Contra Callers May 2025

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

24 participants
8 discussions

Dance Experience Survey (specifically for New England dancers)

by Sandy Lafleur

Greetings from NH - An old high school friend of my daughter's reached out to me for help getting a survey out to contra dancers. Jen is someone personally known to me as we would go dancing together when she was a teen. How cool to see that while in her late 30's she is: Jennifer P. Agans, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management College of Health and Human Development The Pennsylvania State University Her request is this: "I am now a researcher studying recreation and well-being, and I'm doing a study of contra dancers' experiences. Would you be willing to help distribute my survey to the contra dance community in New England?" Here is the link to her survey: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M8Jyz3kzpVhzym Thanks, everyone! Sandy Sandy Lafleur PO Box 877285 Burns Hill RoadWilton, NH 03086 (603) 654-1245 Since the beginning of man the hours between the coming of night and the coming of sleep have belonged to the tellers of tales and the makers of music.

3 days, 19 hours

Is there an app?

by Stacy Rose

These are my table top contra dancers. I move them around, and they help me visualize tricky end effects, etc. Is there an app for this purpose? Thanks, Stacy Rose 541.808.1002 rosecontra(a)gmail.com www.stacyrosedance.com

4 days, 14 hours

Re: Is there an app?

by Masha Goodman Crawford

https://www.dance.ravitz.us/mrd.php~ Masha

6 days, 11 hours

Video: Chain Figure - Teaching, Twirling Technique, Open Chain, North Country Chain

by John Sweeney

This video demonstrates the standard Chain Figure and how to do it well. We also teach you good technique for adding twirls, and variants such as the Open Chain and the North Country Chain. While it is traditionally known as a Ladies' Chain, it is also known as a Second Corner Chain, a Robins' Chain, a Right-Hand Chain, Chain by the Right, Chain Across or just Chain. I hope you enjoy the video and find it useful! https://youtu.be/dS8LxpVHB3M Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

1 week, 4 days

Re: Chase figure with neighbor?

by Mark Widmer

Bob, thanks for sharing. From your comment, "If the 2L and 1G chase it works equally well," it seems that an "alternating" version of this dance is possible. This would eliminate the need for short lines as it is then automatically fair to both pairs of neighbors. Though you might want to reserve that for more experienced dance crowds. Mark Widmer > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> > To: "Tepfer, Seth" <labst(a)emory.edu>, Chris Page <chriscpage(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Bcc: > Date: Wed, 7 May 2025 20:19:06 +0000 > Subject: [Callers] Re: Chase figure with neighbor? > Here's the one Chris mentioned - Bob > > *Cut to the Chase * > Becket-L Intermediate > A1. 8 Long lines forward and back > 8 Circle L ¾ and pass through > > A2. 8 Ladies allemande L 1½ > 8 Partner allemande R > 1½ (1) > > B1. 8 1L around two and 2G around one and he cuts > through (2) > 8 2G around two and 1L around one and she cuts through > > B2. 8 Actives swing > 8 Partner swing > > Written on December 1, 2005, and first called on April 5, 2006 at > Princeton, NJ. It was about time for a neighbor chase sequence. Short > sets are necessary to make this fair to both pairs of neighbors. > (1) – By varying the length of this allemande, partners can choose who > will be active. > (2) – The 1L and 2G are above their partners when the chase starts, which > is worth emphasizing in the teaching. If the 2L and 1G chase it works > equally well. By identifying the neighbors above as the active couple, the > call is “active couple chase – lady ‘round two and gent ‘round one and he > cuts through, gents ‘round two and lady ‘round one and she cuts through.” > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Chris Page via Contra Callers < > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:24 PM > *To:* Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu> > *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Subject:* [Callers] Re: Chase figure with neighbor? > > "Cut to the Chase" by Bob Isaacs. > > You'll have to ask him for the specific figures. > > Cheers, > -Chris Page > Los Angeles, CA >

2 weeks

Ang on "From the Mic"

by Lisa Sieverts

In light of Ang’s thumbs up, I want to point you all to the latest *From the Mic* podcast featuring Ang DeCarlis: https://cdss.org/podcasts/podcast/from-the-mic-episode-31-ang-decarlis/ A truly wonderful, thought-provoking, insightful episode. Lisa Nelson, NH Lisa Sieverts 603-762-0235 lisa(a)lisasieverts.com

2 weeks, 1 day

Chase figure with neighbor?

by Tepfer, Seth

Hello font of experience I was pondering chase figures in contra dance. You know, the move where one person goes around the other couple while being followed by their partner. Are there dances out there where the chase is done with a neighbor instead? Is it as much fun or is it awkward or unsettling? I enjoy the playfulness of the chase figure (especially when it goes both ways) but I always wonder if there is an unpleasant undercurrent for some. I can imagine there are people we would NOT want to be chased by. Am I overthinking this? Sent from my iPhone

2 weeks, 2 days

Unknown dance by Dean Snipes

by Sam Whited

I've got a dance in my collection with no title and chunks of the dance that I can't read. The author appears to be Dean Snipes, but I can't find it in any of the usual places (ContraDB, Callers Box, arbitrary web search, contra videos, etc.) Improper A1. N. Dosido; N allemande R. to put Larkes in the middle A2. Balance wave by left (??) to Star Promenade N to butterfly whirl [1] B1. Robin pass R to swing partner B2. Promenade across; circle L 3, pass thru Anyone happen to have this one or know somewhere else I can find it online? Thanks, Sam [1]: I have no idea what most of A2 says either. This is why I normally type/print my cards instead of writing them by hand, I think this is more or less right, but something must be wrong because I don't see how this could work from a wave to the star promenade. -- Sam Whited sam(a)samwhited.com

3 weeks, 1 day

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Contra Callers May 2025