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.
Hello,
I wanted to share some dances I've written over the past few months, in
case they are of use to others. I wrote these dances to call during
Bloomington’s weekly Wednesday night zoom dance. They are written for one
person to dance alone, but they can be adapted or improvised for more
people. I have been walking through the dances twice (while demonstrating
the moves) and calling for the duration of the dance (while also dancing by
myself on camera to continue demonstrating). I am lucky to have musicians
in my small pandemic circle, so I’ve been calling to live music.
The easiest way to view the dances (as far as formatting goes) is with this
google doc link. I will also copy and paste them below as well.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iMRE0YZZZf3nu2cXU5TwThSgF3ooP38jdNSgn6n…
I'm curious for thoughts and feedback, too!
Kyla Wargel
*“Solo Dance #1”*
A1: Do-si-do
Circle left, 1 time
A2: Do-si-do
Balance and swing yourself, end facing down/away from your device
B1: Down the hall, turn alone, come back
B2: Balance, move one spot to the right (Petronella turn)
Balance, move one spot to the left
*“Solo Dance #2”*
A1: Figure eight (start facing your device, figure eight starts as if
you’re doing an allemande right ¾ so that your figure eight moves away from
the device)
A2: Right shoulder round (melt into it as you finish figure eight)
Swing (end facing across with your left side closest to your device)
B1: Short lines forward and back
Balance right then left, slide right (or spin, think Rory O’Moore)
B2: Balance left then right, slide left
Star left
*“Solo Dance #3”*
A1: Balance and swing yourself (end facing device)
A2: Balance right then left, walk back four steps
Balance right then left, walk back for steps
B1: Zig left, zag right, zig left, zag right (8) (sashay forward in a
zig zag pattern)
Freestyle clogging (8)
B2: Freestyle clogging (16)
*Variation: Instead of freestyle clogging, repeat A2 and the first eight
counts of B1.Tips: For the long swing, move slowly or not in a tight circle
to avoid dizziness!*
*“COVID-19 Step”*
A1: Balance the ring, balance again
Circle left, 1 time
A2: Balance the ring, balance again
Circle right, 1 time
B1: Right foot - heal, toe, heal, toe (4); sashay right (4)
Left foot - heal, toe, heal, toe (4); sashay left (4)
B2: Balance, walk back four steps
Zig zag forward (sashay back and forth to your starting place)
*“Progress Alone”*
*Notes: For this dance, encourage dancers to place two objects on the
floor, about a body-length apart. The dance starts by facing the two
objects and “connecting” right hands with the first object. Works well with
music with a bouncy A part and flowy B part.*
A1: Right hand balance, turn halfway (then give your left hand to the
second object)
Left hand balance, turn halfway (keep left hand connected there)
A2: Left hand balance, turn halfway (give right hand to the first object)
Right hand balance, turn halfway
B1 Melt into a figure eight (follow the same path you just made with the
balance/turn sequence, but flowy this time. 8 counts down, 8 counts back)
B2: Melt into a swing when you get home (end facing your floor objects)
Big circle left halfway (so that you are now in front of your second
object - in “progressed” position; you will progress back and forth, i.e.,
alternate your starting place, throughout the dance)
*“Untitled” (as of now)*
*Note: Start facing your device, with plenty of space for dancing between
you and the device.*
A1: Right hand balance, pull by (6) left hand pull by (2)
Right hand balance, pull by (6) left hand pull by (2) (square through
with RH balances; end back at starting place)
A2: See-saw
Swing yourself (end facing down/away from your device)
B1: Go down the hall, turn alone, come back
B2: Balance side to side (4), walk back (4)
Balance side to side (4), walk forward (4)
Hi Lenore & all,
BACDS has a 4th Sunday “Hayward” Contra dance at 4-6pm PT (7-9pm ET)
Aug 23 features Gaye Fifer (national weekend caller, amazing waltz teacher from Pittsburgh PA)
With Max Newman (guitarist from Stringrays, Nor’Easter in MA ) and Cedar Stanistreet (fiddler from Nor’Easter, etc in VT)
Sign up for future BACDS event emails: 2 Sunday concerts, 1 Sunday contra, workshops when available!
http://eepurl.com/g33a_z <http://eepurl.com/g33a_z>
(Mailchimp sign up form)
And tomorrow:
Free Workshop for Calling Online Contra
Saturday Aug 1, 2:30-3:30pm PT (5:30pm ET)
Jacqui Grennan shares tips, organization, choreography fixes, and more
(For experienced callers)
Details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/771492986921404 <https://www.facebook.com/events/771492986921404>
Advanced registration required to get meeting link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudu-rrzIvGdDRvop9AnePli-ACgk2Fi… <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fre…>
I’d be happy to consult with your group about getting your group online for social or dancing.
