Contra Callers

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4374 discussions

Re: [Callers] Unsual dances (Levi Jackson mod)

by Colin Hume

On Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:24:29 +1300, Bill Baritompa wrote: > Your version if danced with a five couple set, doesn't change > partners. Of course not: my description started "For 6 couples". > At a barn dance, I didn't want to leave people out of the > dance, and by getting odd couples to join 5 couple sets, there was > a mix of 5 and 6 couple sets on the floor. Then you have to make it clear that the 6 couple sets are doing the 6 couple version, with the "one man further" in the second chain each time, and that the 6 couple set don't go back to place after the walk-through. Then five times through the dance will get everyone home. Colin Hume

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Unsual dances

by John Sweeney

Hexitation (six couple square) is fun: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2008.pdf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qNy9II3OiU In this video the dance starts at around 0.:28. Before that, and in the middle of the video, the caller has the head couples pair up and the couples work as if they were a single person, then he calls standard square dance breaks. Must try that :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Levi Jackson Rag

by John Sweeney

In my experience we usually dance Levi Jackson Rag a little more zestily than was shown in the video referenced earlier. Have a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l8OjD-1464 Though that is maybe a little bit fast :-) But notice also how they do the balance before the swing. I was taught Levi Jackson Rag in the 1960s and that's how we were taught then and how I have always seen it danced over here: Step, Kick, Step, Kick Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 110, Issue 20 Unusual dances

by Hgrastorf＠aol.com

Two other 5-couple set dances are Brief Encounter by Marj Hendy (1996) (any AABB reel) 5 couple longway set -- PROPER A1 On the right diagonal (if someome is there), pull by right. Face straight across and pull by left. Same again (like Beneficial Traditions). This leaves four ladies at the top, four men at the bottom, and a couple in the middle who are NOT each other's partners. A2 -- on the ENDS star right and then left -- MEANWHILE the couple in the middle has a "brief encounter" -- gypsy and swing?. B1 -- Original first woman (now in 2nd place on the men's side) and original fifth man (now in 4th place on the women's side) "unwind" their star, casting up and around the short end (for the women) and casting down and around the short end (for the men), and leading their same sex star buddies back into line -- the "brief encounter" couple split and tag on to their respective unwinding stars. Everyone's original partner should magically appear as the lines re-coalesce. B2 -- The original TOP couple (now at the bottom) leads up the center to the top, and casts back down (peel the banana) to invert the set. And the dance begins again with A1 -- pull by on the right diagonal. There is NO recovery time. Winter Solstice Wendy Crouch 1988 Square set of four couples, with a 5th couple in the middle facing couple 1. There's a traditional tune, but any square AABB will do. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/ecd-modern/134-winter-solstice Contra dancers sometimes have trouble grasping the hey for 3 instead of hey for 4 -- remembering to tell them that their partner is NOT in the hey with them seems to help. Also, you can change the meanwhile "set and turn single" on the sides to a partner swing. Last December I called this one to Jingle Bells at the Baltimore contra. The part that the more analytically minded dancers really like is the last bit -- a grand square with a FIFTH couple in the mix. And the progression is lovely and smooth. April Blum

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 110, Issue 21

by Chip Hedler

(Not necessarily for publication) I just looked at Vol 110, Issue 21 and saw that the the link I resubmitted was rendered as http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pdf< http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pd>. In my Gmail the link functions correctly despite the weird "tag" containing the truncated version immediately after it. There is no such appendage in the message as it appears in my Sent mail. Any clues? I wonder if Bob Green's submission got lopped off before or after he sent it. Chip Hedler

11 years, 8 months

Unsual dances

by Jeanette Mill

I am researching dances outside of duple improper/becket formations for a small but experienced groups of dancers hungry for something a bit different. I am confident calling DI and becket, but haven't ventured much into other formations except circle mixers, so need to stick to things that will succeed for both me and the dancers. Other options would be DI or beckett but with something unusual happening. Suggestions welcome. And if anyone has instructions for Sackett's Harbor I'd be grateful to receive them. "The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen." Peter Barnes.

11 years, 8 months

RPDLW

by Linda Leslie

It has been mentioned in previous posts what a great weekend this event is for callers. I hope to see many of you in attendance in January! A few years ago, Chrissy Fowler and I gathered some of our calling and tune books into a collection that was used for a "silent auction" held during the weekend. The funds collected were then donated as a way to help defray costs. Callers at the weekend participated in a significant way so that we were able to contribute over $200 to the RPDLW! And we have decided to do it again. If you will be at the weekend, and would like to donate some books, CDs, or other interesting items, please let me know. Please email your reply to me only. Thanks! Linda

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 110, Issue 20

by Chip Hedler

...The Ralph Page Weekend syllabi are also a great place to find a variety of formations. Here is a link to one from 2006: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pd... Happy exploration! Bob Green try http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pdf<http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pd> (last character must not have gotten copied) Chip Hedler

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Mad, Mad World

by John Sweeney

"Mad, Mad World" is obviously a popular name for a dance with Mad Robins! I hope Al won't mind me posting his dance here: Mad, Mad World (by Al Green) Duple; Improper A1: Neighbour Balance (two hands) and Star Through Mad Robin (Ladies through the middle) A2: Hey (Ladies start Right Shoulder) B1: Ladies Cross Over; Partner Swing B2: Right & Left Through 1/2 Mad Robin; Right Hand Star 3/4 - look for New Neighbour Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

11 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] AAB or ABB, or ABC Tunes

by Edmund Croft

Rich Sbardella wrote: > I am looking for some available pre-recorded music with AAB, ABB, or ABC to use for a 48 step dance. Does anyone know of such a tune available for purchase? Scottish to the rescue! You can search the Strathspey Server database here <http://my.strathspey.org/dd/search/recording/> for 24-bar recordings. Some albums that have several 24-bar dances on them: Bobby Crowe - RSCDS Book 3 - 2x J8x24, 1x R8x24 Neil Barron - RSCDS Book 4 - 2x J8x32 Rob Gordon - Graded Book - 3x J8x24, 1x R8x24 ECD band Stradivarious's 'Celebrates' also has a couple of 24-bar dances. (SCD fiddle band, but reasonably contra-ish) Green Ginger's 'Gang on the Same Gate' has a R4x24 Triumph, and is on iTunes and Amazon mp3, if you want individual tracks. Edmund Croft, Cambridge, UK

11 years, 8 months

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