Contra Callers

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21 participants
4391 discussions

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello all, Lately, my choreography brain has been churning on community dances (longways, circles, etc). I've got two new ones that I haven't gotten to test out yet. I'd be curious to hear folks thoughts on them; both the dance moves and how to succinctly explain it to people not used to dancing (for instance, I use the phrase cross trail in this write-up, which I wouldn't use at a community dance) Each of them have (what I think is) a new figure for the progression; and then could be mixed with the staples of long lines, DSDs, etc. I'm not even pretending to break this up into A's and B's; because they're not that kind of dance ;-) *Long Corners * by Luke Donforth longways set top in left line trade with bottom in right line, giving a high five with the left hand in the middle then next trade and high five, and the next, until both lines have swapped and you're across from partner again the pair at the top of the line (was bottom couple) stays put and swings each other around, while two lines do a cross trail at the top; giving your partner a high five with your right when you pass head of each cross-trailing line leads back down to bottom of their original side of the set and stays there. Everyone else follows in their line long lines forward and back DSD partner straight across Progression 1 2 3 4 5 => 5 1 2 3 4 Here's a link to a series of photos, hopefully illustrating the beginning sequence: https://plus.google.com/u/3/104785381669836716439/posts/ZVTsdkH6fj7 (unmarked peg is the caller) *The Fountain* by Luke Donforth Longways sets Top couple makes an arch and goes over the other two lines The rest move up, and when the reach the top, they make an arch and go down over the rest of the line When the bottom couple reaches the top, the separate (peel the banana style) and lead their line down the outside (no hands). Everyone except the original top couple (now at the bottom) follows. The couple at the bottom swings, and as other folks get back to line; they can swing their partner. Long lines forward and back Allemande your partner Other hand Allemande your partner Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 2 3 4 5 1 Pictures at: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO8FvLShqqQllbGxe-IQ0fpvQiQhA1SNUiQ0S7…

8 years, 2 months

Fwd: Does This Sequence Exist?

by Rich Goss via Callers

> You could just as easily circle Left 1x in B2. > > >> On Jul 18, 2017, at 8:14 AM, Andrea Nettleton via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> I question the flow of a circle R into a swing. But I don't recognize the sequence. >> Cheers, >> Andrea >> >> Sent from my external brain >> >> On Jul 18, 2017, at 9:55 AM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>>>> >>> >>> I wonder if this sequence has already been written (and titled): >>> >>> Trip to Kentucky >>> Improper contra >>> Jerome Grisanti (unless prior claim exists) >>> >>> A1: Long lines go forward, roll away as you go back (women moving from left to right in front of their neighbors). >>> Men allemande left 1.5. >>> >>> A2: Partner B & S. >>> >>> B1: Right & Left Thru, Ladies chain. >>> >>> B2: Circle RIGHT 1x, Neighbors swing. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Jerome >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Jerome Grisanti >>> 660-528-0858 >>> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com >>> >>> "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 2 months

contras for modern square dancers

by Judy Greenhill via Callers

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 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

8 years, 2 months

contras for square dancers

by Judy Greenhill via Callers

Hi everyone, Thank you for all your suggestions and helpful tips. Just to emphasize-I am BOTH a square dancer AND a contra dancer, but so far only a contra caller. I love both! For different reasons. I've undertaken to call some contras for a local group. Our caller, who has been calling for over 50 years-he started when he was 9 years old-has never called contras and I have challenged him to start. He's accepted that challenge but says he's never called a program he hasn't danced. Since contra dance around here-southern Ontario-pretty much shuts down for the summer I'm filling a gap until the fall. I don't expect to make contra dancers of them, although if some of them get bitten by the bug. Judy --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

8 years, 2 months

Does This Sequence Exist?

by Jerome Grisanti via Callers

> > >> I wonder if this sequence has already been written (and titled): Trip to Kentucky Improper contra Jerome Grisanti (unless prior claim exists) A1: Long lines go forward, roll away as you go back (women moving from left to right in front of their neighbors). Men allemande left 1.5. A2: Partner B & S. B1: Right & Left Thru, Ladies chain. B2: Circle RIGHT 1x, Neighbors swing. Thanks, Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

