Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

21 participants
4391 discussions

by Linda S. Mrosko via Callers

I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where credit is due.) They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- BOX'NSWAT (Circle) A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end facing into the center ready to go F&B) Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous, energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a partner) A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, facing next couple As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of loud people? Thanks! -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] New Dance?

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

Hi John, My dictionary describes "A chevron is an inverted V-shaped mark. The word is usually used in reference to a kind of fret in architecture, or to a badge or insignia...". I think of it as an upside down V movement (^). (All examples here for a longways duple.) I assume you're referring to the use in English Country Dance, such as for Companions (see http://archives.mvfolkdancers.com/2013-11-23%20MVFD%20English%20Country%20D…). In this case it's only the 1st corner (1M & 2W) people doing the chevron movement, and in fact they actually only turn left 1/8 because they are backing up "straight across the set" instead of at the angle in the beginning of the movement. Often this "half chevron" uses 8 counts. 4 on the diagonal, 4 backing up. As I read it, the 2nd corners are not doing a chevon, just a wait-and-cast. I've also seen the term "full chevron" used when *all* dancers come forward toward opposite corner (end almost nose-to-nose) then *all* turn 1/4 (90 degrees) left and back up along the other diagonal (also used in ECD, also usually an 8-count movement). In another case, the movement of the a circle set balancing-in-and-out while rotating CW (left), was described by the caller teaching it as a "ring chevon". I'll admit that that case didn't make much sense to me, but that's just me. The "chevron" movement in this dance is closer to the full chevron, but only has 4 counts, with everyone holding hands, using balance steps, and rotating the entire time. To me, the phrase "Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring" sounds like the rotate doesn't happen until beat 3, but I think it would work as a call if the dancers know what's expected of them. Here's sort've the stop-motion in Fried Rice (all begin on their opposite side than their initial duple improper position): M2 W2 W1 M1 After the 2-count balance in (women face up/dn the set, men face across): W2 M2 M1 W1 After the 2-count balance out (every has rotated one place CCW around the set): W2 M1 M2 W1 After the 4-count petronella (all are progressed, but now facing new/next neighbors): M1 W1 W2 M2 On a personal note, once the dancers associate the movement with the term "chevron", it makes it easy for me to call the last sequence as "Chevron, Petronella 1-1/2", or perhaps "Ring Chevron Right, Petronella". I suppose we could call it a Foobar or anything else and demo it. Whatever gets the idea across. When I've used the "chevron" term, dancers seem to get it faster. Go figure. 😊 Your mileage may vary, but the fun should be constant, Ric Goldman -----Original Message----- From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of via Callers Sent: Friday, August 04, 2017 2:44 PM To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] New Dance? Hi Ric, A Chevron is already defined as: First Corners cross diagonally by the right shoulder, turn left 1/4 to face out, then back up across the set to the opposite place WHILE Second Corners wait, then cast into their neighbour's place Is your Chevron something that has been used before to mean what you mean? I call your move, "balance the ring in-and-out while rotating the ring 1 place CCW (i.e. to the R)", Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring. 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 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] New Dance?

by via Callers

Hi Ric, A Chevron is already defined as: First Corners cross diagonally by the right shoulder, turn left 1/4 to face out, then back up across the set to the opposite place WHILE Second Corners wait, then cast into their neighbour's place Is your Chevron something that has been used before to mean what you mean? I call your move, "balance the ring in-and-out while rotating the ring 1 place CCW (i.e. to the R)", Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring. 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

8 years, 1 month

New Dance?

by Bob Isaacs via Callers

Hive Mind: I wrote the following solid little contra on a recent flight when I had too much time on my hands, and it went well on its initial test. It didn't show up in my database, but do you know if it has been written previously? Improper A1. Neighbor balance, swing A2. Gents allemande L 1 1/2, partner swing B1. Long lines, circle L 3/4 B2. Neighbor allemande R 1 1/2, 1/2 hey (GL, PR, LL, -) Bob

8 years, 1 month

Amy Wimmer

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Hi Amy, Would you be willing to share your program set list for the Cows/Chickens dance? I’m curious what kind of dances went so well. Thanks ! Claire Takemori (Campbell CA) > On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank > beginners >> in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without >> amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a >> dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes, > who >> had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party > with a >> barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to >> being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a >> liberal, accepting group. >> >> The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of > any >> other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person >> chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know > it, >> but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily > chose >> to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." > (I >> keep chickens, and they ARE always right) >> >> There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much > easier >> if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about >> everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped up > to >> try another dance evening later in the week, though that never > materialized. >> >> I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not matter. >> They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't >> experts or even very good. >> >> I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps >> with more widely used dancer terms. >> >> -Amy

8 years, 1 month

Genderless calling

by Amy Wimmer via Callers

Hi All, I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank beginners in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes, who had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party with a barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a liberal, accepting group. The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of any other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know it, but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily chose to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." (I keep chickens, and they ARE always right) There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much easier if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped up to try another dance evening later in the week, though that never materialized. I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not matter. They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't experts or even very good. I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps with more widely used dancer terms. -Amy

