Contra Callers October 2025

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

33 participants
13 discussions

by Emily Addison

Hi Folks! I'm wondering if you have tricks to teach Box the Gnat and Swat the Flea to a whole room of dancers who have not done it before. (In this case, it's happening in an otherwise very simple scatter mixer but I can imagine almost no one will know the figure.) The wording I've figured out is below. I feel like it's wordy but it's also a hard move to pick up because it's kind of weird what's actually happening. :) Ideally, I'd love to be able to teach this without a demo but I feel like I'm stuck with the demo. (If you have talk BtheG to a big room of non-dancers without a demo, I'd love to hear your strategies). Anyway - open to any and all feedback. Thanks! Emily in Ottawa DEMO BoxTGnat from a hands 4 With your P - join R hands in loose handshake hold – no thumbs! Goal is to trad places with your P so you end up in the spot there are right now. BUT Lark/Robin will be doing different things to get there! But little tug to start & raise joined hands. Larks: you walk past your P into your P place. (could feel like behind/outside of the circle) Robins: you WALK under your joined hands, turning in to face ctr of circle & keep turning until face P . You have stepped into THEIR place. Have them drill StF and BtG over and over before starting the rest of the dance.

3 months

Ceilidhs, Barn Dances and Kitchen Dances, oh my!

by Angela DeCarlis

Hello everyone! I've been starting a new dance series in Gainesville, Florida called the All Y'all. The gist of the series is that each event features a variety of community social dancing in an effort to attract experienced dancers who want to try new styles, as well as dancers who are brand new to all of it. At the first event we had barn dances, some very easy contra dances, a simple square dance, some urban line dancing, and a demo performance from a local clogging group. It was a great success, with around 75 folks attending, the majority of whom were beginners. Here's a link if you want to check out some videos of the fun. <https://www.instagram.com/p/DO1uvMGkbFm/?img_index=1> *Here's the ask:* I need to expand my repertoire of beginner-friendly dances to include more formations, and also different traditions! In particular, I want to add more English, Scottish, etc ceilidh dances to my bank for my upcoming events. Simple squares and anything else you adore is also welcome! If you have one of two you love, please send them along. Please include what tradition and/or country the dance originates from when appropriate! I'm not yet at a point where I can request any special music — so like, some day I'd love to have balfolk and all that goodness, but it won't happen soon. For now assume the musicians are playing from the American Oldtime repertoire (including 3-part tunes!). Thank you all in advance, especially those reading from across the pond. 🙂 Ang

3 months, 1 week

teaching Wizard's Walk; The (Wayward) Witches Way

by Andrew Stout

Hi Callers, I have a gig on Oct 30, so naturally I'm plumbing the archives for Halloween-themed choices. There have been several threads on this, I'm not trying to start another one, I have two more specific questions: 1. Anyone got tips for teaching the Wizard's Walk figure? I've danced it (although not recently); I've never called it. (I'm interested in all tips, but FWIW I'm expecting a relatively experienced semi-monthly local crowd.) 2. The specific W'sW descendant I'm planning to use is Cis Hinkle's The WItches Way <https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=3804>, which has the Wizard's Walk figure in A1. It seems to me that to better fit the original Wizard's Walk tune the dance should be "rotated" thus: A1: (4,4) balance the ring (with Nbr1s); Petronella turn 1 place to R (no claps) (8) Partner swing A2: (4,4) balance the ring; Petronella turn 1 place to R (no claps) (8) Neighbor1 swing B1: (8) Robins chain (to Ptr) (6) circle RIGHT 3/4 (2) Ones arch, twos dive [to meet next Nbrs) B2: (16) Wizard's Walk: | (4) Nbr 2 mirror pass through along (ones split twos) | (4) Nbr 3 mirror pass through along (twos split ones) | (4) backing up Nbr 3 mirror pass through along (ones split twos) | (4) backing up Nbr 2 mirror pass through along (twos split ones) Has anyone done that? Do y'all agree? (The original dance <https://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/ruth_ungar/wizards_walk.html> has the W.W. figure in B2.) I don't know if such a variant deserves its own name, but if so it seems like it should be called "Wayward Witches". Cheers, --Andrew Stout

