Contra Callers

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4380 discussions

by Julian Blechner

"I don't have enough Balance, Neighbor Box rhe Gnat, Larks Allemande Left dances" led me to a few dances, and I've got one that I wanted to check in with folks. It's similar to Jan Larsen's "Xi'an Warriors", but a R+L through instead of promenade, and a balance, box the gnat instead of the N Alle R, balance and swing instead of right shoulder round. Anyway.... Duple Imp. A1. N Bal, Box Gnat Larks Alle L 1.5x A2. P Bal, Swing B1. R+L Thru Robins Chain B2. Hey for 4 (Robins R, PL, Larks R, NL, etc) In dance, Julian Blechner

1 month, 3 weeks

How to run The Fan Dance?

by Lisa Sieverts

Hi all, I’m doing a wedding anniversary dance in a week and I think The Fan Dance would be good. But I can’t remember the details of how it goes. I’m thinking of the dance where there are three chairs in a row and two lines of people. One person sits in the middle chair, and one from either line sits next to them. The middle person holds a fan or other chotke. The middle person chooses one person to give the fan to and then dances with the other person. But what’s the timing and what kind of music? I used to do this a lot when I lived in Idaho but haven’t called it in eons. Thank you! Lisa Nelson, NH Lisa Sieverts 603-762-0235 lisa(a)lisasieverts.com

1 month, 3 weeks

Puttin' On The Dance 3 archive is live!!!!

by Emily Addison

Hey fellow contra callers Sharing this message on behalf of the POTD3 organizing team Thanks! Emily in Ottawa ====================================== Just a quick message to say that the archive of materials and photos from POTD3 (May 2-4 in Belfast Maine) has just gone live: https://www.puttinonthedance.org/potd3archive/ A big shout out to the archive team, facilitators and POTD3 participants for contributing to make the archive possible. Enjoy 🤗 Emily, Chrissy, Patty, & Lisa PS: Reminder that there are great archives from POTD1 and POTD2 as well!

