Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

14 participants
4360 discussions

by Read Weaver via Callers

In my beginners’ workshops, that is how I teach buzzstep: after teaching giving weight in a large circle, I have folks give weight in a large circle while galloping. I break up the circles into successively smaller circles and then into twosomes (with a two hand hold), keeping the galloping & giving weight (and then explain that we contra folks call that buzzstep). Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On Jun 21, 2015, at 12:34 PM, Bob Green via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > … > I have never tried teaching the buzz step out of ring around the Rosie, but I think I will try it next week.

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

by John Sweeney via Callers

Dale said, "Don't teach advanced techniques to new dancers. Forget the buzz step." Sorry, but I must disagree most strongly. In an average evening of contra dancing you will spend nearly thirty minutes swinging (if the dances are in the Modern Urban Contra Dance style rather than the older styles). I think it is incredibly unfair to a newcomer to make them suffer for thirty minutes rather than teach them how to swing. They can also cause a lot of suffering to whomever they are swinging with if they have lousy technique. I would not agree that it is advanced either. I strongly believe that a couple of minutes teaching the basics of a buzz step swing will give everyone a much more enjoyable evening. Some of them won't get it, but for those that do it can completely change their experience of the evening. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 11 months

Having settled the geography debate, lets move on to entomology

by Luke Donforth via Callers

The recent discussion about California versus Nevada twirls and all the related variants suddenly flashed through my mind when I was writing this dance: Whipped Butter by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CW A1 ----------- (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1-1/2 A2 ----------- (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 (2) Women scoop partner for short star promenade (6) Gents immediately hook right elbow with new gent (ladies let go), promenade 1/4 and butterfly whirl with partner (on home side, progressed) B1 ----------- (16) Hey, women passing left shoulders B2 ----------- (16) Partner gypsy and swing The odd thing that's (to me) evocative of the previous name debate is the butterfly whirl. If the woman is on the left of her partner, but still moving forward, is it a butterfly whirl? Or some other species of lepidoptera? I'll admit, I tend to use butterfly whirl for any instance of side-by-side, facing same direction, both folks' close arm around around other's back, one person moving forward one person backing up couples turn in place but change facing. But possibly I'm short-changing the extensive taxonomy of Insecta. Think of all the variants we could come up with if we branched into beetles! Joking aside, I hope folks find the dance programatically useful and enjoyable. I think contra dancing and calling is an organic process, and some variation in naming, calling, and styles is healthy and fun. I don't have different names for heys depending on larks or ravens start, or by which shoulder they start, but do use swat the flea to differentiate from box the gnat. But in either case I teach what I want to happen in the move. Take care, -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

9 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Having settled the geography debate, lets move on to entomology

by Neal Schlein via Callers

Funnily enough, I wrote a dance years ago called Crickets Contra. It uses the same progression method (ladies turn, pick up the men, men hook and go 3/4 before whirling)---but its in reverse hands from yours. Taking your joke seriously, I'm not certain about women/men on reversed sides, but there was a differentiation in some communities between ladies wheeling forward and backward for a standard couple. Learned that from Larry Edelman, although I don't recall the other term. Neal Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Luke Donforth via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> </div><div>Date:06/20/2015 9:42 AM (GMT-06:00) </div><div>To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> </div><div>Cc: </div><div>Subject: [Callers] Having settled the geography debate, lets move on to entomology </div><div> </div>The recent discussion about California versus Nevada twirls and all the related variants suddenly flashed through my mind when I was writing this dance: Whipped Butter by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CW A1 ----------- (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1-1/2 A2 ----------- (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 (2) Women scoop partner for short star promenade (6) Gents immediately hook right elbow with new gent (ladies let go), promenade 1/4 and butterfly whirl with partner (on home side, progressed) B1 ----------- (16) Hey, women passing left shoulders B2 ----------- (16) Partner gypsy and swing The odd thing that's (to me) evocative of the previous name debate is the butterfly whirl. If the woman is on the left of her partner, but still moving forward, is it a butterfly whirl? Or some other species of lepidoptera? I'll admit, I tend to use butterfly whirl for any instance of side-by-side, facing same direction, both folks' close arm around around other's back, one person moving forward one person backing up couples turn in place but change facing. But possibly I'm short-changing the extensive taxonomy of Insecta. Think of all the variants we could come up with if we branched into beetles! Joking aside, I hope folks find the dance programatically useful and enjoyable. I think contra dancing and calling is an organic process, and some variation in naming, calling, and styles is healthy and fun. I don't have different names for heys depending on larks or ravens start, or by which shoulder they start, but do use swat the flea to differentiate from box the gnat. But in either case I teach what I want to happen in the move. Take care, -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com

