Hi, Hannah!
I very much second Alex Deis-Lauby's recommendations. The difficulty in a
contra corners figure in contra formation is two-fold: the out-of-minor-set
interaction and the short allemandes. If you can get the dancers to do
short allemandes earlier in the evening and use a dance without interaction
outside the minor set (as in, a triplet or 3-face-3), then you've prepared
them for one point of difficulty and removed the other.
My favorite triplet for contra corners is "Microcasmic Triplet" by Ann
Fallon and my favorite in 3-face-3 formation is "Down by the Riverside" by
Melanie Axel-Lute. The choreography for both are in others' responses.
If you determined to call contra corners in contra formation, I recommend
"Labor of Love" by Kathy Anderson (choreography here:
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/196-labor-of-love)
because it uses a box-the-gnat to get actives to trade places before the
contra corners figure, rather than a half-figure-eight, which is much more
difficult for newer dancers. "Labor of Love" also allows ones and twos to
trade off being active.
Good luck!
Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.comwww.DuganMurphy.comwww.PortlandIntownContraDance.comwww.NufSed.consulting
>
> Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2019 16:37:54 -0500
> From: Hannah Chamb <hannahchamb(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
>
> Hi all, first time posting here!
>
> I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up
> for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's
> a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few
> callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like
> contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo
> the skills the dancers will need later.
>
> With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a
> mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to
> be successful at contra corners?
>
> I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a
> dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Hannah Chamberlain
> Westbrook, ME
>
Can anyone ID this dance?
Thanks, Rich
Untitled Easy R&L Thru
1s in Center, Down in Fours
Turn Alone, Come Back
Face Across & Circle Left
(Full Around)
Neighbor Swing
Promenade Across
Right and Left Thru
Lines Fwd & Bk
1s Swing
1s in Center, Down in Fours
I have successfully called "Almost Sackett's Harbor," a triple minor, triple progression dance.with the Contra Corners figure in a triplet formation, and there is no waiting out at the top.
-----Original Message-----
From: Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Ann Fallon <aefallon(a)verizon.net>
Cc: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>; hannahchamb <hannahchamb(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2019 5:49 pm
Subject: Re: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
In my dance community a proper dance won’t help because everyone dances all the roles so training folks to look for certain genders isn’t a good idea (and in my opinion never is). Instead, I’d suggest something with short Allemandes (half, 3/4) or diagonal waves (dr Blums delight).
If the figure is new to your dancers, use a triplet (by David smuckler) or a three facing three (Melanie axel lute wrote one). Contra corners is much easier in that formation.
A
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 20, 2019, at 5:06 PM, Ann Fallon via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi, Hannah
I like your idea of teaching a proper dance earlier in your program. If you are going to choose a contra corners dance in which the active couple has to do a half-figure eight to get proper, you might want to teach the half-figure eight in an earlier dance, too.
Here's a triplet which I also find useful for teaching/learning contra corners. I am the author, but don't mean to be self-promoting here.
Microchasmic Triplet
Proper Formation, all facing partnerThe middle couple is the "active" couple, so there is no need to get them into position before starting the contra corners.
A1 Forward and Back, DSD PartnerA2 Middle couple turn contra cornersB1 ALL balance and swing Partner, end facing upB2 Top couple lead a cast off to the bottom. When they reach the bottom they make a two-handed arch and the other two couples go below them and come through the arch.
It's a peel the banana, come through the arch figure as in the Virginia Reel. Encourage the dancers to come to the top of their set before casting off to the bottom, or the sets will move too far down the hall.
Here's a link to a video.
Good luck!
Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Hannah Chamb via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2019 4:38 pm
Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
Hi all, first time posting here!
I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo the skills the dancers will need later.
With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to be successful at contra corners?
I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
Thanks in advance, Hannah ChamberlainWestbrook, ME_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Hi, Hannah
I like your idea of teaching a proper dance earlier in your program. If you are going to choose a contra corners dance in which the active couple has to do a half-figure eight to get proper, you might want to teach the half-figure eight in an earlier dance, too.
Here's a triplet which I also find useful for teaching/learning contra corners. I am the author, but don't mean to be self-promoting here.
Microchasmic Triplet
Proper Formation, all facing partnerThe middle couple is the "active" couple, so there is no need to get them into position before starting the contra corners.
A1 Forward and Back, DSD PartnerA2 Middle couple turn contra cornersB1 ALL balance and swing Partner, end facing upB2 Top couple lead a cast off to the bottom. When they reach the bottom they make a two-handed arch and the other two couples go below them and come through the arch.
It's a peel the banana, come through the arch figure as in the Virginia Reel. Encourage the dancers to come to the top of their set before casting off to the bottom, or the sets will move too far down the hall.
Here's a link to a video.
Good luck!
Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Hannah Chamb via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2019 4:38 pm
Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
Hi all, first time posting here!
I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo the skills the dancers will need later.
With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to be successful at contra corners?
I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
Thanks in advance, Hannah ChamberlainWestbrook, ME_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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
