Contra Callers

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4417 discussions

Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin)

by Jerome Grisanti

April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > > > I'm not very experienced at writing dances or critiquing them. I think > it looks good. The only part the seems awkward to me is transitioning > from a left shoulder gypsy to a circle left. It seems like circling > right would flow more easily. Or else gypsying right and transitioning > into the circle left. > Janet Levatin > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 6 months

Gentlemanly hand contact

by Lark-Aeryn Speyer

Hi all, I'd like to suggest a style point for consideration. This is standard in some communities, not in others, but it makes a (almost oddly) big difference to my comfort as a dancer. >From when I was originally taught the courtesy turn, "the ladies make a little teapot" part (right arm the handle, left hand the very bent spout, you all get the picture), and that that right hand on a lady's hip is there "so that the gentlemen can BE gentlemen and take the ladies by the hand, not the waist." This second part is very important to me personally as a matter of dance etiquette. I have no trouble with an arm around my waist for swings, star promenade/butterfly whirls, any number of other moves most likely, but for some reason the gentlemen being gentlemanly really stuck with me and--for me--makes a full arm around the waist during a courtesy turn feel literally too close for comfort. Kindly consider this point in future dances, teaching sessions, &c., for what it's worth. My suggestion for dancing would be, ladies, make your right hand an easy target, and, gents, be sensitive to such a target when reaching for a lady on a courtesy turn. And thank you for your consideration. Lark Speyer Boston area -- Try being a warrior for freedom and go be who you really want to be, and keep doing it. --"Civil War: 2061" Game Rules

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Community Dance Leaders Course this July!

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

I'd like to second Rebecca's invitation for callers to consider this particular course: http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-community-leaders.html True, the focus isn't on calling for hard-core contra dancers; rather, it's aimed at building the skills you'll need to work with less-experience folks at community dances, one-night stands, PTO events, weddings, and the like. Many of the calling skills, of course, are easily transferred to the contemporary contra mainstream, but there's a different mindset (and a different repertoire) that you need when approaching these other events. For example, I called ten days ago for three hours of dancing with a large group celebrating a family reunion, and didn't call a single honest-to-goodness contra all evening. Never needed a ladies chain or a hey-for-four on the left diagonal or a right and left through. Folks had a great time and this morning's e-mail brought an invitation to call for a wedding, someone who had attended this event and is completely changing her wedding reception plans to include a dance. I guarantee you that wouldn't have happened if I'd called an evening of contras! Andy's class at Pinewoods will be an excellent way to develop that way of thinking. Need I point out that weddings and such events also pay MUCH better than your average contra dance? ;-) Indeed, being able to call for these events is a way of earning cash to purchase CDs and attend camps on your own! Andy literally wrote the book-- well, he's one of the co-authors, and it's many books, not just one-- on the subject of community dancing. David Millstone

17 years, 6 months

Community Dance Leaders Course this July!

by Rebecca Lay

Hello Callers, I wanted to make sure you're all aware of a wonderful Community Dance Leaders Course, taught by Andy Davis, that's happening this July during Folk Music Week at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA. Pinewoods is a beautiful place, and the course is sure to be inspiring. There are still some scholarships available for the few remaining spots, so don't hesitate to apply! Here are the details: Community Dance Leaders Course at Pinewoods Camp, July 19-26, 2008. This course is designed for anyone with an interest in leading, organizing, calling for and playing for community dances. Participants will spend part of the day in the Community Dance Leaders Course and part of the day, and the evenings, as full participants in the classes, dances and other activities of Folk Music Week. At this week you will have the opportunity to: Meet other leaders, callers and musicians. Share materials and collect new dances. Play for dancing, call dances and dance, dance, dance! Be restored in a beautiful natural environment. Take classes in a variety of vocal, instrumental and dance traditions. You will return home with: Inspiration to promote traditional dance in your community. New friends, colleagues and powerful connections in the community dance world. Pinewoods Camp is a beautiful place, nestled between two ponds, where music and dance have been nurtured for many years. Good food, friends, fresh air, wooden dance floors and a deep tradition of promoting music and dance make Pinewoods a place of inspiration and magic. This program, held concurrently with Folk Music Week<http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-folk-music.html>, is designed and led by Andy Davis who plays accordion and calls dances as well as playing banjo and piano. He teaches in the public schools of Dover and Brattleboro, VT, and as a visiting artist-in-residence. He specializes in teaching traditional dance and music. His work with young people led to his participation on two trips to Novosibirsk, Russia in 1988 and 1989. Andy has appeared as a dance musician, teacher and song leader at many well-known traditional music and dance camps throughout the U.S. Andy's calling of square and contra dances is often for the benefit of small community dances where dancers of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to join in. His commitment to promoting traditional dance in schools and communities led him to start New England Dancing Masters (publishers of books, recordings and a video for teachers and recreation leaders) with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Mary Cay Brass. Each December since 1987 Andy performs throughout new England with Nowell Sing We Clear, a concert of mid-winter carols, with Tony Barrand, John Roberts and Fred Breunig. The group specializes in traditional songs, shape-note hymns and instrumental dance music and customs from Christian and pagan traditions. More info about the course is here: http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-community-leaders.html Happy calling! ~Rebecca

