Contra Callers

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Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about a dance

by Jerome Grisanti

Alison, I would say the progression happens in A1, with the allemande 1 1/2 the ones are now below the twos. You end A1 in the progressed position and, except for a brief visit with the next neighbors, you continue to interact with the original neighbors throughout the sequence. The chase ends in the same place, ones below their original neighbors. The progression is standard; ones move down, twos move up. The flirt/chase could happen with either set of neighbors, but I prefer how it is written -- up around the original neighbors rather than down around the next neighbors. The interaction with the next neighbors in A2 is potentially confusing, so a teaching point at the beginning might be to have dancers locate their current neighbor and find their next neighbor, and say you will briefly interact with the next neighbor at one point in the dance. "Swing-obsessed" and "everybody-must-be-active" dancers may find the "lady round two and gent drop through" figure to be unsatisfying. If you as the caller set the tone for this figure to be fun, this sentiment won't predominate. If you as the caller equivocate or are unclear, you may hear from those folks I mention. I like how Kathy Anderson teaches "hooks" and unusual figures with the attitude "now here's the fun part!" One other note: a demonstration of the "lady round two..." figure is worth much more than any description. And the twos have lots of opportunities to flirt throughout this figure as well. Good luck! Jerome > A1: > Circle left > Allemande right neighbor 1-1/2 > > A2: > Allemande left next neighbor once or 2x > Gypsy 1x > Ending gypsy below original neighbor, women facing out and men facing > in > > B1: > Chase "lady round two and the gent cut through; gent around two and > the lady cut through" > > Active woman walks in a clockwise direction around the inactive > couple above while the active man follows her until he can (and > does!) cut through the inactive couple. > > The man now walks clockwise around the couple above, while the woman > follows until she can and does cut through the couple. > > B2 > Actives balance & swing, end facing down > > I tried diagramming it and it seems like a backward progression? At > the end of A2 it has progressed, but during the chase it goes > backwards 2x so you end up with 1's/actives out at the top and > 2's/inactives out at the bottom. > > Has anyone danced and or called this dance- is it supposed to be a > backward progression? > > If I change it minutely, having the #1/active man in the chase > sequence go around the same couple he just split- in other words > moving him around the couple below rather than the next couple above- > then it seems to work out as a single progression. If I called it > with this change, does etiquette demand that I announce the change? > > So grateful to have found this list- I was looking at another dance > http://blake.prohosting.com/austinbd/dances/chocolate_swirls.shtml > wondering how to do a "come back cozy" into a cloverleaf and had > given up finding the info- until I found this list with the Squeaking > Wheel thread! Thanks! > > Thanks in advance! > > Alison Murphy > Memphis TN > > > -- > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 > 660-528-0714 > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

18 years, 5 months

Anyone recognize this dance or know a good source to search for author?

by mavis mcgaugh

I checked Michael Dyck's website but didn't find anything on this dance. I think the name is Hey Gorgeous it had a Full Hey for 4 a Partner Gypsy & Swing I think the ending was ---- Circle Left 1x left Diag forward & Back out [slice] and don't know author. I didn't get to dance but watched folks dancing and scribbled this much down before it ended. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now.

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about Caught in the Act

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Chris, Oh awesome! I get it now- she goes *all the way around* he goes 1/2 way and cuts through back to where he started, then they reverse roles. Makes sense! Thank you so much for explaining it! Alison Murpy Memphis TN -- "Chris Page" <chriscpage(a)gmail.com> wrote: I think the confusion here is understanding the "lady around two and the gent cuts through." The net effect of this sequence is the ones trade places with their partner. Since it's done twice, they go nowheresville. And since it ends with a balance and swing, even if they get lost in the B1, you just need to remind them to end where they started -- with their partner. (The lady around two and the gent cuts through means woman #1 goes outside around man #2, around woman #2, and into where her partner started. Man #1 follows his partner to her starting spot, around man #2, and then goes between the twos into his partner's staring spot. Think of the whole B1 as a chase sequence, where you trade off roles between the chaser and the chasee.) <snip> Cheers, -Chris Page San Diego

