While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
The Blobs
Boston Tea Party
Chimes of Dunkirk
Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
Cumberland Reel
Duckpins
The Duke of York
Galopede
Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
Jacob's Potato
Margate Hoy
Over The Top
Sasha
Snake
Traffic Jam
Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like to have some suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The kids (and some parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes it is an adult with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center and back twice. Then have different groups go in in A2, boys, girls, talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups two-hand turn or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually worry about trying to get them to do that.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
> Hi Sandy,
>
> Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
>
> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216
>
> Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my dances are now up on The Callers Box.
>
> Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
The A1 definitely feels like it was pulled from the Ministry of Silly Walks. Which is to say it’s a good thing.
> On Jan 24, 2020, at 06:18, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> Just the other day, I'd proposed a weekend dance session called "My Hovercraft is full of Eels". The next day I found out that Terry Jones, one of the founding members of Monty Python, had just died at the age of 77. So while lying awake in bed, I decided to try to write a contra with something completely different. Not having one in my box, I went with a contra corners dance where you don't corner with your partner.
>
> My Hovercraft is Full of Eels
> Contra/Becket-CW/Dbl-Prog
>
> A1 -----------
> (4) Left Diagonal Long lines forward
> (4) Left Diagonal Long lines back (double progression)
> (8) Neighbors below (#1 gent and #2 lady) half Figure eight up the set
> A2 -----------
> (16) Neighbors below turn Contra Corners
> B1 -----------
> (16) Cornering Neighbors balance and swing in the middle
> B2 -----------
> (16) Partner balance and swing on home side
>
> A1 could be "Left Diagonal R&L through, straight across R&L through"; but I'd worry the gent/lark will have a difficult time getting into the contra corner. You could tweak it to make it eye-casts with partner (a la Money Musk) to the R&L throughs; but that's adding another wrinkle to an already oddball dance. The lines has the benefit of an easier shift to single progression if desired, but I think moving through at a double clip and strange long lines is more appropriate for the group that brought us the department of silly walks.
>
> The B1 neighbor swing for half the folks is a great time for the folks standing out to engage in shenanigans. Two dances of the same role out on the side could swap with each other, and either swap partners, or make their partner track them down somewhere in the set.
>
> I'll leave it to someone else to write "Naughty Boy". Rest in Peace Terry Jones.
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <mailto:Luke.Donev@gmail.com>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Hello all,
Just the other day, I'd proposed a weekend dance session called "My
Hovercraft is full of Eels". The next day I found out that Terry Jones, one
of the founding members of Monty Python, had just died at the age of 77. So
while lying awake in bed, I decided to try to write a contra with something
completely different. Not having one in my box, I went with a contra
corners dance where you don't corner with your partner.
My Hovercraft is Full of Eels
Contra/Becket-CW/Dbl-Prog
A1 -----------
(4) Left Diagonal Long lines forward
(4) Left Diagonal Long lines back (double progression)
(8) Neighbors below (#1 gent and #2 lady) half Figure eight up the set
A2 -----------
(16) Neighbors below turn Contra Corners
B1 -----------
(16) Cornering Neighbors balance and swing in the middle
B2 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing on home side
A1 could be "Left Diagonal R&L through, straight across R&L through"; but
I'd worry the gent/lark will have a difficult time getting into the contra
corner. You could tweak it to make it eye-casts with partner (a la Money
Musk) to the R&L throughs; but that's adding another wrinkle to an already
oddball dance. The lines has the benefit of an easier shift to single
progression if desired, but I think moving through at a double clip and
strange long lines is more appropriate for the group that brought us the
department of silly walks.
The B1 neighbor swing for half the folks is a great time for the folks
standing out to engage in shenanigans. Two dances of the same role out on
the side could swap with each other, and either swap partners, or make
their partner track them down somewhere in the set.
I'll leave it to someone else to write "Naughty Boy". Rest in Peace Terry
Jones.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
For folks organizing or calling contra dances using pre-recorded or DJed music be aware that it is wise to make sure you - or the DJ or the venue - has licensing from ASCAP/BMI, otherwise there is a good chance their lawyers will track you down and demand money for licensing. It’s available inexpensively through CallerLab: http://www.callerlab.org/Home/fbclid
ASCAP/BMI licensing is a racket in that the artists see little or none of the money paid in licensing fees but it can be daunting to get letters from them as they do have the right to collect.