17 years, 6 months

Dance Without Title

by Jane Ewing

Must have left my brain somewhere while cleaning!! Let's try again.....here is the dance that I need a title & author for! Duple Improper A1 Star Left Gents Almd Left A2 Pick up Neighbor in Star Promenade 1X round (back to original side), Butterfly Whirl B1 Ladies Chain Over & Back B2 Hey for 4 Jane Ewing Huntsville, AL

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day

by gtwood＠worldpath.net

All those lefts YIKES! makes my hip's hurt just thinking about it :-) wouldn't this be fun in a medely with the next dance being all the right moves! Have a great time at the wkshp... Lisa will thech you lots! Original Message: ----------------- From: hgrastorf(a)aol.com Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 16:31:04 -0400 To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day I'm a novice caller, and will be taking the Callers Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf at Pinewoods this August.? Wednesday, August 13th will be the 36th International Lefthanders Day, and I've written the following dance which I hope to call there that evening, since its Campers Night?-- it?dances okay in my head.? Any input? Name of Dance:? August 13 Duple Improper, double progression. A1? LEFT hand star (8) morphing into LEFT hand Allm w/neighbor (8)?(like Al's Safeway Produce) A2? Ladies pass LEFT shoulders across the set to B/S partner (16)? Face LEFT diagonal B1? On the LEFT diagonal, half a hey, ladies leading.? Ladies turn back over their LEFT shoulders to LEFT gypsy partner (16).? Face across. B2? Circle LEFT --? (One and 1/8 places?)?(8 counts) Far enough to balance the ring (4) and then pass LEFT shoulders (4) into a new LH star with the next.?? April Blum _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com What can On Demand Business Solutions do for you? http://link.mail2web.com/Business/SharePoint

17 years, 6 months

Dance without Title

by Jane Ewing

While "Spring Cleaning" my desk I discovered this dance noted. Can anyone supply the title and author? It's one of those "NO Swing" dances! Thanks Jane Ewing Huntsville, AL

17 years, 6 months

Looking for a dance name, author and other data...

by Richie Katz

Hi.... I've posted 4 videos of Lisa Greenleaf, Ron Buchanon, and Becky Hill calling, A Pirates Life for Me, The 24th of June, Are you 'most done, and one unknown dance. All this is on the caller's corner page of contrausa.com. Can anyone look at these and let me know some of the dance names, the author's data and any other comments on the calling and dances? By the way, the dancing and music is great also... and you may see your friends in there :) best wishes ... Richie Katz Tampa

17 years, 6 months

easy Pet.

