Contra Callers

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4416 discussions

Re: [Callers] suggestions for dancing on lawns...

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

> any suggestions for calling an outside wedding dance The all-purpose KISS principle ("Keep It Simple, Stupid!") certainly applies here. One other thought, given the circumstances-- inexperienced dancers and uneven footing-- is to encourage two-hand turns for any swings in the dances you choose. Dancers will have more controlover their own bodies if they're not locked into someone else's embrace. David Millstone

17 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Lefthanders Day dance

by Gale T. Wood

A tip for future dance choreographers: train yourself to dance both the M & F roles so that you Can get a feel for what each dance partner is required to do. I find that it's both fun and a real learning experience to dance the opposite genders role. Happy dancing Gale

17 years, 5 months

United We Dance - final transition

by Rickey

Hi, In United We Dance, by Bob Isaacs, I am curious how you tell people to re-form the long wavy lines after the star in B2, to continue the dance. To set up these lines from an improper formation before the dance starts it seems sufficient to me just to tell the men to turn and face out and take their neighbors right in their right. It is the transition from the star left that ends the dance to that long wavy line that puzzles me some for the women. It seems that the men can naturally end that star facing out, but it seems that the women will end that star also facing out and will need to take an extra turn to face in to set up that long wavy line for the continuation of the dance. How do you tell folks to make this transition? Other comments are, of course welcome, but it is this transition that, for the women, I am wondering about. The full dance is below. Thanks, Rickey Holt, Fremont Starting formation: Right hand long wave with neighbor. I take this to mean two such waves, down the sides. (A1) Balance and ROM slide Right / Balance and ROM slide Left (A2) Balance and swing Neighbor (B1) Circle left ¾ / Swing Partner (B2) Ladies Chain / Star Left.

17 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Lefthanders Day dance

by Hgrastorf＠aol.com

New title: Not Always Right (much better, thanks!) I haven't had a chance to actually "dance" it yet, but I would (gently) remind the gentlemen that we ladies have gotten accustomed to a certain amount of institutionalized awkwardness (I suppose we could call it the Ginger Rogers syndrome) so a little turnabout seems fair. In squares, for instance, to allemande one's corner is easy for the men -- you use the natural (outside) hand. For the ladies, however, the natural hand to use would be the right hand -- that's OUR outside hand. We ladies must turn 45 degrees and reach across with our INSIDE hand to allemande our corner smoothly and gracefully -- something which many callers I've danced to fail to point out for the beginners on the floor. And of course in virtually all contra corners dances with a "cast off" figure, the man's free hand, as he comes into the center, is his right hand, so he's ready to begin the contra corners figure. But the lady "castee's" right hand is around the waist of the lady "caster." I've seen many women beginners try contra corners and "not get it" repeatedly because they try, over and over, to start with their natural hand -- the left (free) hand. (I was a source of considerable "prop wash" the first time I tried contra corners. A helpful neighboring woman dancer kept repeating "RIGHT hand" in my direction until I finally got it "right"). Having spluttered on defensively however at far too much length, I agree that the dance should flow smoothly. What about: B1: Half a hey on the LEFT diagonal, ladies chain across to the new neighbor (16 counts). B2 Balance the ring, Petronella LEFT (8) one place. Balance the ring, Petronella LEFT one place, turn around and form a new left hand star with the next neighbors? April Blum **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)

17 years, 5 months

Dances of the Mormon Trek 1840-1860

by Rickey

Hi all, I have been hired to lead some dancing for a recreation of the Mormon Trek that took place from 1840 to 1860. Apparently they believed in dancing and danced during the trek itself. It would be fun to include any historically accurate (or roughly historically accurate) material that I can. There will be close to 100 dancers mostly teenagers I believe, most or all with no prior experience with traditional dance. Any suggestions for easy dances - circles, sets or maybe contras (although I know better than to expect them to do contras unless we turn the contras into Sicilian circles) would be very welcome. I might even take on a square or two. The dance will take place outside, perhaps under a tent, but I believe without a wooden floor. Your suggestions will be happily danced. Thanks, Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH

