Linda,
I enjoyed your post. Years ago we had two dancers at our dance who
were terrible dancers, though they had danced for a long time and
thought of themselves as experienced dancers, and the combination of
that and being avoided by the women who knew them meant they would
ask beginners to dance, totally confusing them and causing whole sets
to fall apart. Similar to your story, a group of us women got
together and decided we would be the "sacrificial squad" and take
turns "neutralizing" them when they showed up by asking them to
dance before they could ask a beginner. It certainly made the dances
go a lot more smoothly and beginners came back more frequently when
they felt competent and not confused, so it was worth the sacrifice.
I wonder if they ever marveled at why suddenly they were so popular.
I wish I could say they became better dancers, but they eventually
moved so the squad happily disbanded.
Regarding shadow swings - at a dance out of town I ended up with a
shadow and we suddenly recognized each other as having been in school
together years ago, so that was fun. Part of the mystery of life -
sometimes you get a prize, sometimes you don't.
Martha
On Jan 25, 2008, at 9:00 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Shadow swings (Jerome Grisanti)
> 2. A Shadow Swing and New moves for contras... (Linda Leslie)
> 3. Re: Shadow swings (Chris Page)
> 4. Re: Shadow swings and Irrational Hypocrisy (Greg McKenzie)
> 5. Re: Shadow swings (gtwood(a)worldpath.net)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:56:58 -0600
> From: "Jerome Grisanti" <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Message-ID:
> <78dbc7c60801240956j297e9456n18bab2ed5ff49d45(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I believe shadow swings should be limited to dance weekends or
> workshops,
> and even then only rarely. While keeping in mind Cary Ravitz's
> rationale
> that you don't choose your shadow, your chances of having a very
> pleasant
> interaction with a shadow are very much higher at a dance weekend. Of
> course, not all weekends are made the same.
>
> As a dancer I sometimes replace certain interactions (such as shadow
> allemande right once and a half) with a shadow swing when it's
> someone I
> enjoy swinging with. If my shadow is a beginner or a so-so swinger,
> I dance
> the figure as called.
>
> And I like Mark Galipeau's suggestion that the caller can change
> shadow
> interaction to a swing on the last iteration of the dance, but only
> if that
> would not confuse the dancers.
>
> --Jerome
>
>
> On Jan 24, 2008 11:00 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:25:25 -0500
>> From: J L Korr <jeremykorr(a)hotmail.com>
>> Subject: [Callers] Shadow swings
>>
>> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils
>> Fredland's "Head
>> of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it got me
>> thinking. I've
>> called dances with shadow swings infrequently, because in the back
>> of my
>> head I think about the following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes
>> on contra
>> choreography: "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction.
>> People don't
>> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the
>> entire dance.
>> . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
>>
>> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal
>> preferences, and
>> others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate others' thoughts
>> on this --
>> are shadow swings as strongly negative an issue for you as they
>> are for
>> Cary? Clearly they were not an issue for Nils when writing "Head
>> of the Bed"
>> or Seth T. when writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jeremy
>>
>>
>
> --
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> 660-528-0714
> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:52:55 -0500
> From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> Subject: [Callers] A Shadow Swing and New moves for contras...
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Message-ID: <3086A7F3-AA3C-447E-8947-3359C7426309(a)comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Greetings!
> I very much agree with Greg's list of "thoughts about contra dance
> moves". This is an area that begs for lots of wonderful
> conversations among callers...we have a responsibility to keep a
> healthy balance between the traditions, and the evolution of dancing.
> I encourage one of you to apply for NEFFA 2009 (the schedule for 2008
> is all done!), with this as a topic for discussion!
>
> And as for shadow swings, three cheers to Chris Weiler for his
> thoughts! One of the most satisfying venues for me to call is the
> community dance, where dancers are happy to dance with each other,
> regardless of skill. There is a recognition of the need to "take
> care" of one another in order for the joy of the dance to be shared
> by all, and an understanding that the dancing will continue only if
> we make sure that new dancers feel welcome. The dance in Rehoboth,
> MA is probably one of the best community dances that demonstrates
> this commitment. I, like Chris, when dancing, tend to wait until the
> last minute, and ask someone I don't know, or who seems shy, to
> dance. If is works out to be fun, then it is great for both of us; if
> is was not so pleasurable, thus is life....and after all, a dance is
> *only* 12 minutes or so! The same can be said for having a shadow
> that you do not choose: there is the potential serendipity of making
> a new friend, or the possibility of a less than thrilling experience.
