Contra Callers May 2022

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

11 participants
4 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.

12 months

Covid cancellations

by Mary Collins

May have been talked about already so forgive me if it has. I have been contracted to call a wedding in Oct. Currently covid numbers are rising in my area and the bride, groom and I have talked about vaccines (yes), alcohol (no) and what if. Normally I do not require a deposit but I do expect payment upon arrival at venue. The question is: what to request as cancellation payment. What do others put in your contracts regarding this? Thanks in advance. Mary Collins

1 year, 5 months

Bridgerton wedding dance/experience with using non-contra or non-ECD music to modified ECD/ceilidh dances

by Alexandra Deis-Lauby

Hi all, I’ve been asked to call a Bridgerton-themed wedding dance. Part of what makes the Bridgerton theme is the music… So I’m wondering if anyone has experience (of either the successful or unsuccessful variety) of calling dances to music that isn’t our normal dance tempo (these sound a little faster than normal contra tempo) and aren’t in our standard AABB pattern. Some of the music examples I'm trying to work with are below (I’ll be using recorded music) The event is normal wedding fare- not experienced dancers. Which will either mean everything falls apart or they won’t mind the dance being sloppy because they’re just so excited by dancing and the cool music. The dances I’m planning to use are very basic (Galopede, LaBastringue, a scatter mixer, some version of duke of Kents waltz etc.) So if you have related experience: Have people been into the music so much they don’t mind that they’re finding it hard to dance with the phrase and remember the dance? Are you able to keep them together just by your calling? Do they kind of figure it out? Other ideas? > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCIG6nbyiUM <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCIG6nbyiUM> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKTnO9fOcE8 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKTnO9fOcE8> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qi1ApgkdCo <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qi1ApgkdCo> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMU1RZVX5mQ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMU1RZVX5mQ> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZhzFE2C-_w <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZhzFE2C-_w> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un4SsyvnKH4 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un4SsyvnKH4>

1 year, 5 months

Need help fitting to a tune

by Laur

A local band here plays Beaumont Rag As a part of their routine dance set. It’s a popular band. I’ve never experienced a contra dance The band has chosen to play for a dance work. It doesn’t work for the dancers and it’s agonizing for the caller. Can anyone suggest a dance that could fit? At this point I’m planning to request they don’t include the tune. I know there’s an English dance written to match but not interested in that for this set. Laurie Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

1 year, 7 months

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Contra Callers May 2022