David, thanks in particular for your comments. Mixers can indeed be interesting, and just like contras and squares, I know there is a variety within the genre that provides opportunity to select one that is optimal for the specific mix of experience levels present, as well as the intangible "mood" of the group.
Here's another thought that just occurred to me: At least around here in the mid-Atlantic, callers typically do not learn anything about mixers (why? when? which one?) in callers workshops. If anything, we pick them up as we go along especially if we do weddings and such. This clearly is a regional difference.
Another potential difficulty which could come up here is the built-in downside to circle type dances: you need more than 10-12 dancers, but not too many because the circle does not use space efficiently. Our hall is about 30' x 50' including chairs lining the walls. The circle formation creates dead space in the center, and we don't have the room for multiple circles.
We had our dance last night, and our guest caller did call a circle mixer. It was a well attended night. With the folks present the circle was right at the edge of discomfort. Only 4-6 more people in the circle would have made it next to impossible. I saw a fair number of people sitting out, and I don't know if their thinking was "it's just a mixer so I'll rest this one" or perhaps "it's already too crowded."
The rest of the night, the two contra sets accommodated all present with room to spare. I'm thinking this dance space may be only marginally suited to circles, and when I call there on 3/30 I'll most likely opt for a scatter instead unless the attendance is lighter.
Thank you all for your input. I'm aiming to make the mixer in my program as pleasant as possible.
Brian Hamshar
-----Original Message-----
Date: Saturday, March 03, 2012 9:08:01 am
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
From: "David Millstone" <David.Millstone(a)valley.net>
Subject: [Callers] Mixers: [was: Request about requests]
I'm fascinated by this discussion about mixers. with most of the comments so far
indicating that a) the authors don't like 'em, b) they don't use them, c) they
don't see the point, and d) dancers don't like 'em.
This strikes me as another example of people liking what they are accustomed
to. One of my caller mentors was Ted Sannella, who usually programmed a mixer
as the third dance of an evening; Tony Parkes, also, I believe, puts one there
for similar reasons. By this time, the caller can assume that the bulk of the
dancers have arrived, and a mixer gives everyone a chance to see everyone else
who's there. Mixers come in all shapes-- Sicilian circle, big circle / big set,
scattered couples, lines of three... They are a systematic way of taking new
couples clinging to each other and mixing them up. They give experienced helpful
dancers a chance to learn who's new, to note that person to ask later in the evening.
They add choreographic variety to a program.
I applaud the Charlottesville community for putting such an expectation in place.
In a short time, dancers there will come to expect a mixer in the program as the
normal thing. Who knows? Perhaps we can look forward to other communities giving
explicit instructions to callers: "We'd like the evening's program to contain
a few dances that are not duple improper or Becket contras" or maybe "We'd like
the caller to go onto the floor at least once in a night to illustrate a style
point."
As a caller who gets to work in a variety of venues, I love it when a community
has formulated such guidelines. It lets me know that what I'm doing that night
fits into an established pattern, that those local dancers are accustomed to some
variety in their program, or that they look forward to improving their dancing
skill.
Larry Jennings coined the "zesty contras' moniker and worked hard to bring that
ideal into reality. Among his most useful contributions to us all was stressing
the importance of "vision" for a caller and for a dance series. At this fall's
"Puttin' On the Dance" weekend conference that attracted 80 dance organizers from
the Northeast and beyond, the very first session for everyone focused on that
key ingredient. The notes from that conference are here:
http://www.puttinonthedance.org/post-conference/archive/
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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At the Dare To Be Square weekend in November, we did several dances that started
in a big circle, but the essence of the dance was a series of two-couple figures
that took place anywhere on the floor.
http://squaredancehistory.vidcaster.com/DbJm/harlem-rosette-big-set-square-…
This one was called by Larry Edelman. It started with couples dancing with other
couples and moving on as a couple. Later during the dance, Larry changes the calls
so that dancers swing the opposite person and keep that one for the next promenade.
