Contra Callers

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21 participants
4391 discussions

Re: "Assigning" roles in the beginners' lesson?

by K P

John, <Perhaps, “the roles were originally (completely and utterly) based on gender”! Ya think? :) I had what I assume is a similar response when I read that, John. Aside to John: In this entire, ongoing discussion, it seems to me that there is an active conspiracy of pretense (along the lines of 'the emperor's new clothes') that the elephant sitting squarely in the middle of the room is actually a blueberry muffin. Open and honest questions: Am I the only living person who has a preference for dancing with the opposite cisgender (realizing that any particular, such opposite, cisgendered individual may, in fact, have a different preference)? If the above is a reasonable question, what is wrong with saying "If you have a preference to dance primarily with women, I recommend dancing the left role. If you have a preference to dance with men, I'd recommend dancing the right-side role; if you have no preference, it doesn't matter"? What is the surveyed percentage of dancers in your community who have such a preference vs those who don't?

1 year, 6 months

Re: Modified ballroom swing position: seeking more conversation and info

by Katherine Kitching

Sorry everyone - I am clearly not the global authority on this hold, just yet!! :D I just tested this out at home with my (life) partner and realized something unexpected- In the case of me and my partner dancing, it was actually better for both of us if his arm went below mine even though he is taller- I guess because he is taller, his upper arm is also longer, so somehow it still made sense for my arm to go on top. (If anyone thinks they can better explain the physics/physiology of this, be my guest!) Anyhow we got a photo - he is camera-shy and made me crop out his face, but I think you can view it here - let me know if any issues. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ebotfe2jksbr3dqbjyiuf/Modified-Ballroom-Swin… Let's call this hold a "work in progress" from us at Halifax Contra Dances- seems we are still sorting out some details!! :) Kat K > Katherine Kitching <mailto:kat@outdooractive.ca> > Wednesday, March 13, 2024 6:09 PM > whoops whoops!! sorry, correction on that. > > the photo on Jeff's page shows the arms that are closest to the > viewer, in the photo, in a similar position to what my group has been > using. > > But I just noticed the dancer's other arms are not hand-in-hand, like > my group does it. > Darn :) > > We would still have Lark's Left hand in Raven's Right hand. > > KK > >

1 year, 6 months

"Assigning" roles in the beginners' lesson?

by Maia McCormick

Hey there, hive mind, When you're calling larks and robins, during the lesson, how do you a. explain the roles to the new folks, and b. put the beginners into roles for the duration of the lesson? I've seen "try swinging in both roles and see which feels better", I've seen "unless you have a preference, whoever is standing on the right of your partnership is the robin for now", I've seen "pick whichever bird you like better", I've seen "the robin's role is a little easier so do that if you feel less confident"... I'm curious what folks here do and in what kind of distribution, and how you find it works for you in practice. (Please please please let's not relitigate gender-free contra or the bird terms in this thread. If you really must, please make a separate thread.) Swingingly, Maia -- Maia McCormick (she/her) 917.279.8194

1 year, 6 months

Re: "Assigning" roles in the beginners' lesson?

by K P

John Sweeney wrote, in response: "“Some dances have been around since George Washington's time”! Oh! So, you only do the recent stuff :-)" John, have you got some good chestnuts with "hides and hairbones" roles? :) Cheers, Ken Panton

1 year, 6 months

simple 4-face-4 dances

by Allison Jonjak

Hi all, My barn dance series has been doing well with an occasional contra dance added in, and progressions are working. I feel "safer" including contra style progressions as 4-face-4 dances, though, especially when I have a wide age range of dancers. I know "trail buddies" can help the kids point in the right direction each time. Coconut Cream Pie ( https://contradb.com/dances/1548 ) is getting a lot of play lately, but I'd like to have a few more of that style in my deck. It would be nice to have a 4-face-4 both before and after the break, without it being literally the same dance. Any simple favorites? Bonus points if they are a california twirl progression to feel "familiar". Thanks everyone! Allison -- Allison Jonjak allisonjonjak(a)gmail.com allisonjonjak.com

