Hi all,
This a mixed response to the discussion of dancing to the phrase and the
social distancing.
I'm just throwing in my two cents, as a dancer and occasional caller, just
to add another perspective; it'll likely come across as negative but I'll
try to make it otherwise. Having recently left the Social Disdancing FB
group as a result of unexpected and disappointing behaviour presented
therein, ostensibly from within our community, I am aware that we each have
a responsibility to at least be respectful.
Maybe this post is simply a venting because I'm pissed at the virus. It's
certainly longer than I intended.
First, I acknowledge the efforts of those who try to find a way to, safely,
"make it work" these days.
Both the topics - phrasing and distance - are key to my personal enjoyment
of contra, which I've been involved in for 20+ years. It's really
interesting reading the thoughts of people who have been more involved in
the community and in some cases for much longer than I.
A musician remarked in the phrasing thread that it was discouraging to play
for a crowd that wasn't keeping time. I can understand that. For a ONS, I
can also understand callers going with the flow; if the dancers refuse to
cooperate and match steps to the musician's beats, what is to be done
except liquor-up the band so they can have some fun, too! 😊
For a regular contra, however, that would, in my opinion, be a death knell.
Squares, with which I have lot less experience, as people rightly point out
is more flexible in phrasing. Even there, however, it seems to me that call
granularity isn't reduced beyond 4-beat phrases. Also, the callers never,
to my recollection, start a figure on the off-beat. So, calls are started
on the 1 or the 5 of an 8 beat phrase (at least at the top of the dance
sequence). Squares are also more forgiving which allows for this
flexibility. It's the same 8 people through the dance and the collateral
damage is limited when things go awry. It's pretty easy to stop, re-form a
circle of 8, then wait for a reboot without affecting anyone else.
Contra ain't like that. At all.
Being on time is key, for the enjoyment of everyone in one's line. (I'm
gonna show some snobbery here). If people aren't able to be there when
needed - assuming the choreography is a good match for the crowd - then
perhaps another activity would be a better choice for the individual. Of
course, allowances/adaptations for current community members whose
abilities may be in decline for whatever reason. I can't imagine
contra-dancing with a group that consistently ignored the musical phrase;
how would that even work. No AABB? Might as well have Sun Ra's band
playing; free jazz to accompany free contra.
The social distancing thing is similar but different. The workarounds that
people are searching for presumably are sought to facilitate continuance of
what those individuals find most (?) important in our community which seems
to be just a notion of showing up - I'm here and I see you are here, too. I
attended one Zoom dance a couple of months ago, to give it a try. I can
only imagine that others place different value than I of the various
aspects of contra-dance. If I can't make physical contact with the people
I'm dancing with, it ain't contra. That's kinda what it comes down to for
me.
I certainly stand as a member of our large virtual community circle wishing
the best for every individual and anticipating that first dance, whenever
and wherever that might be.
Stay safe and, by your actions, keep those around you safe.
Ken Panton
Saguenay, QC
Last call! Meeting information will be sent out on Thursday, July 23.
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society invites you to join us for our July caller workshop with special guest Colin Hume!
Saturday, July 25, 12 noon – 1:30pm (US Central time)
$5 per household
Register here: http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/ <http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/>
Join us for this unique opportunity: an online workshop with UK-based caller Colin Hume! Many of you know Colin thanks to his website (www.colinhume.com <http://www.colinhume.com/>), as well as his dances, compositions, and calling—and that’s our topic for this workshop.
Why do callers build websites? What content do they include, and why? What’s the balance between website content and that published in other forms—books, CDs, etc.? How has the internet changed social folk dancing?
Our format will be a moderated discussion: you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask Colin your own questions.
Those registering for the workshop will receive a link to the online meeting 24-48 hours ahead of time, and a reminder email the day of.
For an introduction to Colin’s own website, watch his brief video tour: https://colinhume.com/help.htm <https://colinhume.com/help.htm> (click the image to open the video pop-up).
Questions? Please email dance(a)scissortail.org <mailto:dance@scissortail.org>.
—
Louise Siddons
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society
www.scissortail.orgwww.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/
dance(a)scissortail.org
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)
Hello all,
Sometimes I write in to check if a dance I've penned has already been
written; but this time I'm sure that it hasn't.
