Dear callers list,
I'm a long time reader, first time writer, wondering if anyone knows about
any plans for 2018 International Money Musk Day. Is it Wednesday March 14th
this year? Thanks!
Steven
Hello list members,
I will be calling my first session of "Challenging Dances" soon, and I have a few questions:
1. Is there an archived discussion on this topic that any one knows about, and if so could someone point me to it?
2. If not, I'm wondering about other callers' experiences with these dances - how "challenging" is generally appropriate? (Bear in mind this is not Greenfield, Concord, or a similar dance series where it's safe to assume most dancers will be very experienced/skilled). What sort of "arc" has worked well for such sessions? I know the final program will be determined by the level of those who actually show up to the dance, but it'd be nice to start with a general frame of reference.
3. Any favorite challenging dances anyone has been having particular fun with lately? (I have a good assortment but am always looking for new ones).
Thanks! Chuck
Dear callers,
It is with great sadness that I pass on the message below. Her support of this community and to many of us as individuals cannot be overstated. She will be missed.
Seth
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> To the dance community:
>
> These are excerpts from a letter from Chris Ricciotti.
>
> It is with great sadness that I am passing on the news that Linda Leslie passed away Sunday evening. She called on Thursday night at the Concord Scout House, Friday evening at the Rehoboth Contra Dance, and then again on Saturday evening at our own contra dance in Jamaica Plain. She called an amazing dance program for all of us those evenings!
>
> Linda had been having difficulty breathing during the past week or so, particularly after walking, and this became increasing worse over the past few evenings. On Sunday evening, she was taken by ambulance to her local Emergency Room and she passed away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
>
> Her husband Bob Golder has requested that Linda’s passing NOT be posted on Facebook. Email and word of mouth is fine, but he prefers this not to become a Facebook event.
>
> As a caller, she took the love and the joy she experienced as a dancer, and transformed the dance community every where she went, touching us all with her lovely soft spoken presence that would make you feel embraced with that love she had when she danced. To many of us, she was like our dancing “mom” or “grandmom”, always a warm smile, always ready with humor, always looking out to make sure everyone was having a good time, and feeling safe within the room.
>
> In our community, she was a bridge builder, and a role model of what good dancing and community building are all about. She was also a HUGE advocate of gender-free dancing. She was one of the key people who helped us connect with and be an accepted part of the greater community of dancers, and encouraged us to share our love of dancing with others as a way to help build those connections.
>
> She was also a part of helping us to build the strong relationship we have with NEFFA, being a support to our fundraising food booth, being present at meetings we had with NEFFA as we worked on being more of a part of the greater dance community, helping us to navigate the issues that were occasionally a part of this process, as she helped us to better understand the greater dance community, as they came to know us
>
> At our dance camps, as many of you know, her presence was always a welcome treat, whether she came as a dancer simply because she loved our community so much, or when she would come as a caller to build our community, and the bonds that go with it, as she shared her passion and love of music and dancing.
>
> And of course, we cannot forget her delightful husband Bob, who has also been a warm personality, much loved in our community, also sharing his love of dancing with us, not only as a dancer, but as a caller, having written some of my favorite dances along the way. Bob has also being a great NEFFA advocate helping us many times along the way. His warm smile and delightful presence has brought a lot of joy to us a lot over the years, and he continues to be a part of the family that makes our dance a special place to be.
>
> I know we will all miss Linda very much. It’s very difficult to lose someone who has had such a presence in our lives and who has brought us so much, and who was a big part of our dancing family. As we find out more information about memorial service arrangements, we will let you know, along with any memorial dances that may be organized in her honor.
>
> In the mean time, when we come together to dance, let us honor her memory by sharing that joy she brought to each of us, with each other, and let us dance in honor of all our friends and loved ones who have gone before us. It is moments like this that are so precious – and Linda was certainly one of them!
>
> In sorrow and gratitude for having the honor of knowing Linda,
>
> Chris Ricciotti
Hi Ron and all,
I wrote this quite a while ago and not tested it out, but will try it with the Allemande Joy tour that are in NZ currently. Nerdy title and move at A2b.