2 months

Re: Looking for input on this dance I wrote

by Katherine Kitching

Whoops! I confess I didn't know how the numbers were assigned in Beckett, or how to designate the couple who are progressing upwards... Can you help me? Do we just call them the upward bound and downward bound couple? I did indeed mean the Lark who is progressing upwards. And thank you for the dance below! It's perfect as a first Hey dance and in fact i have something similar to that in my program (apologies I made a mistake when I sent my first email) Now looking for a second Hey dance with no chains, where they go down the hall.... I appreciate everyone's feedback and suggested dances and will make good use of it all! Kat k May 28, 2025 10:09:31 PM Alexandra Deis-Lauby <alex(a)villagewestdesign.com>: > First question is who is "lark 1"? Most choreographers call the number 1 couple the couple that progresses down the hall in a normal clockwise-progressing becket dance. It seems like in this case, you mean the opposite. If that is the case though, I don't think the dance progresses. Lark #1 would end up on the non-home side to start and end the hey. > > If you mean lark 1 as the normal lark 1 (the one the progress down the hall), then the circle would be once and a half+. Which is hard to do in 8 counts. > > > If you need a dead simple dance to teach a hey, I would suggest something like: > > Becket, CW > > A1 Slice left, LLFB > > A2 Larks allemand left once, Robins Allemand right once *** For teaching purposes, have robins stand back to back in the middle after the allemand.** > > B1 Hey! Pass partner left on the ends, right in the middle > > B2 At home, partner balance and swing. > > Prompt them to end the swing early and /point /across so the lark is on the left and robin is on the right. > > This dance has lots of “recovery” time: > * The slice and long lines each take 8 counts and the dancers don't have to travel far. > * The allemandes are only once around so if folks are slow to move, that’s ok. > * If they have ended the previous swing on the wrong side they can fix it with the one-role move in the middle > * The partner swing is long and has lots of time for them to end early and get ready. > * They spend a lot of time both on, and returning to their “home side." > > > > Alexandra Deis-lauby > *VILLAGE**WEST**DESIGN* > 646 283 3108 > villagewestdesign.com[http://villagewestdesign.com/] > Instagram[https://www.instagram.com/villagewestdesign/] | Facebook[https://www.facebook.com/VillageWestDesign] | Houzz[https://www.houzz.com/pro/villagewestdesign/village-west-design] > > >> On May 28, 2025, at 3:40 PM, Don Veino via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> It's fun and can be helpful to craft dances for specific purposes - you're getting some good input on your composition here. >> >> Back to your original purpose featuring the hey with only simple figures around it and little fuss, a classic dance is The Carousel by Tom Hinds. If you want to only do Becket, rotate it to start with the B2. (Note that *new* Robins allemande in the A1.) >> >> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10324 >> >> Tom's dance starts the hey in the same way as yours, with the first pass being on the side with your partner. For your training consideration, there's also the other hey start with the first pass being in the center, e.g. following from a chain. FWIW, here's an easier becket dance which features that start. It's at least the third generation of evolution on this sequence: >> >> Purple Haze - Becket LT/CW - Don Veino >> Riff off Purple Hays Variant (David Kaynor), riffing off Purple Heys (Peter Stix) >> >> A1 Slice Left, Cir LT 1x >> A2 LDY\RBN RH Chain, over and back >> B1 Full Hey, LDY\RBN Pass RT Ctr >> B2 PNR Bal Swing >> >> The similarity of the chain and hey feel seems to help build understanding/success with newer dancers. >> >> -Don >> Near Concord MA, family formerly from Lunenburg, NS >> >> >> On Wed, May 28, 2025, 11:57 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! >>> >>> As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the >>> specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that >>> are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) >>> >>> For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning >>> it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. >>> Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other >>> simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else >>> new or confusing. >>> >>> Other notes: >>> - we are dancing only in Becket >>> - swings are not necessary in each dance >>> >>> I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- >>> But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need the >>> Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the correct >>> order. >>> >>> I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin should >>> look behind them and see their partner following them - and reach a hand >>> to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, back to home >>> place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next couple. >>> But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. >>> >>> Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. >>> I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from another >>> dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow happy to give >>> credit to that, if any is due :) >>> >>> Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance >>> Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) >>> >>> Star right >>> Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping >>> hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the line >>> (This figure I've done before without any issues) >>> Lines of 4 down the hall, >>> Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line >>> >>> LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not >>> mistaken!) >>> Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner >>> All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass >>> left in the middle... >>> Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right shoulder >>> to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with their right >>> hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly take inside >>> hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their Lark ahead of >>> them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the Larks in single >>> file. >>> >>> Thank you for your thoughts, if any! >>> Kat Kitching >>> Halifax Contra Dances >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >

