Contra Callers

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8 participants
4417 discussions

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

[Apologies in advance for what ended up much longer than I intended it to be. A remark often attributed to Mark Twain though it seems to have come from Pascal two hundred years earlier: "I apologize for writing a long letter. If I'd had more time, I'd have written a shorter one."] I've been delighted to read so many letters offering such a spirited defense of mixers. I call 'em, usually one a night as the third dance-- following advice from such respected leaders as Ted Sannella and Tony Parkes-- and though it's less common, I've been known to do more than one even at a regular series. --- Greg wrote: Our ability to influence the audience needs to be tempered, however, with a strong commitment to getting unbiased and even brutal feedback from as many people as possible. --- end of quote --- No arguments here, though I admit to not seeking out brutal feedback. Honesty is good... no need for anyone to be brutal, and I admit that I'd be suspicious of someone whose sense of humanity was such that they would deliver unwelcome news in a brutal fashion. But I digress... The challenge for callers is that most of the feedback we receive comes a very small subset of the total dance population. These are almost always the people whom caller Ralph Sweet (writing in 1966) described as "the overactive 10%," whom today we might call the serious dance hobbyists, the hardcore "dance gypsies." I'll quote some of Ralph's analysis below. Although his book-- Let's Create Old Tyme Square Dancing-- is not easily available, I encourage folks to look at the excerpt that Clark Baker posted on line here: http://www.tiac.net/~mabaker/western-style-in-trouble.html Ralph is talking about the modern western square dance movement in the mid-1960s, but there are similar tendencies in today's world of zesty contras. ---quoted material follows: "A part of each club was bound to consist of some whose enthusiasm was greater than that of the rest. These would often dance three to five nights per week. Then they would return twice monthly to dance with their old home club, most of whose members only danced twice a month, or at most once weekly. The three- to five-night per week dancer became rapidly more proficient, and delighted in the constant challenge of new, fast material he heard from other callers both in and out of the area. Soon he became dissatisfied and impatient with what seemed to be the slow pokey pace of his own club and caller. He was convinced that if the rest of the membership were exposed to all the exciting, challenging material offered at the faster clubs, their enthusiasm would increase to where his was. This "top 10%" would therefore urge the home caller to call faster, more challenging material, whether the average member could keep up with it or not, or even enjoy it. "The "overactive 10%", because of their enthusiasm and obvious dancing ability, became in almost all cases the officers of the club. Their pressures for more challenge were therefore in an official capacity. ..." ---end quoted material Who are the dancers who feel comfortable coming up to a caller to complain about a dance? It's not the new dancers, perhaps there for the first time or even with several evenings of dancing under their feet. These newcomers haven't yet learned that each dance is "supposed" to have one. They may even enjoy a dance without a swing because it lets their dizzy head stop spinning for a while. The elderly couple may enjoy a dance without aerobic -- let alone frenetic-- motion, and they certainly won't complain if a dance is called to a stately march instead of a hot reel. The old-timers who remember fondly dancing Sackett's Harbor or Queen Victoria or British Sorrow will be delighted to see some of that older material on the program, so they're not going to complain, though they might-- by dint of seniority-- drop a few hints that it'd be nice to see a few more chestnuts in the evening's repertoire. Similarly, folks who remember with fondness dancing in a time and place where an evening's program included contras, squares, mixers, international folk dances, couple dances, and more... they're not going to complain about a mixer in the program. It's the hard-core, the dancers whom the caller sees at different events, whether weekly or monthly dances or at weekends and at camps. These are the dancers who will gripe about a dance with no partner swing. These are the dancers who know the caller by name and who feel certain that theirs is the correct prescription for what the dance needs. The folks who complain about mixers are, in my experience-- and here I'm making a large generalization-- dancers who think that the dancing is about the pleasure they get with a particular partner, rather than dancers who are thinking about the health of the community as a whole. Greg writes, "During the first half of the evening my priority is to empower the regular dancers to take an active role in welcoming and partnering with newcomers." I'm delighted to hear that stated so clearly, and I hope that everyone on this list shares a similar agenda. Heck, there may even be some callers here who are interested in seeing newcomers welcomed and partnered throughout the entire evening. ;-) Mind you, I'm not saying that I tune out the comments if/when people complain. I listen to what they're saying and try, as Greg aptly put it, " to maintain an open mind and an attitude of humility." That does not mean, though, that I must agree with them or even change my philosophy. I was calling once at a very large dance in an urban setting, hundreds of dancers. One came up to me upset because the first dance of the evening didn't have a partner swing. She was certain that I was calling a dance with "something wrong" with it. Our conversation revealed that she had been dancing a "long time," which turned out to be three years. She maintained that she had never encountered a dance before without a partner swing, so clearly the one I called had something wrong with it. I explained briefly why for that first dance I wanted a dance with just neighbor swings, and I think she understood some of what I said, but clearly the underpinnings of her dance universe had been shaken. How sad, I thought, that this dancer had been so involved in such a wonderful activity and yet her community dance had exposed her to such a small piece of the extensive country dance repertoire. We all know about the tyranny of the majority. In a series with a large number of hardcore dancers, it is the caller more than any other single individual who is looking out for the new dancers. The caller's job is made easier, of course, by a committee that shares these ideas, and by having allies among at least some of the experienced dancers on the floor. Although it may mean that the overactive 10% in charge of booking callers may not bring them back, ultimately, callers must follow their own sense of what is best for the dance, programming with the longterm health of the community in mind. David Millstone Lebanon, NH

