Contra Callers

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4369 discussions

by Sue Robishaw

Hi, We are sadly lacking in contra in my neck of the world, and I don't have the experience of others on the list (who I'm thoroughly enjoying learning from), but I've taught a few easy ones to our IFD group to introduce the idea, and these worked well (I think they were all from the New England Dancing Masters "Chimes of Dunkirk" book: Jefferson & Liberty Haste to the Wedding Broken Sixpence A non-contra easy dance that's gone over well with both our IFDers and mixed public is the quadrille "The Carding" from Dudley Laufman's "Sweets of May". Lively and you don't need even numbers of couples as in a square. Snowy Cheers, Sue Robishaw Upper Peninsula of Michigan -- * * * * * * * * * * Sue Robishaw ~ [1]sue(a)manytracks.com ~ 906-644-2598 770N Fox Rd, Cooks MI 49817 ~ ~ ~ [2]www.ManyTracks.com "At the heart of this story, I think , is a simple, abiding belief: it is possible to live wisely on the land, and to live well. And in behaving respectfully toward all that the land contains, it is possible to imagine a stifling ignorance falling away from us." Barry Lopez ~ "Arctic Dreams" * * * * * * * * * * References 1. mailto:sue@manytracks.com 2. http://www.ManyTracks.com/

17 years, 3 months

YouTube dance

by Chrissy Fowler

Diane Silver confirmed that the dance in question is her calling Road Kill by Cary Ravitz. See link to his site below. Chrissy Fowler > > Hi Chrissy -- > > Well, dang! I am so flattered. That IS me, but the fact that you > recognized it is amazing. I had not seen this Moondance footage > before. Do you know if it's possible to save the video to my hard > drive? Saving the link target doesn't seem to work. > > The dance is Road Kill by Cary Ravitz --it's on his webpage: > http://ravitz.us/dance/ > > - Diane > > 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 > > _________________________________________________________________ Climb to the top of the charts! Play the word scramble challenge with star power. http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_jan

17 years, 3 months

name this dance please

by Warren Pollans

Does anyone know the title and composer of this dance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbsl5lvJZc

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] name this dance please

by PassonDown＠aol.com

The name of that dance is "Roadkill" by Cary Ravitz. It's a really fun dance to do, even if it falls apart like the one time that I actually danced it. Kenny Greer >Does anyone know the title and composer of this dance? >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbsl5lvJZc **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

17 years, 3 months

Introduction and contra in New Zealand

by Liz and Bill

Hi Contra Callers, My wife and I have just had 10 days of fantastic contra dancing here in New Zealand. We joined up with Ron and Cathy Arps' contra tour. We had a ball! It was our first chance to experience real contra dancing. I've called "barn dances" here for many years, and call MWSD too. I hope we can get contra going here in Christchurch. We had a first go last Sunday (www.baritompa.com/contra) I've been on the ABC square dance forum for awhile, which promotes the idea of dances rather than classes. On the tour I really enjoyed calling a simple traditional flavour dance to the contra dancers - who would swing for 8 beats! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4zInEY84UI&feature=PlayList&p=40331DECD14CC… Since coming back from the tour, I've made contact via the web with a number of contra callers and musicians and received so much help and useful material. The contra community is very welcoming. Cheers, Bill

