Contra Callers March 2020

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

32 participants
57 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, 3 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 … [View More]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 [View Less]

4 years, 10 months

new(?) dance

by Luke Donforth

Hello all, Pete's Posse is running a Kickstarter to help launch a new album (and, you know, offset the $7K+ in gigs they've lost...): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petesposse/petes-posse-project-support… independent of the rest of this thread, you should check it out! (My kickstarter wraps up successfully tomorrow, so I'm flogging other people's now :-) They've asked me to provide calling along with a track; and so I wrote what I think is a new dance. Anyone got a prior? Anyone have … [View More]

4 years, 12 months

Photo of dance halls

by Bob Peterson

I’m researching photos of contra dance halls, preferably empty so I can see clear, high-res images of the walls, floors, ceiling, stage, etc. All angles. During my down time I want to make 3D models of some generic halls, not of any particular hall. Your photos will I hope help me see the architectures, colors, decorations and materials used. I can get a number from web image searches, but sometimes they are limited to what people thought would be worth posting. If you have shots you’re … [View More]

5 years

Online Caller Workshops by Dugan

by Dugan Murphy

With all my gigs canceled for however long, I've decided to start offering online caller classes at the introductory and intermediate levels over the next couple weeks. Perhaps some of you would like to take this virus-mandated downtime to do some professional development! Would this interest you or someone you know? Here are the offerings: - Calling 101: An introduction for contra dancers with no calling experience (http://portlandintowncontradance.com/workshops/calling101-online ) - … [View More]

5 years

Re: trying to contact Lloyd Shaw Foundation

by Joy Greenwolfe

I would send the renewal to Lew Cocke. He's the point person for Lloyd Shaw memberships these days. Online payment: http://lloydshaw.org/join.html Pay by mail: Send check payable to Lloyd Shaw Foundation to: Lew & Enid Cocke 2924 Hickory Ct. Manhattan, KS 66503 That info is from the March 2020 "The American Dance Circle" LSF newsletter. Joy Greenwolfe Durham, NC > On Mar 19, 2020, at 5:56 PM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: … [View More]

5 years

trying to contact Lloyd Shaw Foundation

by Jonathan Sivier

I recently realized I hadn't gotten any notice of needing to renew my membership in the Lloyd Shaw Foundation for 2020, though perhaps I just misplaced it. However, I have no record of having paid it. In the past this has usually come in January or February. I attempted to send a message to Bill Litchman (President) and Nancy Kane VP) at the addresses listed for them on the web site. My email to them bounced with what looks like permanent fatal errors. Can anyone tell me I can … [View More]

5 years

Re: Coronadance

by Amy Cann

We should all just switch to ECD... On 3/18/20, Martha Wild via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Amounts on the last spiral are approximate - until you face your new > neighbor….. > > Martha > >> On Mar 18, 2020, at 11:40 AM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers >> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Make sure all are at least six feet away from each other… >> >> From: Mary Collins via … [View More]

5 years

Re: Coronadance

by Martha Wild

Amounts on the last spiral are approximate - until you face your new neighbor….. Martha > On Mar 18, 2020, at 11:40 AM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Make sure all are at least six feet away from each other… > > From: Mary Collins via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> > Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 5:18 AM > To: Martha Wild … [View More]

5 years

Re: Coronadance

by Erik Hoffman

The idea is not new, but it is, of course, pertinent. I’ve been looking for an old dance card I had since at least the mid 80s, for The Atomic Contra. It, too, was a no touching dance. It’s concept was dancing after a nuclear accident or war, and dancing with partners that were too radioactive to touch… If I locate it, I’ll post it. ~Erik Hoffman Oakland, CA From: Abigail Golden via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 11:44 AM Cc: … [View More]Shared Weight - Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Re: Coronadance I had the same idea! Corona Chaser Improper duple inspired by Honor Among Thieves by Penn Fix A1: (8) Neighbor dosido (8) Neighbor right shoulder round once and a half A2: (8) Lady around two and gent around one and he cuts through (8) Gent around two and lady around one and she cuts through B1: (8) Hands-on-hips long lines forward and back (8) Gypsy star left B2: (16) Hey for four (ladies right, partners left, gents right, neighbors left), face new neighbors On Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 2:41 PM Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Make sure all are at least six feet away from each other… From: Mary Collins via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 5:18 AM To: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net<mailto:mawild@sbcglobal.net>> Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Re: Coronadance LOVE this!!! Thanks. Mary On Tue, Mar 17, 2020, 9:37 PM Martha Wild via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: A contra dance for social distancing: Coronadance Duple improper A1) Do-si-do neighbor Mad robin (facing partner) ladies in front A2) Single file circle 3/4 around Spiral around your partner 2x until gents are facing across B1) Full hey, gents passing left shoulder to start B2) Gents spiral left 1 1/2 Spiral right neighbor 1 1/2 _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> -- Rutgers University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources abigail.golden(a)rutgers.edu<mailto:abigail.golden@rutgers.edu> https://abigailgolden.weebly.com/ [View Less]

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Contra Callers March 2020