It’s better than nothing to keep your dancers engaged.
Claire Takemori
Dance Caller
(408) 874-6840 <tel:(408)%20874-6840> (VM)
clairedancecaller(a)gmail.com <mailto:clairedancecaller@gmail.com>
https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/ <https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/>
bacds.org/teen <http://bacds.org/teen>
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:23:59 -0700
From: Lenore Frigo <lfrigo(a)gmail.com <mailto:lfrigo@gmail.com>>
Subject: [Callers] List or schedule of virtual Contra events?
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Message-ID:
<CAN6PTP3j3=GiBkPZrKPLSSpw-mbRyJD0Poz3hJ3ZBqSTqL79dw(a)mail.gmail.com <mailto:CAN6PTP3j3=GiBkPZrKPLSSpw-mbRyJD0Poz3hJ3ZBqSTqL79dw@mail.gmail.com>>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hi all,
I'm looking for opportunities to participate in online Contra dancing (and
possibly get something going locally eventually).
Are there any listings of online contra events? Or if you have info about
attending a Zoom/online dance that you're calling?
Thanks much,
Lenore Frigo
Hi all,
I'm looking for opportunities to participate in online Contra dancing (and
possibly get something going locally eventually).
Are there any listings of online contra events? Or if you have info about
attending a Zoom/online dance that you're calling?
Thanks much,
Lenore Frigo
And they also said Zoom Contra would never happen?
To each his own. It is not for everyone.
However, putting down others’ ideas and calling names is not part of dealing with the changes our dance community is going through.
Again I am asking for on topic replies about what distanced choreo might look like? Feel free to just delete this email.
Claire
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 19, 2020, at 10:45 PM, Stig MALMO <stigmalmo(a)gmail.com> wrote:
The idea of having distance contra dancing is pure insanity as contra dancing is a 100 % social activity
> man. 20. jul. 2020 kl. 07.32 skrev Claire Takemori via Trad Callers <tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>:
> Hello Callers !
>
> Wondering if anyone has written some “contra” dances that maintain 6 feet distance?
>
> I’m imagining trying (narrow)pool noodles to use as spacers (outdoors). Maybe cut to 3 foot lengths with magnets at the ends to clack & connect to the next noodle.
>
> I know someone doing Intl Folk with ribbons and they were shared by accident, and are obviously too flexible to help keep distance.
>
> I can also see it being more like solo dancing with “contra” moves in HUGE figures (more aerobic?) or maybe something totally different?
>
> If you’d like to chat about choreo ideas for distanced outdoor (masks, gloves, etc) “contra” dances, please email me.
>
> I believe there will be intermediate stages of coming back to dance and we can try when County and State Health limitations allow (Mine just opened up for out door gatherings last week).
>
>
> (I’m very aware of the issues, the research about covid, and our State and County Health regulations.) I’m looking for conversation about what coming back to dancing might look like, and choreography to support this that is fun.
>
> Thanks for your on-topic replies.
>
> Best,
> Claire Takemori (CA)
> _______________________________________________
> Trad Callers mailing list -- tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to tradcallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Hi everyone,
I recorded a casual, impromptu video for my work contacts that shows my
home "studio" setup, as I do a fair bit of speaking, interviews, and
facilitating online in addition to calling virtual contra dances.
I thought the video might be of value for contra callers who are calling
virtual dances, as it has some tips and tricks for looking your best. The
one I recommend the most for callers, actually, is to stand - it keeps your
energy higher, your voice richer, and improves your posture so you will
appear more confident.
My setup is admittedly a bit hardcore - but perhaps there's a tip or trick
that can help you as you prep for your next time online.
To make it easy to share with everyone here, I posted it as a
private/unlisted video on my Contra on Demand channel on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/mmBCv3VCnx4
Hope it helps!
Drew
Hi all,
This a mixed response to the discussion of dancing to the phrase and the
social distancing.
I'm just throwing in my two cents, as a dancer and occasional caller, just
to add another perspective; it'll likely come across as negative but I'll
try to make it otherwise. Having recently left the Social Disdancing FB
group as a result of unexpected and disappointing behaviour presented
therein, ostensibly from within our community, I am aware that we each have
a responsibility to at least be respectful.
Maybe this post is simply a venting because I'm pissed at the virus. It's
certainly longer than I intended.