9 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey

by John Sweeney via Callers

If "a picture is worth a thousand words" then a demo must be worth even more. Of course you should do demos if they help. Demonstration is one of the oldest ways of teaching contra dances. When contra dances were first recorded in the 1650s, demonstration was generally the ONLY way of teaching. You made up contra lines, the music started, and the top couple danced the dance without a call with the second couple while everyone else watched the demonstration. In those dances the #1s were often a lot more active than the #2s so the #2s just followed the #1s. The #1s moved down and danced the dance with the #3s while the #2s watched. The #1s moved down and danced with the #4s while the #2s started dancing with the #3s, and so on down the set. There was no calling. Everything was learnt by watching the dancers. (Just in case anyone thinks that they didn't contra dance in 1650: "The term "Country Dance" is the one invariably used in all books on dancing that have been published in England during the last three centuries, while all works issued in France within the same period employ the term Contra Dance, or in French "Contre Danse". As the authority is equally good in both cases, either term is therefore correct. The Country or Contra Dance has been one of the most popular amusements in the British Isles, France, and other continental countries from time immemorial." Howe, 1858) So, yes, demonstration is one of the key ways to teach a Ricochet Hey, and I use it whenever necessary. In response to some of the amusing comments about my insight that a Ricochet Hey follows the same path as a Mad Robin: - I would never teach it solely by saying that it is like a Mad Robin. - If you know that most of the dancers do know a Mad Robin, then I believe it could be useful. - If you plan your programme for the session so that you do a dance with a Mad Robin, then later on do a dance with a Ricochet Hey, then telling the dancers to follow the same path could help. - Even if you don't want to have anything to do with Mad Robins, you can still use the techniques for teaching a Mad Robin to teach a Ricochet Hey. Many callers teach a Mad Robin by getting the dancers to do a Dosido and then explain that they need to follow the same path while looking at their opposite. The same technique could be used for the Ricochet Hey. Two of the main challenges I have found with the Ricochet Hey is that people either cross the set (as they are fooled by the word "Hey" in the name!) or they stop moving when they are at the back. Building the Ricochet Hey movement on top of a Dosido movement will help to reinforce these two key elements of the move. Of course you would have to be careful using the comparison of the move to a Mad Robin if you were working with ECD dancers, since they might know the original Mad Robin which is a different move! :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey

by Neal Schlein via Callers

Sure, there are lots of good teaching reasons to demonstrate a move--and we all use them during a lesson. But there are also reasons not to, and that is one of the ways a workshop is different from a walk-through. Demos are perfect for workshops and OK for beginner lessons. Workshops are usually smaller than a regular dance, with people who came explicitly to learn or practice a skill. The size makes it easier for them all to see what you want them to, you are trying to teach specific things, and they don't mind being pulled out of formation for a teaching point. At a regular dance demos are usually not ideal on those fronts, along with a few others. You can't control who or what people decide to watch and learn, and there is the potential for embarrassment of or errors among your demonstrating set. If one of them doesn't know the figure, you will have to talk it through to the demonstrators in order to help them not teach the wrong thing; if they do know it, they may decide to show off and cause confusion. Still, saying it is "failure as a caller" to have used a demo is absurd; sometimes that is the best way to communicate complex info, or if people just aren't "getting it". They just need to be used sparingly. Neal Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Tom Hinds via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> </div><div>Date:06/19/2015 6:04 AM (GMT-06:00) </div><div>To: Michael Fuerst <mjerryfuerst(a)yahoo.com> </div><div>Cc: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net, John Sweeney <info(a)contrafusion.co.uk>, callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net </div><div>Subject: Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey </div><div> </div>I'm asking myself why not demo a ricochet? In my mind there are some advantages to demonstrating a move instead of describing it (or doing both with a wireless mic). My experience is most contra callers are highly educated and have exceptional verbal skills. Maybe some callers don't value a good demonstration. Or is a demonstration too beneath some of us? One of my calling students told me that I failed as a caller because I demonstrated a move. My own view is that watching and learning is an integral part of being human. We could make a long list of older skills (like hunting) or newer ones like learning to play a musical instrument where watching and imitating is the key to learning. I recently took an informal workshop on dance history. The teachers pointed out that when people watch something, appropriate synapses fire in preparation for performing a task. This physiological response helps the person actually learn a task better. T _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

