Depending upon how playful I feel, I sometimes mouth "directions" This can
be a humorous way to get dancers quieted down. I'm of the "Whoopee Cushion"
school of calling. Having a sense of humor is a huge thing for a caller.
John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ
Jacqui,
It's kind of silly of me to give you any advise not having danced in
your community. I think the most important thing for any caller is
to not take it personally and always remain relaxed and happy.
I've heard over the years that the caller is in charge and all
responsibility rests on his/her shoulders. I've never bought into
that. It's a group activity and the dancers also have to play their
part to make the whole thing work. I think Tony Parkes said it best
when he compared contra dancing to herding cats.
One trick I've used (note: not over used) is to give them ample time
to take hands four. Saying the first move of the dance as if you're
starting the walk through usually wakes them up. And of course yells
of "hands four" will echo throughout the hall. Be prepared. The
only down side for a new caller using this is that people may think
you're not paying attention to the dancers.
It would be easy to assume that this a community where you dance once
a month and everyone is very glad to see one another. Then again,
it's probably Ashville.
Tom
Thanks Linda. I guessed it was something like that. :-)
There are three neighbours involved in the gypsy hey, plus you. I would say
that is a hey for four, not three!
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
Hi,
I called Baling Hay by Carol Ormand yesterday and we made it work,
but the Men's Allemande seemed to go on forever - they went a lot more than
1 & 3/4 when they used all the music.
Have I missed a move out?
Baling Hay (by Carol Ormand)
Contra; Improper
A1: Hey for Four along the set: pass Neighbour by Right Shoulder; Left
Shoulder Gypsy Next Neighbour; return to pass Original Neighbour by Right
Shoulder; Left Shoulder Gypsy with Previous Neighbour; return to face
Original Neighbour
A2: Men Allemande Right 1 & 3/4
B1: Partner Balance & Swing
B2: Ladies' Chain; Balanced Square Through Two (just Balance F/B on the
first one which is Right hand to Partner)
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
-----------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:17:57 -0400
From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
Hope this helps!
I have the following written down for this dance:
Linda
Baling Hay
by Carol Ormand
Contra/Improper/Int
A1 -----------
Hey for three along the set (this N pass right, next N gypsy left
once, this N pass by the right, previous N gypsy Left)
A2 -----------
(8) This Neighbor allemande Right 1 & 3/4
(8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2
B1 -----------
(16) Partner balance and swing
B2 -----------
(8) Women's Chain
Balanced square thru once
Hi,
I called Baling Hay by Carol Ormand yesterday and we made it work,
but the Men's Allemande seemed to go on forever - they went a lot more than
1 & 3/4 when they used all the music.
Have I missed a move out?
Baling Hay (by Carol Ormand)
Contra; Improper
A1: Hey for Four along the set: pass Neighbour by Right Shoulder; Left
Shoulder Gypsy Next Neighbour; return to pass Original Neighbour by Right
Shoulder; Left Shoulder Gypsy with Previous Neighbour; return to face
Original Neighbour
A2: Men Allemande Right 1 & 3/4
B1: Partner Balance & Swing
B2: Ladies' Chain; Balanced Square Through Two (just Balance F/B on the
first one which is Right hand to Partner)
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Thanks All! I appreciate all of the suggestions and look forward to a fun &
spooky dance.
Joe - I may have to try "Halloween" now just to see what happens. :-)
Cheers,
Betsey
On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 1:27 PM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Halloween dances (Betsey Mullen)
> 2. Re: Halloween dances (Donald Perley)
> 3. Re: Halloween dances (Maia McCormick)
> 4. Re: Halloween dances (Kalia Kliban)
> 5. Re: Halloween dances (Kalia Kliban)
> 6. Re: Halloween dances (Susan Moffett)
> 7. Re: Halloween dances (Kalia Kliban)
> 8. Re: Halloween dances (Joseph Kwiatkowski)
> 9. Re: Halloween dances (Michael Dyck)
> 10. Re: Halloween dances (Linda Leslie)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 11:31:17 -0700
> From: Betsey Mullen <dancethewind(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <CAHbmBD=U-Wi-xv1HdinH7dPHo1WWFgQv848Ow_fABHs==
> 1gdtA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Cheers,
> Betsey
>
> --
> Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made you
> smile.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 14:35:25 -0400
> From: Donald Perley <donperley(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <CAMKNU+9m7HGhAO=
> ErtmXadvzDJzkyDpQN0Yox-vGVVqXxo7wvQ(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> March of the coffee zombies, Wizard's Walk
> http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/ruth_ungar/wizards_walk.html
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Betsey Mullen <dancethewind(a)gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Betsey
> >
> > --
> > Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made
> you
> > smile.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 14:36:06 -0400
> From: Maia McCormick <maia.mcc(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <
> CAHUcZGP59FiQOcv4GqopUZuBXqvDJ6kefAF_N1-qMubEqDO-7A(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> At my dance, we have a longstanding tradition of dancing The Wizard's Walk
> by Ruth Ungar<
> http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/ruth_ungar/wizards_walk.html
> >to
> the tune of the same name, and it becomes a giant contest between the
> band and the dancers to see who can go the fastest before someone falls
> apart. Great fun.