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 43, Issue 7

by Linda Leslie

Another easy fix for Country of Marriage, which maintains most of the original dance sequences would be: A1 and A2 the same in the B1: Right and left through (or promenade) and then a Roll away with a half sashay with partner, ladies rolling to the left, gents moving right. At this point, the men have their right arms free and can go into the center more easily for the allemande. In addition, the women move to the left, and thus help the couple progress more easily. The rest of the dance remains the same. Hope this helps! warmly, Linda Leslie On Mar 10, 2008, at 12:00 PM, 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. Re: Organizing Dance Cards (Dan Black) > 2. Re: Organizing Dance Cards (Chris Weiler) > 3. Re: Organizing Dance Cards (Dan Black) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 09:16:10 -0700 (PDT) > From: Dan Black <blackjunier(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <625143.67882.qm(a)web52209.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Gang, > > By the way, Mary Kays Reel is a favorite and I enjoy changing roles > in this dance ( the lady role rocks). There seems to be an awkward > sequence in the B1 in the below referenced dance: > B1 Promenade (the dance originally called for a right and left > through > here) > Gents allemande Right 3/4 to a fleeting long lineThe gents right > hand may be behind the lady for the promenade then the gent has to > reach out with his right hand for an allemande right without > bopping his neighbor in the head or worse. > > Do I have this right? While walking this in my living room it seems > uncomfortable, has anyone dance this sequence to confirm this? > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 5:16:05 PM > Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards > > Susan Kevra's "The Country of Marriage" has that "Mary Cay's" move > as well, > done by the men. > > http://www.io.com/~entropy/contradance/sequences/the-country-of- > marriage.html > > Jerome > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http:// > mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:36:45 -0400 > From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <47D4202D.40005(a)weirdtable.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Dan, > > You're right, the move is awkward for the men. If I were going to > re-write the dance it might look something like this: > > A1 Circle left 3/4, gents roll neighbor right > 1/2 hey (gents pass left) > A2 Neighbor bal. & swing > B1 Long lines > Gents Al. Right 3/4, new gents Al. Left 3/4 (ladies take a step to > the left) > B2 Partner Bal. & swing > > I have danced other dances with the gent's using this progression, but > can't think of them right now. Maybe someone else on this list has > them > in their collection and would like to share? > > Chris Weiler > Goffstown, NH > > > > > Dan Black wrote: >> Gang, >> >> By the way, Mary Kays Reel is a favorite and I enjoy changing >> roles in this dance ( the lady role rocks). There seems to be an >> awkward sequence in the B1 in the below referenced dance: >> B1 Promenade (the dance originally called for a right and left >> through >> here) >> Gents allemande Right 3/4 to a fleeting long lineThe gents right >> hand may be behind the lady for the promenade then the gent has to >> reach out with his right hand for an allemande right without >> bopping his neighbor in the head or worse. >> >> Do I have this right? While walking this in my living room it >> seems uncomfortable, has anyone dance this sequence to confirm this? >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> >> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 5:16:05 PM >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards >> >> Susan Kevra's "The Country of Marriage" has that "Mary Cay's" move >> as well, >> done by the men. >> >> http://www.io.com/~entropy/contradance/sequences/the-country-of- >> marriage.html >> >> Jerome >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _____________________________________________________________________ >> _______________ >> 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: 3 > Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 16:19:14 -0700 (PDT) > From: Dan Black <blackjunier(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <361141.32214.qm(a)web52205.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Chris, > > Thanks for the fix and I hope all is well. > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Sent: Sunday, March 9, 2008 1:36:45 PM > Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards > > Dan, > > You're right, the move is awkward for the men. If I were going to > re-write the dance it might look something like this: > > A1 Circle left 3/4, gents roll neighbor right > 1/2 hey (gents pass left) > A2 Neighbor bal. & swing > B1 Long lines > Gents Al. Right 3/4, new gents Al. Left 3/4 (ladies take a step to > the left) > B2 Partner Bal. & swing > > I have danced other dances with the gent's using this progression, but > can't think of them right now. Maybe someone else on this list has > them > in their collection and would like to share? > > Chris Weiler > Goffstown, NH > > > > > Dan Black wrote: >> Gang, >> >> By the way, Mary Kays Reel is a favorite and I enjoy changing >> roles in this dance ( the lady role rocks). There seems to be an >> awkward sequence in the B1 in the below referenced dance: >> B1 Promenade (the dance originally called for a right and left >> through >> here) >> Gents allemande Right 3/4 to a fleeting long lineThe gents right >> hand may be behind the lady for the promenade then the gent has to >> reach out with his right hand for an allemande right without >> bopping his neighbor in the head or worse. >> >> Do I have this right? While walking this in my living room it >> seems uncomfortable, has anyone dance this sequence to confirm this? >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> >> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Sent: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 5:16:05 PM >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards >> >> Susan Kevra's "The Country of Marriage" has that "Mary Cay's" move >> as well, >> done by the men. >> >> http://www.io.com/~entropy/contradance/sequences/the-country-of- >> marriage.html >> >> Jerome >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _____________________________________________________________________ >> _______________ >> 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 > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/ > newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 43, Issue 7 > **************************************