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about a dance

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

The "lady round two and the gent cut through" figure appears in Appalachian square dancing. Ted Sannella was the first choreographer, to my knowledge, to bring that figure into a contra dance with his New Friendship Reel, published in his "Swing the Next" collection, which I highly recommend, along with his "Balance and Swing," to anyone interested in developing their repertoire of dances. Both were published by and available from Country Dance and Song Society. David Millstone Lebanon, NH

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about "Caught in the Act"

by Chris Page

Re: "Chasing Fire" Searching http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/index.html gives a web source of http://www.grantgoodyear.org/dance/dances.html I have yet to dance/call this one, so any recommendation is conditional. I'm thinking of changing the order of men and women crossing in the A2, as men are going forward out of the swing, but haven't made up my mind yet. -Chris Page San Diego

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about Caught in the Act

by Chris Page

I think the confusion here is understanding the "lady around two and the gent cuts through." The net effect of this sequence is the ones trade places with their partner. Since it's done twice, they go nowheresville. And since it ends with a balance and swing, even if they get lost in the B1, you just need to remind them to end where they started -- with their partner. (The lady around two and the gent cuts through means woman #1 goes outside around man #2, around woman #2, and into where her partner started. Man #1 follows his partner to her starting spot, around man #2, and then goes between the twos into his partner's staring spot. Think of the whole B1 as a chase sequence, where you trade off roles between the chaser and the chasee.) Also, the gypsy in A2 is with your original neighbor. It's a fun dance to ham up with a strong storyline. Either this or "Chasing Fire" by Grant Goodyear's on my program for next week. Cheers, -Chris Page San Diego

18 years, 5 months

newbie caller with question about a dance

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Hi! I'm a fledgling caller in Memphis, Tennessee, and I'm looking for dances to add to my repertoire. I found this one online- "Caught in the Act" by Donna McAllister/Calhoun, but I'm not sure of the progression. http://www.io.com/contradance/sequences/caught-in-the-act.html The webmaster's email and the link to the author's email are defunct, I found a couple other sources for the dance, but no contact information. A1: Circle left Allemande right neighbor 1-1/2 A2: Allemande left next neighbor once or 2x Gypsy 1x Ending gypsy below original neighbor, women facing out and men facing in B1: Chase "lady round two and the gent cut through; gent around two and the lady cut through" Active woman walks in a clockwise direction around the inactive couple above while the active man follows her until he can (and does!) cut through the inactive couple. The man now walks clockwise around the couple above, while the woman follows until she can and does cut through the couple. B2 Actives balance & swing, end facing down I tried diagramming it and it seems like a backward progression? At the end of A2 it has progressed, but during the chase it goes backwards 2x so you end up with 1's/actives out at the top and 2's/inactives out at the bottom. Has anyone danced and or called this dance- is it supposed to be a backward progression? If I change it minutely, having the #1/active man in the chase sequence go around the same couple he just split- in other words moving him around the couple below rather than the next couple above- then it seems to work out as a single progression. If I called it with this change, does etiquette demand that I announce the change? So grateful to have found this list- I was looking at another dance http://blake.prohosting.com/austinbd/dances/chocolate_swirls.shtml wondering how to do a "come back cozy" into a cloverleaf and had given up finding the info- until I found this list with the Squeaking Wheel thread! Thanks! Thanks in advance! Alison Murphy Memphis TN

