Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

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4298 discussions

This Tuesday on 5 Things... Inside the Dancing Mind of CHIP PRINCE!

by Darlene Hamilton

A wonderful guest who plays for both ECD AND CONTRA dances around the country. We hope you will join us! *TUESDAY, September 8th, 6pm pdt* *5 Things… **Inside the Dancing Mind of… CHIP PRINCE* Chip Prince has played keyboards (and occasionally conducted) Broadway shows for over 25 years, and started playing for ECD and CONTRA dances in 2003. His warm smile, lively humor and delightful musical style has won him friends and admirers, particularly at Country Dance New York, Pinewoods, and Hey Days. *Registration Link: *https://forms.gle/V6F5sRcPsawFG39t9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darlene Hamilton *Caller, Dancer, Founder of**The Historical Tea & Dance Society* *www.historicalteaanddance.org <http://www.historicalteaanddance.org/>* *Like us on facebook!*

4 years, 2 months

Phil Jamison talk tonight 8 pm!

by Donna Hunt

Hi All:Sorry for the late notice. Mt Airy Contra in Philadelphia has been hosting virtual dances for all and socials for our local folks since April. Tonight we have Phil Jamison who at 8 pm (eastern) will present his book “Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance” . Due to popular demand we were just able to set up a link for a FB feed and we can invite a lot more people than the 100 person limit of zoom. Please join us at https://www.facebook.com/mtairycontra/posts/2464175140548961 Here's more information: The southern Appalachian square dance is a hybrid dance form that developed in the American South during the nineteenth century, and like the Appalachian musical traditions, these dances reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the region. In this Zoom Social we will examine the multicultural roots and historical development of these dances and identify the components of earlier European, African, and Native American dance forms that combined to make them uniquely American. Phil Jamison is nationally known as a dance caller, old-time musician, flatfoot dancer, and scholar of traditional Appalachian dance. A 2017 inductee to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, he has called dances, performed, and taught at music festivals and dance events throughout the U.S. and overseas since the early 1970s, including forty years as a member of the Green Grass Cloggers. Over the last thirty years, Jamison has done extensive research in the area of Appalachian dance, and his book Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance (University of Illinois Press, 2015) tells the story behind the square dances, step dances, reels, and other forms of dance practiced in southern Appalachia. He has given numerous presentations on Appalachian dance – from the Smithsonian Institution to Beijing, China – and he teaches Appalachian music and dance at Warren Wilson College, in Asheville, North Carolina, where for twenty-five years, he served as coordinator of the Old-Time Music and Dance Week at the Swannanoa Gathering. http://www.philjamison.com/ For more information about the Mt Airy Contra (Philadelphia) virtual dances and a tip jar for Phil click here If you have trouble getting into the FB feed please email Alex alex(a)thursdaycontra.com Donna Hunt Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com Cell: 215-565-6050

4 years, 2 months

CDSS Community Culture & Safety Survey

by Olivia Barry

Hi, everyone! My name is Olivia Barry. I am a member of the CDSS Community Culture & Safety Task Group (CCSTG). We are a volunteer group of board and community members working to compile a set of resources and examples for folk who are ready to dive in to work on safety of all kinds on the dance floor or music circle. An important element of such an effort is a *Statement of Community Values*. The goal of this statement is to identify core values for a local group. Core values communicate to the outside world what is important to you and what people can expect from your organization or events. In our last strategic planning process, CDSS identified core values for our work and we want to help local groups do the same. To assist groups in creating such a statement, the CCSTG aims to create a clearinghouse of samples for local communities across our constituency, and to synthesize existing examples into a succinct template or writing guide to help groups develop a statement of their own. We are asking our communities to fill out a short survey related to content that has already been developed surrounding your *community's values* to serve as examples. Other topics will be developed as this work unfolds, and we'll be sending additional short surveys as well as progress reports in the coming months. Please take a moment to fill out the survey to help identify who among you has resources on this topic that might be valuable to others: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwSUqM9dNCnMO-yjTawH8vi1Mv_4TuQMQ… Thank you in advance for any and all information you share! We hope this project will reflect and support the greater music, song, and dance community. If you would like to contact us with questions or content, please email CDSS.SafetyTG(a)gmail.com! Have a wonderful weekend, Olivia CDSS CCSTG Community Member

4 years, 2 months

Caller workshop with Cathy Campbell! Saturday, 8/22

by Louise Siddons

Scissortail Traditional Dance is very pleased to announce our second caller workshop open to the whole world: Cathy Campbell, from Toronto, Canada, next Saturday, August 22 at 1pm Central time (US). Cathy has been calling English Country dances since 2005; her home group is Toronto English Country Dance Assembly. She has a broad repertoire of both historical and contemporary dances. She has been calling a weekly Zoom dance since March 2020. Callers everywhere have been using Cathy’s dance adaptations in their own virtual dances. In this interactive, discussion-based workshop, Cathy will share insights into adapting, programming, and calling dances specifically for virtual solo or couple dancing. She would love to answer your questions! Registration is a $5 donation to Scissortail Traditional Dance, which goes to our pandemic fund to support our local community. For more information and to register, visit https://scissortail.org/cathy-campbell-caller-workshop/ <https://scissortail.org/cathy-campbell-caller-workshop/> Questions to dance(a)scissortail.org <mailto:dance@scissortail.org>. Louise. — Louise Siddons Board member, webmaster, and past president, Scissortail Traditional Dance Society www.scissortail.org www.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/ dance(a)scissortail.org

4 years, 3 months

During this forced down time...

by bobfab＠aol.com

Does anyone have documentation or a video that goes into specific detail about positional calling?I would like to take this time to try and incorporate it into my repertoire, but need guidance.Off-line answers to my email are fine. Thanks in advance, Bob Fabinski