15 years, 4 months

Mixers

by Martha Wild

Wow, I'm stunned by the negative attitude toward mixers expressed below. Certainly I know there are folks who aren't keen on mixers, but seriously - "the caller assumes that most of the regulars do not enjoy dancing with newcomers?" I call mixers fairly frequently because as a dancer I enjoy doing them, just as Beth states. I tend to do them as a third dance, a little break from the contra line format, a chance for everyone in the hall to meet everyone - how many times have you come to the end of the night and noticed a bunch of people you just never happened to be in the same line with, and you didn't even know they were there (and I don't just mean newcomers either, I've seen good friends I somehow missed)? Sometimes if there are a lot of newcomers that have been concentrating hard on the first two dances, an easy short mixer will relax them and give them confidence. There are quite a few fun mixers out there - Ted Sanella's Love and Kisses is a nice one, for example. I do always say as soon as the previous dance ends, "Take partners for a mixer" and tell people not to get too attached to their partner, because they won't have them for very long - after all, I don't want everyone lining up for a contra if it's a mixer. But if anyone thinks I'm doing it as an implied message that they aren't partnering with newcomers enough - then I would suggest that the guilty parties are projecting their own guilt onto my motives. If the shoe fits.... Martha On Jul 19, 2010, at 9:00 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. Re: Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut") > (beth(a)hands4.com) > 2. Lack of Contra in the Adirondacks (bobfab(a)aol.com) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:21:55 -0700 > From: "beth(a)hands4.com" <beth(a)hands4.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut") > Message-ID: > > <00B69DEF44D08841A28AEE08D9E236C7038156D9BC(a)P3PW5EX1MB10.EX1.SECURESER > VER.NET> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Wow. > > I call mixers because it is the one and only time in an evening > when the whole group is gathered together. Instead of "my little > clique" it is "all of us are in this together" as a dancer and as a > caller I enjoy that experience. > > I call mixers because I find a whole evening of contra, contra, > contra, contra, contra... boring (as a dancer.) Especially if every > dance has a similar piece count, pacing, and two swings (or at > least a partner swing.) > > There are probably other reasons as well, but these are my primary > thoughts. Any idea of needing to twist the arm of people to welcome > newcomers has not entered into it. > > The modern urban contra dance scene is welcoming to people who > would fit in anyway. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It is the > nature of hobby activities. Since muc dancers go to a dance > primarily to dance "what they want to dance the way they want to > dance it" then anything outside of their hobby mind-set is anathema. > > Beth > >> -----Original Message----- > <snip> >> >> First, I find that mixers are too often a heavy-handed way to >> force the >> regular dancers to integrate newcomers. This can set a negative >> tone that is >> transferred to the newcomers themselves, creating an attitude that >> newcomers should be "tolerated." The "grumbling" Jeff mentions >> above is >> not easy to miss. It seems obvious that many newcomers will be >> aware of >> this attitude and it will interfere with their motivation, and >> possibly their >> inclination, to integrate into the dance community. >> >> Second, I feel that mixers can actually discourage many regulars from >> partnering with newcomers. This happens when mixers are not >> announced >> in advance. Consider the situation when a more experienced dancer >> takes >> the initiative to approach a newcomer and partner with them only >> to learn >> that the dance will be a mixer. This can be discouraging to those >> who put out >> the effort to partner with a newcomer. If you want to call a >> mixer please >> announce it clearly and well in advance of the partnering process. >> >> Third, the decision to call a mixer can send several implied >> messages to the >> regular dancers that have a negative influence. These include: >> >> - The caller assumes that most of the regulars are not >> partnering with >> newcomers. >> - The caller assumes that most of the regulars do not enjoy >> dancing with >> newcomers. >> - The caller does not have confidence in the regulars to >> welcome and to >> partner with new dancers on their own. > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 71, Issue 15 > ***************************************

