Contra Callers

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4404 discussions

by Don Veino

Hi Folks, Brand new to the list. I'm one of the organizers for the MondayContras series at the Concord, MA Scout House and have been an avid dancer for just over 4 years now. Hi to those I already know and to those of you I'll get to know from here! I've been an occasional caller for dances on shared evening programs and camper nights, etc. but have my first full evening coming up later this month, which I'm excited about. This is for a smaller regional dance that attracts a mixed crowd of mostly periodic dancers. I've done some basic "how to call" workshops at festivals, etc. but have not taken a formal caller's course. I'm planning to tailor my dance selection to the expected crowd and build in some flexibility to address variability. I'm pretty confident in my dance selection skills but I'm definitely still counting my way through the music to call. So one concern is with making sure I stay firmly anchored to the music, without depending upon the crowd for cues. I craft my calls to fit the phrasing and rehearse with music to get confident but dance breakdowns are a fear. I've come close a couple of times early on but have been able to set things right somehow on the fly... however, I was not very confident doing so at the time. So with that concern, a couple of related questions: - Do you have practiced recovery routines (more than just "get home and swing your partner")? Is that common? Or do most callers just make it up on the spot? - In working with the musicians, are there any customary "I've lost track, where are we in the music?" signals? I look forward to learning from the shared wisdom of the group here and am open to any other tips you may have. Thanks, Don

13 years, 10 months

celtic hey

by Tom Hinds

Could someone tell me what a celtic hey is? Are there any contras containing a celtic hey?

13 years, 10 months

Bands Chain

by Luke Donforth

Hello All, In the near future, I get to call for my first gender free dance. I'm looking forward to it, and thinking about my program. I was contemplating putting in Bands chains. The gents chain is a move that seems by and large ignored in conventional contra dancing; the occasional dance I've seen using it is usually greeted with grumbling. Are gender free dancers more open to the move? I was thinking of the following dance (where barearms are on the right after a swing) *A1* Neighbor Balance and Swing *A2* Promenade Neighbor across and courtesy turn Barearms chain across the set (pull by right) *B1* Barearms do-si-do 1x Partner swing *B2* Bands chain across (pull by left, courtesy turned by neighbor) Right Hand Star 1x I've sent the question directly to the dance organizer, and I'm cross-posting on facebook, but I also wanted to poll the folks here. Thoughts? Thanks. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com> www.lukedonev.com

13 years, 10 months

Nelson, NH dance memories

by Richard Hart

Hello, The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is approaching very quickly. Please consider joining us at the University of New Hampshire, January 13-15, next month. Details can be found at http://ralphpage.neffa.org/ This year the retrospective will focus on the dances in the Nelson, NH town hall. If you have ever attended or participated at a Nelson dance, I'd like to hear your memories and reflections. You may be quoted at the Ralph Page weekend, so please let me know what impressed you and what has stuck in your mind. Why do you think that we are still dancing in the Nelson town hall? We have our own answers to that question, which you will hear at the Ralph Page weekend, I'd like to add your thoughts, as well, if you have ever joined us for an evening of dance in the Nelson town hall. Thanks a lot, Rich Hart, Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend Committee.

13 years, 10 months

Holiday dances and tunes

by Ric Goldman

Hi folks, I have 4 gigs coming up this month, 1 of which is a ONS. I'll look in archives as well, but I'm curious if folks can recommend any good dances or tunes in an Xmas, Hannukah, Solstice, or Kwanza theme I can use. I already have a few gimmicks, but always looking for more. Thanx, Ric Goldman Palo Alto, CA