2 months

Re: Looking for input on this dance I wrote

by Alexandra Deis-Lauby

First question is who is "lark 1"? Most choreographers call the number 1 couple the couple that progresses down the hall in a normal clockwise-progressing becket dance. It seems like in this case, you mean the opposite. If that is the case though, I don't think the dance progresses. Lark #1 would end up on the non-home side to start and end the hey. If you mean lark 1 as the normal lark 1 (the one the progress down the hall), then the circle would be once and a half+. Which is hard to do in 8 counts. If you need a dead simple dance to teach a hey, I would suggest something like: Becket, CW A1 Slice left, LLFB A2 Larks allemand left once, Robins Allemand right once *** For teaching purposes, have robins stand back to back in the middle after the allemand.** B1 Hey! Pass partner left on the ends, right in the middle B2 At home, partner balance and swing. Prompt them to end the swing early and point across so the lark is on the left and robin is on the right. This dance has lots of “recovery” time: The slice and long lines each take 8 counts and the dancers don't have to travel far. The allemandes are only once around so if folks are slow to move, that’s ok. If they have ended the previous swing on the wrong side they can fix it with the one-role move in the middle The partner swing is long and has lots of time for them to end early and get ready. They spend a lot of time both on, and returning to their “home side.” Alexandra Deis-lauby VILLAGEWESTDESIGN 646 283 3108 villagewestdesign.com <http://villagewestdesign.com/> Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/villagewestdesign/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/VillageWestDesign> | Houzz <https://www.houzz.com/pro/villagewestdesign/village-west-design> > On May 28, 2025, at 9:09 PM, Alexandra Deis-Lauby <alex(a)villagewestdesign.com> wrote: > > First question is who is "lark 1"? Most choreographers call the number 1 couple the couple that progresses down the hall in a normal clockwise-progressing becket dance. It seems like in this case, you mean the opposite. If that is the case though, I don't think the dance progresses. Lark #1 would end up on the non-home side to start and end the hey. > > If you mean lark 1 as the normal lark 1 (the one the progress down the hall), then the circle would be once and a half+. Which is hard to do in 8 counts. > > > If you need a dead simple dance to teach a hey, I would suggest something like: > > Becket, CW > > A1 Slice left, LLFB > > A2 Larks allemand left once, Robins Allemand right once *** For teaching purposes, have robins stand back to back in the middle after the allemand.** > > B1 Hey! Pass partner left on the ends, right in the middle > > B2 At home, partner balance and swing. > > Prompt them to end the swing early and point across so the lark is on the left and robin is on the right. > > This dance has lots of “recovery” time: > The slice and long lines each take 8 counts and the dancers don't have to travel far. > The allemandes are only once around so if folks are slow to move, that’s ok. > If they have ended the previous swing on the wrong side they can fix it with the one-role move in the middle > The partner swing is long and has lots of time for them to end early and get ready. > They spend a lot of time both on, and returning to their “home side." > > > > Alexandra Deis-lauby > VILLAGEWESTDESIGN > 646 283 3108 > villagewestdesign.com <http://villagewestdesign.com/> > Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/villagewestdesign/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/VillageWestDesign> | Houzz <https://www.houzz.com/pro/villagewestdesign/village-west-design> > > >> On May 28, 2025, at 3:40 PM, Don Veino via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> It's fun and can be helpful to craft dances for specific purposes - you're getting some good input on your composition here. >> >> Back to your original purpose featuring the hey with only simple figures around it and little fuss, a classic dance is The Carousel by Tom Hinds. If you want to only do Becket, rotate it to start with the B2. (Note that *new* Robins allemande in the A1.) >> >> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10324 <https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10324> >> >> Tom's dance starts the hey in the same way as yours, with the first pass being on the side with your partner. For your training consideration, there's also the other hey start with the first pass being in the center, e.g. following from a chain. FWIW, here's an easier becket dance which features that start. It's at least the third generation of evolution on this sequence: >> >> Purple Haze - Becket LT/CW - Don Veino >> Riff off Purple Hays Variant (David Kaynor), riffing off Purple Heys (Peter Stix) >> >> A1 Slice Left, Cir LT 1x >> A2 LDY\RBN RH Chain, over and back >> B1 Full Hey, LDY\RBN Pass RT Ctr >> B2 PNR Bal Swing >> >> The similarity of the chain and hey feel seems to help build understanding/success with newer dancers. >> >> -Don >> Near Concord MA, family formerly from Lunenburg, NS >> >> >> On Wed, May 28, 2025, 11:57 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! >> >> As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the >> specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that >> are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) >> >> For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning >> it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. >> Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other >> simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else >> new or confusing. >> >> Other notes: >> - we are dancing only in Becket >> - swings are not necessary in each dance >> >> I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- >> But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need the >> Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the correct >> order. >> >> I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin should >> look behind them and see their partner following them - and reach a hand >> to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, back to home >> place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next couple. >> But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. >> >> Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. >> I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from another >> dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow happy to give >> credit to that, if any is due :) >> >> Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance >> Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) >> >> Star right >> Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping >> hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the line >> (This figure I've done before without any issues) >> Lines of 4 down the hall, >> Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line >> >> LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not >> mistaken!) >> Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner >> All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass >> left in the middle... >> Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right shoulder >> to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with their right >> hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly take inside >> hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their Lark ahead of >> them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the Larks in single >> file. >> >> Thank you for your thoughts, if any! >> Kat Kitching >> Halifax Contra Dances >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> >

