Contra Callers

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4386 discussions

by jwcontrahands4 via Callers

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone improper duple a1: inside hand (man's right and w''s left) balance, star thru, men alm left 1.5 to ptr a2: bal & swing partner b1: star right, turn away from partner and star left with shadow b2: return to partner and circle left 3/4, bal circle, partner california twirl. note: I like how the handhold of the cal twirl goes into the inside-hand balance of a1. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

9 years, 5 months

Is this a new dance?

by Michael Barraclough via Callers

Is this original? Any issues? FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW Duple Improper A1 Balance the ring & Petronella, balance the ring and men trade A2 Men give & take B1 Balance the ring & Petronella, balance the ring and men trade B2 Ladies give & take -- Michael Barraclough michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com www.michaelbarraclough.com

9 years, 5 months

Recognize this dance?

by jwcontrahands4 via Callers

improper duple a1: inside hand (man's right and w''s left) balance, star thru, men alm left 1.5 to ptr a2: bal & swing partner b1: star right, turn away from partner and star left with shadow b2: return to partner and circle left 3/4, bal circle, partner california twirl. note: I like how the handhold of the cal twirl goes into the inside-hand balance of a1. Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

9 years, 5 months

A dance of mine to try

by Michael Fuerst via Callers

One Shy of Twenty Feb 1998 Becket Counterclockwise Intermediate-Advanced A1 Long lines forward and back, roll away on the way back Circle right 3/4, pass neighbor by left shoulder A2 Do-si-do a second neighbor 1 1/2 to face a third neighbor Swing the third neighbor, end facing across B1 Hands across left hand star with 3rd neighbor Hands across right hand star with 2nd neighbor B2 With second neighbors, Men do-si-do each other, WHILE Women exchange places by turning back over their left shoulders and orbiting counterclockwise 1/2 way around the do-si-do'ing men Partners swing, end facing across End Effects: When out at the end with partner, do as much of the dance as they can, as follows: a) participate in the forward and back and roll away across the set b) do-si-do 1 1/2 with partner across the set, then swing a neighbor c) during either the neighbor or partner swing, swing with partner and face back in as one would for an improper dance (man on left women on right) d) otherwise, just wait with partner Named for the 1998 19th Swing into Spring dance weekends, all organized at McCormack's Creek State Park in Spencer IN by Tom and Andrea Morrison of Bloomington IN Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 5844Links to photos of many of my drawings and paintings are at www.ArtComesFuerst.com

9 years, 5 months

CRAPO Dance Recall Notice, #DCAv1 - "Double Crossed Again"

by Abed A. Dan, S.E. via Callers

CRAPO Dance Recall Notice DCAv1, 20160227 Dear Dance Leader, The Choreography Registration And Publication Office* (CRAPO) Safety Division (SD), in partnership with dance author Don Veino, jointly announce a voluntary recall of his dance composition "Double Crossed Again", version 1. In order to prevent dancer dissatisfaction and maximize enjoyment for the future, we have agreed this joint voluntary recall. Mr. Veino has re-imagined the dance to address a flow violation and has revised the composition to improve dancer enjoyment. As a potential consumer of this composition (via participation on the Shared Weight Callers forum), we provide this notice to you. As sole compensation for your potentially sub-optimal experience, CRAPO SD have reached an agreement with Mr. Veino to supply you a fully tested second revision of the original composition plus a bonus dance for your inconvenience (his new "Sneaks & Peeks"), see below. Should you wish to opt out of this recall, please delete this entire message and discard your copy of the original version dance in a safe manner, in compliance with applicable local hazardous waste regulations. Best Regards, Abed A. Dan, S.E. CRAPO Chief Safety Engineer ========================== REVISED DANCE COMPOSITION ========================== *Double Crossed Again!* (V2) _________________________ [Type]: Contra [Formation]: Duple Improper [Author]: Don Veino [Status]: Independently Validated:: [Comments]: Intermediate/Advanced (Cross-Trails, significant out of minor set action). My first double Cross-Trails dance. :: [A1]: (4,4) Right Hand BALANCE, CROSS-TRAIL (Pass current N (N1) Right up/down the set, Pass P Left across) (8) NEIGHBOR 1 SWING (on away side) :: [A2]: (8) LEFT DIAGONAL LADIES CHAIN (to Shadow) (4) Right Hand to NEIGHBOR 2 (across set), BALANCE N2 (4) CROSS TRAIL (pass N2 by right across, pass Shadow by left up/down to face P) #PROGRESSION :: [B1]: (4,12) PARTNER BALANCE, SWING :: [B2]: (8) LONG LINES FORWARD & BACK (8) STAR RIGHT 3/4 and face progression to take Right Hand with THIS neighbor... ========================== BONUS DANCE COMPOSITION ========================== *Sneaks & Peeks* - DI, DP - Don Veino 20150106 ____________________________________________ Set up with Ones slightly between Twos to ID handy hands (I have them swing as in the B2 first), all facing up/down in direction of progression. Intermediate/advanced (due to expectation-warping). Double progression many swings dance - particularly if sneaky! A1 (4,4) Handy Hand (G1 LH, L1 RH) Neighbor Balance, Twirl to Swap into Mirror Waves (1s face out, 2s in) (4,4) Wave Balance Fwd & Back, Handy Hand Allemande 1/2x A2 (4,4) Wave Balance Fwd & Back, Handy Hand Allemande 1/2x (1s face out, 2s in) (8) Twos Swing in center, end facing UP (for cross-set play, 1s may meanwhile Mirror Turn Single on the outside to sneak a peek with/high five a shadow in the next line and face down) [Progression 1] B1 (4,12) Next Neighbor Balance & Swing B2 (4,12) Ones Only Balance & Swing in center, face down (2s can meanwhile sneak in a cross-set Swing w/a shadow in the next line over and face up with a ready Handy Hand) [Progression 2] NOTES: Tune: Daniel Boucher's "Circular Reel" was used as inspiration and fits well. Cautions for dancers: as a DP you're never out, and note your handy hand _and_allemande_direction_ changes at ends. Named after a game our 4+1/2 year old daughter Raeden calls "Sneaks", where she tries to stay in my blind spot while I try to catch sight of her (giggling herself silly the whole time). Dancers seem to really like this one, called at two Concord Scout House gigs during Feb. 2016. Short video at https://youtu.be/nF15xR3EwN4 . *This is all intended as an amusing way of getting out an improved revision to my original dance. This is a joke organization, really! -Don :)