9 years, 11 months

FWD: Using the correct e-mail address

by Aahz Maruch via Callers

Howdy, I don't know when it entered the thread (forwarded message below), but the e-mail address callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net does *NOT* go to the list, it goes to the moderator. I find that it's good practice to check the addresses in posts before I send them -- usually it works best if you have only ONE address. Thanks, Aahz ----- Forwarded message from Amy Wimmer via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> ----- > Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 13:01:39 -0700 > From: Amy Wimmer via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net> > Cc: "callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net" > <callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net>, > "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>, > John Sweeney <info(a)contrafusion.co.uk> > Subject: Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey > Reply-To: Amy Wimmer <amywimmer(a)gmail.com> > > I concur: a demonstration is usually very helpful for my learning > something. I am very visual, and the use of too many words confuses > me. I have many "Ah HA!" moments while seeing a demonstration. Phooey > on those who poo-poo them. > -Amy in Seattle > > > > > On Jun 19, 2015, at 4:04 AM, Tom Hinds via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > > I'm asking myself why not demo a ricochet? In my mind there are some advantages to demonstrating a move instead of describing it (or doing both with a wireless mic). > > > > My experience is most contra callers are highly educated and have exceptional verbal skills. Maybe some callers don't value a good demonstration. Or is a demonstration too beneath some of us? One of my calling students told me that I failed as a caller because I demonstrated a move. > > > > My own view is that watching and learning is an integral part of being human. We could make a long list of older skills (like hunting) or newer ones like learning to play a musical instrument where watching and imitating is the key to learning. > > > > I recently took an informal workshop on dance history. The teachers pointed out that when people watch something, appropriate synapses fire in preparation for performing a task. This physiological response helps the person actually learn a task better. > > > > T > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net ----- End forwarded message ----- -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

9 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey

by John Sweeney via Callers

Michael Fuerst said, "To me one of the more challenging to describe succinctly is ricochet heys". One of the challenges of a Ricochet Hey is the name - it is not actually a Hey in any sense of the word, though Ricochets mixed with Half Heys do make pleasing figures. I have had a few challenges with this as well, but in trying to think of a way to do it better, I just had a major breakthrough... I think! I just realised that a Ricochet Hey is actually a Mad Robin in which the people passing through the middle interact with each other. So, next time I teach it I am going to try getting the dancers to do a Mad Robin first then get them to change their path from a rectangle to a pizza slice and touch hands in the middle. Does that make sense? Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Box - Swat - CA - Jersey/Nevada

by Neal Schlein via Callers

Sorry! I finished that email in a hurry and meant to say what Aahz noted: slide thru is not actually gender neutral; it simply can be done by two people dancing the same role, with the results of a curlique. I really wouldn't encourage folks to use all of the square dance figures and terms, tough. Down that path lies CallerLab. While I enjoy MWSD myself, it is too complex to be readily accessible and I am afraid contra is heading that way already. Neal Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

9 years, 11 months

Fwd: New Zealand Ad

by Susan Rudder via Callers

Calling All Callers! Join 32 musicians, callers, and dancers for a month long tour of 10 dance communities in New Zealand. Join our Facebook Group, or contact Julie for information. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AllemandeJoy/ Julie Anspach, Allemande Joy Contra Tour 2016, 2016NZContra(a)gmail.com <2016NZContra(a)gmail.com>

9 years, 11 months

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