3 months, 1 week

Re: Full-length tunes for a dance

by Bill Olson

Amy, hi.. looks like you sent that reply only to me and I bought the album, what, 30ish years ago? I'll copy the list on this reply. The guys were out here in Maine just after Ted Sannella died to play the North Whitefield dance. It was a really cold November night. Ted was buried within earshot of the hall and after the dance, we hiked down to his grave and Claude played "Lady of the Lake" on fiddle. It was below freezing, and we all had a moment. That was KGB for ya!!! bill ________________________________ From: Amy Wimmer <amywimmer(a)gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 7:22 PM To: Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Full-length tunes for a dance I can attest to the great music on KGB's "Volga Notions" album. We've used it for situations where there was no band. Dave, Claude, and Julie are superb musicians and composers. Get ahold of Dave and buy that thing! -Amy Wimmer Seattle On Tue, Oct 14, 2025, 12:16 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Seattle contra dance band, KGB,'s CD "Volga Notions" has dance length tune medleys. Not old timey, but really really great. The band, Dave Bartley, Julie King, and Claud Ginsburg, is no longer together after 31 years (so sad), but you can get the album from Dave on his website. bill" ________________________________ From: dje h via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 2:10 PM To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Subject: [Callers] Full-length tunes for a dance I recently got approached to call for a church social. Unfortunately, it's the same weekend as a huge area fiddle festival, and I'm not able to get a live band in spite of reaching out widely. I'm looking for downloadable full-length dance music (I'm completely willing to purchase). I prefer old-time tunes, but New England style would also work. Thanks! Deborah Hyland Ft. Scott, KS _______________________________________________ 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>

3 months, 2 weeks

Suggest names for these two dances

by sjapartments＠gmail.com

****** Becket right ****** 1) F&B and roll away (larks slide, robins roll) 2) Bal the ring, spin or slide right one place in ring (aka petronella) 3) Dsd (or right shoulder round) current neighbor 4) Swing new neighbor 5) Rights and lefts across 6) Robins chain to partner 7) Robins right shoulder round in center, 8 ) Partners swing .. ****** Becket, Zigzag progression (See *Note *below) ****** 1) F&B and roll away (larks slide, robins roll) 2) Bal the ring, spin or slide right one place in ring (aka petronella) 3-4) N's bal (or dsd) & sw 5) 1/2 Pousette with partner around current neighbors, larks moving forward 6) with new N's, balance the ring and petronella 7-8) P's bal (or dsd) & swing *Note* Everyone now progressed but on the opposite side from which they started. Next cycle through the gets dancers back to their starting with 5) 1/2 Pousette with partner around next neighbors, robins moving forward One could also describe this dance's zigzag progression by explaining that couples starting in the larks'/robins' line progress down/up the set A zigzag progression has dancers progression either to the top or bottom of the set, but with each cycle of the dance leaving dancers in the opposite line from which they started. Ron Buchanan came up with this idea for Becket dances some years ago. Starting the dance on phrase 5, I think makes the dance switch between proper and improper.

3 months, 3 weeks

Tony Parkes LCA

by David Smukler

The late Tony Parkes will be honored November 22, 2025, as a recipient of the Lifetime Contribution Award from Country Dance and Song Society. The event takes place at the Scout House, Concord, MA. A renowned caller of contras and squares for more than 50 years, choreographer, musician, band leader, textbook author, workshop leader, dance historian, and organizer, Tony was widely recognized as the preeminent traditional New England caller at the time of his death. The November 22 program will be mask optional. It begins at 4 PM with a square dance session taught and prompted by Tony himself! (on recordings), followed by an award presentation, a potluck supper (6 PM), and an evening dance (7:30 PM) of contras and squares called by Annie Kidwell, Ben Sachs-Hamilton, and Lisa Greenleaf, with music by Stove Dragon: Oliver Scanlon, Max Newman, Rose Jackson, Sam Zakon-Anderson. (Note that the language on Tony’s recordings is gendered. The evening dance will use role terms robins and larks.)

3 months, 3 weeks

Gents/Larks and Ladies/Robins lines

by sjapartments＠gmail.com

Before the rise to prominence of larks and robins, callers and dance transcriptions would occasionally refer to the gents'/ladies' line as the line in which gets/ladies would line up for a proper dance. Should this now rarely used designation be declared obsolete or deprecated, or should we now occasionally refer to the gents' and ladies' lines

3 months, 3 weeks

Full-length tunes for a dance

by dje h

I recently got approached to call for a church social. Unfortunately, it's the same weekend as a huge area fiddle festival, and I'm not able to get a live band in spite of reaching out widely. I'm looking for downloadable full-length dance music (I'm completely willing to purchase). I prefer old-time tunes, but New England style would also work. Thanks!Deborah HylandFt. Scott, KS

