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
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
>
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
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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
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
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
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--
Hey, folks! Another techy contra question.
I’m hunting for a music app where I can splice a track into intro, AABB,
and outro parts.
After the intro plays, the AABB could loop indefinitely until a button on
screen is pressed to signal that I’m ready for it to play the outro.
Bonus points if it's an iPhone app. Does such a thing exist yet?
On a related note, I've had difficulty finding longer recordings of dance
music (e.g. over five minutes).
Most tracks I find on Apple Music are but three or four minutes.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Harrison
Hey All,
Calling my first intentional "experienced" contras evening later this
month. While I've got quite a few suitable dance cards, I'd love to hear
about ones you feel are particularly successful in such a community series
(vs. camp or weekend) setting?
More than glossary yet suitable for no walk through?
Subtly tricky?
Particularly rewarding of on time execution & dancer skill?
Thanks!