by twhinds＠earthlink.net

Here is a real easy dance that has the circle balances and Pet twirls. I don't know who wrote it or the name. It us an improper contra. I've used it at dances where there were large numbers of beginners (80% beginners) and it goes over really well. the new dancers pick it up easily. A1, A2 in a circle balance and spin to the right. repeat this three more times. B1 Circle left. swing neighbor. B2 Long lines forward and back, actives swing. Tom Original Message: ----------------- From: callers-request(a)sharedweight.net Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 10:28:40 -0400 To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 45, Issue 8 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: petronella (Jack Mitchell) 2. Re: petronella (Bob Isaacs) 3. Re: petronella (Michael Barraclough) 4. Re: petronella (Dave Colestock) 5. Dance Debrief (Jack Mitchell) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 15:30:32 -0400 From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <E1JsNR5-0005XF-Hn(a)elasmtp-masked.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed Hmmm...this doesn't seem to have come through. Jack At 03:17 PM 5/3/2008, you wrote: >Content-Type: multipart/related; > boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0169_01C8AD30.CC9FCF80" >Content-language: en-us > >Cure for the Claps by Bob Isaacs > >[nb timing is in measures/bars, not beats] > > > > > > > >Michael Barraclough > >http://www.michaelbarraclough.com > > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net >[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Jack Mitchell >Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:09 PM >To: Caller's discussion list >Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella > > > >While we're on the topic, does anyone have The > >Cure for the Claps, by Bob Issacs written > >down? I had it, but can't find it in my box. > > > >Jack > > > >At 01:11 PM 5/3/2008, you wrote: > > >The simplest Petronella dance is probably > > >Petronella itself. Issues for some might be that > > >it is a proper dance and there is no swing with > > >anyone at all. But it is the standard and we > > >still enjoy it here. David Smukler has a very > > >nice description of the dance here: > > >http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/petronella.htm > > > > > >Where in France are you located? > > > > > >Rich Hart. > > > > > >B?atrice De'N?ve remarked on 5/3/2008 12:38 PM: > > >>Hello, > > >> > > >>I am a French contra dancer, trying to introduce contra in France. We have >a > > >>small group of 20 dancers who are able to dance most of the main figures. >I > > >>would like to introduce 'petronella' and 'balance the ring', I'm looking >for > > >>a contra with 4 'balance the ring' and 4 petronella, do you know a simple > > >>one ? > > >>Beatrice > > >>_______________________________________________ > > >>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 > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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: 2 Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 15:35:30 -0400 From: Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <BAY129-W41764FB01B7132632FA075AAD50(a)phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Jack and All; I do; The Cure for the Claps Improper, 8/19/03 A1. 4,4,8 Balance, Petronella, partner swing A2. 4,4,8 Balance, Petronella, neighbor swing - face down B1. 8,8 Down hall in line/4 - turn alone, up hall and bend line B2. 8,4,4 Circle L, balance, California twirl When this first started circlulating, it was often called The Cure for the Clap, but that's a whole different story. This is a rarity among modern contras - no fractions. Bob Isaacs> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 15:09:03 -0400> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net> From: jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella> > While we're on the topic, does anyone have The > Cure for the Claps, by Bob Issacs written > down? I had it, but can't find it in my box.> > Jack> > At 01:11 PM 5/3/2008, you wrote:> >The simplest Petronella dance is probably > >Petronella itself. Issues for some might be that > >it is a proper dance and there is no swing with > >anyone at all. But it is the standard and we > >still enjoy it here. David Smukler has a very > >nice description of the dance here: > >http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/petronella.htm> >> >Where in France are you located?> >> >Rich Hart.> >> >B?atrice De'N?ve remarked on 5/3/2008 12:38 PM:> >>Hello,> >>> >>I am a French contra dancer, trying to introduce contra in France. We have a> >>small group of 20 dancers who are able to dance most of the main figures. I> >>would like to introduce ' petronella' and 'balance the ring', I'm looking for> >>a contra with 4 'balance the ring' and 4 petronella, do you know a simple> >>one ?