8 years, 2 months

has this dance been written?

by Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers

Hi All! I am working on a dance to call for a special occasion. It needs to be “play friendly” - that is, a dance where the figures facilitate partner swapping. Figures I was given to work with are allemandes in the center (either gender role), heys, shadows, petronellas and LLFB next to your partner (not necessarily including all of those figures, of course). I am wondering if this dance has already been written by someone else? Also, those of you who like to play, would this dance work well? Is it too weird to have the full hey cross the phrase? Is it awkward to get into Long Lines from the Hey? I am not sure I love the B1 part. Thanks for your feedback in advance! Jean Gorrindo (as yet untitled) - Becket A1 (8) Ladies allemande R 1 1/2 (8) Neighbor swing A2 (8) Left diagonal chain to Shadow (8) Begin a full hey, Ladies passing R B1 (8) Finish the hey (8) LLFB - on the way back Gent’s role Shadow away with a half-sashay to face Partner B2 (16) Partner B&S - slide left to new Neighbors

8 years, 2 months

Prior? Trip to Santa Fe

by Don Veino via Callers

I came up with this one for a particular gig. Given the simplicity it was probably already written - if so I'd like to give proper credit. Please let me know. Thanks, Don Shortly before calling the Santa Fe NM dance last month I was informed that a group of 20+ international students who’d never done contra were planning on attending (turned out to be ~60% of the attendees at the start). In planning my program I realized the existing mixers in my deck were either too risky for those folks or too simple for the regulars. I wanted something that would build on the sequence of moves introduced in my teaching plan (which factored in language challenge) so I came up with the following. It worked out well with that group. Trip to Santa Fe – Circle Mixer – Don Veino 20170622 *A1* Into the Center and Back Circle Left *A2* Circle Right Partner Dosido (and turn away from P) [so Gents look CW, Ladies CCW] *B1* Neighbor Balance and Swing *B2* (new) Partner Promenade http://veino.com/blog/?p=1722

8 years, 2 months

Positional Calling

by Jeremy Child via Callers

Hi Everyone In the past there has been a lot of discussion on this group about gender free calling, and in particular about the terms used for the two roles. This got me thinking as to whether it would be possible to eliminate the use of role names and call using just positional references. Some significant thought later, I came up with a system that I believe could, in theory, work. This is largely an intellectual exercise rather than a serious suggestion, but I would appreciate any comments / feedback / thoughts / ideas you have. The details are at: http://barndancecaller.net/PositionalCalling.html (There is a link to another document I have written about gender free calling - this is primarily aimed at English Barn Dance / Ceilidh calling.) Jeremy

8 years, 2 months

Traditional Dance and Music Retirement Community in NC

by Bree Kalb via Callers

Hello Everyone, A group of dancers/callers/musicians in the Triangle area of North Carolina are in the midst of exciting plans to create a continuing care retirement community centered around music and dance. We have been meeting with groups of interested people, conducted a market study (with an excellent outcome), started working with a group of consultants who design innovative retirement communities, and have begun fundraising to pay for the design process. So far, we have focused on reaching out to local folks; now we are spreading the word more widely. If you are curious, please visit our website. http://dancingintoretirementnc.org/ Right now, the website is the way we communicate with people out of town, but I'll soon create a Facebook page and then an electronic newsletter. If you are close enough to Durham, NC to attend a 1/2 day informational session, let me know if you would like to be invited. We offer one every few months--the next is August 26. You can write to me directly or leave a message at the website if you want more information or have comments/reactions. Bree Kalb Carrboro, NC

