Thanks for the tip!
On Sep 16, 2017 8:28 PM, "Martha Wild" <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote:
If you have to travel a long distance, LEAVE EARLY. So many things can go
wrong with traffic etc. on the way to a dance. Give yourself time to get
there without stressing and arriving at the last minute (or after the last
minute).
Martha
> On Sep 16, 2017, at 6:01 AM, Mary Collins via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I know many of us travel some distance to call a dance, and some of us
have only a few miles to go to call. I'm curious in each situation, how
your pre-dance day is spent. What helps and what has hindered your calling
might be good too.
>
> Thanks in advance for your input.
>
> Mary Collins
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I know many of us travel some distance to call a dance, and some of us have
only a few miles to go to call. I'm curious in each situation, how your
pre-dance day is spent. What helps and what has hindered your calling might
be good too.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Mary Collins
He- Ahem- AHOY, Shared Weight?
Did you know that September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?
Me neither, but the dance I'm calling tonight was sure to let me know! I
know there are a bunch of Pirate-themed dances out there (one that I heard
Maggie Jo Saylor called years ago springs to mind, with two consecutive
wave balances). Send along some of your favorites, maybe others with gigs
this weekend will find they come in handy!
Thanks!
Angela
www.angeladecarlis.com
Hi, Angela,
I wrote two dances called "All Hands on Deck" and "Hold Fast." They both
sort of combine "Fast Hands" by Diane Silver and "A Pirate's Life for Me"
by Nathaniel Jack.
See www.duganmurphy.com/dances-i-wrote
Two of my other titles, "Bold Coast" and "Cutler Coast" sound a little
piratelike, though they actually refer to a state park in Cutler, Maine.
They are written out on the same web page linked above.
Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.com <dugan(a)duganmurphy.com>
www.DuganMurphy.comwww.PortlandIntownContraDance.comwww.NufSed.consulting
> Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2017 10:21:38 -0400
> From: Angela DeCarlis <aedecarlis(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Pirate Themed Dances!
>
> He- Ahem- AHOY, Shared Weight?
>
> Did you know that September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?
>
> Me neither, but the dance I'm calling tonight was sure to let me know! I
> know there are a bunch of Pirate-themed dances out there (one that I heard
> Maggie Jo Saylor called years ago springs to mind, with two consecutive
> wave balances). Send along some of your favorites, maybe others with gigs
> this weekend will find they come in handy!
>
> Thanks!
> Angela
>
> www.angeladecarlis.com
>
Hi callers,
I've been looking for a funky dance, a variation on Chorus Jig for 4
couples, alternating, everybody turns contra corners. Does anyone know who
to thank for it?
(I remember dancing it at one of the Monte Toyon camps (Spring Fever or
Queer Contra Camp) but I can't remember which! For bonus points, I'd love
to figure out whom I learned it from.)
The dance goes like this:
A1: top couple down the outside and back
B1: top couple down the middle and back, cast off with 2s
C: all turn contra corners in the middle
(All turn partner right 3/4, 1st corner left 1, parter right 1/2, 2nd
corner left 1.
It looks like a wave of 8 down the middle.)
B2: all balance and swing partner; end swing facing up (?)
(? = Do you alternate facing up/down?)
Then, every other time, alternate: the bottom couple goes up the set and
casts off with the 3s. So the 1s and 2s just change places with each other,
and the 3s and 4s change places with each other, and everyone has a turn.
Thanks,
Yoyo Zhou
Important note: This is NOT about whether or not modern callers should use
the term. Please don't raise that question in response to this note. This is
a historical analysis of the gypsy.
If you are interested please look at http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html
where you will find all these subjects covered:
Gypsy - Whole Gip - Walk Around: The Move & The Name
References & Definitions Through the Ages
Gypsy: The Name
Warning
Backs & Faces
Not Turning Your Faces
Sharp's Whole Gips
The Solo Gypsy
Interlocking Gypsies or Double Gyp
Conclusion
Note on Etymology
Other Sources
Appendix 1: Walk Around the Corner
Appendix 2: Back-Circles
Thanks to all the people who provided information and insights.
Please let me know if you have anything that will help me to improve this
page.
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Hey all,
Can someone point me to the thread I imagine already exists with dances for Labor Day? Or, if you have written or know of some good ones, please let me know? Anything about work, workers, labor, and the like.