---
http://squaredancehistory.vidcaster.com/44TM/pull-the-lady-thru-mixer/
This one, called by Phil Jamison, is related to:
Kentucky Reel
<http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/WholeSet.html#Kentucky%20R…>
and
Borrowdale Exchange
<http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/WholeSet.html#Borrowdale%2…>.
---
http://squaredancehistory.vidcaster.com/22hU/southern-appalachian-squares-3…
This is another one called by Phil Jamison. It started in a big set, and it could
have been two concentric circles because not much needs to happen in the circle.
As you'll see in the video, starting around 1:00, couples are off on their own,
moving at their own pace. No, it's not a mixer in the usual sense, but you and
your partner get to interact in a fun way with lots of people and you certainly
do a lot of swinging with others all over the hall.
---
MIXERS IN SHORT LINES
http://squaredancehistory.vidcaster.com/E5jB/southern-appalachian-squares-5…
This is a simple one in short lines, but you see in the video that after a while
people find some pretty creaative ways of making things more interesting. No,
this may not appeal to the dances Ralph Page termed "pickle faces," but that's
where picking the right dance is the caller's responsibility.
Another fun dance, for the right people, is Julian's Jolly, which comes from the
English ceilidh tradition:
Julian's Jolly longways for 6-7 couples,
works well with bouncy jigs such as Off She Goes or Tenpenny Jigs
A1 Couples sashay down and back
A2 R shoulder do-si-do; L shoulder do-si-do
B1 Clap your own knees 2x, clap right hand with partner 2x; repeat with left hands
Clap: Knees, Right, Knees, Left; your own together, your own behind back, clap
both with opposite
B2 Swing person on R diag., while bottom man races to top of set to swing 1st
woman
The woman don't progress; they get a new partner by the men coming to them for
the swing.
---
MIXERS FOR GROUPS OF THREE DANCERS
If there's not enough room to make one big circle, sometimes doing a dance where
people are in lines of three facing LOD around the hall is a way of packing more
into the space.
Larry Edelman called one he titled "Silly Threesome"
http://squaredancehistory.vidcaster.com/e2a8H/silly-threesome/
Brian DeMarcus, now in Anchorage but with deep roots in southern dance traditions,
has a composition that starts with folks in that same formation
3x3 Bow Knot Mixer (Brian DeMarcus)
Lines of 3 like Spokes of a Wheel Facing ccw
A1 Lines of 3 Walk Forward (8)
RH High, LH Low, Reverse Direction of Line (8)
A2 Lines of 3 Walk Forward (8)
RH High, LH Low, Reverse Direction of Line (8)
B1 LH High, Rt person duck under to center of set (8)
and Circle Left with others. Two that made arch swing on
the outside of set. (8)
B2 Outside Two Promenade, while insides Circle Rt
Inside join up with any Twosome to reform Lines of 3
The transition from A2 to B1 is a continuous motion.
In a more New England vein:
Ted's Solo Mixer
Ted Sannella
Formation: individuals stand anywhere in the hall
A1 Find someone and promenade, anywhere
A2 LH turn, once and a half
Left shoulder dosido
B1 Balance and swing
B2 Two-hand turn
Dosido right shoulder, once and a half... and find someone new
Set a Crochet
A1 Promeande Quebecois style (gent on left with R arm around partner's waist,
woman with L hand resting on his R shoulder)
A2 Gents hold on to partner, link L arms with another gent, all four wheel around
counterclockwise
B1 Ladies chain over and back
B2 Swing opposite, who becomes your new partner
GENERAL COMMENT: For anyone who gets this far, I'll just note that all of these
don't take very long to teach, they shuffle people around in often unexpected
ways, and that with cheerful music played at a good clip, they're lots of fun.
No need to run 'em really long, certainly nowhere near as long as most contras
go.