15 years, 4 months

Lack of Contra in the Adirondacks

by bobfab＠aol.com

HI all, I tried to look for a contradance in the Adirondacks near Old Forge on 4th lake, and couldn't find any regular or event dances anywhere. Yes, I was vacationing and am addicted enough to look and plan for dance opportunities. That said, Does anyone know of a reguiar contra (or event) that is in that (or any) region of the Adirondacks? And, if there isn't, I would appreciate advice about attempting to start one - maybe as a single event next year. We took an "old fashioned train ride" complete with staged robbery, and it was corny fun but the kids loved it. I mentioned it because next to the depot is the old "Fulton Chain Town Hall - Circa 1890" that looks like a great old grange sort of dance hall. I have started inquires about possibly renting it. Have no idea about the structural integrity, tho', and didn't see much in the way of other halls big enough to do what I hope/imagine a big barn dance would be. My thought was that people getting off the train would be more likely to join in the dance, and it might even draw a few folks to try some family/community activity while on vacation. So there would be probably very little in the way of experienced dancers (unless it is advertised in say, Syracuse? or maybe get a big name band to come? ) but barn dances are fun in their own way, maybe a big circle, a square or two, and a contra or two - just an hour and a half gig. If there is an acceptance, then maybe a series could start? Any thoughts? Am I letting my missing one week of dancing while on vacation get the better of my rational mind? I think CDSS does grants to start or support this sort of activity, so maybe funding is less of an issue than I fear? Bob

15 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut")

by Greg McKenzie

Thank you Beth for your comments. From your response I gather that you have not encountered the kind of resistance Jeff referred to when he mentioned the "grumbling" among some dancers when either a mixer or a partner-swing-free contra is called? I would be interested in knowing: - Do you announce your mixers in advance? - If so, when? At the end of the current dance? Or before the walk-through of the current dance? I would also be interested in the experience of other callers with mixers and/or partner-swing-free contras. Do dancers embrace these dance slots, or do you sense any resistance? Do you announce them in advance? Beth also wrote: >The modern urban contra dance scene is welcoming to people who would >fit in anyway. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It is the nature >of hobby activities. Since muc dancers go to a dance primarily to >dance "what they want to dance the way they want to dance it" then >anything outside of their hobby mind-set is anathema. The "modern urban contra dance scene" seems to vary greatly from venue to venue and from night to night depending--to a great extent--upon the caller, the band, and the organizers. Framing contras as a "hobby" activity is certainly a legitimate view, but there are many other ways to frame the phenomenon. For many people it is a hobby. But contras are also, by nature, open public social events where newcomers are encouraged to attend without prior training. Part of the appeal of contras, for at least some of us, is that they allow for wide participation and are something more than merely a gathering of dance enthusiasts. Making dances with live music accessible to almost everyone is at the heart of what makes contras somewhat unique in the realm of social dance. But that might be another thread entirely. - Greg McKenzie

15 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut")