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Hot Squares weekend

by aawoodall＠verizon.net

Hi Seth, If the magic number of 20 has not been hit, I'd like to add my name to the list. I can also offer a dancer in Bob if you would like more dancers. Thanks. I have wanted to learn how to call squares! Andrea >From: "Tepfer, Seth" <LABST(a)emory.edu> >Date: 2006/11/27 Mon PM 04:33:13 CST >To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com, ChattahoocheeCountryDancers(a)egroups.com, callers(a)sharedweight.net >Cc: "<Steve Pike" <swpike(a)facstaff.wisc.edu>, Duncan Cottrell <duncancottrell(a)yahoo.com>, diane(a)diane-silver.com, Rob Harper <rah(a)mindspring.com>, barry(a)afn.org, trravelbug(a)yahoo.com, carole.bennett(a)isye.gatech.edu, joeyboey007(a)yahoo.com, cwharvey1(a)yahoo.com, "Shepherd, Janet" <Janet.Shepherd(a)galileo.com>, sprince2(a)tampabay.rr.com, mekirk(a)emory.edu, seth.tepfer(a)emory.edu, SStanczyk@EssilorUSA.comcontrasue@juno.com, carissa.craven(a)gmail.com, bmolaro(a)earthlink.net, maureen.kilroy(a)grad.gatech.edu, Larry & Maureen <le_mk(a)yahoo.com>, clau(a)olin.com, leslybowers(a)hotmail.com, bobbiejo44(a)earthlink.net, "Goldring, Marti (USAGAN)" <Marti.Goldring(a)usdoj.gov>, chinkle(a)mindspring.com, surudder1(a)earthlink.net, mebanec(a)gao.gov, kimberly.hagen(a)emory.edu, Christin Whittington <cwhittington(a)mindspring.com> >Subject: [Callers] Hot Squares weekend >Save the date: 5th Hot Squares weekend! > > > >When: July 6-8, 2007 > >Where: Private home; Atlanta, GA > >Who: Dan Sahlstrom, calller > >Cost: TBD > >Limited to 20 people > >What: > > > >This weekend is devoted to exploring Modern Western (Club) squares in an >intensive but fun environment. Unlike previous years we will not focus >on completing Plus or Mainstream levels (though we will probably do most >of Mainstream). Instead, Dan will pick fun and interesting calls from >all lists (Basic - Challenge). Also unlike previous years, we will have >more than the exact number of people, so not all will be required to >dance every tip. > > > >2007 will mark the 5th Hot Squares event. We are holding Hot Squares >2007 in a homey atmosphere with room for two squares. Genders will not >be balanced. Meals will be home cooked. Fellowship and Camaraderie will >be plentiful. > > > >Official registration is not open, but email now to hold your space. > >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

18 years, 5 months

by Tara Bolker

Thank you to everyone who sent thoughtful responses to my one-question survey, "Under what circumstances is it appropriate for a band to put out a hat (case, jar, etc. for tips) at a contra dance?" My reason for asking was to gather information from the greater contra community that our local committee may find useful in coming to a policy decision about this issue. Besides putting the question out to this list, I emailed individual organizers, callers and musicians from my current dance community in Gainesville, FL and from my original one in Princeton, NJ. I only specifically asked those who had been involved in the contra dance scene longer than the ten years that I have. I've had 28 serious replies all together; here are the results: I rated people's answers 1-4, with 1 being never or almost never, 2 being only if they are not being paid otherwise or have some extraordinary circumstance like being robbed on the way to the dance, 3 being it is or could be okay at a regular dance, and 4 being it's a fine idea. There was also the reply "Only if they're the ones playing", which I suspect is actually a 3. There were eleven 1s, ten 2s, six 3s, and one 4. There's really not enough info to be sure, but it does appear that the closer one is to either dancing 25 years ago or to dancing in the northeast the less likely to reply with a 3-rated answer. My own opinion would rate a 2. Thanks again, Tara

18 years, 5 months

Tipping the musicians

by J L Korr

>From: Tara Bolker <tara(a)p2c2e.net> > Under what circumstances is it appropriate for a band to put out a > hat (case, jar, etc., for tips) at a contra dance? > Here in southern California, the gas prices are exceptionally high, the pay for musicians and callers is usually low, and driving distances can be far. When the band comes in from outside the local dance community, the series producer or band sometimes puts out a hat for tips to help cover the travel expenses. Dancers often contribute appreciatively. Jeremy Korr, east of Los Angeles _________________________________________________________________ MSN Shopping has everything on your holiday list. Get expert picks by style, age, and price. Try it! http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctId=8000,ptnrid=176,ptnrdata=200601&t…

18 years, 5 months

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