Contra Callers January 2019

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

15 participants
13 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, 2 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

4 years, 8 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, 3 months

Looking for "fun" dances

by sdgola＠aol.com

Sure they're all fun (we hope). I'm looking for a few dances that are particularly playful, quirky, silly....something that typically gets the dancers laughing. Some examples would be "Over the Hill and Still Chased" with the lady round two/gent cut through figure, or Beneficial Tradition when the dancers throw their free arm up and shout "Wooo!" You get the idea. What are your favorites? Sue Gola Princeton, NJ

5 years, 9 months

Easy/Fun Hey-for-Three Contras

by Don Veino

Would love to get suggestions for simpler contras containing a hey-for-three with 3 people. Looking to set a foundation with the sequence in the earlier part of an evening. Ideally a duple minor but willing to consider other settings. Yes, I'm working through the Caller's Box listings but it would be great to have suggestions from personal experience. Thanks, Don

5 years, 11 months

Circles, Crazy Circles

by Rich Sbardella

Helo Folks, This group has been so quiet lately. The group has been so important for me as I developed my Contra calling repertoire and skills, so I thought I'd initiate a conversation. As I sit here programming a dance I realize that I do not have many dances without circles. Many that I do have, do not have a Neighbor Swing, or have a Give & Take to cheat it out. Those factors limit where and when I can use them. I generally like to program two no circle dances in each half, and also a NO neighbor Swing dance in at least one half if not both halves of an evening. Any thoughts on this? Does anyone want to share some modern contras that have no Circles and no Give & Takes, but include a partner and neighbor swing. Here are a few I have used. Just for NEFFA, Linda Leslie Rollin' and Tumblin'. Cis Hinkle Rocket City Romp, Cis Hinkle Travels with Rick and Kim, Shari Miller Johnson Friday Night Fever, Tony Parkes Thanks, Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT

6 years

Please name those tunes

by The Witful Turnip

Hi all, Happy new year everyone! I'm hoping that someone on this list can identify the names of the two tunes being played for this dance of Dan Pearl's, Beneficial Tradition. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/245 I'm pretty sure that I've seen Bob Green post on this list. Bob, do you know the tune names? Would Martha? I'd welcome other tune suggestions for this dance that I think needs strong 4 beat phrases in that B2. The last time I called it, The Dam Beavers played The George Paul Reel and it was a perfect fit. I'm just looking for other choices. Thanks all! Bev **************************************************************************** ***** The Witful Turnip <mailto:wturnip@sympatico.ca> wturnip(a)sympatico.ca "It will be alright in the end. So, if it is not alright, it is not yet the end." - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel **************************************************************************** *****

6 years

Re: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate"

by Valerie Cohen

I have been using "Circulate" as the call, after seeing that people got the general idea of the figure during teaching. I have always liked this technique borrowed from another caller (I forget who now...) for teaching purposes: During the walk-through (after seeing that people have gotten into the correct positions to begin the box circulate from the previous figure - for example "men facing out, ladies facing in" in long wavy lines) I give this "rule": (after balancing): When you are facing into the set, you will walk straight across (to the other line), and take hands with those looping to face you. When you are facing out of the set, you will loop over your right shoulder taking hands with the people coming towards you, (on the same side) in a wavy line. I have avoided calling different roles, like "Gents cross, ladies loop", and the dancers seemed to get the "face in means cross", "face out means turn to the right to face in on the same side" When I taught this to a less experienced group of dancers, they all got it, and also noticed on their own that they had sort of a shadow, and said they liked realizing that they were heading toward a familiar face to rejoin hands. I think the best part of a box circulate dance is when one partner is approaching another as they are turning to go into a balance and swing, as most of them do. Valerie Cohen Message: 1 Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 00:45:54 -0800 From: Lenore Frigo <lfrigo(a)gmail.com> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate" Message-ID: <CAN6PTP1zWViwO4LXA25be9n5R80HE_ESn2EVbq6GkNcCmbt9Uw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used. For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!). Thanks so much, Lenore Frigo

6 years, 1 month

Calling a "box circulate"

by Lenore Frigo

I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used. For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!). Thanks so much, Lenore Frigo

6 years, 1 month

books gone

by Judy Greenhill

The 2 books are spoken for-thank you. Judy --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

6 years, 1 month

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Contra Callers January 2019