Contra Callers

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4369 discussions

by Rickey

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

17 years, 3 months

Japan dance and self intro/update

by Liz and Bill

Hi David, I ran across your post searching for contra dance Japan. Do you have anything going? I am a caller in New Zealand. Our son lives in Osaka and we come to Japan often. Cheers, Bill Baritompa

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards

by Dan Black

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.ht… > > 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

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Organizing Dance Cards

by Dan Black

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.ht… Jerome ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

by crunchymama＠juno.com

David, It helps VERY MUCH thank you! I think I was looking alphabetically under "O" for Olson instead of "J" for Jennings. DUH! Google was pulling up the right page, but I kept scrolling down too far. And thank you for the Roger Diggle version! Alison Murphy -- David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone) wrote: Dear Alison, <snip> Zesty Contras does, indeed, appear to be available from CDSS: http://www.cdss.org/sales/american_dance.html#books and scroll down to Jennings. Along with 500 dances in his unique transcription style, Larry includees many provocative essays that are in many ways even more valuable than the dances. Same thing goes for Give-and-Take, the more recent sequel which was written in part because Larry's sense of what constituted a "zesty" contra had changed over time. "Zesty Contras" actually includes dances without a partner swing-- gasp! I was on autopilot when I suggested this and credited it to Roger Diggle. It's because the version I usually call is Roger's variation of Al's dance, which Al liked even better than his original composition. MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR Roger Diggle variation of dance by Al Olson Becket formation A1 Circle left 3/4, allemande right with your neighbor 1-1/2 into long waves (men facing in, women out) A2 Rory O'More balances B1 Allemande right once around, men start hey for four across the set B2 Continue the hey (until you meet partner), swing partner, slide left along the set to the next couple <snip> Hope this helps... David Millstone Lebanon, NH _____________________________________________________________ Surf a world without wires. Click now for great wireless Internet solutions! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iiefNeO1nUJZ8L0Req7qSygZzt…

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Dear Alison, > Is the momentum from cast off proper really any different from a ladies chain into long lines forward and back? No. It's just that instead of starting across, as in a courtesty turn, with a 180 degree assisted turn, with a cast off the assisted turn starts with the actuve couple facing up and the turn is more like 270 degrees, three quarters of the way around, to end facing across. Zesty Contras does, indeed, appear to be available from CDSS: http://www.cdss.org/sales/american_dance.html#books and scroll down to Jennings. Along with 500 dances in his unique transcription style, Larry includees many provocative essays that are in many ways even more valuable than the dances. Same thing goes for Give-and-Take, the more recent sequel which was written in part because Larry's sense of what constituted a "zesty" contra had changed over time. "Zesty Contras" actually includes dances without a partner swing-- gasp! Rory O'More balances for all in contempory contras work because they're done in two lines, one on each side of the set, rather than one line down the center. There's simply not enough room to put all the dancers into one line. (Think of normal spacing along a contra line, and now put twice as many people into it.) MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR Al Olson duple improper contra A1 Circle left; allemande right neighbor 1-1/2 to a long wave A2 All balance right, then left, then slde right past your neighbor (the Rory O'More balances) For new wave, balance left, right, and slide left past that same neighbor B1 Allemande right neighbor once around (just 4 counts!), men start hey for four across the set, going 3/4 of the way B2 All swing partner; ladies chain I was on autopilot when I suggested this and credited it to Roger Diggle. It'sbecause the versin I usually call is Roger's variation of Al's dance, which Al liked even better than his original composition. MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR Roger Diggle variation of dance by Al Olson Becket formation A1 Circle left 3/4, allemande right with your neighbor 1-1/2 into long waves (men facing in, women out) A2 Rory O'More balances B1 Allemande right once around, men start hey for four across the set B2 Continue the hey (until you meet partner), swing partner, slide left along the set to the next couple And if that's not enough, Al Olson also came up with... MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR #2, which is published in Give-and-Take... Hope this helps... David Millstone Lebanon, NH

17 years, 3 months

thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Thank you all, again, for all the help with Rory O'More. Apparently the decision on how or even whether to call it has been postponed for me by the weather- our dance for tonight was snowed out!! (My kids are thrilled, the jonquils maybe less so.) I'm not supposed to call again till April 18th, I will think on it till then, but I'm still not convinced that having all hands in for the Rory O'More line wouldn't work- can you tell stubborn runs in the family!? Is the momentum from cast off proper really any different from a ladies chain into long lines forward and back? If Rory O'More LWL work in modern dances, why wouldn't there be space for everyone? Is there just not enough time for the 2's to back out? The hand grips in the LWL seem perfect for a little push off momentum for the 2's walking back, and their presence does not interfere with the 1's being in the right place. You'd even get a little A2 preview of your corners in B1: 1's have P in R hand, 2nd corner in L, then after the first (8) P in L hand, 1st corner in R. Ah well, I will give y'all a report when I get a chance to try it. Hopefully a glowing one rather than crash and burn! If anyone would be willing to post "More For Your Neighbor" by Al Olson I'd appreciate it!! I already tried looking it up on the net, which insists it is by Al Olson rather than Roger Diggle. It was published in "Zesty Contras" which I unfortunately do not own. "Zesty Contras" is not currently available on Amazon, and while NEFFA publishes it and says it is available through CDSS, I couldn't find it there. Thank you again for all the encouragement, advice and insight. Alison Murphy "If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." ~ James Madison HTTP://WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM _____________________________________________________________ Click here to obtain free information on accredited degrees. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iieXwld1d5xUgbtxj8XnkpGxH1…