13 years, 11 months

tune structure as second nature

by Chrissy Fowler

Just a funny phenomenon brought to mind by Alan's good advice, quoted here: > Hmm. Do you pay attention to the music when you're dancing? Do you know where > you are in the tune when you're on the floor? You kinda need for that to be > second nature - something you don't have to spend conscious brain cycles on. As someone who listens to trad music a lot, I can say Alan's point is the case for me (as a caller, dancer, music-appreciator, occasional hack musician.) I just "know" which part is the A and which is the B - kind of like autopilot. In fact I think I probably more reliably know automatically where I am in the music than where I am in the dance sequence. And it's HUGELY helpful to me as a caller. But once in a great while there is a tune that just 'sounds backward.' The A sounds to me like it's the B, and vice versa. I have no idea why this is true, but it definitely is a phenomenon for me. Inevitably I am thrown off track by those tunes, and sometimes do something wrong as a consequence (prompt wrong call, give band signals midway thru the A1, start dancing the wrong thing, etc.) Anyone else have this experience? Anyone know what might make a given part of the tune sound "A-ish" or "B-ish"? And perhaps more to the point, does anyone even want to spend bandwidth pondering these questions?? ;) Chrissy Fowler Belfast, ME

13 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] tune structure as second nature

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

--- Chrissy wrote: But once in a great while there is a tune that just 'sounds backward.' --- end of quote --- Keep in mind that there are some tunes where different musicians know the two parts in different order. I've run across bands who play the Growling Old Man and the Cackling Old Woman in what sounds to me like the wrong order and yes, that throws me off, too. And then there are tunes such as Mackimoyle, where some musicians put the first beat at the start of opening four eight notes, while others treat those as pickup notes. I know the tune best this second way-- that's the way I learned it-- so when I encounter it the other way, it takes me a moment to adjust. David Millstone Lebanon, NH

13 years, 11 months

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

by Bob Fabinski

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Bob Bob Fabinski Engineer at Eastman Kodak Rochester, New York Area Confirm that you know Bob Fabinski: https://www.linkedin.com/e/-v6oloc-gvnskqhn-4j/isd/5098453310/5yjwo8Qn/?hs=… -- You are receiving Invitation to Connect emails. Click to unsubscribe: http://www.linkedin.com/e/-v6oloc-gvnskqhn-4j/q323nL1k2p_VceDamJt3kmDzBtNVX… (c) 2011 LinkedIn Corporation. 2029 Stierlin Ct, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

13 years, 11 months

Catapult Caller Applications: t-Minus 3 days

by Rob Harper

Don't want to spam this list but as a caller, you might be interested. Last month I announced the Catapult Showcase in Atlanta over Memorial Day Weekend 2012. The Caller (and Band) applications are due on 11/30 - that's this Wednesday. If you're a caller (or in a band) who'd be perfect for Catapult, get your application at http://www.catapultshowcase.com/registration.html. If you're not sure you'd be perfect, you should apply anyway. You never know. If you're not quite right for this year, you'll be first on the list to get applications for 2013. Or if you've got a favorite up and coming band or caller you'd like to recommend, please direct them to www.catapultshowcase.com. Don't delay. Act now! Hope to see you in May in Atlanta. ciao, rah Rob Harper Catapult! The National Contra Showcase info(a)catapultshowcase.com 404-307-3444

13 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Companion - how is it working for you?

by The Witful Turnip

>From: "kanara(a)triton.net" <kanara(a)triton.net> >Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 3:34 PM >Subject: [Callers] Callers Companion - how is it working for you? Hi Karin, I *LUV* Callers Companion! I highly recommend it. Will's program does everything I ever wanted a dance database to do and more. I found it very easy to adopt and use it all the time. At this point, I have 80 programs in it and just under 300 dances. >Are you using the basic version, or the expanded version? - I use the basic version. >How long have you been using it? - I believe since 2009. I was one of the original beta testing team. At this point, I can't remember my calling life before using it. >Are you using it with a Mac or a PC? - I use it with PC. I have it installed on a little Lenovo netbook that I use for calling. It's great! >My husband is just taking up calling, and I've been calling and collecting >dances for about 6 years now. We are wondering whether we could use one >database for both of our collections; do any of you users have a sense of >the workability of a combination database using Callers Companion? I can't speak to your last question. Hope that helps, Bev

13 years, 11 months

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Contra Callers