Contra Callers

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4374 discussions

by Jerome Grisanti

Beth, I enjoyed picturing all those squares you shared -- sure sounds like a fun program. I do have a question about Kitchen Lancers. Since you indicated well-phrased New Englandy tunes, does that break evenly into an AABB structure? If so, can you indicate those phrases? I also presume that after the sides jump in, the formation resembles a longways proper set as for Virginia Reel. Is the sliding across the hall (couples), or up and down the hall (lines)? Kitchen Lancers - well phrased New Englandy tunes First couple promenade inside the square, face out Sides jump in behind the ones into lines. Forward & Back Slide right & left Lady one lead the line of ladies around the line of gents Gent one lead the line of gents around the line of ladies Face partner, lines go BACK and forward Swing partner home to place in square All forward & back twice -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

12 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] ONS Squares

by Martha Wild

Birdie in the Cage is an easy one. I tell couples to choose who is the birdie and who is the crow, then I don't care what genders they are or if they open up with the woman on the right, and the calls are all "birdie in the cage, birdie hop out and crow hop in" anyway. I do a break figure where I call "crows" (or birdies) to the center with a right hand star, back by the left, see your partner do-si-do, swing (elbow or two hand turn if regular swing is too complicated), promenade around. If I have five couples that want to dance, I just do it with a five couple "square", have them number themselves 1-5, and it all works. Martha On Sep 23, 2012, at 10:10 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > callers(a)sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > callers-request(a)sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Quiet or am I no longer getting posts? (Robert Livingston) > 2. Re: Hmmm (Kalia Kliban) > 3. Re: Hmmm (James Saxe) > 4. Re: Quiet or am I no longer getting posts? (James Saxe) > 5. ONS Squares from Beth (Jerome Grisanti) > 6. Re: ONS Squares from Beth (James Saxe) > 7. Re: ONS Squares from Beth (James Saxe) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 09:03:12 -0700 (PDT) > From: Robert Livingston <rlivngstn(a)yahoo.com> > To: "callers(a)sharedweight.net" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Quiet or am I no longer getting posts? > Message-ID: > <1348416192.54369.YahooMailNeo(a)web112605.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Lots of circle lefts, forward & backs and? promenades as you would in a circle dance > Single active couple; out to the right and circle 4 - leave that couple (important that you say this) > on to the next and circle 4, etc? All home with forward and back and/or promenades.? Use fiddle tunes or simple songs: Red River Valley, You Are My Sunshine > All forward and back, ladies (gents) center back to back, gents go right single file. goin' wrong, other way back.? Swing corner, whatever;? Use fiddle tunes, maybe Comin' Round the Mtn. > > Last night at a wedding reception: 1st couple back to back separate around the outside of the set? (could swing each other as they pass half-way round)? All the way around swing into the center while we circle 6 hands around? All home swing and promenade.? Fiddle tune or Wabash Cannonball, something like that. > > Also did Little Sisters Make a Ring - added the men using arm turn/stars rather than a circle (rings) > in the center > > Buffalo Gals / Marching Through Georgia / Cage the Bird, 7 Hands round / Grapevine Twist > A simple Forward 6 - all F& B, head or side gents bring back the ladies held in each hand - do something simple here, not right hand high left hand under. > > Using heads or sides, make up your own quadrille but rather than using chains, do something like heads forward, gents bring back opposite lady, or gents cross to swing. > > > Cutaway dances 6-4-2 - Dancers with one couple is working and no partner changes are good. > > Grand right and left without allemandes. > > Lots of circle lefts, forward and backs and promenades; show 2 hand swings (a swing is just a 2 person circle left for all ages)? if the dancers are getting disorientated and jumpy with elbow swings. > > The bonding can be deeper between couples in a square set - you can't drop out - you are recognized individually and as being responsible to the rest - so you pull for each other.? I'm glad to see squares getting more attention in Country Dance. > > Bob Livingston > Middletown, CT > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Delia Clark <deliaclark8(a)gmail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 10:03 AM > Subject: Re: [Callers] Quiet or am I no longer getting posts? > > Which squares did you do?? I find that some of my squares fall apart as easily as duple minors with new dancers, but it may just be my calling :-)? My stand-bys for less experienced dancers are: Simple Square, Cumberland Square 8 and Redwing.? Can you recommend others?! > > > On Sep 23, 2012, at 9:58 AM, beth(a)hands4.com wrote: > >> I have not seen a post on this list since May. I'm wondering if I have been dropped or are you all just being very quiet? Or is something else going on? >> >> To keep this on topic just in case it gets posted: I had a wonderful one nighter last night. Three squares in a large garage. All circles and squares and the Virginia Reel. I would never try to do a duple minor at an event like that. The group was very, very happy. Squares rule! >> >> Beth Parkes >> <winmail.dat>_______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> > > Delia Clark > PO Box 45 > Taftsville, VT 05073 > 802-457-2075 > deliaclark8(a)gmail.