> >>Beatrice> >>_______________________________________________> >>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> >> > _______________________________________________> Callers mailing list> Callers(a)sharedweight.net> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mo bile_052008 ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 15:59:10 -0400 From: "Michael Barraclough" <michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella To: "'Caller's discussion list'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <017a01c8ad58$276e0c70$764a2550$@com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" The content was turned into an attached image. However, Bob has provided the info now anyway. Michael Barraclough http://www.michaelbarraclough.com -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Jack Mitchell Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:31 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella Hmmm...this doesn't seem to have come through. Jack At 03:17 PM 5/3/2008, you wrote: >Content-Type: multipart/related; > boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0169_01C8AD30.CC9FCF80" >Content-language: en-us > >Cure for the Claps by Bob Isaacs > >[nb timing is in measures/bars, not beats] > > > > > > > >Michael Barraclough > >http://www.michaelbarraclough.com > > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net >[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Jack Mitchell >Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:09 PM >To: Caller's discussion list >Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella > > > >While we're on the topic, does anyone have The > >Cure for the Claps, by Bob Issacs written > >down? I had it, but can't find it in my box. > > > >Jack > > > >At 01:11 PM 5/3/2008, you wrote: > > >The simplest Petronella dance is probably > > >Petronella itself. Issues for some might be that > > >it is a proper dance and there is no swing with > > >anyone at all. But it is the standard and we > > >still enjoy it here. David Smukler has a very > > >nice description of the dance here: > > >http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/petronella.htm > > > > > >Where in France are you located? > > > > > >Rich Hart. > > > > > >B?atrice De'N?ve remarked on 5/3/2008 12:38 PM: > > >>Hello, > > >> > > >>I am a French contra dancer, trying to introduce contra in France. We have >a > > >>small group of 20 dancers who are able to dance most of the main figures. >I > > >>would like to introduce 'petronella' and 'balance the ring', I'm looking >for > > >>a contra with 4 'balance the ring' and 4 petronella, do you know a simple > > >>one ? > > >>Beatrice > > >>_______________________________________________ > > >>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 > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 21:54:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Dave Colestock <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] petronella To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <813025.14625.qm(a)web52608.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Thanks Lisa, for posting Petronella's Pin. Rather than post my description of the original here I invite you to peruse my website at www.davecolestock.com and find it under my dance compositions. Basically there is a move called a Give and Take, but in my dance it is the Ladies who bring the Gents back to their side for the partner swing (instead of the gents bringing back the ladies). Nils modified it by changing the Give and Take to a Gents Allemande Left 1.5x. The G&T allows for a longer partner swing, since the G&T is a 4 beat move. The dance Petronella itself presents a slight teaching challenge in that the figure starts in a diamond formation rather than from a standard improper formation. This makes it difficult for dancers who are not used to that formation, and callers who are unfamiliar with the dance. Check out David Smuklers site for more on that dance. I would advise choosing easy dances to teach the figure, then progress onto the more difficult dances that use the "Petronella style" figure (the balance, then spin right one place sequence that has become know as the Petronella figure). I would consider Cure for the Claps a more advanced dance, since it splits the Petronella spins into separate sequences to allow for the swings. HTH Dave Colestock Lisa Sieverts <lisa(a)lisasieverts.com> wrote: Not 4, but 2, and a surprisingly accessible dance: Petronella's Pin - 08/05/2005 Dave Colestock (as modified by Nils Fredland) Duple, Improper 1. Balance in a Ring of 4, Spin to the Right 1 Place 2. Balance in a Ring of 4, Spin to the Right 1 Place 3. Balance in a Ring of 4 4. Swing Neighbor 5. Men Allemande Left 1? 6. Partner Swing 7. Circle LEFT ? 8. Balance the Ring; Pass Thru to New Neighbors On May 3, 2008, at 12:38 PM, B?atrice De'N?ve wrote: > Hello, > > I am a French contra dancer, trying to introduce contra in France. > We have a > small group of 20 dancers who are able to dance most of the main > figures. I > would like to introduce 'petronella' and 'balance the ring', I'm > looking for > a contra with 4 'balance the ring' and 4 petronella, do you know a > simple > one ? > Beatrice > _______________________________________________ > 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: 5 Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 10:27:58 -0400 From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> Subject: [Callers] Dance Debrief To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Message-ID: <E1JsfCb-0007Fl-SF(a)elasmtp-spurfowl.