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.
In case you don't know about them, I'd like to bring a series of videos to your attention.
These are produced by the Historical Tea and Dance Society based in Pasadena, California,
http://historicalteaanddance.org/
and each week they interview a caller, musician or organiser and ask them to talk about 5 things they are passionate about.
Many of these relate to "English" (i.e. Playford-style) dancing but certainly not all, and this week the interviewee was the
wonderful Lisa Greenleaf. She has a lot of good advice for callers of any genre, and I believe dancers would also be interested
in her attitude to calling and dancing. Did you know that when she lived in Boston she was a regular dancer with the English
group led by Helene Cornelius with music by Bare Necessities? Well I didn't.
You can view the recording at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YLH2eDnk4NauPuzu618JxkM2B6ALjWJ8/view?t=551
and you can see an index of all the available sessions (over 30 of them) at
https://colinhume.com/htds/
Colin Hume
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)
A wonderful guest who plays for both ECD AND CONTRA dances around the
country. We hope you will join us!
*TUESDAY, September 8th, 6pm pdt*
*5 Things… **Inside the Dancing Mind of… CHIP PRINCE*
Chip Prince has played keyboards (and occasionally conducted) Broadway
shows for over 25 years, and started playing for ECD and CONTRA dances in
2003. His warm smile, lively humor and delightful musical style has won
him friends and admirers, particularly at Country Dance New York,
Pinewoods, and Hey Days.
*Registration Link: *https://forms.gle/V6F5sRcPsawFG39t9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darlene Hamilton
*Caller, Dancer, Founder of**The Historical Tea & Dance Society*
*www.historicalteaanddance.org <http://www.historicalteaanddance.org/>*
*Like us on facebook!*