The one I have that came to mind was Labor of Love, by, I think, Kathy Anderson.
Thanks!
Andrea
Sent from my external brain
Here's one I'm fond of. One could argue whether this is a Contra, ECD, or...
Linda’s Gifts (of Time) – Longways Duple Proper in Waltz Time – Don Veino
20160818
*Type:* Longways Contra or English Dance, Duple Proper
*Status:* Public, Proven
In grateful recognition of Linda Leslie’s investments of time in the folk
dance community and in particular her consultation and mentoring given me
as I hone my dance calling and composition.
*A1*
(6,6) First Corners Set to each other (small steps to the Right-2-3,
Left-2-3), Hole in the Wall (forward 3 beats/steps, pass rights and pivot 1
step, fall back 2 steps into each other’s places)
(12) Second Corners, same thing
*A2*
(12) Partner Two-Hand Turn 1x
(12) Circle Left 1x
*B1*
(12) Ones Half Figure 8 up and around Twos to finish below
(12) Twos do similar below, to finish above
*B2*
(12) Partner Back to Back/Dosido
(6) Ring Balance with current Neighbors
(6) Cloverleaf Turn Single over outside shoulder to face new Neighbors
http://veino.com/blog/?p=1464
On Aug 8, 2017 2:03 PM, "Dugan Murphy via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune?
Hi,
Dugan asked about waltz contra choreographies.
The music in the Allison Wonderland video is much faster than I
would use for a contra waltz. Many of the dancers seem to end up almost
running to keep up. The waltz at the beginning or end of an evening at a
contra dance is usually significantly slower, and more the sort of speed
that I would use to get the feel of a waltz. (Yes, I know the Irish like to
waltz 50% faster, but that is a very different style!)
Here are some contras that were written specifically for waltz
music:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Tulsa Tribute (by Keith Tuxhorn)
Contra; Becket - Waltz
A1: Circle Left Half Way (2); Balance the Ring (2)
Circle Left* Half Way (2); Balance the Ring (2)
A2: Open Ladies' Chain x2
B1: Full Hey with hands - Ladies start with Right Hand
B2: Partner Waltz in Place (4), Waltz Left** to face a New Neighbours (4)
An Open Ladies' Chain is an old form in which you do NOT do a Courtesy Turn.
I always teach it and call it as "Ladies Pull By Right, Allemande Left the
Man you meet"
* I go Right to make it easier for inexperienced dancers ** I go Right
because my brain tells me that is the direction in which I should waltz
around the room
Easy B2: Ladies Gypsy (4); Yearn Left (2); Step Right & Honour (2)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A Waltz for Terry (by Don Armstrong)
Contra; Improper - Waltz
A1: #1s with #2 Man: Balance the Ring twice; Circle Left
A2: #1s with #2 Lady: Balance the Ring twice; Circle Right to a Line of Four
facing Down the Hall (#1 Lady lets go with Right Hand; #1 Man raises Left
Hand to left #2 Lady through)
B1: Down the Hall in Lines of Four (2) bars, Balance Forwards (1), Turn
Alone (1)
Up the Hall in Lines of Four (2), #2s Gate the #1s Up to progressed
positions with a wide hand-cast (2)
B2: Open Ladies' Chain (the Men can do a Turn Single to the Left while the
Ladies cross)
Open Ladies' Chain back
An Open Ladies' Chain is an old form in which you do NOT do a Courtesy Turn.
I always teach it and call it as "Ladies Pull By Right, Allemande Left the
Man you meet"
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Equal Opportunity Waltz Contra (by Becky Hill)
Contra; Improper - Waltz
A1: Star Left; Star Right
A2: Neighbour Allemande Right; Partner Allemande Left
B1: Ladies Cross (2); Men Cross (2)
Balance the Ring; Partner Roll Away with a Half Sashay
B2: Partner: Take Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat
Partner: Take Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
If I was going to use a standard contra then I would choose a smooth,
flowing one like:
The Mad Gypsy (by John Sweeney)
Contra; Becket
A1: Ladies' Chain
Mad Robin - AC - Ladies through the Middle
A2: Full Hey - Ladies start Right Shoulder
B1: Ladies Gypsy (slow & wide)
Neighbour Two-Hand Turn (or Waltz)
B2: Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross
Yearn on the Left Diagonal
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
