Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

4369 discussions

by Chris Weiler

Hello everyone, For those of you who have been on this list from the beginning, or have read through the archives, you know that I posted several updates describing my early experiences as a caller. I just looked back and realized that the last one was in October of 2005 and I'm long past due for an update. These e-mails tend to run long, and ramble a bit, so I won't be offended if you don't read the whole thing. Since that last update, plenty of things have happened that I did post to the list: Calling at the Down East and NEFFA festivals. Writing my first dances. Starting my own dance series. But there have been plenty of other lessons learned and great experiences that I haven't posted. Overall, it's been wonderful gaining experience, becoming more confident on stage and really enjoying calling. Taking Lisa Greenleaf's Contra Caller's course a couple of summers ago at Pinewoods was a big step for me along that process. She gave me an assignment on Wednesday for Thursday's class. The assignment was to figure out how to express my joy and enthusiasm for the dance through my voice. I had been pretty monotone in my delivery so far. That night I found myself drawn into a dance writing session with Bob Isaacs and 4 other people that didn't end until 3am (the result was the dance "A Slice of Pinewoods"). The next morning in class, I was exhausted. I spent some time on my own building my focus and drawing on my energy reserves and taught a dance in a way that was a world different (and better!) than before. It's a lesson that I've drawn on again and again since. Now I can relax and share with people the fun that I'm having and don't let a hard day affect my performance on stage. The next summer I went back to American Week as a camper and had a blast helping Lisa teach the next class of students. It was an eye-opening experience to take on the role of teacher as well as student. As most of you know, I started the Mill City Contra Dance monthly series in May of 2006. After December of 2007, I handed that dance off to a group of people to run. Taking on the role of organizer opened up my awareness to more aspects of our shared activity. It inspired me to expand the SharedWeight lists to include musicians and organizers. That way, there was a resource for each role in producing a dance. I learned a lot about how much work it is and how hard it can be to get the word out about a wonderful dance experience. The dance never grew much beyond 30 or so people, which made it barely viable economically. When I handed it off, there were many stated reasons, but the primary one was I was burned out from trying to do it mostly on my own (with the help of one person on publicity). The experience of calling every month was invaluable as I was starting out as a caller. It also gave me the opportunity to give new talent a place to gain experience. Several of the bands that played were performing for the first time or close to it. A few times I had new callers call a dance during the evening. I discovered how important it was to have a good relationship with the musicians. How important it was to make sure that they had fun, too. Most of the bands that I've worked with have come up to me afterwards and told me how much they've enjoyed working with me. Some of them even ask when we can work together again. So I was able to bring some great bands that might not normally be willing to play for the small amount of money that I could offer but were willing to come for the experience of working with me and in a great hall. [Boy, doesn't that make me sound like I have a swelled head! Believe me, it's humbling to have musicians that I admire working with me to arrange gigs.] Other incidental lessons learned from running a dance series: learning how to set up sound and run a sound board; the value of having a good relationship with the owners of the hall; the politics of running a dance series; recruiting people to help or take over a series; and the fun of having a bunch of musicians invade my condo. This last year has been wonderful