Contra Callers April 2017

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

1 participants
28 discussions

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

Here is a little piece about MWSD, Enjoy! http://kjzz.org/content/459685/not-your-grandpa ’s-hoedown-square-dance-calls-get-remix Rich

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Ladies Chain to Allemande Left (Was: Does this dance already exist?)

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi All, Ladies' Chain to Allemande Left is actually the original version of the Ladies' Chain! I believe that the Courtesy Turn was added sometime late in the 19th century, or maybe in the first half of the 20th century. Prior to that the "Chaine des Dames" was always danced as Ladies Pull By Right, Allemande Left the Man You Meet - and always there and back again. It occurs in countless dances over the last few hundred years, going back to the 18th century quadrilles and probably earlier. The Ladies' Chains in Chestnut contras were probably danced that way originally. Of course If the man maintains that Allemande position he will end up facing the wrong way in most dances. So he will usually have to make a quick turn to his left at the end of the Allemande. I find it quite hard to persuade the men NOT to touch the lady with their right arm. Many ECD dances contain this move and I understand that some American ladies hate it when the man guides her with his right arm. So, between the two extremes of the man ending up facing out, and the man putting his right arm around the lady, you have the compromise of starting the Allemande normally, but then the man turning towards the lady as the move ends - this is known in some circles as a Polite Turn. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

7 years, 7 months

Ladies Chain to Allemande Left (Was: Does this dance already exist?)

by Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers

My dance You Married My Daughter (written in 1987) has a Ladies Chain into an Allemande Left, although I find it less confusing to teach it as "ladies pull by, allemande left with the opposite gent. You Married My Daughter Jacob Bloom Duple Improper Balance in long lines (gents facing out), slide past to right Balance left and right, slide to left Balance in long lines, allemande right 3/4 Gents allemande left once and a half Balance and swing partner end facing across Promenade across Ladies pull by, allemande left with opposite gent to long lines On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 5:51 PM, Don Veino via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Esther, > > Such a move is in my Greenfield Tornado dance. Choreo and a video link is > on my blog post <http://veino.com/blog/?p=1363>. I'm not aware of any > other dance until now which used this combination, but would be happy to > give credit to a prior pioneer. > > -Don > > On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 5:24 PM, Esther Fraser via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Also interested in other dances that have a Ladies' Chain to into >> Allemande Left (with the one you chain to) combo. I think I might have seen >> it somewhere, but I can't remember where. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- jandnbloom(a)gmail.com http://jacobbloom.net/ View my Arlington Food Pantry fundraiser at https://www.youcaring.com/arlington-food-pantry-621657

7 years, 7 months

Tanya's Reel

by April Blum via Callers

I was given this dance years ago, but failed to note who wrote it. A1. DSD 1.25 to a short wave (women in the middle) (8), balance the wave TWICE (8) A2. With Crnt Nbr Allm Rt 0.75. With Nxt Nbr (along the line) Allm Lft 1.0. With Crnt Nbr Allm Rt 0.75. Men pull by Lft B1. B&S P B2. R&L thru, Circ Lft 0.75, ready to pass thru and DSD April Blum

7 years, 7 months

Poise points (WAS: Does this dance already exist?)