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Rory/Rich Hart

by gtwood＠worldpath.net

"Inactives sometimes (often?) try to fill in the quieter times with additional swings. With Chorus Jig, inactives will often swing their partner while the actives walk down the outside. Then, while actives walk down the center, inactives may swing the inactive in the next set behind them, breaking the swing just in time to cast off with the active returning back down the center. Inactive indeed! - actually not at all inactive in deed..." Thanks Rich, ya got me thinking Last year a the Down East fest (it's coming up at the end of this month!) a caller announced that the next dance would be Chorus Jig.... There was a mixture of Cheers and Groans.... the young man across from me proclaimed that he could not stand proper dances, the woman I (quickly) asked to dance, agreed with him. I inquired as to why? Because, there is too much standing around was the response. My reply; Than youve been dancing C J with the wrong people. With the aide other dancers who really enjoy Chorus Jig we showed the groaners Just what a vigorous dance it can be. Including the points youve made It is just a heck of a dance for kicking up your heels. I must add, when I started dancing the chestnuts were danced with regularity Dancers really came to appreciate them because there was a chance to rest and watch (Thanks to Pater Yarenski and the LRB!) -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Microsoft® Exchange solutions from a leading provider - http://link.mail2web.com/Business/Exchange

17 years, 3 months

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

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Susan, I've replied to you offlist, but I'll reiterate for anyone else who may be passing through Memphis, Tennessee: This is the Volunteer state and we love volunteer guest callers in Memphis, and the people to contact about calling here are Joan and Ernest Kelly. Contact info may be found here on the Memphis Contra Dancers webpage: http://members.aol.com/horselovers/index.html Rich, Thank you so much for your prompt and wonderfully clear explanation of the entire sequence in A1 and of casting off proper in particular! The entire A1 seems very clear to me now; casting off proper is kind of like a same gender courtesy turn. I think I will definitely find a group of 4 to demo it, as it seems much easier to see and imitate than explain. David, Your addendum on casting off proper, that the actives will walk forward while the inactives walk backwards/turn in place, was very helpful in cementing my ability to visualize the move. And I really appreciated how you broke everything down for me. I don't anticipate problems teaching Rory O'More slides/twirls as our dancers are very familiar with the move from other dances. But your suggestion to have the 1's end the swing facing UP solved my problem of how to get the dancers to consistently end the swing w/ lady on the left. We spend every learners lesson trying to teach people that the lady should be on the right, it's pretty ingrained here. I have a new problem however! Now that I understand the casting off, these two explanations also pointed out something I'd completely overlooked in the A1- that it is 1's/active's only in the long wavy Rory O'More line! I should have noticed this, it's right there in print, but somehow I missed it. This is very bad for me, as our dance organizer is against imbalanced dances anyway, and the Rory O'More twirls are one of her favorite moves. I thought I could slip this one by, as the origin of Rory O'More, but not if she has to be inactive for more than 16 beats at a time. And I am afraid I may be castigated for calling a dance where the 2's are completely inactive for more than 32 beats! So this brings me to a new question: Can this dance work if the inactives are included in the Rory O'More line? So at the end of A1, instead of actives only, everyone would come forward into a LWL, taking hands with their partner and a neighbor or the opposite gender. Balance, balance, and twirl, repeat, then the initial call for B1 would be something like: 1's by the right whilethe 2's back out, 1st corners alle-mande Has anyone tried it this way? I think this is what I will do, if I don't end up scrapping it all together due to nervousness or time constraints. Thank you so much for your input!! Alison Murphy "If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." ~ James Madison HTTP://WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM _____________________________________________________________ Click for free info on online masters degrees and make up to $150K/ year http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2111/fc/Ioyw6iifnHYB5oYT22mMSjcgoJzv4cU…

17 years, 3 months

Rory in Memphis

by J L Korr

Alison: I happen to agree philosophically with David M., but in practical terms your observation is accurate. From the perspective of some modern urban contra dancers, Rory O'More is almost as unbalanced a dance as you can get. The 2s' only physical participation is in the cast-off and the contra corners. David offered one suggestion for addressing this concern head-on. Here's another: Sandwich it between two dances that are extra-active or extra-energetic. If you call Rory O'More immediately after an energetic dance, while everyone is huffing and puffing and catching their breath, they won't notice at first that it's so inactive. Once they do begin to realize that the 2s don't do much, you can point it out yourself and then promise that you'll make it up to them in the next dance once everyone's caught their breath. After Rory O'More, call a 3-swing dance or something else that gets everyone moving fast and furiously again. There's a place for chestnut dances even in modern urban dance settings. But it does often require extra care. Don't give up yet on calling Rory! Jeremy Korr East of Los Angeles _________________________________________________________________ Need to know the score, the latest news, or you need your Hotmail®-get your "fix". http://www.msnmobilefix.com/Default.aspx

17 years, 3 months

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