Contra Callers March 2019

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

35 participants
22 discussions

by Liz Burkhart

I have a gig coming up at a library wherein I have one hour to teach and call contra dances. It's a mixed crowd, and I heard there may be a lot of tweens present. I think I'd like to focus on bigger picture things - moving up and down the line, swinging, interacting with their set. I imagine I may even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? Thanks, Liz Burkhart

6 years

Neffa 75th contra winner

by Greenleaf

The winner of the Neffa 75th Contra Choreography Contest is Diamonds Are For Neffa, written by Chris Page. The judges feel that his dance has good flow, is suitable for the NEFFA audience, and includes very NEFFA-appropriate inter-set allemandes and a celebratory diamond. Even the title is clever. We honor Chris for this wonderful contribution to the NEFFA tradition. Congratulations! Thanks to the many people who submitted dances. There were 21 entries, with only one repetition of title (Diamond Jubilee). Bob Isaacs and I had fun trying out the dances in various parts of the country. Choreography for all of the submissions will be posted after the Festival. Bob will call the winning dance at the Festival’s 75th Dance Bash on Saturday, April 13. We hope that many of you will be there to help us celebrate. Many thanks, Lisa Greenleaf

6 years

Re: [Callers] Opposite StarThru and functional difference in LD v Slide

by Bill Baritompa

Hi Rich and all, In MWSD both star and slide thru are gender specific. Dance action In a single smooth motion, Pass Thru and Men Face Right, Women Face Left. Ending formation If two men, Right-Hand Mini-Wave; if two women, Left-Hand Mini-Wave; otherwise, a Couple. Cheers, Bill > On 22/03/2019, at 10:29, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > In MWSD Star Thru is one of the few gender specific calls. Slide thru is the same motion as Star Thru, but without hands.

6 years

How would you teach this? What would you call it?

by Luke Donforth

Hi All, I'm playing around with choreographing triplets, and I've got a sequence that I think would flow well; but I'm not sure how to teach it short of a demo. The idea is that couples 2 & 3 do a star. Out of that star, they move out, up, and back in; leaving space in the middle for couple 1 to move to the bottom. I put together an animation of it: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ Is that already a defined move? What would you call it? How would you teach it? Thanks for your thoughts! -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

6 years

Moves Following Box Circulate

by Isaac Banner

Hey all, I've felt like most box circulate dances use the circulate as a buildup into a swing with *someone*. Looking at http://www.contra.dance/thecallersbox, there are only 12 results for dances with a circulate that isn't followed by a swing and 9 of those results don't include their choreography (grumble grumble), so I can't actually confirm that they belong in the result set. I feel like there's a lot of potential for dances that have box circulates followed by something other than a swing. Here are a few I've been messing with: *Peace Is Still the Way* Becket A1 (8) Pass the ocean, balance the wave (6) Ladies allemande left 1.5x while gents orbit cw halfway (2) Partner allemande right 1/4 to long waves, gents in A2 (8) Long waves balance & circulate (gents cross, ladies loop) (8) Long waves balance & circulate - ladies catch RH as they cross, scoop up partner B1 (6) Ladies star promenade right 3/4, next gents catch left (6) Gents star promenade left 3/4 (4) Partner butterfly whirl B2 (6) Ladies dosido (10) Partner swing *Snowbirds* Becket A1 (8) Ladies half hey passing right (4) Ladies chain (4) Gents courtesy turn, roll lady away R to L into long waves (gents in)** A2 (8) Long waves balance & circulate (gents cross, ladies loop) (8) Long waves balance & circulate (ladies cross, gents loop) B1 (8) Mad robin CW, gents in front (8) Circle left 3/4 (better as a chase with eye contact, rather than hands) B2 (16) Partner meltdown swing I'm interested in what people think and also any other dances folks have with different moves following a circulate (other than waves balance + Rory because honestly who are we fooling). Thanks, Isaac Banner http://www.contra.dance/isaac

6 years

Who’s in the middle?

by Alexandra Deis-Lauby

Anyone have a simple wave dance where it doesn’t matter which role is in the middle of the wave? Kind of like Bob Isaacs’ double your fun but easier. Thanks! Alex Sent from my iPhone

6 years

Fan Favorite PROPER Contras?

by Don Veino

Hi, I've been assigned the opening slot at this year's 2019 New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) for my session: "Keepin' It Proper Contras - It's not all about improper contras! Dances from times past to the present set in a proper form." Soooo... what proper dances have you found to be particular favorites with dancers and amenable in a large hall "some experience" (non-advanced dancer) setting? I'd appreciate your suggestions. Thanks, Don

6 years

New left-hand chain dance (riffing on Star Trek)

by Maia McCormick

I danced Mike Richardson's Star Trek <https://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/mike_richardson/star_trek.ht…> recently and was super into the "star and single file promenade to the next star" progression (and also the right-shoulder hey straight into a swing niggled me just a bit). So, I re-jiggered it. I welcome thoughts, and if it strikes your fancy, definitely call it and let me know how it goes! Star Trek: the Next Generation <http://contra.maiamccormick.com/dances.html#startrekthenextgeneration> (becket R) A1: hands-across left-hand star 1x larks LH chain (to N) A2: full hey (larks pass L) and ravens ricochet B1: P walk-around and swing B2: promenade across left-hand star 1x and walk along the set (ravens in the lead) to progress Before the B2 star, note direction of progression (i.e. to the RIGHT); dancers walk along the set single file in this direction, with larks following their partner.

6 years

New Dance

by Donna Hunt

Hi All: I wrote a dance to honor my BFF and his long time service to the Swingin' Tern Dance in NJ, writing the puns for their fliers for 35 years and doing publicity (and to honor his upcoming birthday). Many of you know him, Doug Heacock (pronounced Heycock). If you don't know him as a dance organizer, perhaps you've seen one of his many dance videos on his youtube channel? Feel free to call the dance and let me know how it works for you. The dancers at Swingin' Tern this past Saturday enjoyed it. Proud as a Heacock IMP by Donna HuntA1 Circle Left 1x 1/2 Pousette with Partner CW A2 Balance ring (with original neighbors) with Partner: Ladies roll away and Gents sashay Swing Neighbor B1Star Right 3/4, Swing Partner B2 Gents Chain (left hand pull by) Long Lines forward and back Donna Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com Cell: 215-565-6050

6 years

New(?) dance, transitions?

by Luke Donforth

Hi all, I was thinking about standard transitions; and how similar flows could possibly be created while still adding variation to our dance diet. Chain-> (1x or 1/2) hey -> balance and swing works well; but gyre & swing doesn't work well there, because you've set up left shoulder at the end of the hey. allemande left -> (1x or 1/2) hey -> (gyre &) swing works reasonably, because you've set up the other shoulder in the hey. What about coming into the hey from a Sea-Saw? For instance: Contra/Improper A1 ----------- (16) Neighbor gyre and swing A2 ----------- (8) Promenade across the Set (8) Ladies Sea-Saw 1.5x B1 ----------- (8) 1/2 Hey, ladies passing partner right shoulders (8) Partner swing B2 ----------- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Ladies allemande Left 1-1/2 I think that flows well, but I don't have dancers to play with at the moment. If anyone more used to dancing the traditional ladies roll wants to talk about muscle memory and flow, I'd appreciate it. Would the sea saw and left allemande just be too outside the realm of familiar to be fun? Assuming this is a new composition that works, I'll call it Sinister Ravens. Thanks for your thoughts. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

6 years

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Contra Callers March 2019