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Seeking *lists* of tunes for patter squares

by jim saxe via Callers

Folks, When I sent out my request back in May soliciting lists of recommended tunes for patter squares, I wrote: > ... If you got this query via a mailing list, please send > tune lists directly to me and *not* to the entire mailing list. > .., I'm trying to see which tunes get mentioned > *independently* by many recommenders, so I don't want the lists > anyone sends me to be influenced one way or another by whatever > suggestions other people have already sent. ... > > I plan to gather recommendations for the next couple months and > to post a summary some time in July. Now it's the end of July, and I find myself in a bit of a quandary, since I haven't gathered nearly as much data as I'd hoped, and I'd prefer not to have my results so far circulating around and possibly biasing anyone else who might yet supply input. On the other hand, I don't want to renege on providing a summary. So what I'm going to do is take some more time (possibly several months, at the rate things are going). But meanwhile if anyone's impatient for a summary, you can contact me off-list (Jim dot Saxe at-sign gmail dot com), and I'll send a brief synopsis of what I've gathered as of today, July 31. (Note: This will only include information from recent informants and a few other recent sources, not all the stuff I'm still working on from old books, articles, record catalogs, etc.) Meanwhile thanks to the following persons who have supplied tune lists in response either to my queries on trad-dance-callers and the SharedWeight or (more commonly) to other requests either by email or in person: T-Claw supplied a list of tunes that he and other participants shared at a session called "List of Favorite Square Dance Tunes" at the 2015 Dare To Be Square Weekend in Nashville. Bob Dalsemer supplied a short list of tunes that he had gathered from three Brasstown area fiddlers. He also supplied a tune list from an unpublished manuscript by the late D. B. Hendrix with more tunes than the ones listed in his book _Smoky Mountain Square Dances_ (but I'm not including that list in my "recent sources" category). I also got tune lists from Erik Hoffman, Bill Litchman, Tony Mates, Jim McKinney, David Millstone, Tony Parkes, Jordan Ruyle, Don Stratton, and Vivian Williams. Thanks, all. I also got at least one well-intentioned reply that seemed so far off target from what I requested that I couldn't use it (thanks all the same if you know who you are). --Jim

8 years, 1 month

Phil Jamison: Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics

by Aahz via Callers

I don't recall seeing this mentioned, passing along to people interested in the history of square dancing, clogging, and other southern Appalachia dances. http://www.philjamison.com/hoedowns-reels-and-frolics/ Picked up from the Facebook group Safety Dance: Building Safe and Empowered Social Dance Communities -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> I'm fond of saying that relationships are a complex dance of dependence, independence, and interdependence, and the rhythm and steps are different for each relationship.

8 years, 1 month

Roger Whynot Contras for Modern Square Dancers (Part 1)

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

Hello Judy, I found the Dick Leger album with Roger Whynot contras. I remember dancing many of these at East Hill Farm with Dick Leger. *SW Contra* Alternate Duple/Double Progression, No P Swg A1 N DSD, N Swg A2 Face Across Flutterwheel, Sweep 1/4, Star Thru B1 Circle Left, Circle Right B2 Promenade Across, R&L Thru *Eighteenth of January* Alternate Duple/Double Progression, No P Swg A1 N DSD, N Swg A2 Square Thru, Slide Thru, Meet New Neighbor, Join Hands w/New Neighbor B1 Circle Left, Circle Right B2 Lad Chain, Chain Back *Route 61* Alternate Duple, No P Swg (This is listed as a Double Progression. Is it?) A1 Across the Set RH Balance, Turn Half by Right, R&L Thru & Courtesy Turn 1/4 More A2 Promenade Wholeset, Wheel Around & Comeback B1 Lad Chain, Chain Back B2 New N Swg, LL F&B *Sue's Delight* Alternate Duple Single Progression The Sweep 1/4 are indicated as with vines. A1 Holding your P hand, Balance as Couples R, then L, Sweep 1/4, Lad Chain to N A2 Lad Chain to P, Holding N Hand, Balance as Couples R, the Left, Sweep 1/4 B1 R&L Thru, Star Thru, Circle Half, B2 Pass Thru & Swg, LL F&B These contras are all on the first side of the LP "A Modern Style Contra Dance Party". Each dance would all be a tough sell today, since there are no Partner Swings. More to come, Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT On Wed, Jul 19, 2017 at 9:48 AM, Rich Sbardella <richsbardella(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Judy, > > Dick Leger published an LP of contras written by Roger Whynot. The LP was > aimed at square dancers and included Flutter Wheel and Sweep 1/4 More. > Perhaps I will be able to find it later and post some dances. > > I called contras at the New England Square and Round Dance Convention this > year and the dancers enjoyed contras that I also call at modern contra > dances, Keep the progressions simple, and keep the swings short. > > Peace, > Rich > Stafford, CT > > On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 10:28 PM, Judy Greenhill via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi everyone, >> >> I have undertaken to teach some modern square dancers how to contra >> dance, and I’m wondering if anyone has experience with this and has any >> dances to recommend? I’m a square dancer myself but most of my contra >> repertoire is for modern contra dancers- 2 swings, lots of Balance and >> swing, etc. I’d like more dances with MWSD moves in them and possibly >> without any, or only 1, swing, and they don’t need to have a partner swing. >> The dancers I am teaching are all either plus or advanced, so they will >> tire pretty quickly of the usual simple glossary contras I would normally >> do in a teaching situation. They can do the moves; it’s the formation that >> is new to them. >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> Judy >> >> >> >> >> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. >> www.avast.com >> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> >> <#m_-880773143942596016_m_6636786697433527171_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >

8 years, 1 month

Looking for a particular sort of becket dance

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

Hi all, I'm re-vamping my list of simple contra dances for new callers, and am in search of a very particular sort of becket dance. The list is one of my hand-outs for callers' classes at camps, so the folks who'll be using it are likely to be nervous, brand-new callers. To that end, I'm looking for sturdy, hard-to-break, low-piece-count dances. In a perfect world they'd be composed of simpler glossary figures. I already have a fair collection of simple dances to choose from, but would like to include one more becket dance (I have Tica Tica Timing already on the list). This perfect becket that I'm looking for should _not_ start with circle L 3/4, and should not contain petronella twirls. Bonus points if it doesn't have a whole hey, since I've already got a couple of whole hey dances in the list. I look forward to hearing what you can recommend. Many thanks, Kalia Kliban

8 years, 2 months

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