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Two Requests

by Jerome Grisanti

Rickey, I was reminded the other day of a good tool. Since I often use a whole-set longways dance like Virginia Reel or something like that, I have already covered "cast down the outside" and it's just a matter of changing it to "cast down one place." This is appropriate for teaching dances with an unassisted cast. --jerome Hi Callers, > > I call a regular contra dance, once a month that is attended by many > beginners. Yes they really are beginning something as we encourage them > to > come back. Often I do a lot of dances that are not contras as this is > appropriate. Recently I decided to do an evening mostly of easy contras. > I > had problems I have had before, so, I have two requests today: > > (1) Many of the dances I do would now be called ?unequal? dances as the > actives do a lot more than the inactives. We often do ?Actives down the > center, turn alone, back and cast off?, figures that used to be among the > most basic, but are not often done at today?s dances. Are any of you still > doing dances that use these calls? Are any of you who do use these figures > calling to a room made up mostly of beginners? Here is what I have been > saying (roughly), or at least trying to say: > > * Actives identify who you are and notice who your neighbors are. > > * You are going to end up changing places with your neighbor, so > that you are one place down from where you are now, and you will again be > facing your partner as you are now. > > * Here is how you get there > > * Actives only, go down the center with your partner 5 or 6 steps > (the meaning of ?actives?, ?down?, ?center?, and ?Partner? have all been > previously established) > > * Turn alone in place. > > * Come back up the hall until you are standing between your > neighbors. > > * Inactives put your arm around your active neighbor?s waists. > > * Actives you are going to separate from your partner > > * Inactives pivot your neighbor around, actives continuing > forward, > inactives backing up about ? of the way around until > > * The actives are one place down, below their neighbors, and all > are > facing their partners across the set as I showed you earlier. > > OK, I probably do not say all of this, all of the time, but I come close > (I > have recorded myself so I can check). There cannot be anything left to > say > can there? Do you think that there is something else to say or something > to > say differently? A demonstration preceded this. What do you do to teach > these figures? > > (2) I also need more ?equal? beginner and ?very beginner? contras. My > favorite is ?Family Contra?. Do you have other equal contras for > beginners > and very beginners. I have several set dances and a few Sicilian circles > for such folks, and I normally do them first so that dancers can get the > idea of progressing to new neighbors, before we try contras. What I seem > to > need more of are ?equal? contras for beginners and ?very beginners?. What > do you have that you can send me? > > Thanks, > > Rickey Holt > > Fremont, NH > > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] need (more) help with Rory O'More

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

At the risk of overstating the case-- and thank you, Jack, wherever you are, for chiming in- I'll quote from another of David Smukler's essays. In this case, he's discussing Chorus Jig but his comments about the role of the twos are relevant in the Rory O'More context: ----- Valuing the role of the "supporting cast" As in many other chestnuts, the twos have an important and perhaps underappreciated role... Just think of your slow progress toward the top of the hall as paying your dues in the contra world. Keep dancing. Sooner or later, whether this time or another, you will reach the head of the set. Your turn will come to be a number one couple for time after time, supported by all those other dancers whom you helped out on other occasions. But, aside from the importance of being there for the ones, could it be that there are other hidden opportunities in the number two role? Absolutely! First of all, you have the gift of time. You can watch other dancers, and learn from observing them, an increasingly rare opportunity in our contemporary everyone-moving-all-the-time contra choreography. Some of this observation is social (Who's dancing with whom tonight? Look at the amazing matching smiles on those two!), and some is dance-related (Oh, that's how Mary and Tom do that really neat balance!) (Aha! They only go six steps down the center and then they take two full beats to turn alone). Another benefit can be found in the reduced physical demand placed on you as a dancer. After being active for a while, enjoy this time to relax as an "inactive," required only to ensure that turning contra corners goes well. A program that varies the activity level from dance to dance will allow more people, young and old, to participate in dancing, and to feel energized and not exhausted by their participation. However, if you are not ready for a rest, you have an invaluable opportunity as a number two dancer to improvise some clogging steps during the first half of Chorus Jig. This sort of "jigging"--a free-form way to play along with the band--has become rare in the contemporary dance scene. Freestyle clogging while standing out as a number two dancer is only possible if the inactives are, well, inactive. If everyone is moving, there simply is no opportunity for the solo foot percussion that resonated on dance floors in years past. Speaking of the band, the number two role also offers you the chance to devote more of your conscious attention to the music. ------ As Jack says, some of these older dances really validate the notion of this being a community-centered dance form, rather than the couple-centered activity that many seem to think it is. David P.S. Shameless plug: CDSS is publishing Cracking Chestnuts, the collection of essays by David S. and myself on some twenty classic dances. Music, detailed commentary, an appendix with more suggested dances... We're told that it should be available by this fall.