3 months, 3 weeks

Re: Request for your fave dances that meet my criteria :D

by Katherine Kitching

Wow, thank you so much Mac, Michael and Greg, already this is just what I had hoped for!! I wouldn't mind some help ensuring I understand "slice left" -- does it just mean slide left and also move forwards to the next couple at the same time, or is it more involved than that? Kat Oct 13, 2025 4:50:41 PM Mac Mckeever <macmck(a)ymail.com>: > One of my favorites (Du Quion Races - attached). The B parts move fast - probably more of a challenge for the caller than the dancers. Only unusual part is the partner swing ends in the middle of a phrase. > > hope it works for you - lots of fun and the dancers don't seem to have any problems with it > > Mac McKeever > > > > > > > > > On Monday, October 13, 2025 at 02:39:56 PM CDT, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > > > > The Balter Dance > > Mr Johnson's JIg > > > On Mon, Oct 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> >> Yay, glad the list is up and running again, I sent this last week and was sad when it didn't go through! >> >> Hi caller friends--- >> >> Would you be willing to share one or two of your favourite dances that meet my criteria as outlined below, for my Halifax group? >> >> This would be a great help to this volunteer caller who often struggles at the last minute to find what she needs! >> >> I'm striving to be better prepared, and I'm hoping this could help me build a rich and lovely collection of suitable dances :) >> >> If you have a dance for me, I would *super* appreciate it if you'd write the dance out in the body of the email, (Failing that, a direct link to the dance online would be ok..)-- >> >> Realistically because of how busy I am, if it is something I have to take multiple steps to find (e.g. click a link which sends me to an online reference to a PDF which I then need to download and scroll through), then I am not going to do it :D.... >> >> And if you are wondering why I don't use Contra DB - I do!! But it doesn't serve me perfectly - if you are curious why, I have included my full explanation below. >> >> thanking you in advance- >> Kat K in Halifax >> >> Pre-amble: >> >> My dance group consists of a strong newcomer presence each month - to bring those folks up to speed while keeping my regulars engaged, I generally write custom dances for the first part of the evening. >> >> However as both my dancers' skills and my calling skills have increased, I've started calling pre-written dances to cap off the evening - generally we manage 2-3 "advanced" dances, with little instruction, and people are loving it. >> >> My challenge is, what we consider "advanced" is pretty basic for you folks --and I often struggle to find dances online that hit just the right note with my "advanced but not THAT advanced" crowd. >> >> So here are the criteria I am looking for: >> >> 1. Only Beckets. >> I know this is booooring but for now, this is working well for us and I don't want to jinx it :). >> (that said, if you have a dance you think is perfect in every other way, feel free to share and I will see if I can modify it, or tuck it away for the future!) >> >> 1a - Ideally only Beckets with a CW progression, but we could try out CCW, that would be manageable :) >> >> 1b - only Beckets that progress in a becketlike fashion (i.e. some variation on slide to the left) - not a dance that has the dancers progress in Improper then go back to Becket. >> (FTR I *did* try a Becket that progressed in Duple Improper last year, and it took soooo long to get people tuned up to do it, it was not worth the effort!!). >> >> >> 2. No shadows, 2nd neighbours, double progressions... >> Too difficult for me and the dancers, based on our collective level of experience and confidence at the moment :) >> >> >> 3. Only figures that I am already familiar with, or that would be easy for you to explain to me and for me to explain to my dancers, haha :) >> Here is what I am familiar with (beyond the basic allemandes, do-si-dos, swings, stars, balances etc): >> >> - Balance short wavy lines >> - Rory O'Moore >> - Robins Chains >> - Larks Chains >> - Right and Left throughs >> - Heys (straightforward ones) >> - Petronellas >> - Mad robin sortof (we did it once and it wasn't great, but I could try again!) >> >> 3a. One additional difficult figure (if you are willing to explain it) could be interesting, but definitely not two difficult figures not listed above in the same dance!! >> >> 4. Prefer crowd-pleasers/greatest hits. >> Because we dance less than once a month and are relatively isolated, my dancers do not know *any* of the contra classics!! >> I would love tried-and-true crowd pleasers--- and I'm sure that nobody is going to groan and say, "awww, not that one again!" :D >> >> Off the top of my head, some classics we have danced already include Butter and Butterfly, and also Petronella Morning, and people love those. >> More in that vein would be great!! >> >> thanking you once again, >> Kat K >> Halifax, NS, Canada >> halifaxcontra.ca >> >> >> Notes on Contra DB >> I *do* use Contra DB to find dances that have certain criteria, and it is a fabulous resource- but >> >> a) It still takes me time to sift through dances that way, to find exactly what I need >> >> b) I have no idea if the dance is a "crowd-pleaser" or not, and I am looking for dances that will be a nice "reward" for my dancers at the end of the night >> >> c) I assume it only has a fraction of all the dances that you folks use, within it. >> (Though I am curious to hear-- about what percentage of all contra dances that are called in the world each year, do you figure are archived in Contra DB?? :) ) >> >> Cheers everyone! >> Kat >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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

3 months, 3 weeks

Callithump (the Maine one, not DC)

by Sam Whited

Hi all, There was a contra band in that released a self-title album, "Callithump," in approx. 1998. I believe they were from the Bristol, ME, USA region. This is *not* the same as the DC area Callithump, whom I've already chatted with believing they were the ones to release the album. Does anyone happen to know them, or have a copy of the album? I'm looking for any information I can find about it (who played on it, where it was recorded, who did the mixing and mastering, etc.), and to try and get my hands on high quality scans of the packaging if possible. Thanks, Sam

3 months, 3 weeks

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Contra Callers October 2025