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
I'm not sure yet. The board of our Charlottesville Friday night dance just introduced a new policy requiring callers to program a mixer during the first quarter of every dance evening. I'm not sure of my opinion on that yet. At least I did manage to hear about this prior to my next gig at that series. If I got a request on the spot, I imagine it would depend on what request and my comfort level with that material.
Brian Hamshar
Central Virginia
-----Original Message-----
Date: Friday, March 02, 2012 6:50:41 pm
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
From: "Chris Page" <chriscpage(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [Callers] Request about requests
I'm curious -- how do you handle requests?
That is, at an event when a dancer or an organizer comes up to the
stage and asks you to do a particular dance or type of dance?
-Chris Page
San Diego
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
I love mixers! I love dancing them and I always include a mixer when I call
a dance, generally in about that position others have identified, third
dance from the top. I have not noticed my community balking at dancing
them, perhaps because it seems normal to us. Many of our home and visiting
callers do these dances as part of the program. I also very much appreciate
the points made by other callers in this thread on the topic.
Cheers,
Maura, Ottawa, Ontario
I suggested to another caller here that she use a dance with a "Laddie's Chain"
Martha
On Mar 2, 2012, at 7:20 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Dorcas Hand)
> 2. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Bob Green)
> 3. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Dorcas Hand)
> 4. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (David Millstone)
> 5. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Linda Leslie)
> 6. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Dorcas Hand)
> 7. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Jack Mitchell)
> 8. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Grant Goodyear)
> 9. Re: St. Paddy Day theme dances? (Perry Shafran)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:11:29 -0600
> From: Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <68BE1BAE269CBC4B80BD58B034C86C9901D3E70C74A4(a)mx1.networkservice.local>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one - dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see any with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title. Heck - I guess I could even use Snakes.
>
> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order. Besides wearing a green skirt!
>
> Dorcas Hand
> Houston TX
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:15:02 -0600
> From: Bob Green <bobgreen(a)swbell.net>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <CALRzhZJ=Ti6o3Lv9e9MWmhTQy9GLuH8bWyzjG4x12QL0nnKMAg(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> There is *Sharon of the
> Green*<http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/ecd-modern/243-sharon-of-the-green.ht…>,
> but that is an English style dance to *Green Gowned Lass*. but pretty
> contra friendly except for the lack of a swing.
>
> Bob
>
> On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one -
>> dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a
>> come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see any
>> with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title. Heck - I guess I
>> could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order. Besides
>> wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:42:53 -0600
> From: Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <68BE1BAE269CBC4B80BD58B034C86C9901D3E70C74A7(a)mx1.networkservice.local>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> thanks
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Bob Green
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2012 7:15 PM
> To: Caller's discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
>
> There is *Sharon of the
> Green*<http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/ecd-modern/243-sharon-of-the-green.ht…>,
> but that is an English style dance to *Green Gowned Lass*. but pretty contra friendly except for the lack of a swing.
>
> Bob
>
> On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one -
>> dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a
>> come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see
>> any with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title. Heck - I
>> guess I could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order.
>> Besides wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: 01 Mar 2012 19:53:43 -0500
> From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID: <151477071(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> --- Dorcas wrote: I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even
> one - dance that would work to pick up the theme?
>
> In The Country Dance Book, by Beth Tolman and Ralph Page, you'll find a chapter
> entitled "Thanks to the Irish." It includes St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (a
> 48 bar dance), Larry O'Gaff, and, of course, Rory O'More.
>
> Do you want to include a singing square? The Lloyd Shaw Foundation has complete
> instructions for Four Leaf Clover on its website:
>
> http://lloydshaw.org/Catalogue/CueSheets/Square/FourLeafClover.htm
>
> It's a simple dance that could be used in lots of settings, and I bet you'll get
> dancers joining in on the refrain.
>
> David Millstone
> Lebanon, NH
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 20:40:50 -0500
> From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID: <D03E0690-2B9F-46A2-A0FE-175895546143(a)comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> I have the following dances in my collection. The first I have never
> called, but might please folks who do ECD. The other two I have
> called: they work well.