8 years, 2 months

Second call Re: Seeking *lists* of tunes for patter squares

by jim saxe via Callers

Folks, This is a reminder about the query I sent out in May asking for people's lists of recommended tunes for patter squares. If you were thinking of sending me such a list, please do. While I've gotten some responses, the number so far has been disappointingly low. (If anyone knows of some other online forum where it would be appropriate to post this query, perhaps with hope of a higher response rate, please let me know.) At the bottom of this message, I'm including a copy of my original, rather detailed, request. Perhaps that request was so wordy as to put some of you off reading and responding. To summarize the essential points: * Please send (if you feel qualified and inclined to do so) a list of tunes that you would play or recommend for traditional-style western and/or southern square dancing ("patter squares" for short, as distinguished from New- England-style prompted squares or singing squares of any sort). * Please send responses directly to me, <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com>, not to the entire mailing list on which you're receiving this, so that anyone else's responses won't be influenced by yours. I'll eventually send out a summary of the responses. * I'm hoping particularly to hear from people who can come up with a list of ten or more (perhaps many more) tunes without scraping the bottom of their personal barrel. (At risk of belaboring the obvious, I mean ten or more tunes per responder, not as a grand total.) * Please don't send lists (or references to lists) where tunes suitable for patter squares are mixed in with other stuff. * You don't have to educate me about how "it's not just the tune; it's the way it's played." Thanks in advance for any responses. --Jim On May 12, 2017, at 6:24 PM, James Saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > [I'm sending this query to the trad-dance-callers list, to the > SharedWeight callers' and musicians' forums, and to a number of > individuals. Please send responses directly to me *off-list* > (see Note 1 below). I plan to collect responses for about the > next two months and will summarize results to the lists and to > individual respondents some time in July. Thanks. --Jim] > > Folks, > > As some of you may know, I've worked on and off in fits and starts > for some time at gathering lists of recommended tunes [see Note 2 > below] for (traditional-style) patter squares. [In case you're > wondering what I mean by "(traditional-style) patter squares", see > Note 6 below.] My idea is to compile lists from a wide variety of > sources and to look for tunes mentioned independently by many > different recommenders. So far, I've compiled tune lists from a > few dozen books and albums, and I'm currently adding lists from > a bunch more books, articles, record catalogs, etc. I'm sending > this message because I'd like to supplement all these sources with > lists from current informants, possibly including you. So ... > > * If you are a musician who has substantial experience > playing for (traditional-stye) patter squares and if > you have a list of recommended tunes that you're > willing to share--either an existing set list or a > list you come up with by sitting down and scratching > your head for a while--please send it to me *off-list* > [see Note 1] at > > jim dot saxe at-sign gmail dot com > > * If you are a musician who mostly plays for other things > than patter squares (e.g., contras or New-England-style > squares or concert performances) or even if you're not > a musician, but if you nonethelessAå have accumulated a > list of tunes you particularly like *for patter squares*, > I'd also be interested in hearing from you. > > * I'd also be interested if anyone can supply lists of > tunes played *for patter squares* by players skilled > in the genre who are no longer living (e.g., Ralph > Blizard, Lyman Enloe, Benton Flippen, Bob Holt, Pete > McMahan, Lee Stripling, Joe Thompson, or Melvin Wine, > to name a few). However, see Note 5. > > * If you know other people who might be willing and able > to contribute lists of recommended tunes, please feel > free to pass this request along. (But please try not > to put up my email address in places where spammers > are likely to harvest it. Also, see Note 1. Thanks.) > > Below are some notes clarifying what kind of responses I am > and am not interested in. ***Please read at least Notes 1-3 > before responding.*** > > Note 1: If you got this query via a mailing list, please send > tune lists directly to me and *not* to the entire mailing list. > As stated above, 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. If you pass my > request along to some of your friends, I'd prefer that you each > send tune lists just to me rather than discussing tunes among > yourselves first and then sending me a combined list (unless > you and your friends are in the same regular band and such > discussions are how you normally create your set lists). Please > look carefully at the "To:" (and "Cc:") line of any reply and > make sure that that it doesn't include the address of any mailing > list. That would include addresses of the form > > James Saxe via ... <...