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" So, I started writing this out for myself, just to write out some of my thoughts about the dance -- what went well, what didn't, what I needed to think about. Once I got it done, I thought there might be some folks out there who would be interested in reading (or at least skimming) some of this.... Usually I just mull over a dance afterwards, sometimes talking it out with another dancer. This is the first time I've tried to write things out. It's kinda long, so feel free to ignore it if you're not interested. If you would be interested in helping me troubleshoot a walk through, but don't want to deal with it all, I would be interested in any thoughts that you might have on teaching "Happy as a Warm Pig in Cold Mud" -- it's the first dance I talk about in detail. If you don't want to plow thorough the rest, just have a look at it -- start at the bold face text below. Jack Here goes..... Just called a dance at the Greensboro (NC) Grange this evening. We had a relatively small group -- probably in part because it was a first Saturday and so we didn't get the folks coming over from the Triangle, never getting above two lines (but never having to go to just one line either!). The band was Skylark (Paul Fackler on fiddle, Marilyn Hartman on piano and Colin Cannell on percussion and mouth harp). Overall, I was pretty happy with the program I called, but I probably did try to do 1 too many more involved dances later in the evening. First half: The first part of the evening was mostly glossary dances, adding in a Hey by the 3rd dance of the evening. * Greetings, by Tori Berone -- a nice simple dance, with Long Lines after both of the swings, which helps remind the dancers to stop swinging and move on without my having to call for the whole time * Summer Sunshine, by Paul Balliet - starts and ends in the same short wavy lines, introduces Ladies Chain * Flirting Attempt, by Marian Hepburn - first Hey of the evening, otherwise, a pretty simple dance * Salmanella Evening by Steve Zakon Anderson - brings in Petranella Spins, pretty heavy on allemandes - another great set of tunes - a set of rip roaring french canadian tunes with both foot percussion and drum * After the Flu, by Dean Snipes - a down the hall dance which ends with a ladies chain into a circle right into (the top of the dance which is a) circle left with new neighbors. We did it to a nice set of smooth jigs and once people got the hang of the transition, it went well. I really love that transition -- circle right into circle left with new folks. Inpatient readers, please start here!! I ended the first half with Happy as a Warm Pig in Cold Mud. I've been playing with how I want to teach this one, and I'm still not happy with what I've got, though Eileen gave me some good ideas for things to try next time (probably when I call at Glen Echo next week) So, the dance is: Happy as a Warm Pig in Cold Mud (or in the winter Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud -- I'm actually not sure which is the original title....) Mike Boershig Improper A1 N B&S A2 Men Allemande L 1.5 P Allemande R 1.5 B1 Leave your partner, Left Hand Star 1x (theoretically with neighbor, shadow and shadow's neighbor) Back to your partner, Swing B2 Circle Left 3/4 Balance the Ring California Twirl So, as you would guess, the B1 is the tricky bit. One of the fun things about this dance is that it doesn't matter which way you go for the star -- it helps if you and your partner go in different directions, but even that doesn't really matter -- as long as you go somewhere, turn a star and then swing your partner. Because of that, it's a very resilient dance. That being said, what I discovered tonight was that it can still be confusing for folks even when it doesn't fall apart -- that's more or less what happened tonight. The dance kept going, and I was able to stop calling, but new dancers ended up confused (and keeping calling didn't change much). It was a matter of getting oriented in the first place. We also had a lower proportion of experienced dancers to beginners than usual. What I did during the walk through was have them allemande R 1.5 with partner, and then get the men back to back in the center. Reach out with your left hand and star left with your neighbor and the two people pointing back at you. I also pointed out that in the dance it didn't matter how many times you allemande with your partner or which direction you went to form the star -- as long as you go and keep moving. People still had a lot of trouble figuring out where to go once the dance got going, and in a lot of cases the new folks just got the "deer in the headlights" syndrome and stopped completely. A few options: 1) Point out that (theoretically) you will have a shadow in your star -- if you're doing a wrist grip star, the gent's shadow will be the lady whose wrist he grabs to form the star. Problem: If some folks go the other way, this could be more confusing. Option: Just don't mention that you can go either way -- have it be allemande 1.5, star left with shadow, come back swing. 2) Men back to back in the middle (after the allemande). Look away from your hands 4 for someone of the same gender and form a hands across star. Turn the star 1 time. Swing your partner. Problem: Again, could be confusing if someone ended up with he he he she stars or she she she he stars. 