Contra Callers

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8 participants
4417 discussions

Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

by Greg McKenzie

Ron T Blechner <contraron(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I've been finding circle mixers extremely valuable for dances with newer > dancers. They provide a way both to expose them to many different > experienced dancers as well as to make them comfortable with the idea of > dancing with different people all night. (We've all seen The Couple That > Shows Up And Dances Just With Each Other that doesn't come back because > they don't really meet anyone ...) > With the address of "contraron" I'm going to assume that you are talking about a regularly scheduled contra dance series that is open to the public. (I really appreciate when posters make the context of their post clear. There are a lot of different kinds of callers on this list and what works in one setting may be inappropriate in another. We need to know what we are talking about to have a useful discussion.) Circle mixers can certainly play a role at open, public contra dances but your comment seems to make some assumptions about the dancers and the local dance culture. Are you using any strategies or techniques--other than mixers--to integrate first-timers into the hall? Your comment assumes that at least some of the newcomers will not be aware of the tradition of switching partners after each dance and that the regulars will not take any action to proactively integrate these folks. When I call at public contra dances I always follow each dance with the instruction: "Please find a new partner and form ___ contra dance lines." I use the optional newcomers orientation, explicit instructions, careful programming, clear and precise calling, as well as many implied messages to make it clear that integration of first-timers is not only essential but also fun. Very rarely I will see a couple of first-timers dancing exclusively with each other. But this occurs only after they have ignored multiple explicit and implied instructions and have fended off several attempts by regulars to partner with them. In that case I will intervene myself, personally, on the dance floor, approach the couple, and explain the nature of our dance event. That has always had the desired effect. Integration of newcomers is at the heart of these open, public social events. I do use mixers occasionally, but tend to reserve them for other types of events. If I do use a mixer at an open, public contra dance I take care to announce it well in advance. I do this because an unexpected mixer will derail the efforts of regulars to partner with first-timers. I want to encourage the integration efforts of the regulars so I warn them of an upcoming mixer to facilitate their cooperation. Mixers do have a place but I see them as part of an overall integration strategy. - Greg McKenzie

13 years

Walk the Plank

by Kalia Kliban

Hi all Just wondering about a transition in Nathaniel Jack's "Walk the Plank." It looks like a nice bouncy dance with good rebound, but there's a transition from a petronella twirl into a LH star at the end, and in the absence of a group of guinea pigs here at the house I thought I'd ask if anyone's tried this and what they think. Here are the notes: Walk the Plank Duple Imp. A1 4,4 Neighbor balance, Al right 3/4 8 Men Al left 1-1/2 A2 16 Partner Bal + Swing, end facing down B1 8 Down the hall in lines of 4, turn alone 8 Come back up, bend the line to a circle B2 8 Balance the ring, spin right one place 8 Star left 1ce around. Is it comfortable to come from that twirl into catching L hands for a star? Kalia

13 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Walk the Plank

by John W Gintell

> Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:57:45 -0500 > From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Walk the Plank > Message-ID: <20121115145744.GB19857(a)melfpelt.swarpa.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Chris Lahey wrote: >> I specifically told them that usually I encourage clapping and >> talked about how nice it felt and actually got most of them to clap >> for the first petronella and not for the second. > > I think presenting yourself as being on the pro-clapping side is > probably key to why that worked for you. Many callers don't like > clapping on petronellas and dancers who like the clapping know that > callers think this. So when a caller says "don't clap", even if it > really is specific to this particular dance, a lot of people think > "don't tell me how to dance" and ignore them. > > Jeff > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:06:25 -0800 (PST) > From: Richard Mckeever <macmck(a)ymail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Walk the Plank > Message-ID: > <1352991985.42870.YahooMailNeo(a)web120404.mail.ne1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > In my opinion - this is getting too regimented again. > > I never tell dancers if they should clap or not.? I have been known to let them know how I feel about it in light hearted way. > > Just let them dance and focus on the important stuff > > Mac What always amuses me about the clap is how people clap during the walk through - of course at varying times since there is no musical phrase.

13 years, 1 month

Taking hands four

by Kalia Kliban

This may have been discussed before, but why does the idea that they should take hands four seem to come as a complete surprise to at least half the dancers, every single freakin' time? It's not hard. You can do it while you're talking. It's a complete and total no-brainer for contemporary contras. And yet... Anyone have successful strategies for helping this process along that doesn't involve specially-trained dogs? Kalia

13 years, 1 month

hands 4 in DK

by Tom Hinds

Once I was calling at a festival in Denmark. As the dancers were milling around I announced that the first dance would be a contra. INSTANTLY contra lines were formed (literally 3 seconds). I asked them to take hands four and it was done in a maybe 4 seconds. I thought maybe I was dreaming. T