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Betsey Mullen <dancethewind(a)gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Betsey
> >
> > --
> > Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made
> you
> > smile.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:43:33 -0700
> From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <52053855.8020807(a)sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 8/9/2013 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
>
> The tune Jump At the Sun can be played in an agreeably spooky way, even
> though the title isn't spooky. If your band knows it, it might be a
> nice one to throw in to the mix.
>
> Kalia
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:52:11 -0700
> From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <52053A5B.6000508(a)sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 8/9/2013 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
>
> Many are a bit of a stretch, but...
>
> Black Bird in the Night (not sure who wrote this one)
> Cats and More Cats (Melanie Axel-Lute)
> Dead Cat Bounce (Nathaniel Jack)
> Giant Robot Dance (Linda Leslie)
> Hocus Pocus (Lisa Greenleaf)
> Kindred Spirits (Chris Page)
>
> Kalia
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 15:10:20 -0400
> From: Susan Moffett <smoffett(a)insightbb.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <CCAABC3B-099C-4623-9FDA-52A82B0FB0F0(a)insightbb.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Don Flaherty wrote Blackbird in the night.
> On Aug 9, 2013, at 2:52 PM, Kalia Kliban wrote:
>
> > On 8/9/2013 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> >> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> >> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> >> Any suggestions?
> >
> > Many are a bit of a stretch, but...
> >
> > Black Bird in the Night (not sure who wrote this one)
> > Cats and More Cats (Melanie Axel-Lute)
> > Dead Cat Bounce (Nathaniel Jack)
> > Giant Robot Dance (Linda Leslie)
> > Hocus Pocus (Lisa Greenleaf)
> > Kindred Spirits (Chris Page)
> >
> > Kalia
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 12:27:26 -0700
> From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <5205429E.8080809(a)sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 8/9/2013 12:10 PM, Susan Moffett wrote:
> > Don Flaherty wrote Blackbird in the night.
>
> Thank you!
> Kalia
>
> > On Aug 9, 2013, at 2:52 PM, Kalia Kliban wrote:
> >
> >> On 8/9/2013 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> >>> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> >>> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> >>> Any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Many are a bit of a stretch, but...
> >>
> >> Black Bird in the Night (not sure who wrote this one)
> >> Cats and More Cats (Melanie Axel-Lute)
> >> Dead Cat Bounce (Nathaniel Jack)
> >> Giant Robot Dance (Linda Leslie)
> >> Hocus Pocus (Lisa Greenleaf)
> >> Kindred Spirits (Chris Page)
> >>
> >> Kalia
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Callers mailing list
> >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 15:54:28 -0400
> From: Joseph Kwiatkowski <jkwiat(a)netsync.net>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <CAKYKzR+=N=
> ZH6BkyyYyjzg8oGdYBQ4NSyi0foRuPZV8PmTHm9Q(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> There's a dance by Al Olson called "Halloween" (in Zesty Contras). Every
> time I have called it, *something* has gone wrong---sound system
> dies for no reason whatsoever, band stops playing for no reason. I've
> learned my lesson; I've sworn off it.
>
> Nobody's mentioned Melanie Axel-Lute's "Halloween Twist"
> http://www.maxellute.net/halloween.html
>
> Steve Zakon-Anderson's "Bats in the Grange" (sorry; I'm at work with no
> cards. Someone else will have to come up with that link.)
>
> Joe Kwiatkowski
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 3:27 PM, Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > On 8/9/2013 12:10 PM, Susan Moffett wrote:
> >
> >> Don Flaherty wrote Blackbird in the night.
> >>
> >
> > Thank you!
> > Kalia
> >
> > On Aug 9, 2013, at 2:52 PM, Kalia Kliban wrote:
> >>
> >> On 8/9/2013 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> >>>> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> >>>> Any suggestions?
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> Many are a bit of a stretch, but...