by Suzanne Girardot

I happened to be the caller of our Thursday night dance (Seattle) the week after 9/11 occurred. I very specifically called a circle mixer, "Reconcilable Differences", to bring our community together, to see and appreciate each other across the circle, and to recognize what an important part of being together in a community is in such a scary time. It was very meaningful to me, and, I think, to all of the dancers who were there. When I call a circle mixer, I try to mention and emphasize the community aspect of the dance, and ask people to look at and recognize all of the wonderful people in the circle who are part of this community, which is what I think makes this kind of dancing so special. Suzanne -----Original Message----- >From: Richard Allen Fischer <richardallenfischer(a)verizon.net> >Sent: Jul 19, 2010 12:48 PM >To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut") > >At my home dance I usually call a circle mixer as the second dance of >the evening. I often use La Bastringue, and I generally teach it from >the floor and dance it. (Fun for me, and a useful way to connect with >the dancers.) I don't sense any grumbling or resistance. (But then >again I'm an insensitive guy...) > >Aside from other plusses, a mixer like La Bastringue gives us a >chance to dance all in one set (especially if one circle is possible) >and feel united in a different way than contras allow for. > >Richard > >On Jul 19, 2010, at 12:36 PM, Bronwyn Woods wrote: > >> As a dancer, I much prefer mixers to no-partner-swing dances. I >> haven't >> called either much, but in my experience as a dancer in various >> communities >> I have often seen mixers favorably received. In fact, I've been to >> a number >> of smaller dance weekends where mixers were welcomed as a way to >> see who was >> there, "scout" for partners, add variety to the evening, etc. In >> those >> situations, the idea of "forcing" beginners to integrate wasn't >> relevant. I >> think mixers at regularly scheduled dances can serve the same purpose. >> Maybe in communities with a lot of booking ahead for partners >> mixers might >> cause more of a stir. >> >> Another point: >> I (like many people) only dance with any particular partner once >> during the >> course of a normal length dance evening. If a no-partner-swing >> dance means >> I don't get to swing with a good/favorite partner, I feel gypped. >> However, >> I don't count a mixer as a dance with any particular partner so I >> get the >> benefit of lots of interaction with many dancers without feeling >> like I'm >> ignoring or missing out on dancing with my partner. >> >> That being said, I wouldn't totally discount dances without a >> partner swing. >> If the dance were unique or particularly interesting in some way I >> would >> consider it. But if there were a similar dance with a partner >> swing I would >> chose that one instead. >> >> -Bronwyn >> _______________________________________________ >> 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

15 years, 4 months

NPR piece

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

If you missed it, here's a link to the story about young people and contra dance that aired tonight on National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128273050 I've asked Marika Partridge, the producer of the piece, if there's a way that we can listen to the longer version that she hoped would air. Instead, NPR did a lot of editing and ran a much shorter piece. I'll let the list know if there's a way we can hear-- with apologies to the late Paul Harvey-- The Rest of the Story. David Millstone (aka "the old-time caller") Lebanon, NH

15 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers (Was "Calling debut") (beth@hands4.com)

by Chrissy Fowler

I second Beth's comments in reply to the ideas introduced by Greg, esp the below excerpts. Also, as a dancer, I think mixers are simply FUN (and if they are a bit goofy or wild, all the better!) Chrissy Fowler Belfast ME Excerpts of email from Beth Parkes: > Wow. > I call mixers because it is the one and only time in an evening when the whole group is gathered together. Instead of "my little clique" it is "all of us are in this together" as a dancer and as a caller I enjoy that experience. > Any idea of needing to twist the arm of people to welcome newcomers has not entered into it. _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:…