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Two Requests

by gtwood＠worldpath.net

Hay Rickey, I have collected a 'book' of begginer contra material that I will be glad to share with you. The next time we cross trails will probably be in Kingston. I'll bring it with me. Gale Original Message: ----------------- From: Rickey holt.e(a)comcast.net Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:43:32 -0400 To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Two Requests Hi Callers, I call a regular contra dance, once a month that is attended by many beginners. Yes they really are beginning something as we encourage them to come back. Often I do a lot of dances that are not contras as this is appropriate. Recently I decided to do an evening mostly of easy contras. I had problems I have had before, so, I have two requests today: (1) Many of the dances I do would now be called unequal dances as the actives do a lot more than the inactives. We often do Actives down the center, turn alone, back and cast off, figures that used to be among the most basic, but are not often done at todays dances. Are any of you still doing dances that use these calls? Are any of you who do use these figures calling to a room made up mostly of beginners? Here is what I have been saying (roughly), or at least trying to say: * Actives identify who you are and notice who your neighbors are. * You are going to end up changing places with your neighbor, so that you are one place down from where you are now, and you will again be facing your partner as you are now. * Here is how you get there * Actives only, go down the center with your partner 5 or 6 steps (the meaning of actives, down, center, and Partner have all been previously established) * Turn alone in place. * Come back up the hall until you are standing between your neighbors. * Inactives put your arm around your active neighbors waists. * Actives you are going to separate from your partner * Inactives pivot your neighbor around, actives continuing forward, inactives backing up about ¾ of the way around until * The actives are one place down, below their neighbors, and all are facing their partners across the set as I showed you earlier. OK, I probably do not say all of this, all of the time, but I come close (I have recorded myself so I can check). There cannot be anything left to say can there? Do you think that there is something else to say or something to say differently? A demonstration preceded this. What do you do to teach these figures? (2) I also need more equal beginner and very beginner contras. My favorite is Family Contra. Do you have other equal contras for beginners and very beginners. I have several set dances and a few Sicilian circles for such folks, and I normally do them first so that dancers can get the idea of progressing to new neighbors, before we try contras. What I seem to need more of are equal contras for beginners and very beginners. What do you have that you can send me? Thanks, Rickey Holt Fremont, NH _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers -------------------------------------------------------------------- myhosting.com - Premium Microsoft® Windows® and Linux web and application hosting - http://link.myhosting.com/myhosting

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Two Requests

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

At our dance on Saturday night, I had half a dozen people there at the start of the evening who'd never done this kind of dancing before. As part of a very short beginners' session, I had people lined up across from a partner, and improvised this sequence: Circle left; Circle right Right-hand star; LH star Long lines forward and back; all do-si-do partner Down the center four in line (ones in the middle), back up still holding hands in line, ones arch, pull twos through In essence, it's Jefferson's Reel without that dance's B1 (actives only down the outside and back), and it worked fine. One nice thing about the dance-- a feature it shares with Family Contra-- is that dancers are connected with others for virtually all of the dance so there's less opportunity to go astray. > I have several set dances and a few Sicilian circles for such folks, and I normally do them first so that dancers can get the idea of progressing to new neighbors, before we try contras. Alternately, you could do one of those set dances, one of these simple contras, go back to another longways or Sicilian circle, then to a simple scatter mixer for variety (Ted's Solo Mixer or Set a Crochet come to mind), and then another simple contra. David Millstone

17 years, 3 months

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