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 09:19:42 -0700 > From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Hmmm > Message-ID: <505F369E.3050509(a)sbcglobal.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 9/23/2012 8:10 AM, beth(a)hands4.com wrote: >> I just noticed that I have gotten lots of messages this late summer/fall. But it has been quiet for the last couple of weeks. Sorry to mislead on my original post. >> Beth > > I know what you mean though, it was awfully quiet for a while. I > noticed it too. > > Kalia > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 12:13:02 -0700 > From: James Saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Hmmm > Message-ID: <EC04F764-79A8-49AC-B112-8F4F491C93A6(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > If anyone ever wonders whether their mail from (or to) > this group--the SharedWeight callers forum--isn't getting > through, one way to check would be to look at the archive > > http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/ > > and see whether the latest archived messages have reached > your inbox (or whether the last messages you've sent have > been archived). > > It's also easy to navigate from the SharedWeight home page > to the archives for the other SW forums. > > --Jim > > On Sep 23, 2012, at 9:19 AM, Kalia Kliban wrote: > >> On 9/23/2012 8:10 AM, beth(a)hands4.com wrote: >>> I just noticed that I have gotten lots of messages this late summer/ >>> fall. But it has been quiet for the last couple of weeks. Sorry to >>> mislead on my original post. >>> Beth >> >> I know what you mean though, it was awfully quiet for a while. I >> noticed it too. >> >> Kalia >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:15:43 -0700 > From: James Saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Quiet or am I no longer getting posts? > Message-ID: <EC7C10F7-7F85-4C63-9D2B-CB2A8C18CD78(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > On Sep 23, 2012, at 8:05 AM, beth(a)hands4.com wrote: > >> Here's my program for last night: >> >> ... >> >> Since private party dances are first and foremost a party, the >> breaks are longer than at other dances, and the dancing shorter. .... > > I'd be interested in hearing what Beth, or anyone else, does > to get people back onto the floor after a break (or at the > beginning of the dancing) at ONS events. > > * * * * * * * * * * * * > > One of the few ONS gigs I've called was a company party where > the band's repertoire included songs as well as dance music. > The format for the event, announced well in advance, was dinner > followed by dancing. I don't recall whether the dancing was > described as "square" dancing, "barn dance" or what, but I'm > pretty sure people were expecting some kind of dancing with > a caller/teacher/leader, not jut a band playing current popular > music that they could bop around to. > > Anyway, when people were pretty much finished with dinner, the > band started with a song. This helped get people's attention > and let them know that the dancing was about to start. (There > might also have been some announcement by someone from the > company before or after the song.) Then we did two or three > dances, and took a break for a few minutes. I decided that > starting with a song had worked well, and the band had more > songs that they were interested in playing, so we followed > the same pattern for the rest of the evening, using a song to > mark the end of each break and the start of the next set of > dances. > > The pattern of song, dances, break, song, dances break, ... > seemed to work very nicely on that particular occasion. I > don't have enough experience with ONS gigs to say when and > would or wouldn't be good in general. Obviously, it wouldn't > work with a non-singing band. Also, I think the songs helped > connect the band and the attendees in ways that would have been > irrelevant for an event where the caller was using recorded > music. > > * * * * * * * * * * * * > > One topic I've always discussed with event organizers before > taking on a ONS gig is whether the organizer is committed to > helping get people onto the dance floor, including by getting > onto the floor him/herself and also by making sure that the > dance aspect of the event is well publicized in advance > (including, btw, the fact that it's a kind of dancing where > high heels are strongly discouraged). > > * * * * * * * * * * * * > > At weddings, a grand march led by the bride and groom (with > caller and a partner as the couple just behind) can be an > effective way to gather people for dancing. You can meander > around past all the tables, etc. and people will see a that > there's something going on that (a) involves the wedding couple > and (b) is clearly simple enough for everyone to join in. Once > you've got a nice long parade of couples, you can lead them > around into a circle and--poof!