with some firsts for me: My debut at the Scout House in Concord, MA. Working with some top-notch bands and musicians like Notorious, Celticladda, Lissa Schneckenburger, Amy Cann, Bruce Rosen and many more. My debut at the Thursday Contras at the Scout House series. And an invitation to call at the Champlain Valley Folk Festival this summer. So far it's been a bunch of generalities about my calling experiences. How about a couple of recent experiences? Last Spring, there was a fundraiser dance for the Scout House that included a silent auction. Our own Bob Isaacs had put an item up for auction. The winning bidder would have Bob write a dance for them with their favorite moves. I outbid Lisa G. for the honor. After that, I e-mailed Bob and made a counteroffer: Instead of writing the dance on his own, we would write the dance together. Bob agreed and the next month he made a trip to New England for a calling gig and visited me for a day. I shared with him two fragments that I had in mind. From those fragments, we wrote several dances, but two of them we felt were worth calling the "auction dances" and sharing the writing credits. Thus was born "Give the Scout a hand" and "On the Rebound". A fun and educational experience. I had a couple of people ask me about my session at the Down East Festival last month that was opposite the medley. We had about 7-10 couples show up. Most beginners with some experience dancing during the day and a very few people that knew what they were doing. So I called very simple contras and made sure that the musicians played a moderate to slow tempo and kept the music and phrasing clear. It was a shame, since they had worked up some new tune sets that would have been fun, but would have made life more difficult for the dancers. Afterwards, I had discussions with a couple of the organizers about whether such a session was necessary and that if it was, it shouldn't be anyones ONLY performance. This year at NEFFA I had the privilege of calling with Lisa Greenleaf and Bob Isaacs for the Festival Orchestra set Friday night. Both friends and mentors, it was fun working with them to plan the session and to share the experience of calling a fun dance for everyone. Saturday I was one of the callers for the Medley. Unfortunately, I didn't have all of my language firmly in mind when it came my turn to call and flubbed the first time through my dance. I recovered in time to give the dancers time to recover and it went smoothly from there. Humbling and embarrassing in front of my fellow callers and my friends on the floor. Saturday night after the dance, I was staying with a friend who is starting out playing piano for contras. As we were relaxing before heading to bed, she mentioned how much she loved the tune "Vladamir's Steamboat" and that it somebody should write a dance for it just like the chestnuts. I asked her if she had the music available and told her that we were going to write a dance right then. So we listened to the tune several times and she clarified what she thought would be the best moves to put into the dance. By 3am, I had written a new dance. On Sunday, I found people to walk it through and it all worked out. Now I just have to create an opportunity to call the dance with the tune and some dancers. I think that it's the best dance I've written on my own, but we'll find out for sure once it gets battle tested. This summer I'm looking forward to taking Kathy Anderson's Square Dance Caller's course again. Now that I'm more comfortable on stage, I think that I'll have better luck with bringing squares back into my repertoire. What a wonderful place Pinewoods is and the CDSS programs are great. If you haven't been, you're really missing out! Congratulations on reading to the end of this post! I applaud your stamina for listening to me go on and on about my experiences as a caller. I would encourage anyone to share their calling experiences with the list. I know that I would be interested in hear about other people and how their journey as a caller got started or is progressing. Happy Dancing and Calling! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH

17 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 9

by Linda Leslie

Dear Laurie, For the exact same reason as you describe, I put together a triplet that introduces folks to the movements, as well as the cast off, which is found in so many contra corner dances. I have used it a lot, and it works well. Here it is! Corner Triplet by Linda Leslie Proper A1 Actives down the center as a couple (the lady will be on the LEFT) turn alone and return, cast off with the twos A2 Active couple turn contra corners B1 Active couple Balance and swing (end face UP) B2 Separate from each other go down the outside to the bottom Lines of three forward and back (end 2 3 1) Have fun! Linda I On Apr 26, 2008, at 2:46 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote: > 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. Looking for a contra corner triplet (Laur) > 2. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (David Millstone) > 3. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Laur) > 4. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Liz and Bill) > 5. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Laur) > 6. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Laur) > 7. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Liz and Bill) > 8. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Laur) > 9. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Rich Goss) > 10. Re: Looking for a contra corner triplet (Rich Goss) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:02:31 -0700 (PDT) > From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net > Message-ID: <518515.59816.qm(a)web52911.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > I'm afraid I thought I'd remember it easily, but it > appears I remember middle and ending, but sadly, can't > remember the whole dance. I planned to use this to > introduce contra corners to a mixed crowd during this > evenings dance. > > While I'm searching though my notes I thought I'd post > to group. Already tried what I could searching on > line. > > I can't remember the author, I believe the dance name > begins with Microcosmic. > > I know many of you have already left for the weekend, > but here's hoping... > > Thanks - Laurie > > ~~ > > ~ What the heart has once owned.....it shall never lose. ~ > ~ Henry Ward Beecher~ > ~~ > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: 25 Apr 2008 14:14:06 -0400 > From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone) > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Message-ID: <90085701(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET> > Content-Type: text/plain > > Dear Laurie, > > This won't help with the "Microcosmic..." dance you were seeking, > but David > Smukler has two triplets (one by him and one that he and Linda > Leslie each > created independently of each other) containing contra corners on > his website: > > http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/DSS.html#corner_t > > The old contra chestnut, Sackett's Harbor, a triple minor, also > includes contra > corners. In that dance, the minor set of three couples has turned > 90 degrees, so > it'smuch easier to identify corners than in a duple minor in long > lines, where > the twos must be both first and second corners. > > David Millstone > Lebanon, NH > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:11:30 -0700 (PDT) > From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: sharedweight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <754920.28168.qm(a)web52910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > I was able to remember the dance, and confirmed the > name and author with someone else - It's Microchasmic > by Ann Fallon > > And David, thanks so much for your reply. I'll look at > the dances you mentioned. > > I thought of Ann's dance because it was simple to > remember (duh) and easy to call. > > Laurie > > ~~ > > ~ What the heart has once owned.....it shall never lose. ~ > ~ Henry Ward Beecher~ > ~~ > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:47:12 +1200 > From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <481297B0.4000508(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Hi Laurie, > > You've got my curiosity up. What is the > dance? An easy dance using contra corners would > be useful. I'm aware of some of those triplets. > > I've not been able to find it with google. > (Note googling "microchasmic dance" finds > "representing a microchasmic portion within the > infinite spectrum of hues that decide our ... > Thin, scaly fingers dance across the cooling > flesh" which might be a good story line for a > dance, but it's not a contra site). > > Cheers, Bill > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:10:43 -0700 (PDT) > From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <209811.92839.qm(a)web52909.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > I KNOW. I was quite enlightened by my personal google > encounter. > > Its called Microchasimic by Ann > > My mentor, Mike Clark, uses this dance in an evening > where they'll be a contra corner dance for a mixed > crowd. I did it this evening, there were a number of > people who were new enough to not have encountered > 'contra cornerS' and I taught it so newer caller would > not have "fresh meat" when she tried to teach her > dance later in the evening. > > > > --- Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote: > >> Hi Laurie, >> >> You've got my curiosity up. What is the >> dance? An easy dance using contra corners would >> be useful. I'm aware of some of those triplets. >> >> I've not been able to find it with google. >> (Note googling "microchasmic dance" finds >> "representing a microchasmic portion within the >> infinite spectrum of hues that decide our ... >> Thin, scaly fingers dance across the cooling >> flesh" which might be a good story line for a >> dance, but it's not a contra site). >> >> Cheers, Bill >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> > > > ~~ > > ~ What the heart has once owned.....it shall never lose. ~ > ~ Henry Ward Beecher~ > ~~ > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:21:57 -0700 (PDT) > From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <222927.54610.qm(a)web52908.