15 years, 4 months

Calling debut

by Marguerite Durant

Hello everyone, Thanks to Bob Isaacs, I'm calling my first full evening this weekend at Swingin' Tern in New Jersey. It's my home dance so I have a good idea of the dancers' ability, but it will be hot and humid. I plan on running dances shorter with longer water breaks. Here's the preliminary program, with alternate dances I'm comfortable with listed at the bottom. Please give me feedback! SWINGIN TERN JULY 17, 2010 SPRING FEVER Tony Parkes dup imp A1 8 Long lines 8Neighbor swing A2 8 Gents alle L 1 ½ 8 Partner swing B1 8 Circle L 8 Star L B2 8 Partner promenade across 8 Ladies chain to neighbor BUTTER Gene Hubert Becket A1 8 L diagonal circle L ¾ 8 Neighbor swing A2 8 Long lines 8 Ladies chain to partner B1 16 Hey (LR, NL, GR, PL LR, NL, GR) B2 4, 12 Partner balance, swing Joe DePaolo, guest caller THE NICE COMBINATION Gene Hubert dup imp A1 4, 12 Neighbor balance, swing A2 8 Down the hall, turn as couples 8 Up the hall, bend line B1 6 Circle L ¾ 10 Partner swing B2 8 Ladies chain to neighbor 8 Star L FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER Tony Parkes dup imp A1 4, 12 Neighbor balance, swing A2 8 Gents alle L 1 ½ 8 Partner swing B1 8 Partner promenade across 8 Ladies chain to neighbor, give R to partner B2 4, 4 Square through two: partner balance, pull by R, Neighbor pull by L 4, 4 Partner balance, pull by R, Neighbor pull by L THE EYES HAVE IT Becky Hill Becket L A1 8 Circle L, slide L 8 Ladies chain across to new neighbor A2 8 Mad Robin: Ladies in front, gents in front 8 Half hey (LR, PL, GR) B1 4, 12 Neighbor balance, swing B2 8 Gents alle L 1 ½ 8 Partner swing ELLEN'S YARNS Rick Mohr Becket A1 8 R&L through 8 L hand star A2 8 Ladies chain on R diagonal* 8 Ladies chain across to shadow B1 4,4 Balance ring, Petronella 4,4 Balance ring, Petronella, find partner B2 4,12 Partner balance, swing - - - - - - - - - GOOD FRIDAY Kirston Koths dup imp, wave 4 Ladies L in middle, NR A1 4,4 Balance R, L, slide R 4,4 Balance L, R, slide L A2 2,2 Neighbor alle R ½, gents pull by L 12 Partner swing B1 8 Long lines 8 R&L through B2 8 Circle L ¾, pass through 8 New neighbor do si do 1 ¼ to new waves PEDAL PUSHERS Bob Dalsemer dup imp A1 8 Gents alle L 1 ½, scoop up partner 4, 4 Star promenade, butterfly whirl A2 8 Ladies gypsy (do si do) 8 Partner swing, join hands in a ring B1 4,4 Balance ring, pass through across, individually turn R 8 Single file promenade 3 places clockwise, ladies following neighbor B2 4,12 Gents turn back; neighbor balance, swing SARA'S JOURNEY Gene Hubert dup imp A1 4,4 Neighbor balance, box the gnat, gents pull by L 8 Partner swing A2 8 Circle L 8 Partner do si do B1 4,4 Partner balance, box the gnat, ladies pull by L 8 Neighbor swing B2 8 R&L through 8 Star L POETRY IN MOTION Lisa Greenleaf dup imp A1 8 Star R 8 Neighbor 1 alle R 1 ½ A2 8 N2 gypsy L 8 N1 swing B1 8 Partner give and take to gents' side 8 Partner swing B2 8 Ladies chain to N1 8 Star L HEARTBEAT CONTRA Don Flaherty dup imp A1 4,4 Balance ring, Petronella 4,4 Balance, Petronella A2 4,12 Balance, neighbor swing B1 8 Ladies alle R 1 ½ (gypsy) 8 Partner swing B2 8 Circle L ¾ 4,4 Balance, California twirl ALTERNATES: CENTRIFUGAL HEY LANNY'S BACK SCOUT HOUSE REEL DELPHINIUMS AND DAISIES STAR TREK THE BABY ROSE MARY CAY'S REEL AL'S SAFEWAY PRODUCE

15 years, 4 months

Dare To Be Square, 2011

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Mark your calendars: November 18-20, 2011 (yes, more than a year from now) "Dare to Be Square" Dance Weekend Callers: Bob Dalsemer, Larry Edelman, Phil Jamison, Bill Litchman, Jim Mayo & Tony Parkes John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown, North Carolina This special dance weekend, co-sponsored by the Country Dance and Song Society, is devoted to traditional square dancing from Appalachia, New England, the American southwest and beyond with six of the best callers from across the country. All dancing will be to wonderful live music provided by Steve Hickman, John Devine, Sam Bartlett and Claudio Buchwald. Space is limited to about 60 dancers. Previous contra or traditional square dance experience is highly recommended. This will be the first Dare To Be Square event in the eastern states in many years; recent ones have taken place in the Pacific Northwest. Registration won't be possible until late this year, but you might want to set aside those dates if you think you'd like to attend.

15 years, 5 months

Southeast Dance Leadership Conference Oct 1-3

by Joy Greenwolfe

Just passing along another reminder that the website for the Southeastern Dance Leadership Conference is up and running. Lots of great topics and opportunities to learn, discuss, and network. http://rivertone.org/index.php Southeast Dance Leadership Conference Organizing Tools for Vibrant Dance Communities October 1-3, 2010 Haw River State Park, North Carolina Joy Greenwolfe Durham, NC

15 years, 5 months

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