> Have fun! Linda Leslie
>
>
> Saint Paddy's Day
> Kirston Koths
> Type: Contra
> Formation: Duple-Improper
> Level: Int
>
> A1 -----------
> (16) Neighbors balance and swing
> A2 -----------
> (8) Ladies chain
> (8) Long lines go forward and back (star left better?)
> B1 -----------
> (8) Trail buddies allemande left twice (vvar: alle right once)
> (8) Partners swing
> B2 -----------
> (6) Circle left 3/4 face up and down)
> (6) Partners full sashay: (facing neighbor and maintaining eye contact
> as much as possible, walk clockwise around partner, gents forward
> first--like a Mad Robin)
> (4) Pass through along the set
> Other Notes: This dance was written for Pattie Whitehurst. The figures
> seem to fit Fair Jenny's Jig or Irish jig-to-reel combinations, and
> some say the dance feels best after a dinner of corned beef and cabbage.
>
> And this one, by Martha. I have called this one, and dancers seem to
> have enjoyed it! However, I believe the Paddy of the title is a cat....
> Paddy on the Computer Chair
> Martha Wild
> Type: Contra
> Formation: Duple-Improper
> Level: Int
>
> A1 -----------
> (8) Neighbor allemande Left 1-1/2
> (8) Women's Chain
> A2 -----------
> (16) Hey, women passing right shoulders
> B1 -----------
> (16) Partner balance and swing
> B2 -----------
> Women Balance, Box the gnat (Woman #1 lead)
> (Men join in front of N behind P*
> Hands across star right once
> (Var: Circle left 3/4, Balance, pass through)
> Notes: * Women make sure to assist N to be in front in the star
>
> And this one, with at least lip/title service to Clover:
> Roll Me Over In The Clover
> by Merrilee Karr
> Contra/Improper/Easy
>
> A1 -----------
> (16) Neighbors balance and swing
> A2 -----------
> (8) Ladies chain
> (8) Circle left
> B1 -----------
> (8) Neighbors roll away with a half sashay (across the set, gent rolls
> lady)
> (8) Partners swing (on the lady's side)
> B2 -----------
> (8) Right and left through (or promenade)
> (8) Ladies chain back
>
> On Mar 1, 2012, at 8:11 PM, Dorcas Hand wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one
>> - dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a
>> come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily
>> see any with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title.
>> Heck - I guess I could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order.
>> Besides wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 19:47:12 -0600
> From: Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com>
> To: "millstone(a)valley.net" <millstone(a)valley.net>, Caller's discussion
> list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <68BE1BAE269CBC4B80BD58B034C86C9901D3E70C74A9(a)mx1.networkservice.local>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Excellent - I'll pull Ralph Page off the shelf. Thanks.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of David Millstone
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2012 6:54 PM
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
>
> --- Dorcas wrote: I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one - dance that would work to pick up the theme?
>
> In The Country Dance Book, by Beth Tolman and Ralph Page, you'll find a chapter entitled "Thanks to the Irish." It includes St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (a
> 48 bar dance), Larry O'Gaff, and, of course, Rory O'More.
>
> Do you want to include a singing square? The Lloyd Shaw Foundation has complete instructions for Four Leaf Clover on its website:
>
> http://lloydshaw.org/Catalogue/CueSheets/Square/FourLeafClover.htm
>
> It's a simple dance that could be used in lots of settings, and I bet you'll get dancers joining in on the refrain.