1 year, 6 months

Walk through - Trip to Phan Reel - Cabin Fever 2024

by Timothy Klein

After several discussions with new callers about a lack of dance walk through videos, I've started recording some of mine (when I can remember!). This past weekend (Cabin Fever, Knoxville TN), I had the wonderful help of Jim Crawford to add footage from the floor and to mix in the house audio. I'm sharing that here for whatever benefit it brings folks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQMBy8Q5ft4 Some interesting things happened that changed how I called this dance: - The lines were crowded, so I backed the gents up to suggest that they cross the gent in the next set by the right (overlapping orbits). - There was some confusion about shadows, but it really doesn't matter who that is, so I ignored/squashed questions about direction and just let the dancers muddle into it. - I'm started at B2 in order to put the pass through progression at the end of the dance (making the dance improper.) I do this sometimes for reasons that I don't always recall. I hope these videos prove to be useful. Timothy

1 year, 6 months

A Becket mixer

by Becky Liddle

> On Jan 25, 2024, at 12:00 AM, contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net wrote: > >>> Late in a regular evening dance a caller recently threw in a contra >> with larks and robins progressing in opposite directions or at >> different rates. Although it was announced as a mixer, it was >> sufficiently unexpected that chaos and discomfort ensued. I'd have >> been happier with that in a workshop setting. "Dance with who's >> coming at you." >> >> David, I'd love to have this dance for uh, scientific purposes and >> certainly not to sow chaos 👀 >> >> >> -- >> Maia McCormick (she/her) >> 917.279.8194 Here is one: Note: I can’t guarantee I have everything right here. I think I remember prepping to call it and then chickening out! :-) ð BECKET MIXER No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk by Chris Weiler Teaching: Note: warn Robins that they’ll feel stuck at ends when not stuck. If there’s nobody on your side to dance with, then dance with the person across from you and face back in LL/RR as usual. Larks triple progress, but robins progress forward 2 and back one so it can feel like you’re stuck when you’re not. Don’t fix it or you will get stuck! A1 BECKET: on side of set w/partner: Partner balance & swing A2 (6) Circle left 3 places & pass thru along the set (8) New neighbor swing B1 (8) long lines forward and back (8) third neighbor (beside you along side of set, who you did NOT just swing) allemande left 1 ½ (there’s an awkward hand-hold switch here: robins, you can make it smoother if you take the lark’s left hand you’re holding in your right hand, and put it into your left hand for the allemande left 1 ½ ) B2 (8) Robins chain (to current partner— then say goodbye) (8) Star left (all the way around) to a new partner Calling Notes: Note: If you’re out at the ends and there’s nobody on your side to dance with, then do the move (whether partner or neighbour) with the person across from you and face back in LL/RR as usual. warn Robins that they’ll feel stuck at ends when not stuck. Larks triple progress, but robins progress forward 2 and back one so it can feel like you’re stuck when you’re not. Don’t try to fix it or you will get stuck! Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7At3Dhq-G0

1 year, 7 months

English/Contra medleys

by Maia McCormick

Hello hivemind, I’m thinking again about an ECD/contra Medley — presumably where you switch from one style to the other every time you change dances, though I am of course open to other ideas. Does anyone have thoughts here? Have you seen the unsuccessfully? Tips on what to avoid or common pitfalls? Thanks for your insights! Maia -- Maia McCormick (she/her) 917.279.8194

1 year, 7 months

Ellen's Green Jig

by Gregory

Hi Folks, I'm teaching a contra dance tonight for a special event. I wanted to double check my sources and came up short on one dance: Ellen's Green Jig. According to my memory, I tweaked this dance years ago to be proper/improper. However, the original I can no longer find. Furthermore, my notes say it was originally by Roy Dommett, the famed rocket scientist morris dancer. Does that make any sense? Does anyone know this dance or who devised it? Thanks! Greg [image] Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. This is filler text that changes the size of the messages I send - an added layer of security for detection and identification of encrypted information using metadata. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. This is filler text that changes the size of the messages I send - an added layer of security for detection and identification of encrypted information using metadata. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Sent with [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/) secure email.

1 year, 7 months

Suggestions for great recent contra compositions

by Gregory Frock

Dear Colleagues, I will be at NEFFA 2024 calling a session of "the best dances of 2010 and later". I have a pretty good list of nominees, but if anyone wants to add suggestions, or encourage selections of particular dances, I would love to hear them. I am looking for a good variety of geographic origin and work from both renown and lesser known choreographers. Thanks all! Greg

1 year, 7 months

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