One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the *WHILE* problem:
While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
Robins WHILE Larks
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often replaced by a “pause”)
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems. Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those dancers who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or right) to pass Left (right) Again.”
Erik Hoffman
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
To: Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left", being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
Jeff
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)
our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partners left
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partner balance and swing
I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually called out the actions *as* they were happening....
Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" just before they do it, or while they are doing it?
thanks muchly :)
Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
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I agree with Bob. After the initial mention of who starts the Hey, the
dancers may find it harder to track both the shoulder they are using and
the role of the person they are passing.
I often will drop roles and say things like, "Right in the Middle; Left on
the End; Right in the Middle; Left on the End" (or whatever is needed for a
particular Hey).
Once the alternation of shoulders is established, I'll drop that and start
focusing the dancers' attention on other things (e.g., "Keep going" in a
Full Hey), including where they need to end the move ("All the way over;
all the way *back*"; "Find your Partner, Balance & Swing").
The only part of this for which timing is *essential* is the actual
command--"Hey for Four" (or however it's phrased), which must come just
before the dancers start the move. The additional verbiage are just "helper
words," and the timing is less crucial, though they obviously need to come
*no later* than when the dancers are executing that part of the move.
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:57 AM Folk Dance via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I'd drop the all the passes and after the initial ravens right, just say
> left *beat* right *beat* *left* *beat* right *beat* left *beat* right
> *beat* balance and swing
>
> That way you're providing a scaffold without obscuring the
> underlying music you're trying to link them to.
>
> Bob
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 2:50 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things
>> so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>>
>> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
>> being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
>>> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>>>
>>> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
>>> (ie tomorrow)
>>>
>>> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
>>> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
>>> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>>>
>>> ravens pass right
>>> neighbours pass left
>>> larks pass right
>>> partners left
>>> ravens pass right
>>> neighbours pass left
>>> larks pass right
>>> partner balance and swing
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls
>>> for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit
>>> of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>>>
>>> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
>>> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>>>
>>> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>>>
>>> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before*
>>> they do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>>>
>>> thanks muchly :)
>>>
>>> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
I have over 40 CD's by US and UK bands but the most usable are the two CD's
by "The English Contra Dance Band" who are Gareth Kiddier and Linda Game.
Don't just take my word talk with Kathy Anderson, Lisa Greenleaf or Seth
Tepfer.
Barrie Bullimore (UK)
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 3:23 PM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>
> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
> for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
> times through):
>
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>
> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>
> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
With a little experimentation and technical know-how, you can actually create some cool medleys of pre-recorded tunes in Garageband or other music editing program. It's fun and helps achieve the variety that dance DJs sometime need.
I'd be happy to share 1-2 that I've created if anyone wants one - just email me separately.
Chuck
________________________________
From: Emily Rush via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 3:39 PM
To: Rick Mohr <rick(a)rickmohr.net>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Album tracks you can dance to
Most of Potent Brew's latest album includes full-length dance tracks: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/georgepaulspotentbrew
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 10:23 AM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety, especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas for me?
Thanks,
Rick
Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of times through):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
Airdance -- Airdance (1)
Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
Elixir -- Rampant (1)
Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
_______________________________________________
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Look on Larry Unger's earlier albums, there's a bunch of good ones,
including a couple that go jig-to-reel.
Can't remember which albums right now, I had them converted onto a
cassette mix tape (!) for use in the older student activity room...
On 2/28/20, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>
> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
> for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
> times through):
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>
> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>
> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
>
Most of Potent Brew's latest album includes full-length dance tracks:
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/georgepaulspotentbrew
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 10:23 AM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>
> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
> for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
> times through):
>
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>
> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>
> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
for me?
Thanks,
Rick
Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
times through):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
Airdance -- Airdance (1)
Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
Elixir -- Rampant (1)
Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
I'd drop the all the passes and after the initial ravens right, just say
left *beat* right *beat* *left* *beat* right *beat* left *beat* right
*beat* balance and swing
That way you're providing a scaffold without obscuring the underlying music
you're trying to link them to.
Bob
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 2:50 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things
> so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>
> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
> being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
>> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>>
>> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
>> (ie tomorrow)
>>
>> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
>> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
>> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>>
>> ravens pass right
>> neighbours pass left
>> larks pass right
>> partners left
>> ravens pass right
>> neighbours pass left
>> larks pass right
>> partner balance and swing
>>
>> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls
>> for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit
>> of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>>
>> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
>> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>>
>> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>>
>> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before*
>> they do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>>
>> thanks muchly :)
>>
>> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things so
that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
Jeff
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>
> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
> (ie tomorrow)
>
> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>
> ravens pass right
> neighbours pass left
> larks pass right
> partners left
> ravens pass right
> neighbours pass left
> larks pass right
> partner balance and swing
>
> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls for
> this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of
> instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>
> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>
> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>
> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before* they
> do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>
> thanks muchly :)
>
> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Clarifying: "as" in this case -- for me -- means "as you look at the
person you're about to cross", not just as the *shoulders* brush.
Still a little ahead, but not the full four beats a lot of moves get.
On 2/28/20, Amy Cann via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I agree with your assessment.
>
> Sometimes calling is "prompting" -- saying what needs to happen next,
> and saying it early enough to mentally "land" and turn into action.
>
> Sometimes calling is repeating a real-time narration, a rhythmic
> script for the dancer to memorize and then internally recite/follow.
>
> It's good to know which one to use, when... :)
>
> On 2/28/20, Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
>> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>>
>> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
>> (ie
>> tomorrow)
>>
>> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
>> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
>> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>>
>> ravens pass right
>> neighbours pass left
>> larks pass right
>> partners left
>> ravens pass right
>> neighbours pass left
>> larks pass right
>> partner balance and swing
>>
>> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls
>> for
>> this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of
>> instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>>
>> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
>> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>>
>> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>>
>> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before* they
>> do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>>
>> thanks muchly :)
>>
>> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