>
> David Millstone
> Lebanon, NH
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:23:49 -0500
> From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID: <4F503D45.1080407(a)mindspring.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Green Eyed Girl by Jim Kitch
> Fabulous dance
>
> *Green Eyed Girl**-- *Jim KitchImproper
>
> *A1*N B&S
>
> *A2*Circle Left
> hands across LHS
> gents drop out
>
> *B1*Ladies Alle L 1x
> N Pull by R
> Gents Pull by L
> P Sw
>
> *B2*R&L Thru
> Circle Left, Pass Thru
>
>
>
> On 3/1/2012 8:11 PM, Dorcas Hand wrote:
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one - dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see any with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title. Heck - I guess I could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order. Besides wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 09:12:07 -0600
> From: Grant Goodyear <grant(a)grantgoodyear.org>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <CAE6CujXzQ2X3pJ+Yb-a2EXBVbiHYoFLfMjMjdR=4YxOdPShC+g(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Another dance w/ a cloverleaf figure, if not an overtly Irish name, is Sue
> Rosen's awesome Handsome Young Maids:
>
> Handsome Young Maids (Sue Rosen, 1996)
> --------------------------------------
>
> Improper, 1s bet 2s facing dn in line of 4
>
> ==== ===== ===
> A1. \(16) Dublin Bay, end in ring
> A2. \( 8) Cir lf
> .. \( 8) Bal ring, "cloverleaf"(*) turn single
> B1. \(16) N bal & sw
> B2. \( 8) Long lines
> .. \( 8) 1s sw
> ==== ===== ===
>
> * W turn single over lf sh, M turn single over rt sh
>
> On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one -
>> dance that would work to pick up the theme? I guess I'll find a
>> come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see any
>> with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title. Heck - I guess I
>> could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order. Besides
>> wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Grant Goodyear
> web: http://www.grantgoodyear.org
> e-mail: grant(a)grantgoodyear.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 07:20:07 -0800 (PST)
> From: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> Message-ID:
> <1330701607.63379.YahooMailClassic(a)web160302.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> If I may ask, what is this Dublin Bay figure that is noted here?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Perry
>
> --- On Fri, 3/2/12, Grant Goodyear <grant(a)grantgoodyear.org> wrote:
>
> From: Grant Goodyear <grant(a)grantgoodyear.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] St. Paddy Day theme dances?
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Date: Friday, March 2, 2012, 10:12 AM
>
> Another dance w/ a cloverleaf figure, if not an overtly Irish name, is Sue
> Rosen's awesome Handsome Young Maids:
>
> Handsome Young Maids (Sue Rosen, 1996)
> --------------------------------------
>
> Improper, 1s bet 2s facing dn in line of 4
>
> ==== ===== ===
> A1.? \(16) Dublin Bay, end in ring
> A2.? \( 8) Cir lf
> ..???\( 8) Bal ring, "cloverleaf"(*) turn single
> B1.? \(16) N bal & sw
> B2.? \( 8) Long lines
> ..???\( 8) 1s sw
> ==== ===== ===
>
> * W turn single over lf sh, M turn single over rt sh
>
> On Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 7:11 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even one -
>> dance that would work to pick up the theme?? I guess I'll find a
>> come-back-cozy-to-cloverleaf to use - but I don't think or easily see any
>> with a GREEN or "luck of the Irish" or... in the title.? Heck - I guess I
>> could even use Snakes.
>>
>> I won't go overboard - but some acknowledgement seems in order.? Besides
>> wearing a green skirt!
>>
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston TX
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Grant Goodyear
> web: http://www.grantgoodyear.org
> e-mail: grant(a)grantgoodyear.org
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>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 91, Issue 2
> **************************************
I'm fascinated by this discussion about mixers. with most of the comments so far
indicating that a) the authors don't like 'em, b) they don't use them, c) they
don't see the point, and d) dancers don't like 'em.
This strikes me as another example of people liking what they are accustomed
to. One of my caller mentors was Ted Sannella, who usually programmed a mixer
as the third dance of an evening; Tony Parkes, also, I believe, puts one there
for similar reasons. By this time, the caller can assume that the bulk of the
dancers have arrived, and a mixer gives everyone a chance to see everyone else
who's there. Mixers come in all shapes-- Sicilian circle, big circle / big set,
scattered couples, lines of three... They are a systematic way of taking new
couples clinging to each other and mixing them up. They give experienced helpful
dancers a chance to learn who's new, to note that person to ask later in the evening.