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > I KNOW. I was quite enlightened by my personal google > encounter. > > Its called Microchasimic by Ann Fallon > > My mentor, Mike Clark, uses this dance in an evening > where they'll be a contra corner dance for a mixed > crowd. Its interesting enough for those who know the > move, but in its intimate setting clear enough for the > newer dancer to understand and be successful with. I > did it this evening, there were a number of people who > were new enough to not have encountered > 'contra cornerS' and I taught it so a newer caller > would not have "fresh meat" when she tried to teach > her dance later in the evening. Its also easy to > remember. > > I know blah blah blah. > > Here's the dance: > > Proper/ 3x3/ longways > > Forward and Back > Partner Do-si-do (all) > > Actives (in the middle) Contra corners > EVERYONE balance and swing Partner > > Face up to the music > Peel the Banana > Top couple arch all dive through > > Actives are now tops, tops bottoms, new actives > (1,3,2) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote: > >> Hi Laurie, >> >> You've got my curiosity up. What is the >> dance? An easy dance using contra corners would >> be useful. I'm aware of some of those triplets. >> >> I've not been able to find it with google. >> (Note googling "microchasmic dance" finds >> "representing a microchasmic portion within the >> infinite spectrum of hues that decide our ... >> Thin, scaly fingers dance across the cooling >> flesh" which might be a good story line for a >> dance, but it's not a contra site). >> >> Cheers, Bill >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:32:58 +1200 > From: Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <4812BE8A.4000505(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Hi Laurie, > > Thanks for that. Shouldn't the comment about > the progression be > (2,3,1)? > > Cheers, Bill > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:44:19 -0700 (PDT) > From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <35110.1063.qm(a)web52910.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > okay let me talk this out- > > staring its 1, 2, 3 - actives are the 2's; the 1's > peel and so they are now 3's; the 2's become 1's, the > 3's are now 2's. > > so that would be 2,3,1 > > oh. Yes. > > Laurie (Grand Rapids, MI) > > > --- Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote: > >> Hi Laurie, >> >> Thanks for that. Shouldn't the comment about >> the progression be >> (2,3,1)? >> >> Cheers, Bill >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:37:54 -0700 > From: Rich Goss <richgoss(a)comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <C4381BD2.50F3%richgoss(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Something seems to be missing. How do the actives get into the > middle? > > > On 4/25/08 9:21 PM, "Laur" <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> I KNOW. I was quite enlightened by my personal google >> encounter. >> >> Its called Microchasimic by Ann Fallon >> >> My mentor, Mike Clark, uses this dance in an evening >> where they'll be a contra corner dance for a mixed >> crowd. Its interesting enough for those who know the >> move, but in its intimate setting clear enough for the >> newer dancer to understand and be successful with. I >> did it this evening, there were a number of people who >> were new enough to not have encountered >> 'contra cornerS' and I taught it so a newer caller >> would not have "fresh meat" when she tried to teach >> her dance later in the evening. Its also easy to >> remember. >> >> I know blah blah blah. >> >> Here's the dance: >> >> Proper/ 3x3/ longways >> >> Forward and Back >> Partner Do-si-do (all) >> >> Actives (in the middle) Contra corners >> EVERYONE balance and swing Partner >> >> Face up to the music >> Peel the Banana >> Top couple arch all dive through >> >> Actives are now tops, tops bottoms, new actives >> (1,3,2) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --- Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote: >> >>> Hi Laurie, >>> >>> You've got my curiosity up. What is the >>> dance? An easy dance using contra corners would >>> be useful. I'm aware of some of those triplets. >>> >>> I've not been able to find it with google. >>> (Note googling "microchasmic dance" finds >>> "representing a microchasmic portion within the >>> infinite spectrum of hues that decide our ... >>> Thin, scaly fingers dance across the cooling >>> flesh" which might be a good story line for a >>> dance, but it's not a contra site). >>> >>> Cheers, Bill >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >>> >> >> >> >> >> _____________________________________________________________________ >> _________ >> ______ >> Be a better friend, newshound, and >> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. >> http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:46:00 -0700 > From: Rich Goss <richgoss(a)comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet > To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <C4381DB8.50F5%richgoss(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Nevermind. I read a later post. Got it. > > > On 4/25/08 11:37 PM, "Rich Goss" <richgoss(a)comcast.net> wrote: > >> Something seems to be missing. How do the actives get into the >> middle? >> >> >> On 4/25/08 9:21 PM, "Laur" <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >>> I KNOW. I was quite enlightened by my personal google >>> encounter. >>> >>> Its called Microchasimic by Ann Fallon >>> >>> My mentor, Mike Clark, uses this dance in an evening >>> where they'll be a contra corner dance for a mixed >>> crowd. Its interesting enough for those who know the >>> move, but in its intimate setting clear enough for the >>> newer dancer to understand and be successful with. I >>> did it this evening, there were a number of people who >>> were new enough to not have encountered >>> 'contra cornerS' and I taught it so a newer caller >>> would not have "fresh meat" when she tried to teach >>> her dance later in the evening. Its also easy to >>> remember. >>> >>> I know blah blah blah. >>> >>> Here's the dance: >>> >>> Proper/ 3x3/ longways >>> >>> Forward and Back >>> Partner Do-si-do (all) >>> >>> Actives (in the middle) Contra corners >>> EVERYONE balance and swing Partner >>> >>> Face up to the music >>> Peel the Banana >>> Top couple arch all dive through >>> >>> Actives are now tops, tops bottoms, new actives >>> (1,3,2) >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> --- Liz and Bill <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Laurie, >>>> >>>> You've got my curiosity up. What is the >>>> dance? An easy dance using contra corners would >>>> be useful. I'm aware of some of those triplets. >>>> >>>> I've not been able to find it with google. >>>> (Note googling "microchasmic dance" finds >>>> "representing a microchasmic portion within the >>>> infinite spectrum of hues that decide our ... >>>> Thin, scaly fingers dance across the cooling >>>> flesh" which might be a good story line for a >>>> dance, but it's not a contra site). >>>> >>>> Cheers, Bill >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Callers mailing list >>>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >>>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> > ______________________________________________________________________ > _______>> > _ >>> ______ >>> Be a better friend, newshound, and >>> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. >>> http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 9 > **************************************