4 years, 3 months

List or schedule of virtual Contra events?

by Claire Takemori

Hi Lenore & all, BACDS has a 4th Sunday “Hayward” Contra dance at 4-6pm PT (7-9pm ET) Aug 23 features Gaye Fifer (national weekend caller, amazing waltz teacher from Pittsburgh PA) With Max Newman (guitarist from Stringrays, Nor’Easter in MA ) and Cedar Stanistreet (fiddler from Nor’Easter, etc in VT) Sign up for future BACDS event emails: 2 Sunday concerts, 1 Sunday contra, workshops when available! http://eepurl.com/g33a_z <http://eepurl.com/g33a_z> (Mailchimp sign up form) And tomorrow: Free Workshop for Calling Online Contra Saturday Aug 1, 2:30-3:30pm PT (5:30pm ET) Jacqui Grennan shares tips, organization, choreography fixes, and more (For experienced callers) Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/771492986921404 <https://www.facebook.com/events/771492986921404> Advanced registration required to get meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYudu-rrzIvGdDRvop9AnePli-ACgk2Fi… <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fre…> I’d be happy to consult with your group about getting your group online for social or dancing. It’s better than nothing to keep your dancers engaged. Claire Takemori Dance Caller (408) 874-6840 <tel:(408)%20874-6840> (VM) clairedancecaller(a)gmail.com <mailto:clairedancecaller@gmail.com> https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/ <https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/> bacds.org/teen <http://bacds.org/teen> Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:23:59 -0700 From: Lenore Frigo <lfrigo(a)gmail.com <mailto:lfrigo@gmail.com>> Subject: [Callers] List or schedule of virtual Contra events? To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <CAN6PTP3j3=GiBkPZrKPLSSpw-mbRyJD0Poz3hJ3ZBqSTqL79dw(a)mail.gmail.com <mailto:CAN6PTP3j3=GiBkPZrKPLSSpw-mbRyJD0Poz3hJ3ZBqSTqL79dw@mail.gmail.com>> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000009318da05ab5317e2" --0000000000009318da05ab5317e2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi all, I'm looking for opportunities to participate in online Contra dancing (and possibly get something going locally eventually). Are there any listings of online contra events? Or if you have info about attending a Zoom/online dance that you're calling? Thanks much, Lenore Frigo

4 years, 3 months

Colin Hume workshop video now available

by Louise Siddons

Hi all, Video of yesterday’s Scissortail workshop about caller websites — and more! — with Colin Hume is now available either directly on Youtube or, with notes from workshop participants, here: http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/starter.html#App6 <http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/starter.html#App6> Thanks to everyone who made it a successful event! — Louise Siddons Scissortail Traditional Dance Society www.scissortail.org www.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/ dance(a)scissortail.org

4 years, 4 months

List or schedule of virtual Contra events?

by Lenore Frigo

Hi all, I'm looking for opportunities to participate in online Contra dancing (and possibly get something going locally eventually). Are there any listings of online contra events? Or if you have info about attending a Zoom/online dance that you're calling? Thanks much, Lenore Frigo

4 years, 4 months

Re: [TradCallers] Distance "contra" dance choreo?

by Claire T

And they also said Zoom Contra would never happen? To each his own. It is not for everyone. However, putting down others’ ideas and calling names is not part of dealing with the changes our dance community is going through. Again I am asking for on topic replies about what distanced choreo might look like? Feel free to just delete this email. Claire Sent from my iPhone On Jul 19, 2020, at 10:45 PM, Stig MALMO <stigmalmo(a)gmail.com> wrote: The idea of having distance contra dancing is pure insanity as contra dancing is a 100 % social activity > man. 20. jul. 2020 kl. 07.32 skrev Claire Takemori via Trad Callers <tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>: > Hello Callers ! > > Wondering if anyone has written some “contra” dances that maintain 6 feet distance? > > I’m imagining trying (narrow)pool noodles to use as spacers (outdoors). Maybe cut to 3 foot lengths with magnets at the ends to clack & connect to the next noodle. > > I know someone doing Intl Folk with ribbons and they were shared by accident, and are obviously too flexible to help keep distance. > > I can also see it being more like solo dancing with “contra” moves in HUGE figures (more aerobic?) or maybe something totally different? > > If you’d like to chat about choreo ideas for distanced outdoor (masks, gloves, etc) “contra” dances, please email me. > > I believe there will be intermediate stages of coming back to dance and we can try when County and State Health limitations allow (Mine just opened up for out door gatherings last week). > > > (I’m very aware of the issues, the research about covid, and our State and County Health regulations.) I’m looking for conversation about what coming back to dancing might look like, and choreography to support this that is fun. > > Thanks for your on-topic replies. > > Best, > Claire Takemori (CA) > _______________________________________________ > Trad Callers mailing list -- tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to tradcallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

4 years, 4 months

Look Your Best on Video

by Drew Delaware

Hi everyone, I recorded a casual, impromptu video for my work contacts that shows my home "studio" setup, as I do a fair bit of speaking, interviews, and facilitating online in addition to calling virtual contra dances. I thought the video might be of value for contra callers who are calling virtual dances, as it has some tips and tricks for looking your best. The one I recommend the most for callers, actually, is to stand - it keeps your energy higher, your voice richer, and improves your posture so you will appear more confident. My setup is admittedly a bit hardcore - but perhaps there's a tip or trick that can help you as you prep for your next time online. To make it easy to share with everyone here, I posted it as a private/unlisted video on my Contra on Demand channel on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mmBCv3VCnx4 Hope it helps! Drew

4 years, 4 months

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Contra Callers