> >>>
> >>> Black Bird in the Night (not sure who wrote this one)
> >>> Cats and More Cats (Melanie Axel-Lute)
> >>> Dead Cat Bounce (Nathaniel Jack)
> >>> Giant Robot Dance (Linda Leslie)
> >>> Hocus Pocus (Lisa Greenleaf)
> >>> Kindred Spirits (Chris Page)
> >>>
> >>> Kalia
> >>> ______________________________**_________________
> >>> Callers mailing list
> >>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >>> http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers>
> >>>
> >>
> >> ______________________________**_________________
> >> Callers mailing list
> >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >> http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers>
> >>
> >> ______________________________**_________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:07:50 -0700
> From: Michael Dyck <jmdyck(a)ibiblio.org>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <52054C16.8070709(a)ibiblio.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> On 13-08-09 11:31 AM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
>
> http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/search.php?ti=ghost
> finds 4 ghostly dances.
>
> http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/search.php?ti=bat
> finds 12 records, but only 2 are of the flying mammal variety.
>
> http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/search.php?ti=monster
> finds 0 monstrous dances, clearly an under-represented theme in dance
> titles.
>
> -Michael
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 16:27:22 -0400
> From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <1EC40B7F-417F-41C4-A431-94D963869241(a)comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Also the following:
>
> Zombies of Sugar Hill by Gene Hubert
>
> Devil's Nightmare by Tom HInds
> Devils' Backbone by William Watson
> The Devil's Becket by Becky Hill
>
> All Hallow's Eve by Chris Ricciotti
>
> Have fun! Linda
>
> On Aug 9, 2013, at 2:31 PM, Betsey Mullen wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> > Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> > Any suggestions?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Betsey
> >
> > --
> > Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that
> > made you
> > smile.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 108, Issue 3
> ***************************************
>
--
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made you
smile.
I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
Any suggestions?
Cheers,
Betsey
--
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made you
smile.
Sent from my iPad
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 11:31:17 -0700
> From: Betsey Mullen <dancethewind(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <CAHbmBD=U-Wi-xv1HdinH7dPHo1WWFgQv848Ow_fABHs==1gdtA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Cheers,
> Betsey
>
> --
> Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made you
> smile.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Witches switches
Bats in the grange by Steve Zakon-Anderson
Witchy woman bill pope
Witches switches al Olson
Witches cauldron kirston koths
I teach an alternate version of my Brown Bag Reel for Halloween. For the single file promenade in the A2 I ask the dancers to walk like monsters or zombies. I call that version the zombie walk.
Donna Calhoun
Whichever of the great dance suggestions you call, here's a Larry Edelman
tune the band might want to consider:
http://neoincunabula.org/music/spooky_monsters_sheet_music.png
Chip Hedler
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 11:31:17 -0700
> From: Betsey Mullen <dancethewind(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID:
> <CAHbmBD=U-Wi-xv1HdinH7dPHo1WWFgQv848Ow_fABHs==
> 1gdtA(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I'm looking for some Halloween-theme dances. Something with
> Monster/Ghost/Bat, etc in the title.
> Any suggestions?
>
> Cheers,
> Betsey
>
> --
> Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably.. And never regret anything that made you
> smile.
>
>
Try Saint Anne's in a minor key. Very spooky.
Martha
On Aug 9, 2013, at 6:31 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> callers-request(a)sharedweight.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Halloween dances (Joy Greenwolfe)
> 2. Re: a mad and fruitless search (tavi merrill)
> 3. Re: Halloween dances (tavi merrill)
> 4. Re: Halloween dances (Chris Page)
> 5. Re: Halloween dances (Mac Mckeever)
> 6. Re: Halloween dances (Mac Mckeever)
> 7. Re: a mad and fruitless search (Jack Mitchell)
> 8. Halloween dances (Michael Fuerst)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 17:18:18 -0400
> From: Joy Greenwolfe <joy2the(a)mindspring.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Halloween dances
> Message-ID: <204763C7-DB70-43FD-BF2A-BB1C2F2CFB2B(a)mindspring.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> For extra themed music, you could have the band play one of Dave
> Wiesler tune's like We are Devils or Monsters in the Cellar. Any time
> is a good time for a Dave Wiesler tune, but those two would definitely
> fit with a Halloween favor!
>
> Extra work for the band, I know. You could suggest them if they don't
> already have ideas.
>
> Joy
> Durham, NC
>
>
>
> ***************************************
Thanks to all who responded. It's possible the dance i recalled was Sharon
of the Green (thanks Linda) or Mad Robin Migration II (thanks Jim) - may
never know for sure, but probably one of those!
