Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

20 participants
4362 discussions

by Tina Fields via Callers

Another great whole-oval dance, along with Gang of Four, is the ever-popular Fairport Harbour by Paul Balliet. Advanced dancers can add in a cool trick in that one: suggest that in the B, gents have time to rollaway your partner before passing through the set (with lady on the left - scandalous!) because it's a piece of cake to correct that with the next move, swing your partner on that other side. My favorite "can only get away with calling it once every few years" dance is Carmen's Contra or variations, which features a truly goofy and fun "clap-clap-bump-bump" figure a la Carmen Miranda. Remind those dancing the gents' role to empty their pockets first. Tina > On Mar 16, 2016, at 2:01 PM, via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

9 years, 2 months

Mountain Dance – Calling, Feet & Figures – From Scratch - Scholarships Due April 1st.

by T Claw via Callers

I'll be co-teaching a week long Appalachian Dance and Calling class with Becky Hill this summer. So if you don't have post Clifftop plans that make you feel like living and you're not going to Galax, come hang with us. SCHOLARSHIP Applications due APRIL 1st. Save yourself $450. I think we are taking over William Mentor's slot. Staff Musicians include Aaron Olwell and Jess McIntosh. You can take all sorts of other dance and music classes too. https://augustaheritagecenter.org/about-augusta/scholarships/ https://augustaheritagecenter.org/augusta-schedule/dance/ "Mountain Dance – Calling, Feet & Figures – From Scratch: This class focuses on Appalachian Dance Traditions. As a major facet of community dance is inclusion, no prior experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. T-Claw <https://youtu.be/uNTu_WbWdas> and Becky Hill will be joined throughout the week by West Virginia square dance callers Mack Samples, Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe and Lou Maiuri, who will share dance figures unique to this region. We’ll present the basics of square dance calling, choreography, patter and teaching. Becky will cover the fundamentals of flatfooting and clogging. Look forward to the Tennessee Walking Step and creating your own steps through improvisation." Take Care, T-Claw Square Dance Caller calling.t.claw(a)gmail.com 615-430-8230 www.tclawcalling.com www.facebook.com/tclawcalling

9 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Dances with multiple swings

by via Callers

Illegal in Most States by Robert Cromartie. A1 B/S N; face across. A2 Ladies chain to P, Out of the courtesy turn, circle RIGHT halfway (all are standing between P and Shadow -- except at the ends of course) Pass through straight across, turn to Shadow. B1 (NO Bal either swing). Swing Shadow (8), roll out and swing P (8) B2 LL F/B. Circle 0.75, pass thru There's a video on YouTube _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

9 years, 2 months

Recognize this dance?

by Bree Kalb via Callers

This emerged as I was driving home Wednesday night listening to a Latter Day Lizards CD and thinking about needing some fairly simple, but interesting dances to call at an upcoming dance. I can’t find it in my collection of dances, but it’s so generic, I think someone else must have composed it and I was merely remembering. A 1 N DoSiDo; Swg A 2 LLF&B; Pass thru to an ocean wave (women take left hands); Balance the Wave B1 Women allmd Left 1/2; Ptr Swg B2 Circle L 3/4; Balance the ring, California Twirl Thanks! Bree Kalb Carrboro NC

9 years, 2 months

Dances with multiple swings- Trinity?

by Lindsey Dono via Callers

Hi all, I'm in the process of sorting through old dance notes, and found this: "Trinity? triple swing, double progression, Al Olson." If this is an existing dance, does anyone have the choreography? I'm also interested in finding other dances with more than two swings, especially swing-to-swing transitions.I have:Back from VermontString of SwingsCDS ReelMeg's a Dancing FoolTen Strings AttachedGang of FourNaked in CaliforniaAlexander's Swingtime Many thanks in advance!Lindsey(Tacoma, WA)

9 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Dances with multiple swings- Swingaround

by jwcontrahands4 via Callers

I'm aware of one called Swingaround by Gene Hubert. It has an 8 beat neighbor swing at the beginning followed by the number two couples swinging in the middle followed by a same-sex swing followed by the ones swinging in the middle which leads to a line of four down the hall with the ones in the center. That's three swing-swing transitions. The dance is published online. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Lindsey Dono via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> </div><div>Date:03/11/2016 2:56 PM (GMT-06:00) </div><div>To: Callers List <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> </div><div>Subject: [Callers] Dances with multiple swings- Trinity? </div><div> </div>Hi all, I'm in the process of sorting through old dance notes, and found this: "Trinity? triple swing, double progression, Al Olson." If this is an existing dance, does anyone have the choreography? I'm also interested in finding other dances with more than two swings, especially swing-to-swing transitions. I have: Back from Vermont String of Swings CDS Reel Meg's a Dancing Fool Ten Strings Attached Gang of Four Naked in California Alexander's Swingtime Many thanks in advance! Lindsey (Tacoma, WA)

9 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Recognize this dance?

by Bree Kalb via Callers

9 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Contras for One Nighters

by Linda Thomas via Callers

I often introduce the concept of progression with Sanita Hill Circle (sicilian) by Ed Durlocher, where they don't change partners, but get the idea of moving on in the big circle with no end effects to worry about. Super-easy contras: Saturday Night Stroll by Mavis McGaugh Family Contra by Sherry Nevins. Back Road to Ayer by Lisa Greenleaf - an Improper contra with a traditional feel to it... and that one has always worked well for me Rural Felicity, by Dudley Laufman - Proper, traditional, is another no brainer and people always have fun with it, especially children. Linda Thomas Wilmington, NC 1. Re: Contras for One Nighters (Linda Mrosko via Callers) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 22:33:02 -0600 From: Linda Mrosko via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: Rich Sbardella <richsbardella(a)gmail.com> The closest I usually get to a contra-style is *DoSiThree*. Everybody gets the progression. The hardest part about that dance is getting them into a 3 face 3 position -- more particularly, a set of 3 people can be a challenging concept for some (you need lines of 3 people, you and two partners, etc.). Once they get in position, the rest of the dance works great. I prefer longways dances instead -- *Blobs* is a staple and *Brandy Rump Bump* for a younger crowd. Another contra dance that has worked well for me with a majority of beginners has been *Moonstruck* -- sliding left to progress to the next couple is easy for anybody to understand, you interact with your partner and your neighbor, and all you do is clapping, dosidos, circles, balancing and sliding to the next. One other is *French Wedding* - dosidos, 2-hand turns, circles, dig for the oyster/dive for the clam to the next. If I only have an hour, I don't call a contra. But if I have 2 hours, well...I don't know about you, but I like just a little variety. On Sat, Mar 5, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I > am asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure > fire recommendations. > > Assume 95%-100% non dancers. > > Thanks, Rich > Stafford, CT > End of Callers Digest, Vol 23, Issue 7 **************************************

9 years, 2 months

Contras for One Nighters

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire recommendations. Assume 95%-100% non dancers. Thanks, Rich Stafford, CT

9 years, 2 months

Does anyone have updated contact info for Colin Hume?

by Amy Cann via Callers

I have a phone message from him (about gigs in July) that says "My regular email isn't working, use kbg%mdhweue%$$%^ -- and the way his phone # displays doesn't work in the opposite direction. I've tried a bunch of combinations but they keep bouncing. If you've got a working cell number or a good email, cc this on or tell him to contact me at this address and give me the good stuff in writing? Thanks, Amy 802-22-7598

9 years, 2 months

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Contra Callers