Contra Callers

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4298 discussions

Small challenges for experienced dancers, but easy for newbies

by sargondj＠gmail.com

New subject line because Dale’s comment reminded me of a question that’s been on my mind: what are some favorite dances, sequences, or figures that are slightly challenging for experienced dancers but don’t register as preferentially more challenging for beginners? In other words, these are movements that play off our biases/expectations from years of dancing, but are not actually technically complex. Some examples: - pretty much any well-structures circle right - there’s a dance I have that does a left-hand pull by up/down the set directly out of a R-L through courtesy turn, which I think qualifies. I find these occasionally useful for dances with lots of beginners, but which also have a small group of experienced dancers who happen to be there. Does anyone else have ideas that fit this theme? Sargon > On Sep 14, 2023, at 13:29, Dale Wilson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > Jeff says: > I'll bite that bullet: callers generally shouldn't be calling a dolphin hey at a regular evening dance. > > And Amy says: > > It always helps to read the room first. Got a bunch of beginners? Call simpler dances, at least the first half. Explain them well. Don't call a complicated move that will discourage them. You want them to return, right? Baby steps, then walking, then jogging, then dolphin heys. > > So I say: > > Exactly right, Amy. I always have a challenging dance on tap ready to call toward the middle of the second half of the evening. If there are too many beginners (including our perpetual beginners) when the time comes, I simply skip the challenging dance. If the walk-thru doesn't go well, I'm ready with an easy replacement. But when it works our experienced dancers love conquering a [small] challenge -- at least that's what they tell me later. > > Dale > > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

1 year, 2 months

Need to hire a good band in north NJ/NYC area for Oct. 2 event...

by Keith Tuxhorn

Hi gang-- I'm helping out a friend who lives outside of the needed area, as do I. A caller may also be needed, someone experienced with calling one-night stands. Probably will be a large amount of newbies. Please help out by posting a band name, contact person, and phone and/or email info. And if you're a caller in that area with ONS experience and available, please send your contact info. Thanks so much for all the help! Keith Tuxhorn Springfield, IL

1 year, 2 months

Re: AABBCC contras?

by K P

A quick follow-up with another Youtube tune clip to accompany an AABBCC contra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w9ZcHzr3LQ A little zippier and more "production" -- but also a lively medley -- than the previous link. JJ's adaptation is terrific. I've "thought-danced" it many times now, and I think it would be a very fun dance for a typical weekly crowd with some novices. It's not difficult. Ken P

1 year, 2 months

Re: tune names

by Drew Delaware

Hi all, One of the things that we started doing during the virtual/Zoom dances that happened throughout the pandemic was having the band themselves announce the tune name. Dancers loved it, and it helped them feel more connected with the band (which was particularly important in that setting, as dancers donated directly to the band.) It was one of the things I've attempted to carry back over to the live setting, and I've had very positive feedback on doing so. The key is to still keep that transition tight, from the end of the walk through to starting the dance. I announce the dance name and choreographer as a fluid transition into the start of the dance, so it's not "eating up time." And the bands I've worked with usually only say a few words, unless the tune is particularly special. When I can, I note down the tune name so I can repeat it at the end of the dance as the applause subsides, along the lines of "That was DANCE NAME by CHOREOGRAPHER, and that (beautiful/fun/energetic) tune was TUNE NAME." Often people are more interested in names of things after they've heard it or experienced it - especially other callers - so it's valuable to share names of things when finished, as well. Cheers! Drew > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Mac Mckeever <macmck(a)ymail.com> > To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2023 03:06:05 +0000 (UTC) > Subject: [Callers] tune names > We had a conversation at our dance tonight how many of our local callers > get tune names from the bands and pass that along to the dancers right > before starting. > > Many visiting callers do not do this - is this just a local tradition or > am I missing something? > > Most of our local bands are old time but a few are more contemporary. We > do this with visiting bands and they seem to appreciate it. > > We feel the music is a major part of the tradition and deserves to be > acknowledged along with the musicians and callers. Often we find a band is > about to play a tune they wrote. Dancers also give a little cheer when we > announce a tune they especially enjoy > > Where are the rest of you on this? > > Mac McKeever > St Louis >

