Shorter lines provides the opportunity to pull out some of those “old but modern” great active/inactive dances, and both couples will have a chance to dance the 1s and 2s roles the whole length of the set without the dance lasting an unbearably long time. Some of my favorites are Scouthouse Reel and Flirtation Reel early on, and Fiddleheads, Brimmer and May Reel and Dulcimer Lady later.
And then you have the chance to dance all those non-alternating contra corners dances like The Tease, Rory O’More, For Those Who Cared (or the alternating dances dances as actives/1s dance all the way down).
Steve Pike
Wisconsin
PS Hi, Laura!!
Seth,
How about the usual square dance "lines go into the middle and back," or
the old "eight fall in and eight fall back"? Too obscure?
On Fri, Oct 21, 2022, 22:00 <contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
wrote:
> Send Contra Callers mailing list submissions to
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..."Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: [External] RE: New dance for your consideration (Tony Parkes)
> 2. dance name? - Big Easy variation (Julian Blechner)
> 3. Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation (Lisa Greenleaf)
> 4. Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation (Jerome Grisanti)
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Tony Parkes <tony(a)hands4.com>
> To: "Tepfer, Seth" <labst(a)emory.edu>, "Caller's discussion list" <
> callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:45:53 +0000
> Subject: [Callers] Re: [External] RE: New dance for your consideration
>
> Wow! I had assumed you really meant “long lines”, as in “Each couple face
> across the hall” as opposed to facing up and down toward the next line of
> four as is usual in 4x4s. If you mean the usual “Face another line of
> four,” then “Long lines” (with or without “forward and back”) is just plain
> inaccurate. Glad we clarified that.
>
>
>
>
>
> Tony Parkes
>
> Billerica, Mass.
>
> www.hands4.com
>
> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
>
> (available now)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 20, 2022 10:57 PM
> *To:* Tony Parkes <tony(a)hands4.com>; Caller's discussion list <
> callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [External] RE: New dance for your consideration
>
>
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> Thank you for your feedback. Instead of saying "long lines forward and
> back", I could have said "lines of four go forward and back", though
> technically they are going up and down. Perhaps "short lines, go forward
> and back"
>
>
>
> I want the dance to be clearly understood by all.
>
> Seth
>
>
>
> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>
> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Tony Parkes <tony(a)hands4.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 18, 2022 9:02 AM
> *To:* Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu>; Caller's discussion list <
> callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> *Subject:* [External] RE: New dance for your consideration
>
>
>
> Hi, Seth and all… Two points:
>
>
>
> 1. I’m aware that a lot of folks use “long lines” as shorthand for “long
> lines forward and back.” It bugs me, but that’s probably just my age and
> eccentricity. But I humbly submit that in a 4x4, where there are fewer
> conventions – things taken for granted – than in a longways, it’s helpful
> to spell out as much as possible.
>
>
>
> 2. Do you really mean “long lines forward and back,” not “forward and back
> up and down the hall”? The former call is so unusual in 4x4s (in fact, I
> don’t think I’ve encountered it before) that I think it merits a note below
> the description.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> Tony Parkes
>
> Billerica, Mass.
>
> www.hands4.com
> <https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hands4…>
>
> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
>
> (available now)
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 12, 2022 10:09 PM
> *To:* Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: New dance for your consideration
>
>
>
> Hello Callers.
>
>
>
> Update on the dance previously presented. Thank you Bill Baritompa for the
> suggestion to switch to left hand waves. Much more satisfying! Thank you
> Tanya for the naming feedback.
