Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

8 participants
4417 discussions

by Roger Hayes via Callers

I've been thinking about dances with distinctive figures recently. Here's one that people have enjoyed; I think it may be the minimal improper dance with contra corners, as it avoids the half figure eight which, while fun, causes confusion for beginners. ------ Cassoulet Duple minor improper contra dance Roger Hayes, August 2016 A1 Circle left ½, Ladies roll away L to R with neighbor Circle left ½, Gents roll away L to R with neighbor A2 Demi pousette, Long lines forward and back B1 Contra corners B2 Actives balance and swing Demi pousette: 1’s do a ½ draw pousette starting above improper, ending below proper, while 2’s do a normal ½ pousette to move up. So the 1 gent pulls partner out of the set and back in, moving in an arc with the gent always in the forefront, while the 2 gent pulls partner out of the set then 2 lady pulls partner back in, describing a V shape. This dance benefits from spacious circles.

9 years

Dances without LLFB and Ladies Chain

by Mark Hillegonds via Callers

Hi all, Following on the recent inquiries about favorite dances that [INSERT CRITERIA HERE], I'll post my request. I'm finding that when I put programs together, I'll have a string (or at least several) dances that have a LL F&B or a Ladies Chain and sometimes both. I'd be interested to know your favorite dances (of any experience level) that use neither of these figures. Thanks and Happy Holidays to all! -- *Mark Hillegonds* Cell: 734-756-8441 Email: mark.hillegonds(a)gmail.com

9 years

Reverse prog/becket R dances?

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Anyone have some favorites to share? Especially interested in dances that are simple enough to be part of a medley (they don't need to be dead simple, just not absurdly complex). Cheers, Maia

9 years

Re: [Callers] Holiday contras - BEG/EASY

by Tina Fields via Callers

The year I called the No Snow Ball in the SF Bay Area, Hillbillies from Mars agreed to include I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus as one tune in a set. I sang it after dancers got their flow going, and it went great. I like Alan's idea of including not only holiday tunes but bad holiday puns as alt dance titles. That way, you can choose excellent dances and still get your holiday theme on. I also look forward to hearing more ideas here. Have fun! Tina > > On Saturday, December 3, 2016 David Harding via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I'm interested in familiar holiday tunes that work for contras. I know > I've danced to Jingle Bells a couple of times (as Alan suggested), and > think I remember doing a mixer to Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Any other ideas? > > David > > >> On 12/2/2016 6:10 PM, Winston, Alan P. via Callers wrote: >> Claire -- >> >> In my experience, choosing dances because their titles fit a >> particular theme isn't the best way to make programs. >> >> For Christmas holiday dances I'm used to bands slipping familiar >> holiday tunes into their regular sets. (Jingle Bells fits in nicely as >> a bouncy tune. Several carols can be played as waltzes.) You can also >> playfully alter the names of dances you'd want to call anyway to make >> them fit the theme.

9 years

Holiday contras - BEG/EASY

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Hi everyone! Wishing you all fabulous holidays. I’m so grateful for this resource. I’m calling a small contra on 12/20 and would like to have some Beg/Easy modern contras with fun holiday theme titles. There is usually several new dancers and 1/3-1/2 beg to very experienced dancers. I appreciate any choreography that you can share. I’ve searched all the dances I already have in Caller’s Companion. Thank you So much! Claire Takemori (SF Bay Area)

9 years

Thank you

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello Shared Weight, Just feeling particularly grateful to the community of callers and organizers out there. Thank you to all of you for the work that you do. I believe it helps build stronger, more connected communities, and a better world. I personally lose sight of that sometimes, especially at year's end when things get hectic. But whatever you're celebrating this weekend and holiday season, my thanks go to you. Take care, -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