First, I acknowledge the efforts of those who try to find a way to, safely,
"make it work" these days.
Both the topics - phrasing and distance - are key to my personal enjoyment
of contra, which I've been involved in for 20+ years. It's really
interesting reading the thoughts of people who have been more involved in
the community and in some cases for much longer than I.
A musician remarked in the phrasing thread that it was discouraging to play
for a crowd that wasn't keeping time. I can understand that. For a ONS, I
can also understand callers going with the flow; if the dancers refuse to
cooperate and match steps to the musician's beats, what is to be done
except liquor-up the band so they can have some fun, too! 😊
For a regular contra, however, that would, in my opinion, be a death knell.
Squares, with which I have lot less experience, as people rightly point out
is more flexible in phrasing. Even there, however, it seems to me that call
granularity isn't reduced beyond 4-beat phrases. Also, the callers never,
to my recollection, start a figure on the off-beat. So, calls are started
on the 1 or the 5 of an 8 beat phrase (at least at the top of the dance
sequence). Squares are also more forgiving which allows for this
flexibility. It's the same 8 people through the dance and the collateral
damage is limited when things go awry. It's pretty easy to stop, re-form a
circle of 8, then wait for a reboot without affecting anyone else.
Contra ain't like that. At all.
Being on time is key, for the enjoyment of everyone in one's line. (I'm
gonna show some snobbery here). If people aren't able to be there when
needed - assuming the choreography is a good match for the crowd - then
perhaps another activity would be a better choice for the individual. Of
course, allowances/adaptations for current community members whose
abilities may be in decline for whatever reason. I can't imagine
contra-dancing with a group that consistently ignored the musical phrase;
how would that even work. No AABB? Might as well have Sun Ra's band
playing; free jazz to accompany free contra.
The social distancing thing is similar but different. The workarounds that
people are searching for presumably are sought to facilitate continuance of
what those individuals find most (?) important in our community which seems
to be just a notion of showing up - I'm here and I see you are here, too. I
attended one Zoom dance a couple of months ago, to give it a try. I can
only imagine that others place different value than I of the various
aspects of contra-dance. If I can't make physical contact with the people
I'm dancing with, it ain't contra. That's kinda what it comes down to for
me.
I certainly stand as a member of our large virtual community circle wishing
the best for every individual and anticipating that first dance, whenever
and wherever that might be.
Stay safe and, by your actions, keep those around you safe.
Ken Panton
Saguenay, QC
Last call! Meeting information will be sent out on Thursday, July 23.
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society invites you to join us for our July caller workshop with special guest Colin Hume!
Saturday, July 25, 12 noon – 1:30pm (US Central time)
$5 per household
Register here: http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/ <http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/>
Join us for this unique opportunity: an online workshop with UK-based caller Colin Hume! Many of you know Colin thanks to his website (www.colinhume.com <http://www.colinhume.com/>), as well as his dances, compositions, and calling—and that’s our topic for this workshop.
Why do callers build websites? What content do they include, and why? What’s the balance between website content and that published in other forms—books, CDs, etc.? How has the internet changed social folk dancing?
Our format will be a moderated discussion: you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask Colin your own questions.
Those registering for the workshop will receive a link to the online meeting 24-48 hours ahead of time, and a reminder email the day of.
For an introduction to Colin’s own website, watch his brief video tour: https://colinhume.com/help.htm <https://colinhume.com/help.htm> (click the image to open the video pop-up).
Questions? Please email dance(a)scissortail.org <mailto:dance@scissortail.org>.
—
Louise Siddons
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society
www.scissortail.orgwww.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/
dance(a)scissortail.org
Hello Callers !
Wondering if anyone has written some “contra” dances that maintain 6 feet distance?
I’m imagining trying (narrow)pool noodles to use as spacers (outdoors). Maybe cut to 3 foot lengths with magnets at the ends to clack & connect to the next noodle.
I know someone doing Intl Folk with ribbons and they were shared by accident, and are obviously too flexible to help keep distance.
I can also see it being more like solo dancing with “contra” moves in HUGE figures (more aerobic?) or maybe something totally different?
If you’d like to chat about choreo ideas for distanced outdoor (masks, gloves, etc) “contra” dances, please email me.
I believe there will be intermediate stages of coming back to dance and we can try when County and State Health limitations allow (Mine just opened up for out door gatherings last week).
(I’m very aware of the issues, the research about covid, and our State and County Health regulations.) I’m looking for conversation about what coming back to dancing might look like, and choreography to support this that is fun.
Thanks for your on-topic replies.
Best,
Claire Takemori (CA)