Contra dance performers who use/remix recorded music for dances can generally get inexpensive annual licensing based on the number of gigs per month or year and what they are getting paid. I know that Lisa Greenleaf has such licensing for her "Alternative Music" contra dances where she plays music from a variety of artists with calls pre-recorded over the music. ASCAP/BMI has occasionally tried to get licensing fees for live music contra dances but have failed when the organizers challenged them to prove which tunes are actually under licensing...
> On Jan 20, 2020, at 9:42 AM, Bob Peterson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I like to mix and call contras to recorded music, so this is really a marketing-related topic for me. Currently I’m using “alternative music contra dance”.
>
> \Bob Peterson
> home dance: https://lcfd.org/jp
>
--
Will Loving
2419 S York St Apt 5
Denver CO 80210-5319
+1 413 253-7223 (GMT –7, Mountain Time)
+1 413-221-8626 (iPhone)
[he/him]
I wrote a guideline for putting on techno contras a while back (see link below) and included some additional terms which are sometimes heard when talking about non-traditional contra dance music.
Crossover
Livetronica
Electro-acoustic
Electroflow (for fully pre-recorded music events)
There are two main components that I think distinguish “techno” and other non-traditional music contra dances from the more traditional:
music that includes one or more of the following: looping, beat mixes, sampling, remixing, unusual instrumentation, non-32-bar music, the use of non-traditional music or musical references, particularly in terms of samples
lowered lights and "club" or “theatrical" style lighting.
In my experience, what is considered "techno" or "crossover" music runs the gamut from music that is entirely live with extensive use of electronics to modify and loop the music, to fully pre-recorded music tracks, sometimes traditional fiddle music, other times Top 40 remixes. Some DJs do some remixing on the spot). In between those two extremes are groups like Buddy System (Julie Vallimont of Nor'easter and Noah VanNorstrand), Firecloud (another Julie Vallimont group), Contra Force, and Phase X (Christopher Jacoby's group) which use pre-mixed samples, beats loops but then play live instruments such as keyboard, fiddle and guitar on top of that.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-loving/how-to-put-on-techno-contra-danc… <https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-loving/how-to-put-on-techno-contra-danc…>
With regard to the terms you’ve listed. I can’t say I’ve ever heard “iPod dance” and it’s probably on it’s way out due to iPods and other standalone music players also being replaced by phones, iPads and other tablets. The best example of an "Alternative Music Dance” would, I think, be Lisa Greenleaf’s “Alternative Music Contra” dances. She has premixed music from a number of sources including jazz, pop, rock, etc. and then recorded her calls over the music. She teaches the dances, starts the music, and often jumps in to dance once things are going well.
Will
> On Jan 20, 2020, at 9:42 AM, Bob Peterson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I’m always on the lookout for terms that describe the style of using non-traditional and often non-live music. So far I’ve seen or used:
> iPod dance
> Alternative music dance
> Fusion contra
> Techno contra
> DJ’d contra
>
> Q: What other terms have people seen?
>
> Q: What do the terms mean to you? For instance here is what I understand:
> iPod dance - pre-mixed music, genre unspecified
> Alternative music dance - ditto iPod dance, but livelier
> Fusion contra - ?
> Techno contra - live performance electronic, beat-heavy music
> DJ’d contra - caller and DJ are not the same person?
>
> I’d like to focus this thread on terminology, not what’s bad (or good) about the non-traditional styles. It would be great to have other threads discuss values and preferences, if someone wants to tackle framing that conversation.
>
> I like to mix and call contras to recorded music, so this is really a marketing-related topic for me. Currently I’m using “alternative music contra dance”.
>
> \Bob Peterson
> home dance: https://lcfd.org/jp <https://lcfd.org/jp>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Will Loving
2419 S York St Apt 5
Denver CO 80210-5319
+1 413 253-7223 (GMT –7, Mountain Time)
+1 413-221-8626 (iPhone)
[he/him]
I think a lot of these terms are used in a range of ways, and there isn't a
short thing you can put on a flyer that will let people know what to expect.
If you have many events people can learn what they're like: people who come
to one of Lisa Greenleaf's Alternative Music Contras, Emily Rush's
Rushfest, or BIDA's Spark in the Dark know what to expect or can talk to
past attendees to get an idea.
If you're starting something new one important question is how local contra
dancers can figure out whether this is the kind of event they would enjoy.
Linking to videos works pretty well, as can written descriptions. Talking
to the people handling music about what terms they've found useful can also
help. The most recent Spark in the Dark we organized had "This is a
special contra dance with live electronic-acoustic music and club lighting
(glowy clothes are fun!)." https://www.facebook.com/events/375177783410452/
Jeff
On Mon, Jan 20, 2020 at 11:42 AM Bob Peterson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I’m always on the lookout for terms that describe the style of using
> non-traditional and often non-live music. So far I’ve seen or used:
>
> - iPod dance
> - Alternative music dance
> - Fusion contra
> - Techno contra
> - DJ’d contra
>
>
> Q: What other terms have people seen?