--you're set up for a simple > circle dance. > > One word of caution, though. The first time I did this, the > band (an Irish band that I hadn't worked with before, hired > by the wedding couple) played rahhther faster than I was > expecting for the circle dance (a mixer), and it didn't seem > as if slowing them down on the fly was going to be a happening > thing. I noticed an older woman (perhaps an aunt of the bride > or groom?) who looked like she might be tiring and wanting to > drop out, but not doing so lest she abandon her partner of the > moment. I was just about to signal the band to go out when a > woman on the sidelines also noticed and stepped in to take the > place of the tiring dancer. So I let the dance run a few more > rounds (still not as long as I'd have run it, even for a > "non-dancer" crowd, if the tempo were more moderate), before > stopping. And then I talked with the band about keeping the > tempo more moderate for the remaining dances. > > --Jim > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:24:38 -0500 > From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] ONS Squares from Beth > Message-ID: > <CAD6SnUTG3gHgjF7mNhuTTw=pwW-TkEB4PioSRM1eEJFnGTRUgw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Beth, > > I enjoyed picturing all those squares you shared -- sure sounds like a fun > program. I do have a question about Kitchen Lancers. Since you indicated > well-phrased New Englandy tunes, does that break evenly into an AABB > structure? If so, can you indicate those phrases? I also presume that after > the sides jump in, the formation resembles a longways proper set as for > Virginia Reel. Is the sliding across the hall (couples), or up and down the > hall (lines)? > > Kitchen Lancers - well phrased New Englandy tunes > > First couple promenade inside the square, face out > Sides jump in behind the ones into lines. > Forward & Back > Slide right & left > Lady one lead the line of ladies around the line of gents > Gent one lead the line of gents around the line of ladies > Face partner, lines go BACK and forward > Swing partner home to place in square > All forward & back twice > > > -- > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com > > For the good are always the merry, > Save by an evil chance, > And the merry love the fiddle > And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:07:05 -0700 > From: James Saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] ONS Squares from Beth > Message-ID: <71C345BE-06DB-439B-A47A-82374D8CD556(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > On Sep 23, 2012, at 8:24 PM, Jerome Grisanti wrote: > >> Beth, >> >> I enjoyed picturing all those squares you shared -- ... > > I enjoyed seeing the descriptions of Beth's squares also, > and I have different question for Beth than Jerome had. > > Beth, you described the square "Ladies Chain" (named after > a featured figure) as a "quasi-singing call" and you described > "Heads Arch" as done "with Midwestern patter calling" but your > descriptions of both dances simply state the choreography > without giving the calls. Could you share the "quasi-singing" > words you use for "Ladies Chain" and the patter you use for > "Heads Arch"? If so, it could be helpful if you would also > give some indication of the timing, for example by writing out > the calls 4 or 8 beats to a line with black lines lines > separating 8-bar or 16-bar chunks. > > I recognize that call timing can sometimes involve syncopations > or other nuances that are very hard to communicate in print > without the aid of an audio recording. I also recognize that > any caller who wanted to use one of these dances would have the > responsibility of adapting the calls, if necessary, to a form > that he or she could deliver comfortably and effectively to > dancers present. But I'd still be interesting in seeing call > lines that you might use. > > --Jim > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:10:44 -0700 > From: James Saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] ONS Squares from Beth > Message-ID: <9934B32B-D776-46A6-9D14-513ABA68A76D(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > On Sep 23, 2012, at 10:07 PM, I (Jim Saxe) wrote: > >> ... some indication of the timing, for example by writing out >> the calls 4 or 8 beats to a line with black lines lines >> separating 8-bar or 16-bar chunks. > > Ooops. The words "black lines lines" should have read > "blank lines". > > --Jim > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > ***************************************