>
>
>
> Title: Two for Tea*
>
> Author: Seth Tepfer
>
> Formation: 4x4
>
> A1: Long lines (8), in fours, Right hand chain to neighbor (8)
>
> A2: Same person DSD (8), Neighbor swing (8)
>
> B1: in fours, balance the ring (4), petronella spin to a wave of two -
> give neighbor LEFT hand to form short waves of two people; balance (4),
> "circulate 2" (walk forward two spaces) (4)
>
> B2: balance (4), "circulate 2" (walk forward two spaces) (4); left hand
> dancer turn around and partner swing; end swing facing original direction
> and new couples progressed and on the other side of the 4-some
>
>
>
> Note:
>
> - At the start of the dance, identify your traveling buddy of the
> opposite role. This is your shadow. When doing the circulate two think of
> the direction you are facing as a racetrack or a paperclip - if you get to
> the end you will loop to your left to continue. You will end up in the
> place of the 2 people in front of you. You will pass 3 people and take the
> hand of the 4th. If you loop, looping counts as passing one person.
> When you remake the wave of two, the person you take left hands with is
> your shadow,
>
> *Please note new name and discard previous name of the dance.
>
>
>
> Link to video that will help describe the dance:
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1daSO086UwpoRA-J3C2j2jN2uQkwQGN4n/view?usp=…
> <https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.goo…>
>
> - We only had 8 people, so after partner swing, we faced back in to
> repeat the dance. Normally after partner swing you would face your original
> direction to have new couples to play with.
> - The musician was playing "Softly Good Tummas' on a lark and because
> it is such a fabulous tune. That tune is not requisite for the dance.
>
>
>
> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>
> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>
> To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 11:47:39 -0400
> Subject: [Callers] dance name? - Big Easy variation
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question about a variation on Becky Hill's Big Easy, which I see
> as:
> Big Easy Becky Hill
>
> A1: Bal Ring, Neighbor Swing (often changed to N B+S)
> A2: LLFB, Robins Alle 1.5
> B1: P B+S
> B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal ring, pass thru
>
> An easy variation I like, say, to introduce the courtesy turn early in the
> evening and to have the Larks not have to be relegated to keeping basically
> in one spot for 7/8ths of the dance, has:
> A2. N Prom, robins alle 1.5
> B2. Circle L 3/4, bal, cali twirl
>
> It's enough of a change - especially for one of these easy glossary dances
> - that I figure someone may have claimed it as a new dance, and was looking
> for author and title. I didn't see this variation listed in The Caller's
> Box website.
>
> Thanks,
> Julian Blechner
> he/him
>
> p.s. Folks may know me as "Ron". I've been using a new first name.
> Pronouns are the same. I'm slowly trying to change my online presence, get
> a new website, etc.
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Lisa Greenleaf <laleaf(a)gmail.com>
> To: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>
> Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Bcc:
> Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 13:13:21 -0400
> Subject: [Callers] Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation
> The only change I’d suggest is Robins Allem R since that is the free hand
> after a swing.
>
> Lisa
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Oct 21, 2022, at 11:47 AM, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have a question about a variation on Becky Hill's Big Easy, which I
> see as:
> > Big Easy Becky Hill
> >
> > A1: Bal Ring, Neighbor Swing (often changed to N B+S)
> > A2: LLFB, Robins Alle 1.5
> > B1: P B+S
> > B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal ring, pass thru
> >
> > An easy variation I like, say, to introduce the courtesy turn early in
> the evening and to have the Larks not have to be relegated to keeping
> basically in one spot for 7/8ths of the dance, has:
> > A2. N Prom, robins alle 1.5
> > B2. Circle L 3/4, bal, cali twirl
> >
> > It's enough of a change - especially for one of these easy glossary
> dances - that I figure someone may have claimed it as a new dance, and was
> looking for author and title. I didn't see this variation listed in The
> Caller's Box website.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Julian Blechner
> > he/him
> >
> > p.s. Folks may know me as "Ron". I've been using a new first name.
> Pronouns are the same. I'm slowly trying to change my online presence, get
> a new website, etc.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> > To unsubscribe send an email to
> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com>
> To: Lisa Greenleaf <laleaf(a)gmail.com>
> Cc: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>,
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Bcc:
> Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2022 00:52:55 -0400
> Subject: [Callers] Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation
> I wonder if Julian's notation assumes Robins right allemande unless
> otherwise specified. I'm only guessing. Julian?