17 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet

by Laur

I was able to remember the dance, and confirmed the name and author with someone else - It's Microchasmic by Ann Fallon And David, thanks so much for your reply. I'll look at the dances you mentioned. I thought of Ann's dance because it was simple to remember (duh) and easy to call. Laurie ~~ ~ What the heart has once owned.....it shall never lose. ~ ~ Henry Ward Beecher~ ~~ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

17 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Looking for a contra corner triplet

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Dear Laurie, This won't help with the "Microcosmic..." dance you were seeking, but David Smukler has two triplets (one by him and one that he and Linda Leslie each created independently of each other) containing contra corners on his website: http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/DSS.html#corner_t The old contra chestnut, Sackett's Harbor, a triple minor, also includes contra corners. In that dance, the minor set of three couples has turned 90 degrees, so it'smuch easier to identify corners than in a duple minor in long lines, where the twos must be both first and second corners. David Millstone Lebanon, NH

17 years, 1 month

Looking for a contra corner triplet

by Laur

I'm afraid I thought I'd remember it easily, but it appears I remember middle and ending, but sadly, can't remember the whole dance. I planned to use this to introduce contra corners to a mixed crowd during this evenings dance. While I'm searching though my notes I thought I'd post to group. Already tried what I could searching on line. I can't remember the author, I believe the dance name begins with Microcosmic. I know many of you have already left for the weekend, but here's hoping... Thanks - Laurie ~~ ~ What the heart has once owned.....it shall never lose. ~ ~ Henry Ward Beecher~ ~~ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

17 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] NEFFA!

by lynn ackerson

Sorry Michael. I was being contracentric. ----- Original Message ---- From: Michael Barraclough <michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:02:28 PM Subject: Re: [Callers] NEFFA! Me too, but then I would have to miss my own session :) Michael Barraclough http://www.michaelbarraclough.com -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of lynn ackerson Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 4:30 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] NEFFA! How about an early dinner at 4:30? I'd really hate to miss the singing squares. Lynn ----- Original Message ---- From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>; musicians(a)sharedweight.net; A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:11:37 AM Subject: [Callers] NEFFA! Hello everyone! I'm looking forward to another great NEFFA this weekend. I hope that I can see and chat with as many of you as possible while still getting some dancing in! I've been going over the schedule looking for a good time for a SharedWeight gathering. I think that at 6:30 on Saturday would be a good time to meet in the cafeteria where the food vendors are. We can grab a couple of tables and sit together. I'm open to other times/places if someone has a better idea. Safe travels! Happy Dancing, Playing and Calling! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

17 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] NEFFA!

by lynn ackerson

How about an early dinner at 4:30? I'd really hate to miss the singing squares. Lynn ----- Original Message ---- From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>; musicians(a)sharedweight.net; A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:11:37 AM Subject: [Callers] NEFFA! Hello everyone! I'm looking forward to another great NEFFA this weekend. I hope that I can see and chat with as many of you as possible while still getting some dancing in! I've been going over the schedule looking for a good time for a SharedWeight gathering. I think that at 6:30 on Saturday would be a good time to meet in the cafeteria where the food vendors are. We can grab a couple of tables and sit together. I'm open to other times/places if someone has a better idea. Safe travels! Happy Dancing, Playing and Calling! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

17 years, 1 month

NEFFA!

by Chris Weiler

Hello everyone! I'm looking forward to another great NEFFA this weekend. I hope that I can see and chat with as many of you as possible while still getting some dancing in! I've been going over the schedule looking for a good time for a SharedWeight gathering. I think that at 6:30 on Saturday would be a good time to meet in the cafeteria where the food vendors are. We can grab a couple of tables and sit together. I'm open to other times/places if someone has a better idea. Safe travels! Happy Dancing, Playing and Calling! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH

17 years, 1 month

New web site

by Chris Page

Hi, A quick advertisement: Based on discussion here about a year ago, I decided to put my dances on a website. It's finally done to the point where it's coherent enough to go public. There's some of my dance sequences, plus some other bits that may be of interest. As time goes on I'll add more dances, and may add other stuff. It's at: http://www.geocities.com/ccpage19143/index.htm Enjoy, -Chris Page San Diego

17 years, 1 month

confession

by Chrissy Fowler

Hello all, Do you remember a while back when I was crowing self-importantly about having correctly identified the caller's voice in the YouTube of Moondance folks doing Cary Ravitz's Roadkill? Well, turns out it's not Diane Silver after all (which I would have figured out too, had I actually watched the entire video initially.) Instead it is Janet Shepherd, with whom Diane shared that evening's calling. In fact, you can see Diane sitting on the bleachers at one point, preparing to call the next dance. Diane calls that dance frequently and thought she had done it at Moondance, but when she looked at the whole video she discovered what really happened and emailed me a few weeks ago with the retraction. We are both a bit embarrassed but also entertained by our mistake. :-) Please let the correction stand. (And be aware of the potential to offer history-rewriting assertions! Ah, the importance of citing sources and providing identifying information!!) Both Diane and I will see many of you at NEFFA next weekend! Cheers! Chrissy > Chrissy Fowler wrote: > > hi diane, > > someone on the shared weight caller list was asking about this dance > > (title, composer) and the caller sounded like you (to me, anyhow) > > just curious. > > hope all's well, > > c > > > > Does anyone know the title and composer of this dance? > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbsl5lvJZc > > _________________________________________________________________ Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_W…

17 years, 1 month

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