Spin Quantum Number Becket CW
A1 Slice Left, Give and (lady) Take, Neighbor Swing
A2 LLF(and on way Back) Gent roll lady away;
Gents Right Allemand 1/2, Partner Left Allemand (1/4, 3/4, 1 1/4 etc as desired) to Long Waves
(either G or L face out)
B1 (with one of the 4 possible) Shadow(s) Balance Rory O'more slide right;
Balance Rory O'more slide left
B2 Partner Balance and Swing
Note: At end of A2 the left allemand can be varied each time. Will end in long waves with a Shadow of same or opposite sex in right hand, Partner in Left.
Cheers, Bill
Hey callers,
I'm looking for dances with nerdy inspirations to add a few more choices to
an upcoming session. Skill level easy through intermediate+.
This can be dances inspired by a nerdy reason (like Jurassic Redheads or
Star Trek) or some kind of nerdy-choreography.
Thanks!
Ron Blechner
Collected this from Vicki Herndon last night at Cabin Fever in Knoxville.
Anyone know the name / author? It's a really fun dance (and lots of fun to
swap roles on).
A1 Yearn Left, then straight back
R&L Thru
A2 Snuggle up to partner (arms around backs like for Star Promenade)
As a couple balance, twirl to the right once place (gents go forward,
ladies back) End facing up & down
Couple balance, twirl to the right
B1 Gents pass L Shoulder -- Hey
B2 P B&S
--
Jack Mitchell
Durham, NC
I can no longer find the original post about The Wheel circle mixer, but
I'd like to thank the person who recommended it. I used it, with Mac
MacKeever's modification of rolling the women to the inside before going
into the middle, at a contra last night with a large percentage of
energetic teenagers. It was excellent! Just the right amount of silly
as the odd socks scrambled to find each other in the middle, and plenty
of time for them to get back into the promenade. It's playful, pretty
hard to break, and very quick to teach. It's a keeper!
Kalia
Hello Folks,
Does anyone have dances that they are willing to share of Colonial period
dances that are adapted to a Party Dance environment for non dances? I
instantly think of Rakes of Mallow (longways) and Haste to the Wedding (as
a Duple Minor).
I have a few others, but would like to add to my repertoire. Easy is what
I am looking for. Alcohol involved in reenactment party dance.
Thanks,
>From one of the colonies!
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
Hi: I don't usually wake up with a dance in my brain so I'm wondering if it's already been written.
Solistice '17 improper Donna Hunt
Long waves with ladies facing in
A1 Balance wave and Rory twirl to R to NEXT neighbor and Swing
A2 Pass through to a wave and Balance, walk forward to next wave and Balance
B1 Swing through (turn R 1/2, gents pull by) Partner Swing
B2 Balance ring and twirl to right, Allem L neighbor 1 1/2 to make waves
Anyone recognize this as a dance already out there?
Donna Hunt
Some dances require skill to make the timing work — like starting a figure
with dispatch so a later balance will be on time, or doing a figure
leisurely to avoid being early for the next one. But while many dancers
have the awareness to make things like that work, many dancers don’t. Since
there are plenty of fantastic dances without such challenges I tend not to
call dances which have them.
But I’ve also found that such dances are great when I’m asked to lead a
workshop helping dancers improve their skills. Longtime dancers aren't
eager to change their habits, and having something concrete like making a
balance on time adds motivation, ideally opening a window where learning is
possible.
Unfortunately though I've discarded or passed on collecting most such
dances!
Have any suggestions of good/great dances where the timing is tight or
loose in spots?
One of mine in that category is Crow Flight (http://rickmohr.net/Contra/
Dances.asp#CrowFlight). Learning opportunities include gents flowing from
swing to circle (common with aware dancers but a revelation to some),
ladies moving efficiently from circle to hey, and doing a hey with two
steps per pass (possibly realizing the difference between a 3-change and
4-change half hey).
Thanks for any ideas!
Rick