>
> On Fri, Oct 21, 2022, 1:15 PM Lisa Greenleaf via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> The only change I’d suggest is Robins Allem R since that is the free hand
>> after a swing.
>>
>> Lisa
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Oct 21, 2022, at 11:47 AM, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> > I have a question about a variation on Becky Hill's Big Easy, which I
>> see as:
>> > Big Easy Becky Hill
>> >
>> > A1: Bal Ring, Neighbor Swing (often changed to N B+S)
>> > A2: LLFB, Robins Alle 1.5
>> > B1: P B+S
>> > B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal ring, pass thru
>> >
>> > An easy variation I like, say, to introduce the courtesy turn early in
>> the evening and to have the Larks not have to be relegated to keeping
>> basically in one spot for 7/8ths of the dance, has:
>> > A2. N Prom, robins alle 1.5
>> > B2. Circle L 3/4, bal, cali twirl
>> >
>> > It's enough of a change - especially for one of these easy glossary
>> dances - that I figure someone may have claimed it as a new dance, and was
>> looking for author and title. I didn't see this variation listed in The
>> Caller's Box website.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Julian Blechner
>> > he/him
>> >
>> > p.s. Folks may know me as "Ron". I've been using a new first name.
>> Pronouns are the same. I'm slowly trying to change my online presence, get
>> a new website, etc.
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > 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
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Hello Callers.
Update on the dance previously presented. Thank you Bill Baritompa for the suggestion to switch to left hand waves. Much more satisfying! Thank you Tanya for the naming feedback.
Title: Two for Tea*
Author: Seth Tepfer
Formation: 4x4
A1: Long lines (8), in fours, Right hand chain to neighbor (8)
A2: Same person DSD (8), Neighbor swing (8)
B1: in fours, balance the ring (4), petronella spin to a wave of two - give neighbor LEFT hand to form short waves of two people; balance (4), "circulate 2" (walk forward two spaces) (4)
B2: balance (4), "circulate 2" (walk forward two spaces) (4); left hand dancer turn around and partner swing; end swing facing original direction and new couples progressed and on the other side of the 4-some
Note:
* At the start of the dance, identify your traveling buddy of the opposite role. This is your shadow. When doing the circulate two think of the direction you are facing as a racetrack or a paperclip - if you get to the end you will loop to your left to continue. You will end up in the place of the 2 people in front of you. You will pass 3 people and take the hand of the 4th. If you loop, looping counts as passing one person. When you remake the wave of two, the person you take left hands with is your shadow,
*Please note new name and discard previous name of the dance.
Link to video that will help describe the dance: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1daSO086UwpoRA-J3C2j2jN2uQkwQGN4n/view?usp=…
* We only had 8 people, so after partner swing, we faced back in to repeat the dance. Normally after partner swing you would face your original direction to have new couples to play with.
* The musician was playing "Softly Good Tummas' on a lark and because it is such a fabulous tune. That tune is not requisite for the dance.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
The government are threatening to move the Spring Bank Holiday - for the second time in three years!
This won't affect just the May Heydays Festival, but anyone who has made plans to travel,
book holiday accommodation, etc. We've set up a petition at:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/625155
and we hope many of you will sign to support it.
Read about the Festival at:
http://mayheydays.org.uk/
Colin Hume
Hi all,
I understand that some people object to the use of the word
Dixie (I don't necessarily agree, but please let's not get into that now).
I am currently using "Grand Twirl" as an alternative name for
a Dixie Twirl, since "Grand" generally implies "everyone" and the move
applies to all four dancers in the line.
Has anyone come up with a better term?
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
Early-Bird tickets for May Heydays Festival at Evesham are now on sale.
Top bands and callers bring you a 3-day programme of English, American and International
workshops and dances over the bank holiday weekend.
Don't take my word for it - ask anyone who was there this year and they'll tell you what a
great festival it was and how excellent the new venue is.
http://mayheydays.org.uk/
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Hello all,
Contras are starting back up, and I thought we might play a little game.
I recently had the joy of calling my "most Vermont gig ever".
I had to go down a dirt road to get there.