I was inspired by the news of the national coin shortage (
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pandemic-leads-national-coin-shortage-…)
to put together a dance called "The Laundromat Needs Quarters" full of
quarter turns and agitated motion.
Note, this is not a dance that I think should be called, it's a joke dance
and they have very limited utility. But I miss the extended contra
community and wanted to share as a reminder that our dance community is
still out there, and we will celebrate and dance in person again someday.
The Laundromat Needs Quarters
Becket
A1 -----------
(8) Ladies' Chain across
(4) Pass through to an ocean wave (ladies catch left, Neighbors right)
(4) Balance the short wave (forward and back)
A2 -----------
(4) Walk forward and catch right hand with next, 1/4 allemande to long waves
(4) Balance the long Wavy line (right and left)
(4) Slide to the right (as in Rory O’More), catch left hands and 1/4
allemande to short waves
(4) Balance the short Wavy line (left and right)
B1 -----------
(4) Slide to the left (as in Rory O’More)
(12) 3/4 of a hey, starting ladies pass left shoulder in middle; end on
home side with partner
B2 -----------
(16) Partner right shoulder round and swing
I'm planning to publish this page to the world on Saturday evening (that's mid-day California time and 3pm East Coast
time) so please let's have any more comments before then.
Thanks to all who have responded - it's made the page so much better! I've had useful comments from all four of the
lists that I've sent it out to.
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web page http://colinhume.com/master.htm
I've written a web page on the subject "What is a Dancing Master" and I'd love
to have some feedback from the list before I make it available to the world.
https://colinhume.com/master.htm
Colin Hume
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society invites you to join us for our July caller workshop with special guest Colin Hume!
Saturday, July 25, 12 noon – 1:30pm (US Central time)
$5 per household
Register here: http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/
Join us for this unique opportunity: an online workshop with UK-based caller Colin Hume! Many of you know Colin thanks to his website (www.colinhume.com), as well as his dances, compositions, and calling—and that’s our topic for this workshop.
Why do callers build websites? What content do they include, and why? What’s the balance between website content and that published in other forms—books, CDs, etc.? How has the internet changed social folk dancing?
Our format will be a moderated discussion: you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask Colin your own questions.
Those registering for the workshop will receive a link to the online meeting 24-48 hours ahead of time, and a reminder email the day of. You will also receive a link to Colin’s new video introducing his website; that link will also be available here after July 18.
Questions? Please email dance(a)scissortail.org.
—
Louise Siddons
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society
www.scissortail.orgwww.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/
dance(a)scissortail.org
New Zoom series: Wednesday Walkthroughs
Wednesdays at 12 noon, US Central time, starting July 15
Caller Louise Siddons (http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/ <http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/>)
We’ve been solo dancing for a while now, and I’ve discovered that I really enjoy adapting existing choreography for solo dancers. I love the way it emphasizes pattern and position, encouraging dancers to think positionally and holistically about how the dance works. I’ve also been challenged, as a solo dancer, to find the fun in contra dance choreography, which often makes intense use of the connection between dancers for its zest.
In this workshop series, we’ll walk through the process of adapting dances for solo dancers, choosing new dances each week. We’ll see the original choreography (as interpreted by a solo dancer with ghosts), and then I’ll propose and call a solo adaptation. After we dance, together we’ll talk about why the adaptation feels good (or suggest a different one that feels better!). Along the way, I might introduce a variety of dance genres and blur the lines between them — and encourage participants to do the same.
Dances will be approached from a positional framework (in other words, we’re going to be gender-free by default, as solo dancers), and participants are encouraged to think holistically about pattern, momentum, and space.
These workshops are free and open to anyone who is interested. Sign up here to receive weekly details: https://forms.gle/eR8dbyLz9NV3592h8 <https://forms.gle/eR8dbyLz9NV3592h8>
—
Louise Siddons, dance caller
http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/
lesiddons(a)gmail.com
What a moment in history we are witnessing! I can't believe that I have done this, but I have created a folder on my computer called Zoom dances (for want of a better name).
If you have composed any dances for the current times, and are happy to share, I would be very pleased to have a copy. I have made baby steps into calling dances over zoom. Another whole level of challenge, and not for the technologically shy! My unending admiration for those of you who are pioneering this new dance form.
I hope you are all well. Being able to dance and witness this from the other side of the world is a little bit of a silver lining for me
CheersJeanette MillCanberra, Australia