12 years, 9 months

Hmmm

by beth＠hands4.com

I just noticed that I have gotten lots of messages this late summer/fall. But it has been quiet for the last couple of weeks. Sorry to mislead on my original post. Beth

12 years, 9 months

Quiet or am I no longer getting posts?

by beth＠hands4.com

I have not seen a post on this list since May. I'm wondering if I have been dropped or are you all just being very quiet? Or is something else going on? To keep this on topic just in case it gets posted: I had a wonderful one nighter last night. Three squares in a large garage. All circles and squares and the Virginia Reel. I would never try to do a duple minor at an event like that. The group was very, very happy. Squares rule! Beth Parkes

12 years, 9 months

mixers for regular dancers not ons

by Laur

I'm looking for interesting/ fun mixers to use at a regular dance series. I haven't had the opportunity to collect any mixers while dancing around this year (they are sometimes few and far between) and so - here I am! Thanks in advance. Laurie P West MI ~ When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance. ~Hans Bos~ ~

12 years, 9 months

Hull's Victory

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

[apologies for duplicate posting] Coming up in ten days is the 200th anniversary of Hull's Victory-- August 19, 1812. Callers who have a dance on that weekend might want to mark the occasion by calling the dance if it's appropriate for your crowd and if the musicians can play the name tune. There's a great story that goes along with the details of the battle between the USS Constitution and the British warship, HMS Guerriere. You can find it told in "Cracking Chestnuts," available through CDSS. If your dancers are up for it, you can spin the yarn, or tell it to those interested during the break. And in A1, I like to encourage dancers to balance forward and back, rather than the usual right and left; it's a physical remnant of the cannons firing and recoiling. David Millstone Lebanon, NH

12 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Hull's Victory/Sackett's Harbor

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

--- You wrote: Can anyone provide contact info for Tod whittemore? --- end of quote --- Done, off list. David

12 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Callers COmpuerized systems for Dnace Notes

by Carolyn Shearman

In response to Kalia and systems for ECD, I have been organizing the ECD program in Arkansas for the past two years and have a number if defining criteria for each program and I don't know if a computer system would help. Please let me know. I still use a spreadsheet for listing which dances were used in each program, a program lists of dance instructions and music, and cards for all the dances used to-date. First, our band insists that we only have 2 new tunes to learn for each monthly dance so I have to track what we have used in each program and not introduce more than two. Next, I need to have 8 main dances and two extras for each program. They need to include easier ones at the beginning and gradually work up to the experienced dances. I like to have variety in the formation so they are not all Longways, Duple Minor. Or start with Set and turn single. I try to include at least one USA dance and I end with a waltz. AND, I try to vary the music with peppy tunes, minor keys, modern music, and classic music. For each program I specify the tune, the dance instructions and a video link to a performance if I can find one. I have 3 additional people who call with me and we divide up the program so I think it helps if they can see "their" dances performed and especially if it is taught in the video as well. Meeting these criteria in each program is a tall order and I could use any help or suggestions you have. It takes me about 4-6 hours per program to set one up and then log everything in my personal system of spread, program list, and cards. Thanks, Carolyn > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 97, Issue 7 **************************************

12 years, 9 months

Square Dance Weekend at Brasstown

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

There's another great Square Dance Weekend coming up. If you can't make it yourself. please spread the word! The John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC presents: Traditional Square Dance Weekend - October 26-28, 2012 Featuring internationally known callers Kathy Anderson, Bob Dalsemer, and Tony Parkes With amazing music by Sam Bartlett, Claudio Buchwald, Steve Hickman, John Devine Weekend highlights: Friday night square dance Saturday workshops: Modern New England Squares - Tony Kentucky Running Set - Bob Sets In Order: Squares of the 1960's - Kathy The Singing Squares of Otto Wood - Bob Lancers and Quadrilles - Tony New Squares with an Old Feeling. - Kathy Plus: Great Callers of the Past - presentation by Tony Stuntology with Sam Bartlett Saturday evening dance (including some contras) - Sunday morning Farewell Dance The Folk School offers good food, comfortable accommodations, and a beautiful mountain setting. For more information : 1-800-FOLK-SCH (1-800-365-5724) http://www.folkschool.org dance(a)folkschool.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob Dalsemer Music and Dance Coordinator John C. Campbell Folk School One Folk School Road Brasstown, NC 28902 Phone: 1-800-FOLK-SCH (365-5724) or 828-837-2775 Fax: 828-837-8637 Visit our home page at http://www.folkschool.org

12 years, 9 months

Bouncy Swinging

by John Sweeney

John W Gintell said "Also emphasize that swinging is horizontal not vertical. I've often noticed beginners bouncing up and down which makes it harder and more tiring - this isn't Irish Set dancing." Hmmm... Sorry, but I have never seen any bouncy Irish Set dancing. Have a look at the swing 0:39 seconds in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj13osgy2M0 - looks pretty smooth to me! Yes, there is slight vertical movement when they are stepping, but, since they bend their knees and do it skilfully the movement is tiny. A much better example for bouncy swinging is English ceilidh dancing. Especially when the music is a slow hornpipe and you are supposed to bounce up and down :-) And of course I agree entirely that a good contra buzz-step swing should be smooth - I always tell people to relax and bend their knees slightly to help reduce the bounce. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

12 years, 9 months

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