> > > where <...> is a list address. > > I plan to gather recommendations for the next couple months and > to post a summary some time in July. > > Note 2: Please *don't* explain to me that the suitability of > a tune for a particular kind of dance can depend very strongly > on how it's played. I'm already quite well aware of that. > However, I also think it would be widely agreed that some tunes > lend themselves to being played well for dancing more than > others. (If you strenuously disagree, I will look forward to > your forthcoming album of rip-roaring square dance arrangements > of tunes from the Child ballads and _The Sacred Harp_. Meanwhile, > please don't respond to my query by attempting to un-ask it.) > > After I've settled on a list of frequently-recommended tunes, > a possible follow-on project would be to try to identify one > or more renditions--online and/or on commercial recordings--of > each tune played in a danceable style worthy of study by > musicians learning to play for patter squares. For such a > project, style of playing would of course be a prime concern. > But that's not what I'm working on or asking about right now. > > Note 3: Please *don't* give me lists (or references to lists, > albums, tune books, syllabi, etc) where tunes well suited for > patter squares are mixed with other sorts of tunes without > specific indication of which tunes are which. > > Note 4: I'm not all that interested in recommendations for just > one or a few tunes. If you have substantial experience playing > for patter squares, I'd expect that you can come up with at least > ten tunes that you think are quite suitable, and perhaps you > can come up with many more than that without feeling that you're > starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel. (If you send a long > list, you might want to distinguish which are your favorites and > which are the second-tier or third-tier choices.) > > Note 5: If you send me a list of tunes from the repertoire of > some deceased musician, please tell me something about how you > compiled that list. I'm not merely looking for a list of tunes > played or recorded by, say, late great fiddler Bestus Bowslinger, > but for a list of tunes that Bestus actually played *for patter > squares*. And if you happen to have some tapes of Bestus playing > at actual dances, and if they include 30 different patter-square > tunes, and if you send me the names of the 20 tunes you happen > to recognize, then I'd like to be informed that the your sampling > of Bestus's repertoire has been filtered by the limitations of > what tunes you recognize. > > Note 6: When I say "(traditional-style) patter squares," I mean > to exclude singing squares and squares that are prompted to the > phrase of the music in the New England style (or in the style of > 19th-century quadrilles) and I mean to include the kinds of > squares generally thought of as traditional to the western and/or > southern U.S. I specifically would include visiting couple dances > in this genre, even when the progression is around a big circle > or by a scatter promenade, rather than around a square of four > couples. I'd also include most "transitional" (50's era) western > squares (other than singing calls) as well as more recent > compositions in similar style. I do *not* mean to say that the > dances in question must be called in a style that includes a bunch > of rhyming doggerel ("do-si high, do-si low, chicken in the bread > pan scratchin' out dough") or other extra verbiage. > > Much of the "hoedown"/"patter" music produced in recent decades > for the MWSD market is, IMO, very non-traditional in character > and thus not of interest for purposes of my current inquiry. > (Hint: If a tune isn't found in any tune books, played at any > jam sessions, or recorded on any non-MWSD label, it's not what > I'm after.) > > I'm happy to get recommendations for recently-composed tunes in > traditional style, as well as for genuinely traditional (old) > tunes. I'm also happy to get recommendations for tunes from > "northern" sources that nonetheless have the right feel to work > well for traditional southern/western dances. > > Of course I realize there aren't precisely defined and widely > agreed boundaries between different kinds of square dances or > different styles of calling (prompted vs. patter vs. singing; > phrased vs. unphrased; New-England vs. southern vs. traditional > western vs. ...). Ditto regarding precise definitions of musical > genres. I also realize that a particular choreographic pattern > might be danced to different styles of music and calling, etc. > That said, I still hope that the preceding paragraphs will suffice > to provide an adequate idea of what I'm looking for. > > Thanks in advance to any of you who have tune lists to share. > > Regards, > --Jim >

8 years, 2 months

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Contra Callers