They add choreographic variety to a program.
I applaud the Charlottesville community for putting such an expectation in place.
In a short time, dancers there will come to expect a mixer in the program as the
normal thing. Who knows? Perhaps we can look forward to other communities giving
explicit instructions to callers: "We'd like the evening's program to contain
a few dances that are not duple improper or Becket contras" or maybe "We'd like
the caller to go onto the floor at least once in a night to illustrate a style
point."
As a caller who gets to work in a variety of venues, I love it when a community
has formulated such guidelines. It lets me know that what I'm doing that night
fits into an established pattern, that those local dancers are accustomed to some
variety in their program, or that they look forward to improving their dancing
skill.
Larry Jennings coined the "zesty contras' moniker and worked hard to bring that
ideal into reality. Among his most useful contributions to us all was stressing
the importance of "vision" for a caller and for a dance series. At this fall's
"Puttin' On the Dance" weekend conference that attracted 80 dance organizers from
the Northeast and beyond, the very first session for everyone focused on that
key ingredient. The notes from that conference are here:
http://www.puttinonthedance.org/post-conference/archive/
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
I agree.
Does anyone else think that Men allemande Left 1 1/2 is overused?
How about Circle Left 3/4? Lately, I've been programming specifically to
avoid having a circle in each dance. It's surprisingly difficult to find
dances that don't have circles.
Donna Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 2/27/2012 12:18:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
95sg23(a)comcast.net writes:
I like the "Gang of Four" much better, as IMHO men AL 1 1/2 is the most
over-used figure in contradancing, and the other dance has (yikes!) two of
them.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joy Greenwolfe" <joy2the(a)mindspring.com>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 12:46:36 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Does this exist?
Hi Luke and all,
This is strongly reminiscent of Gene Hubert's Gang of Four, but I
think yours is distinct.
Joy Greenwolfe
Durham, NC
For comparison:
Gang of Four by Gene Hubert, Jan '92
duple contra Becket
A1
Circle L 3/4
N swing, end facing in promenade position in large oval (gents L
shoulder to the inside)
A2
Promenade around the oval CCW, going around the ends like a bicycle
chain (about 6 steps)
Ladies turn back to swing the new gent behind
B1
All circle L in large oval
Forward and back (make sure you're across from P by the end)
B2
(new) Ladies allemande R 1+1/2
P swing
On Feb 24, 2012, at 11:00 PM, Luke Donforth wrote:
> I can't tell if I'm remembering or writing a dance. Anyone recognize
> this?
>
> Becket, ccw
> A1
> Men allemande Left 1.5x
> Neighbor swing, end facing cw in big oval (women inside)
> A2
> Promenade with neighbor
> Women turn back and swing new neighbor
> B1
> Promenade back until across from partner
> Men allemande Left 1.5x
> B2
> Partner gypsy (R) and swing
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
> www.lukedonev.com
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Of course, in the real Dublin Bay the line of four falls back first.
So rather than:
Down forward, turn! down backward
Up forward, turn! up backward
(as in Sue Rosen's dance), it is:
Up backward, down forward, turn!
Down backward, up forward
Of course, what we call "Mad Robin" in the contra dance world is not really like the dance Mad Robin either.
David Smukler
Syracuse, NY
Bob, Linda, David and others - thanks for the fantastic suggestions!
Dorcas, thanks for putting the question out there - i'm sure quite a few of
us with Paddy-related gigs will benefit from the discussion ; )
A couple of other slightly relevant dances based on the cloverleaf and
snake themes -
"The Connectrix" by Rick Mohr -
http://rickmohr.net/Contra/Dances.asp#Connectrix
"Snake in the Hey" by Cary Ravitz - http://ravitz.us/dance/#sh (beware the
tight timing - it has fangs!)