>
> Q: What do the terms mean to you? For instance here is what I understand:
>
> - iPod dance - pre-mixed music, genre unspecified
> - Alternative music dance - ditto iPod dance, but livelier
> - Fusion contra - ?
> - Techno contra - live performance electronic, beat-heavy music
> - DJ’d contra - caller and DJ are not the same person?
>
>
> I’d like to focus this thread on terminology, not what’s bad (or good)
> about the non-traditional styles. It would be great to have other threads
> discuss values and preferences, if someone wants to tackle framing that
> conversation.
>
> I like to mix and call contras to recorded music, so this is really a
> marketing-related topic for me. Currently I’m using “alternative music
> contra dance”.
>
> \Bob Peterson
> home dance: https://lcfd.org/jp
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
I’m always on the lookout for terms that describe the style of using non-traditional and often non-live music. So far I’ve seen or used:
iPod dance
Alternative music dance
Fusion contra
Techno contra
DJ’d contra
Q: What other terms have people seen?
Q: What do the terms mean to you? For instance here is what I understand:
iPod dance - pre-mixed music, genre unspecified
Alternative music dance - ditto iPod dance, but livelier
Fusion contra - ?
Techno contra - live performance electronic, beat-heavy music
DJ’d contra - caller and DJ are not the same person?
I’d like to focus this thread on terminology, not what’s bad (or good) about the non-traditional styles. It would be great to have other threads discuss values and preferences, if someone wants to tackle framing that conversation.
I like to mix and call contras to recorded music, so this is really a marketing-related topic for me. Currently I’m using “alternative music contra dance”.
\Bob Peterson
home dance: https://lcfd.org/jp
Many dancers in England (and probably elsewhere) will know Maggie Fletcher, for many years
the pianist with Blue Mountain Band. She's having a dance to celebrate her 90th birthday
at Liston Hall, Marlow, SL7 1DD on Sunday 22nd March, 2.30-6.00 pm.
Celebrate the January girl with Blue Mountain Band music,
callers led by Barrie Bullimore, and a band led by Ruth Rose.
Come with instruments, call cards and dancing shoes,
lots of room to chat as well as play and dance,
RSVP to Linda Dorman: rogerdorman47(a)gmail.com
BRING & SHARE TEA plus donation to costs
Colin Hume
Hi fellow Shared Weight Contra Callers,
I'm very excited to announce a greatly expanded CDSS Resource Portal with
brand new sections for callers and educators .... in addition to dance
musicians, song leaders, organizers, and others!
(Before reading further, please note that I'm highly biased as I've been
heavily involved with this project.)
The goal of the CDSS Resource Portal it to support you and others who take
on valuable leadership roles in traditional dance, music and song
communities. The Portal does this by linking to many of the very best
resources available for callers, educators, organizers, singers, ritual
dancers, educators, dance musicians, and more. There are hundreds of
resources organized by topic as well as links on how to connect with others
online or at in-person gatherings. (We initially launched the Resource
Portal in Fall 2019 but it's only housed organizer resources up until now!)
Check out the Portal here: https://www.cdss.org/resources/resource-portal
You might be most interested in both the callers and the educators sections.
The Portal is only a great as the resources that are shared by the
community! We are looking to add even more resources and we really
appreciate resources created by members of our network (including you!).
If you know of resources that should be added, please suggest them here:
https://www.cdss.org/share-your-resource
Relating the topics discussed on our contra callers list, the Portal could
especially use resources for teachers and other educators on how to teach
dance to school-aged participants. If you have material that can be shared
online, please reach out through the form above.
If you have follow-up questions for me regarding the portal, please email
portal(a)cdss.org rather than the listserv. Note that I likely won't be able
to respond for a few weeks but do look forward to touching base.
Also - if you are an organizer as well as a caller, you may want to join
CDSS's free quarterly e-blast for organizers.
-> Check out the latest issue sent out today: https://conta.cc/2uRunBM.
->If you would like to receive future Shop Talks, you can sign up here:
https://www.cdss.org/programs/cdss-news-publications/shop-talk
AND - if you are excited about either the Portal or Shop Talk, please share
the news with your friends!
Thanks,
Emily Addison
writing from Ottawa, Ontario