13 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Floor Manager

by John Sweeney

These days a Floor Manager (or Venue Manager) might also be responsible for, or delegate the responsibility for: - ensuring someone is one the door, greeting and taking money - making sure first timers know what is going on - health and safety - heating, lighting, power, etc. - organising refreshments - etc. That is as well as what Alan mentioned: - making sure that sets get formed - making introductions - ejecting the disorderly In other words, making sure that the dance is running smoothly, leaving the caller free to handle the dancing. My worst experience as a floor manager was handling a fatal heart attack in the middle of the dance floor! Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

13 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Taking hands four

by Dan Pearl

Around hereabouts (Boston), dancers have been observed lining up duple improper. I'd say that is a good bet upwards of 98% of the time. Usually the cross-over makes it halfway down before some cajoling from the downstream dancers gets the cross-over the remaining way. If you train the dancers to take hands four in improper circle as they join the set, then the sets will be comfortably spaced out, as well. Worth trying, I think. As a dancer or floor manager, I sometimes have done what the Scottish Country Dancers do: An individual from the top couple walks down the set and counts people off. Instead of "1, 2, 3, 4: end of set; 1, 2, 3, 4: end of set; ..." it would simply be 1, 2, 1, 2...

13 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Hands four

by Martha Wild

On Nov 13, 2012, at 7:32 AM, 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. Taking hands four (Kalia Kliban) > 2. Re: Taking hands four (Paul Wilde) > 3. Re: Taking hands four (Andrea Nettleton) > 4. Re: Taking hands four (Donald Perley) > 5. Re: Taking hands four (Richard Mckeever) > 6. Re: Taking hands four (Lewis Land) > 7. Re: Taking hands four (Richard Hart) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:38:59 -0800 > From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Callers] Taking hands four > Message-ID: <50A1A4B3.5050705(a)sbcglobal.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > This may have been discussed before, but why does the idea that they > should take hands four seem to come as a complete surprise to at least > half the dancers, every single freakin' time? > > It's not hard. You can do it while you're talking. It's a complete and > total no-brainer for contemporary contras. And yet... > > Anyone have successful strategies for helping this process along that > doesn't involve specially-trained dogs? > > Kalia > > > > > On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 8:10 AM, Andrea Nettleton <twirly-girl(a)bellsouth.net >> wrote: > >> I like to think of it as meaning the dancers are happy, because they are >> chatting instead of fussing. I say hands four, as you line up, consult the >> band re tunes, say it again. If they still appear disorganized, I'll pick >> a random move like N Allemande L , or Cir L all the way. They think I'm >> teaching the dance, so scramble to get hands four. Then I can say, OK, now >> that you have hands 4, here's what you really do. Usually they are a >> little quicker after that. Will they ever just take hands four >> automatically? I seriously doubt it. Not in this country. The Danes are >> rumored to line themselves up silently. We are more unruly in general. >> Best luck >> Andrea >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> > > I also use Andrea's approach if the lines have formed and it's time to get going and the "hands four" request continues to fall on deaf ears - Do-si-do your neighbor is my choice - suddenly there is a great scramble - and she's right, after that people seem to notice hands four more. Martha

13 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Ron Nelson wants to share new pictures with you

by Dhuntdancer＠aol.com

Is this spam?? Donna "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance." -unknown In a message dated 11/9/2012 11:51:59 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, callerman(a)hotmail.com writes: Zoosk Hi , Ron Nelson sent you an invite on Zoosk. [1]View Invite This message was sent by a Zoosk user who entered your email address. If you'd prefer not to receive emails when other people send you emails through Zoosk, [2]click here You have received this message at the email address: [3]callers(a)sharedweight.net Copyright 2007-2012 Zoosk, 989 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103 USA. [4]Privacy Policy References 1. https://www.zoosk.com/signup/friend?invite-token=085215f872d1a8c65184295254… N_70_00_en_00_US_01_S_20121109_16_E 2. https://www.zoosk.com/optout.php?with=callers%40sharedweight.net&key=b5adc2… 3. mailto:callers@sharedweight.net 4. http://www.zoosk.com/privacy _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years, 1 month

Ron Nelson wants to share new pictures with you

by Ron Nelson

Zoosk Hi , Ron Nelson sent you an invite on Zoosk. [1]View Invite This message was sent by a Zoosk user who entered your email address. If you'd prefer not to receive emails when other people send you emails through Zoosk, [2]click here You have received this message at the email address: [3]callers(a)sharedweight.net Copyright � 2007-2012 Zoosk, 989 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103 USA. [4]Privacy Policy References 1. https://www.zoosk.com/signup/friend?invite-token=085215f872d1a8c65184295254… 2. https://www.zoosk.com/optout.php?with=callers%40sharedweight.net&key=b5adc2… 3. mailto:callers@sharedweight.net 4. http://www.zoosk.com/privacy

13 years, 1 month

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