9 years

Post-Election Day dances

by via Callers

Here's what I actually called on post-election Wednesday in Baltimore: Long May It Wave (Melanie Axel-Lute) The Eyes Have It Vote With Your Feet (Bob Isaacs) Take All of the Credit and None of the Blame (Larry Edelman) Not a Figment of Your Imagination (Lynn Ackerson) The Dancer's Duty (Chris Page) Kitchen Stomp (Becky Hill) Break United We Dance (Bob Isaacs) The Tease (Tom Hinds) There Is No Way to Peace, Peace Is the Way (Erik Hoffman) Illegal in Most States (Robert Cromartie) Jubilation (Gene Hubert) [A little backstory -- I run a dance camp called FootFall. To avoid using gazillions of paper cups at meals and dumping them in the landfill, every year we provide all dancers with a travel mug (labeled with their names). Every year it's a different color, and it has a different dance-related quote on it.] Thursday morning, I got the following email from someone who had been at the Baltimore Wednesday night dance:: "My FootFall mug in my office says, 'We do not always dance because we are happy, but we dance and cannot help but become happy.' Last night, post-election, was such a night." April Blum

9 years, 1 month

Post election day dances?

by April Blum via Callers

I calling the Baltimore contra on Wednesday. Vote With Your Feet of course. Others I am considering are: Take All of the Credit and None of the Blame The Eyes Have It Illegal in Most States Not a Figment of Your Imagination Rocks and Dirt In Cahoots Chaos Pie Blueshift The Dancer's Duty Long May It Wave There Is No Way to Peace Any other suggestions? April Blum

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] A Lot of "Don't Know" dances--Most Now Have Names