3) Other ideas?? How's the best way to point out the position without having to tie it either to a particular person or gender? I suspect that with the group I had, I should probably have just "done it straight" without pointing out the opportunity to mess around. In that case, which way above would seem to be clearer? With a larger proportion of experienced dancers, though, any thoughts on the best way to teach it? Ok. Impatient readers are done. If you want to read about the second half and pick up another new dance, keep going! Second half, I did * Square Affair, by Becky Hill, a great dance with a square thru, * Any Jig Will Do, by Mike Richardson (done to Slip Jigs -- I love to call this one when I have a band that can do slip Jigs, and the band had put a set together specifically for me. They ended up at a higher tempo than I've done it at before. It was almost too fast, but the dancers were able to keep up confortably. For some reason, once of the new dancers who had been confused and disoriented for many of the dances was able to get this one with no problems -- and it's a dance that depends on the men to get the hey going. * a simple 4 face 4 (Dance All Night, by Rick Mohr) * Lundee's Laughter, a new dance by Adina Gordon On this one, I forgot that I hadn't done the dance I had planned to do earlier in the evening to introduce the Roll Away (which came right after a ladies chain, making it more complicated.) I had planned to start out with Rollin and Tumblin by Cis Hinkle, but then (for some reason) changed to another dance instead and forgot that I needed the roll away for this dance. Also, this is the first time I've called it at a regular dance -- we tested it out two weeks ago when the naming rights were auctioned off at a benefit dance -- but we only danced it a few times then) The dance is: Lundee's Laughter Adina Gordon Becket!! A1 2 ladies down the hall Turn alone, come back (while the ladies are traveling, men face down) A2 Partner Gypsy (by inside shoulder -- the one that's closest), ladies cross Neighbor Swing B1 Long Lines Left Diagonal Ladies Chain (to shadow), and Roll Away B2 Partner Swing Definitely needed to have done a roll away earlier in the evening like I had originally planned, because this is a special case for a rollaway and getting to it from the ladies chain can be tricky to figure out what to do with which hand even when you know how to do a roll away. It does flow very nicely into the swing though. The one problem that we had when we tested it 2 weeks ago was the progression -- you have to make sure that when you come back around to the top that it's two NEW ladies to go down the hall. After the swing, the dancers are likely to need to shift just a bit to the right to be across from new neighbors. It's a good dance, and I think with a more experienced group, would have been fine. As it was, it never fell apart, it was just a little rough around the edges, and a number of folks never got the roll away. This dance isn't a good one to start with for a roll away because a) it's from an unusual position and b) it's always with the same person -- your shadow. If neither of you know how to do a roll away, you'd just sunk. Fortunately, all you have to do is trade places and there your partner is, and you've got a nice long swing with them before you have to do anything else. Ended the evening with Hey in the Barn by Chart Guthrie -- one of my favorite everyone's-brain-dead-and-we-just-want-to-dance-and-not-think dances. (for those who don't know it: N B&S, L Chain, 1/2 Hey, P B&S, LC, 1/2 Hey, on to the next..... If I had it to program again I wouldn't have done Any Jig, Dance all Night and Lundee's Laughter all together -- too many unusual dances all in a row, and I think it taxed the dancers a bit. I also wouldn't have done Lundee's laughter without having done a roll away earlier in the evening so that they get lots of practice with different folks. I think that two out of three would have been ok, perhaps split up by a simpler dance. Ahh, the joys of programming on the fly in combination with new dances (Dance all Night was my first ever 4 face 4, and Lundee's Laughter was a new dance too....) Fortunately, I had fabulous music to work with. This is my first time working with them since Colin's been playing with Paul and Marilyn. Colin just started working with them about 6 months ago, and the percussion has really added a lot to their sound. I had called with them a bunch of times as a duo and always enjoyed it. The addition of a nice solid percussion just makes it that much better. Almost all of the tunes that they played fit the dances really well, and I think that everyone (dancers, band and caller) had a good time. If you made it this far, I hope that it was interesting (or at least that you picked up a couple of new dances). If anyone would like copies of other dances mentioned, just drop me an email and I'll send them out. Jack Mitchell Durham, NC ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 45, Issue 8 ************************************** -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft® Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail

17 years, 7 months

The Survey Form

by Amy Cann

You may reply to the whole list or to me personally: acann(a)putneyschool.org I will compile all lists and, when the project's done, post the compilation and their paper/presentation so all the rest of us theory wonks can read it too! 1a - Can you list your three favorite transitions (sequence of two figures) in terms of flow, how they connect? 1b - What about your three least favorite? 2a - What is the dance that embodies the words flowing, elegant, smooth the most to you? 2b - What is the dance that embodies them the least? 3a - Are there any dances you know and love, that are wonderfully satisfying, but are not necessarily smooth or flowing? 3a - Why do these dances work, if it's not the flow? Note: the students will not see your answers to Question 3a at first. We're going to let them discover the other "satisfyers" on their own -- good story line, social tension and reward, the "oh cool, that's so ingenious!" factor.

17 years, 7 months

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