Hosted by a farm, it was outdoors in a cow pasture.
Half way through the cows came down to the adjacent pasture.
There was a fabulou view of the sunset on the nearby mountains
The music was a wonderful local band.
The dancers were intergenerational, kids with grandparents and folks in
between.
When I finished my gig, I went to another contra dance less than an hour
away.
Over half of my pay was in maple syrup.
So that's my "most Vermont gig ever". What's a quintessential experience
calling for you? The most ______ gig ever, where the blank might be your
own state, or festival, or wedding, etc.?
Happy dancing, happy calling!
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Sandra Gillette <sandegillette(a)mac.com>
> Subject: Fwd: [Callers] Seeking sheet music for 2 tunes
> Date: July 9, 2022 at 5:33:05 PM PDT
> To: joe micheals <joemicheals1(a)yahoo.com>
>
> Hmm - guess you will have to forward this email to the contra callers group, Joe. It does not think I exist!
>
> ~ Sande
>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> From: contracallers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers-owner@lists.sharedweight.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Seeking sheet music for 2 tunes
>> Date: July 9, 2022 at 5:31:33 PM PDT
>> To: sandegillette(a)mac.com <mailto:sandegillette@mac.com>
>>
>> Your message to the Contra Callers mailing-list was rejected for the following
>> reasons:
>>
>> The message is not from a list member
>>
>> The original message as received by Mailman is attached.
>>
>> From: Sandra Gillette <sandegillette(a)mac.com <mailto:sandegillette@mac.com>>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Seeking sheet music for 2 tunes
>> Date: July 9, 2022 at 5:31:29 PM PDT
>> To: joe micheals <joemicheals1(a)yahoo.com <mailto:joemicheals1@yahoo.com>>
>> Cc: lesiddons(a)gmail.com <mailto:lesiddons@gmail.com>, callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net>, contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>>
>>
>> Hi Joe & Louise,
>>
>> Yes, Sandpoint is published in Rodney Miller’s Collection of Original Fiddle Tunes. Please contact Rodney at rodneymiller.net <http://rodneymiller.net/>.
>>
>> I do not know about the waltz The Way Back Home by Larry Unger. Please contact Larry at larryunger.net <http://larryunger.net/>.
>>
>> Happy calling and fiddling,
>>
>> ~ Sande Gillette
>>
>>
>>> On Jul 7, 2022, at 5:24 PM, joe micheals <joemicheals1(a)yahoo.com <mailto:joemicheals1@yahoo.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Sande…thought of you. Might you have a resource for these…?
>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>> From: Louise Siddons via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
>>>> Subject: [Callers] Seeking sheet music for 2 tunes
>>>> Date: July 7, 2022 at 3:57:53 PM PDT
>>>> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net>
>>>> Reply-To: Louise Siddons <lesiddons(a)gmail.com <mailto:lesiddons@gmail.com>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I’m in the process of moving and many of my books are currently inaccessible. I’m seeking sheet music for 2 tunes: Sandpoint, by Rodney Miller, and The Way Back Home, by Larry Unger. The latter is in Waltz Time, which I promise I do own, and to be honest I have no idea if dots for the former have been published anywhere — it’s recorded on Flying on Home.
>>>>
>>>> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>>>>
>>>> Louise
>>>> (Winchester, UK)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
Hi,
Does anybody recognise this dance:-
Duple minor, improper, double progression
Star right all the way, star left halfway, balance neighbour.
Swing neighbour, promenade across set, cross trail.
Square through 2 changes, swing next person.
Think I have remembered it correctly as did not have time to copy callers card!
Thanks,
Graham
Sent from my iPad
Hi all,
I’m in the process of moving and many of my books are currently inaccessible. I’m seeking sheet music for 2 tunes: Sandpoint, by Rodney Miller, and The Way Back Home, by Larry Unger. The latter is in Waltz Time, which I promise I do own, and to be honest I have no idea if dots for the former have been published anywhere — it’s recorded on Flying on Home.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Louise
(Winchester, UK)