1 year, 2 months

Re: Travels in Canada

by playford1651

Hello Amy Thank you for your helpful messageWe're in Montreal evenings of 5-7 September, and then we move on to nova scotia.If you're ever in UK do let us know and we can help you sort out a dance itinerary!Best wishesMaureen and Graham KnightSent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: Emily Addison <emilyladdison(a)gmail.com> Date: 22/08/2023 09:43 (GMT-05:00) To: Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com> Cc: Graham Knight <playford1651(a)googlemail.com>, Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Travels in Canada If you're interested in Quebec Squares, there's likely a few dances around in the general vicinity of Montreal over the next few weeks. Let me know if that's of interest and I'll connect you to people in the know.As for contras in Ottawa... they run September through to June.:) Emily in OttawaOn Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 9:29 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:There is a dance in Mahoney Bay this weekend. We happen to be in Nova Scotia currently but return to the US on Wednesday, so will miss it ourselves.Here's what I got in response to my earlier inquiry:"Hello, glad you found us! We do have a dance in August on, Saturday the 24th. Doors open at 6pm, dance starts at 6:30. We meet in the Anglican Church Hall at 14 Parish Street in Mahone Bay. It's the nearest building across from Tim Horton's. Hope you can join us!Miranda LeverCaller"On Tue, Aug 22, 2023, 7:23 AM Graham Knight via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:We will be travelling in Canada over the next few weeks and we were wondering what contra events might be happening? We will be in Montreal and Halifax, and a few places in between. Also in Vancouver at the end. Many thanks. Graham K _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

1 year, 2 months

tune names

by Mac Mckeever

We had a conversation at our dance tonight how many of our local callers get tune names from the bands and pass that along to the dancers right before starting. Many visiting callers do not do this - is this just a local tradition or am I missing something? Most of our local bands are old time but a few are more contemporary. We do this with visiting bands and they seem to appreciate it. We feel the music is a major part of the tradition and deserves to be acknowledged along with the musicians and callers. Often we find a band is about to play a tune they wrote. Dancers also give a little cheer when we announce a tune they especially enjoy Where are the rest of you on this? Mac McKeeverSt Louis

1 year, 2 months

Travels in Canada

by Graham Knight

We will be travelling in Canada over the next few weeks and we were wondering what contra events might be happening? We will be in Montreal and Halifax, and a few places in between. Also in Vancouver at the end. Many thanks. Graham K

1 year, 3 months

Contra Corners?

by Rich Sbardella

Hey friends, Can anyone shed some light on the origin of the movement and the especially the name "Contra Corners"? Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT

1 year, 3 months

AABBCC contras?

by Joseph Erhard-Hudson

Hi there everyone, glad to join the list. I’m curious about duple minor contra sequences that are written for 3-part AABBCC tunes. Can anyone share or point me to any such dances? My question is partly inspired by Gene Hubert’s *Fan In The Doorwa*y, written for three part *slip* jigs. I’m pretty sure I’ve run across sequences written for AABCC tunes (no repeat on the B). I might even have spotted some 4–face-4’s written for full 3-part tunes on ibiblio (the database seems to be down as I write this so I can’t confirm). But so far I’m coming up empty for AABBCC duple minors. If you’ve got anything I’d be much obliged. -Joseph Erhard-Hudson

1 year, 3 months

calling weddings

by Joe Harrington

Any advice for calling weddings? I've been asked to call my first one and I don't see a lot of wedding-specific advice online. What do you ask them in advance, how do you approach it, what are good dances to call? I'm assuming that a workshop is impractical, so it's barn dances and maybe working up to a contra by the end? Try to teach a swing? Some advice I've gotten so far: Band - can they play contras, am I DJing instead, if so what kind of music, trad or pop? Floor - make sure it's big enough, get length, width, and surface Sound system - what is it and is there a sound tech? Duration - how long they'll want to dance Dancers - how many, any experienced guests? Special dances - first, parents, bouquet, last? Will the bride and groom dance? (If not, nobody will) Will there be alcohol? (one person suggested doubling the fee if there is) Will many women be in high heels? I welcome any advice! My main goal in taking wedding gigs is recruiting new dancers to our local scene, if that matters. Thanks, --jh--

1 year, 3 months

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Contra Callers