wonder: what dances, if any, have a full hey that spans two sections* and really WORKS? I feel like in general, if I danced such a dance, I would roll my eyes at the choreographer "breaking the rules", but I can also imagine delightful dances a hey spanning two phrases that justify their own existence and feel great to dance. Thoughts? Dances to point me to? As always, in dance, Maia * e.g. hey occurs during the last eight counts of B1 and the first eight of B2

7 years

Sad news: Louie

by Joy Greenwolfe via Callers

The Triangle Country Dancers in Central North Carolina would like to share the very sad news of Louie Cromartie’s passing. Louie was a well-loved and admired local dancer, caller, and mentor. We will miss her terribly. Memorial Events: There will be two memorial dances in her honor next weekend, both Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st, coinciding with scheduled dances. Both dances will be at the Carrboro Century Center in Carrboro, NC. More info about dance times, location, and caller/musicians on the TCD website: http://www.tcdancers.org <http://www.tcdancers.org/> There will also be a memorial service for Louie, that same Saturday, April 1st at 11 am. The service will be at: Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist 106 Purefoy Rd Chapel Hill NC 27514 Google map <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/community+church+of+chapel+hill/@35.8985362,-79.1220615,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89acc2f0a47d37d5:0x40a4301d3e78db53!2m2!1d-79.0520214!2d35.8985565> link https://goo.gl/maps/wTzAdsgMLv32 <https://goo.gl/maps/wTzAdsgMLv32> There may be some home hospitality for dancers coming from out of town as well. Whether or not you can make it to NC, please keep Louie’s family, especially Robert and Thankful, in your thoughts. Joy Greenwolfe Durham, NC

7 years

Re: [Callers] In search of un-premiered contras!

by Jerome Grisanti via Callers

Dear Maia, I recently composed a contra that may fit your criteria. I've sent it out to a few other callers, and posted it to a small Facebook group, but its challenges make it unsuitable for most dances on my schedule. The challenges are: multiple progressions/regressions and potential disorientation. I would guess a hall populated mostly with experienced dancers would not have too much trouble with it. Another caller suggested calling it as a becket starting with the B1, which would certainly give it a different feel. Let me know if you end up using it; good luck with your workshop whatever you end up doing! --Jerome Do Re Mi Re Do By Jerome Grisanti Duple Improper Contra A1 Neighbor right-hand balance (4), pull by (2), next neighbor pull by left (2). Third neighbor right-hand balance (4), box the gnat (4). A2 Gents allemande left 1 1/2 (8), Partner swing (8) B1 Slide left & circle left 3/4 with 2nd neighbors, Neighbor swing B2 Gents walk forward to a long wavy line (4), Balance forward & back (4); Gents allemande left with ladies joining behind partners to turn it into a left-hand star (8) (ladies traveling about 3/4, gents about once+ around). You interact with three neighbors in this order: 1,2,3,2,1. An end-effects warning: you're never out for long. Couples out during the A2 will be in in the B1, if you're out in B1 you return in B2. The A1 figure wraps around the ends. Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe On Sun, Mar 26, 2017 at 8:26 PM, Maia McCormick via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi choreographer folks, > > I'm leading a session at NEFFA called "Cutting-Edge Contras", consisting > of un-premiered (or very sparsely called) contras. If anyone has any dances > they'd like to throw my way for consideration, please do so! > > Cheers, > Maia > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years

In search of un-premiered contras!

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Maia, This has been called a few times across the US recently & is well-loved, but is definitely not wide spread yet. Mad Orbin by Jacqui Grennan A1 (4) N RH Bal (4) Box the Gnat (8) Gents front to R, Mad Robin A2 (8) Gents allem L 1.5, while Ladies orbit CW (8) N Sw B1 (4) Bal ring, Ladies bring P across (12) P Sw B2 (8) CL 3/4 , Pass thru (8) Next N DSD Claire Takemori Campbell CA On Mar 27, 2017, at 1:02 PM, via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: Send Callers mailing list submissions to callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net You can reach the person managing the list at callers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." Today's Topics: 1. In search of un-premiered contras! (Maia McCormick via Callers) 2. Re: In search of un-premiered contras! (David Harding via Callers) 3. Re: In search of un-premiered contras! (Tom Hinds via Callers) 4. Re: In search of un-premiered contras! (David Harding via Callers) 5. Re: In search of un-premiered contras! (Don Veino via Callers) 6. Re: In search of un-premiered contras! (Linda Leslie via Callers) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2017 21:26:38 -0400 From: Maia McCormick via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] In search of un-premiered contras! Message-ID: <CAHUcZGPtZDbsacoWgaXknNbzmi7aHMet3TW-azUv-=R9BzkZZA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Hi choreographer folks, I'm leading a session at NEFFA called "Cutting-Edge Contras", consisting of un-premiered (or very sparsely called) contras. If anyone has any dances they'd like to throw my way for consideration, please do so! Cheers, Maia

7 years

Re: [Callers] ???? Looking for Author of Dance -dancers adjust

by K Panton via Callers

To my knowledge, it depends on the dance; i.e. how many beats has the choreographer allowed for. Some dances are timed to 2 beats zig, 2 beats zag. Some are timed for 4 beat zig and 4 beat zag. I believe that "Cows are Watching" (just looked online) and Weave the Line, as examples, are the latter. I can't recall the name of a dance with the similar zig/zag into a gents alle L as "Cows" that, I think, has 2 beats/zig timing. Ken > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2017 13:43:36 -0500 > From: Jerome Grisanti via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net> > Cc: "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] ???? Looking for Author of Dance -dancers > adjust > Message-ID: > <CAD6SnUQMse394aS9QSQ4XnxWyoGW79J1epej29RAS4c=NZQ9bA@mail. > gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I tend to think of the zig as four beats and the zag as four more. Four > total would be zesty or rushed, depending on the crowd and music. > > Jerome > > > > On Friday, March 24, 2017, Tom Hinds via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > I believe that zig left, zag right normally takes 4 beats. If the > dancers > > zag a little farther so men can easily take a left hand that would take > an > > additional 2 beats for a total of 6 counts. I'll confirm the timing this > > Saturday. > > > > For me there's this issue of how much we ask the dancers to adjust. It > > seems that asking dancers to adjust is common in English and perhaps less > > common in contra. > > > > > > Tom > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > > >

7 years

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Contra Callers March 2017