by Erik Hoffman via Callers

Hi All, Thanks to all who've supplied names! Below are the names of most of my "Don't Know" dances. A few, reposted at the bottom of this email, are still mysteries. ~Erik Hoffman Oakland, CA My Right Hand Man Becket Roger Auman A1 Wmn Allemande Rt 1½; Half Hey (Nb st Lft sh) A2 NbrB&S B1 on Lft Diag: Women Chain-to Shdw; (w/ Shdw) Across: Right & Left Thru B2 LLF&B; Partner Swing a slight variation of: A Precarious Balance Improper Becky Hill-original has A1 as Nbr B&S A1 DSD Nbr; Sw Nbr A1 R&L Thru Acrss; Star Lft ¾, end in a wave on the Wm's side Pt in left, Shdw in Rt B1 BAL the wave, Al Rt Shdw; Sw Pt B2 Circle Lft 1¼; CA twirl Pt Early Morning Swim-w/ clarification from Kathy Improper Kathy Anderson A1 Ones split the Twos: Mirror DSD to Circle; BAL the Ring, Pt Rollaway with a Half Sashay Acrss A2 DSD Nbr to a Wave, Mn in Center; Rory O'More BAL (to put Wm in center) B1 Wm Al Lft 1½; Sw Pt B2 Prom Pt; Circle Lft ¾, Twos Arch, Pop the Ones through Greenfield Petronella Improper Chris Ricciotti A1 Ptnella BAL Twice A2 BAL the Ring, CA Twril Pt; Sw Nbr B1 Mn Al Lft 1½; Sw Pt B2 Wm Chain; Half Hey, Wm start, Rt shoulder >From a green piece of paper, the 2000 Echo Summit dance schedule. I should email Susan Kevra (the other caller) and see if she knows about this dance. Rollin' and Tumblin' Improper Cis Hinkle A1 BAL & Sw Nbr A2 LLF&B w/ Wm Roll Away with Half Sashay (left); LLF&B w/ Mn Roll Away with a Half Sashay (Rt, same Nbr) B1 Wm Al Rt 1½; Sw Pt B2 Wm Chain; Star Left Fun Dance for Majoirie Becket Dean Alemain A1 Crcl Lft ¾; Nb Sw A2 LLF&B; Mn Al Lft 1½ B1 Pt BAL & Sw B2 Mn Cross (4), Wm Cross (4); Hands Across Rt Star Single File lead to next couple (Mn in lead) California Twirlin' Imp Janet Levatin A1 Bal Ring, w/ Pt, CA Twirl, turn alone to face in Bal Ring, w/ Nb, CA Twirl, (I think:) turn alone to face in A2 Bal Ring, w/ Pt, Ca Twirl to face new Nb; that New Nb Sw B1 Circle Lft ¾; Pt Sw B2 Wm Chain; LLF&B w/ Rollaway (or, I think, LLF&B; Wm Chain /w Rollaway) Backstitch Improper Al Olson A1 (Remember this Nbr) LLF&B; BAL Towards Nbr One, Back, Roll Away with Half Sashay A2 (still in lines) BALt towards Nbr Two, Away, Sw Nbr Two B1 Mn Al Lft 1½; Sw Pt B2 (with Nbr Two) Star Lft ¾; Sw Nbr One >From Kathy Anderson at the Brattleboro Dawn Dance, May 29, 2000 Rollin' to the Grey Eagle Improper Hank Morris A1 LLF&B w/ Rollaway; Women Chain A2 Hey (Wm st Rt sh) B1 Partner B&S B2 Circle Left ¾; Neighbor Swing Baridhara Improper Chris Weiler A1 Star Right; Neighbor Gypsy A2 Circle Single File Left Half (still looking at Neighbor Women lead) (4) Neighbor Gypsy (some more) (4); Neighbor Swing B1 Give & Take: Women pull Partner back B2 Women Chain; Star Left Roll 12.5 Improper Chris Page A1 Nbr DSD; Nbr Swing A2 LLF&B; Wm chain (to Pt)-end in Ring B1 Ring Balance, Roll Nbr; Pt Swing B2 Circle Lft ¾; Ring Balance, CA Twirl Quicksilver Reel Becket Mike Richardson A1 Long Lines Forwad & Back; Circle Left, Slide Lft (R&L T; Circle Slide, or LLF&B, Circle ½, Slide) A2 Hey, Wm start, Rt shoulder B1 Wm Al Rt ¾ to long wave in center (4), BAL; Wm back out WHILE Mn Al Rt with Man to Rt ¾ to long wave, BAL B2 Mn step forward to Pt: Sw Pt Ben's Spinoff #3 Becket A1 Nbr Allemande Rt, Wmn Lft Pull By, Pt Allemande Rt, Wmn Lft Pull By A2 Neighbor B&S B1 Circle Left ¾; Partner Swing B2 LLF&B; Women Chain At least it was on a blue piece of paper that also had Hey for 40, as called by S.K. Don't Know #1 Improper Don't Know A1 with Nbr, BAL, Bx Gnat; Star Rt A2 Circle Lft ¾; Sw Pt B1 Mn Pull By with the Left, Bx Gnat with Nbr; Half Hey, Nbr start Rt Shoulder B2 BAL & Sw Nbr Don't Know #2 Improper Don't Know A1 BAL with Nbr, Gypsy (Rt shoulder); Half Hey, Wm start Lft Shoulder A2 BAL & Sw Nbr (opposite side) B1 Wm Gypsy 1½; Sw Pt B2 LLF&B; Mn Gypsy 1½ to progress Don't Know #3 Improper Don't Know A1 Nbr BAL & Sw end in Circle A2 BAL Ring, Pet Tw to wave: Pt in Rt, Wm in Cntr Rory O'More BAL, B1 Mn Al Lft once, Pt Sw B2 Circle Lft ¾; Nbr Al Lft 1½ On an envelope Don't Know Yet From Andy Wilson-June 1, ???? Imp A1 "Hey" along lines: Pass Nb Rt, next Lft, 3rd Rt Shoulder Turn, pass next Left, to Current Nbr A1 w/ Current Nbr, ½ Rt Sh Turn then "Stalk": Wm crosses, Mn follows to other side; Nb Sw B1 Circle Lft ¾; Pt Sw B2 Star Lft ¾; turn to face Nbr: BAL, Pull by w/ Rt Says, Beware to start the "Hey" with the Right Shoulder. Could that last Balance & Pull By be with the Left?

9 years, 1 month

Scholarships for Callers and Musicians

by via Callers

An important part of the annual Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is a scholarship opportunity for 2 aspiring contra/square dance callers and 2 dance musicians. The Scholarship Application couldn't be easier: 2 simple questions. The Application can be found here: http://ralphpage.neffa.org/scholarships.html and needs to by in my hands by Dec. 3rd. Please forward this to folks you think would be interested. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the history of the dance form we love and learn from some of the very best callers and dance musicians! Thanks! Sandy Lafleur for the RPDLW Committee

9 years, 1 month

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Contra Callers