2 months

Looking for input on this dance I wrote

by Katherine Kitching

Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else new or confusing. Other notes: - we are dancing only in Becket - swings are not necessary in each dance I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need the Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the correct order. I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin should look behind them and see their partner following them - and reach a hand to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, back to home place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next couple. But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from another dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow happy to give credit to that, if any is due :) Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) Star right Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the line (This figure I've done before without any issues) Lines of 4 down the hall, Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not mistaken!) Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass left in the middle... Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right shoulder to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with their right hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly take inside hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their Lark ahead of them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the Larks in single file. Thank you for your thoughts, if any! Kat Kitching Halifax Contra Dances

2 months

addendum Re: Looking for input on this dance I wrote

by Katherine Kitching

Whoops, sorry everyone- I just re-checked my program: In fact we would do one dance prior to this one below, with a full Hey - The prior dance would keep things even more simple by not having anyone go down the hall - the Hey would take place in B1-- and the dance would end with a partner balance-and-swing (or two hand turn), in order to reset everyone to home place before progressing. So indeed the dance below is intended to have folks practice the hey with the slight added confusion of being out of home place :) > Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers > <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > Wednesday, May 28, 2025 12:57 PM > Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! > > As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the > specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that > are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) > > For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning > it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. > Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other > simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else > new or confusing. > > Other notes: > - we are dancing only in Becket > - swings are not necessary in each dance > > I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- > But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need > the Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the > correct order. > > I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin > should look behind them and see their partner following them - and > reach a hand to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, > back to home place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next > couple. > But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. > > Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. > I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from > another dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow > happy to give credit to that, if any is due :) > > Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance > Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) > > Star right > Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping > hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the > line (This figure I've done before without any issues) > Lines of 4 down the hall, > Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line > > LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not > mistaken!) > Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner > All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass > left in the middle... > Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right > shoulder to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with > their right hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly > take inside hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their > Lark ahead of them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the > Larks in single file. > > Thank you for your thoughts, if any! > Kat Kitching > Halifax Contra Dances > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to > contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

2 months

My Latest Crypto Scam (New Dance)

by Jerome Grisanti

I'm very proud to promote My Latest Crypto Scam (aka Jerome's Latest Crypto Scam). Unlike most such scams, all invested parties can actually expect a payoff, though not all at the same time. I must acknowledge inspiration from JoLaine Jones-Pokorney's GOD's Chariot Rides Again. Enjoy! My Latest Crypto Scam aka Jerome's Latest Crypto Scam By Jerome Grisanti Improper contra - duple minor A1: (8) Neighbor mirror do-si-do (twos split ones) (8) Ones swing A2: (5) In a line of four, go down the hall (W2-M1-W1-M2) (4) "Tag the line": as couples, trade while facing down; individually, turn alone (5) Lines return (W1-M2-W2-M1) (2) Face your neighbor B1: (4, 12) Neighbor balance & swing B2: (4, 4) Pass through across; Neighbors gate 3/4 (twos moving forward) (8) Twos swing; face up I reassure dancers that if they do-si-do instead of see-saw, or do a courtesy turn instead of gate, it's all okay, since dancing the exact moves as dictated by Jerome just plays into the hands of Big Contra. It is important, however, to remember if you're a one or a two. Enjoy! If you feel compelled to send money, address it to the CDSS. — Jerome Grisanti P.S. In case you didn't notice, no role terms are needed. Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

2 months, 1 week

Dance Experience Survey (specifically for New England dancers)

by Sandy Lafleur

Greetings from NH - An old high school friend of my daughter's reached out to me for help getting a survey out to contra dancers. Jen is someone personally known to me as we would go dancing together when she was a teen. How cool to see that while in her late 30's she is: Jennifer P. Agans, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management College of Health and Human Development The Pennsylvania State University Her request is this: "I am now a researcher studying recreation and well-being, and I'm doing a study of contra dancers' experiences. Would you be willing to help distribute my survey to the contra dance community in New England?" Here is the link to her survey: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M8Jyz3kzpVhzym Thanks, everyone! Sandy Sandy Lafleur PO Box 877285 Burns Hill RoadWilton, NH 03086 (603) 654-1245 Since the beginning of man the hours between the coming of night and the coming of sleep have belonged to the tellers of tales and the makers of music.

2 months, 2 weeks

Re: Is there an app?

by Masha Goodman Crawford

https://www.dance.ravitz.us/mrd.php~ Masha

2 months, 2 weeks

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