17 years, 5 months

August 13, International Lefthanders Day

by hgrastorf＠aol.com

I'm a novice caller, and will be taking the Callers Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf at Pinewoods this August.? Wednesday, August 13th will be the 36th International Lefthanders Day, and I've written the following dance which I hope to call there that evening, since its Campers Night?-- it?dances okay in my head.? Any input? Name of Dance:? August 13 Duple Improper, double progression. A1? LEFT hand star (8) morphing into LEFT hand Allm w/neighbor (8)?(like Al's Safeway Produce) A2? Ladies pass LEFT shoulders across the set to B/S partner (16)? Face LEFT diagonal B1? On the LEFT diagonal, half a hey, ladies leading.? Ladies turn back over their LEFT shoulders to LEFT gypsy partner (16).? Face across. B2? Circle LEFT --? (One and 1/8 places?)?(8 counts) Far enough to balance the ring (4) and then pass LEFT shoulders (4) into a new LH star with the next.?? April Blum

17 years, 5 months

Looking for a dance name, author and other data...

by Richie Katz

Hi.... I've posted 4 videos of Lisa Greenleaf, Ron Buchanon, and Becky Hill calling, A Pirates Life for Me, The 24th of June, Are you 'most done, and one unknown dance. All this is on the caller's corner page of contrausa.com. Can anyone look at these and let me know some of the dance names, the author's data and any other comments on the calling and dances? By the way, the dancing and music is great also... and you may see your friends in there :) best wishes ... Richie Katz Tampa

17 years, 6 months

International Lefthanders Day

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

--- April wrote: Does anyone have a suggestion for a tune that has a different B2???? --- end of quote --- I think what you mght be looking for is a three-part tune. Instead of playing AABBCC, the band might play, for example, AABC, giving you that different sound for the B2 part of your dance. Possibly the best-known tune that has three parts (aside from Chorus Jig, which won't work because it's more like ABCB and because for some dancers that tune is linked with the dance) is Ragtime Annie. Most fiddlers know the A and B parts and many will also know the C part. Other three-part possibilities that quickly come to mind are Reel Beatrice (French-Canadian), Quadrille Jos Bouchard (ditto) and Merrily Kissed the Quaker's Wife (Irish). Of course, in keeping with your theme of "LEFT," you might want to consider using "The Girl I Left Behind Me" as your tune. ;-) David Millstone

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2

by hgrastorf＠aol.com

April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > I've often threatened to knit myself some lacy fingerless gloves, one of which will have a large "L" on the back... ... and the other of which will have a large "OL" (for my Other Left).? Does anyone have a suggestion for a tune that has a different B2????I think with the right tune providing an audio cue, the direction change (from gypsy left to circle left) would be less?apt to go "right."? Or do I mean more apt to go left?? April -----Original Message----- From: callers-request(a)sharedweight.net To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 12:00 pm Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2 Send Callers mailing list submissions to callers(a)sharedweight.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to callers-request(a)sharedweight.net You can reach the person managing the list at callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin) (Jerome Grisanti) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:00:27 -0500 From: "Jerome Grisanti" <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin) To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Message-ID: <78dbc7c60806031000i49afaa0h31665f49ebc58f62(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > > > I'm not very experienced at writing dances or critiquing them. I think > it looks good. The only part the seems awkward to me is transitioning > from a left shoulder gypsy to a circle left. It seems like circling > right would flow more easily. Or else gypsying right and transitioning > into the circle left. > Janet Levatin > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2 **************************************

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin)

by Jerome Grisanti

April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > > > I'm not very experienced at writing dances or critiquing them. I think > it looks good. The only part the seems awkward to me is transitioning > from a left shoulder gypsy to a circle left. It seems like circling > right would flow more easily. Or else gypsying right and transitioning > into the circle left. > Janet Levatin > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 6 months

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