9 years, 5 months

Calling to a square dance crowd

by Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Callers

Hi Everyone, I've been pretty low-key on calling for several years now, just a few local dances a year. Years ago I did close to one gig a month at home and around my local region, but cut back due to busy life. Now I've accepted an invitation for a regular gig that's going to be a bit different, so I'm back on this email list, and I seek your advice. A few people from the nearby Western Square Dance group came to one of our local contra dances where I was calling, and had such a fun time they have invited me, and the band from that evening, to come and do a monthly series in their hall, promoted and sponsored by them. The band and I decided we'd give it a shot. I've had barely any exposure to Western Square Dance, but I know their education system is formalized, calling is improvised, and the music is mostly recorded; whereas in contra dancing the education is more by assimilation, the calling is mostly fixed within a given dance, and the music is live and improvised. I anticipate we may feel like strange cousins to each other. Do any of you have any experiences or thoughts about crossing over into this parallel universe of traditional dancers? I'm particularly concerned about how I can best help them feel comfortable with the way Contra Dance is done, and how I can be a gracious presence in their space. Bonus question: they want to know how to split the gate, since they don't have experience paying bands. Your thoughts? Best regards, Joseph

9 years, 5 months

ID a dance?

by Linda Thomas via Callers

Can anyone ID this dance and author? I found it on a Youtube video but it wasn't named. A1 Bal & Sw N A2 Men Almd L 1-1 /2 Sw Ptnr B1 Sq Thru - (Rt hand Bal N, pull by, pull by Ptnr w/ left, repeat) B2 Bal ring, Petronella, Bal Ring, Calif Twirl Thanks in advance... Linda Thomas Wilmington, NC coastaldancer(a)ec.rr.com

9 years, 5 months

Family dance- educational supplements?

by Claire Takemori via Callers

I’m a new contra dance caller (took Nils’ workshop at American Week last July). And my goal is to offer calling for Family dances to help spread folk music/dance in our community. (maybe College contras, but that’s a different thread) I’m calling my first Family dance on March 6th for a home-school community. I was hoping to offer a page of INTERESTING , Kid-friendly, FUN info, activities, links in case someone wants to delve further into the history, dance or music. Any great resources out there? I don’t have a ton of time to put this together from scrap. And I don’t know enough yet to figure out the history. I’m learning as I go! thanks ! Claire Takemori Bay Area California

9 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Family dances for 3-9 people?

by John Sweeney via Callers

I use The Horse's Branle for small groups http://www.webfeet.org/eceilidh/dances/horses-branle.html Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 5 months

Family dances for 3-9 people?

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Hi Everyone, In preparation for calling my first family dance on March 6, I’d like to find some family-friendly dances that are for very small groups, like 3-9 people. Ideally NOT proper triplets, or 3x3s (already have a few of those) and NO gender roles. I’ve got a good collection of simple dances for 10++ people, circles, lines, etc. I’m preparing for a crowd of up to 100 but if it dwindles down to 1-2 families or starts slow, I’d like something for small groups too. Thanks! Claire Takemori

9 years, 5 months

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