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

Hi Martha, Interesting idea about transitions and poise points. I’m working on a dance with transitions I think are interesting, but worry they could be too jarring (have not tried it on human salt shakers yet). Here’s the first part: Start: improper A1 1-4 Ladies chain up and down set to neighbor, courtesy turn (at end releasing right hand, hold on to the left, facing each other across the set) 5-8 Swat the flea A2 1-8 (turn up/down the set to) Balance and swing partner One possible way to “smooth” the transition from the courtesy turn might be to release the right hand early and use left hands to turn the lady under (clockwise, lady turn right) before going into the balance for the swat, but I resist having it be a forced twirl. Perhaps folks would “discover” that on their own. What other transistions or poise points do folks find interesting? Thanx, Ric Goldman letsdance(a)rgoldman.org From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Martha Wild via Callers Sent: Monday, April 10, 2017 11:39 PM To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Does this dance already exist? Hi, all. Actually, I think the transition from the petronella to the ladies chain is a good one. There are certain moves in dancing, that I’ve heard called “poise points,” where one purposefully switches direction, and it can be very satisfying. For me, the spin to the right feels like the winding up of a spring that you then unleash in the other direction. Some dances that look as if they have good flow end up having so much clockwise spin that it tires people. On Apr 10, 2017, at 5:48 PM, Andrea Nettleton via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hi Esther, If anyone has not mentioned it, I feel there is a kink in the flow trying to go from a petronella to a chain. As you spin R, it is the left hand which feels available as you face the set because your body has been rotating clockwise, even as it move CCW around the minor set. So there will be this washing machine action to get into the chain. You might be counting on the claps to arrest that movement, but I still feel it's not an especially satisfying entry into the chain. A gents chain, otoh, would be peachy. What, to you, is the hook in this dance? What were you going for? Best, Andrea Sent from my external brain On Apr 10, 2017, at 5:24 PM, Esther Fraser via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hey folks, Has anyone seen this dance already? A1: Balance the ring & petronella Ladies Chain A2: Full Hey, Ladies pass R (16) B1: Ladies Chain P Allemande L B2: Balance the ring & Petronella Balance the ring & California twirl Also interested in other dances that have a Ladies' Chain to into Allemande Left (with the one you chain to) combo. I think I might have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember where. Thanks, Esther Fraser _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

7 years, 7 months

Rapid City Reel?

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for a dance titled either Rapid City Reel, or Rocket City Reel. The dance has back to back interrupted square thru two hands. Can anyone help me with this one? Rich Stafford, CT

7 years, 7 months

How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by Cheryl Joyal via Callers

I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better program an evening. I plan to go to “categories of dance features”, and have listed what I am thinking for possible categories below. I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you include ? Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from “dance categories”, or just note on card ? Or do you have another suggestion ? Possible Categories: Easy and ONS Contras California Twirl Full Hey 1/2 Hey Down the Hall Petronella Mad Robin Short Wavy Lines Long Wavy Lines Zig Zag Balance the Ring Box The Gnat ? Four Facing Four ? Becket ? Double Progression ? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk) Appreciate your suggestions !! Thanks - Cheryl Cheryl Joyal clmjoyal(a)gmail.com clmjoyal(a)aol.com 630-667-3284 (cell)

7 years, 7 months

Does this dance already exist?

by Esther Fraser via Callers

Hey folks, Has anyone seen this dance already? A1: Balance the ring & petronella Ladies Chain A2: Full Hey, Ladies pass R (16) B1: Ladies Chain P Allemande L B2: Balance the ring & Petronella Balance the ring & California twirl Also interested in other dances that have a Ladies' Chain to into Allemande Left (with the one you chain to) combo. I think I might have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember where. Thanks, Esther Fraser

7 years, 7 months

If You Can Walk...

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for a contra dance titled, "If You Can Walk, You can Dance", or maybe, "If you Can Dance, You Can Walk". Would someone please share it, or a link. Thanks, Rich

7 years, 7 months

I think this might work....

by Kelsey Hartman via Callers

Hi! Had an idea and wanted to share it with y'all! Venturing Vortices Improper by Kelsey Hartman 3.18.2017 {Started out as a dance written for the Ides of March (called Berkeley dance 3.15.2017) called "Take a Stab at It," (Sharon Gavin suggested the title) but the B1's timing didn't quite work. Loved the flow of the A1 and A2 so re-wrote the ending and renamed it.} A1: (16) Balance the ring and jersey twirl to swing neighbor A2: (16) Gents start 1/2 hey and ladies ricochet back to partner SWING B1: (16) (eFace away from partner) pass Shadow #1 by left, Shadow #2 by right, LEFT shoulder round Shadow #3, RETURN pass #2 by right, #1 by left B2: (8) Circle Left with partner and current neighbors 3/4, CA twirl and (8) Circle Right 1x around (move it!) Would love comments...thanks, Dan Veino for sharing the jersey twirl... Sent from my iPhone _______________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

7 years, 7 months

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Contra Callers April 2017