> I am willing to take the risk! Certainly only one dance in an evening
> with a shadow swing would be advisable, but not calling any at all
> also seems to me to be a mistake.
>
> I am also reminded of an experience at a very small dance on Cape
> Cod. A not so skilled dancer (gent) who had trouble hearing the
> calls, was a fervent attendee at the dance in Sandwich. Because the
> number of dancers is small (though high in energy!), it was obvious
> that this gent was left out until the end or entirely, and often
> would be paired with new dancers. The experienced women got together
> and decided that they would each take a turn asking him to dance one
> dance on any given evening. What a marvelous plan! He was as happy as
> could be, smiling the whole evening, and the dance in general was
> more enjoyable for all as a consequence. He may not have been on
> time, or skilled, but the joy from him made everybody feel great!
>
> So Jeremy, I would say don't be shy about calling a dance with a
> shadow swing!
> warmly, Linda Leslie
>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:48:49 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
>> From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] What did he say !??? MWSD
>> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID:
>> <20647868.1201114129207.JavaMail.root@elwamui-
>> polski.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
>>
>> Jerome wrote:
>>> One other thing I might mention about bringing Modern Western
>>> Square moves
>>> into Contra crowds: ...
>>
>> Then there is also the other, more basic, discussion about both the
>> advisability of this course and the responsibilities it entails.
>>
>> The contra dance tradition, as it currently stands, is still one of
>> the most effective means of bringing a roomfull of people with
>> widely varying skill levels together in a joyful evening of social
>> dance to live music, without the requirement of separate lessons.
>>
>> For some of us this is the most attracive quality of contras. An
>> effort to increase the number of calls and the skills necessary to
>> participate at any evening of contra dance is a bold course that
>> could do violence to the traditional role of contras. An effort to
>> do so should be pursued with caution. Each step in this direction
>> should be precluded with a series of questions:
>>
>> - How will this addition affect the confidence level of first-time
>> dancers in the hall?
>>
>> - How will it affect their ability to participate and the
>> likelihood that they will return?
>>
>> - How should I characterize this addition to make it clear that it
>> varies from the basic tradition of contras?
>>
>> - What is the appropriate venue to introduce this kind of
>> variation? (Dance camps, special events, festivals, or regular
>> contra dance series?)
>>
>> - Are my variations significant enough over the course of the
>> evening that I have a responsibility to distinguish this event, in
>> the publicity, from a regular evening of contras?
>>
>> - Would I like to see this variation become a part of the contra
>> dance tradition?
>>
>> Just a thought,
>> Greg McKenzie
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> . . . and Chris did an excellent job calling a fun dance he co-
>> wrote. Will you consider posting it on SharedWeight, Chris?
>>
>> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils
>> Fredland's "Head of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it
>> got me thinking. I've called dances with shadow swings
>> infrequently, because in the back of my head I think about the
>> following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra choreography:
>> "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't
>> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the
>> entire dance. . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
>>
>> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal
>> preferences, and others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate
>> others' thoughts on this -- are shadow swings as strongly negative
>> an issue for you as they are for Cary? Clearly they were not an
>> issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed" or Seth T. when
>> writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jeremy
>>
>> Jeremy Korr
>> East of Los Angeles
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
>> http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?
>> ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:37:56 -0500
>> From: "Koren A. Wake" <koren.a.wake(a)gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
>> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID:
>> <99d834190801231337t76308643w47506638aed005a0(a)mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> This is my opinion mainly as a dancer, not so much as a caller, but
>> I'm
>> inclined to agree with Cary - especially when you consider that the
>> more
>> shadow interaction there is, the less partner interaction! A nice
>> shadow
>> move that bounces me back to my partner can be very cool, and when
>> my shadow
>> is a good dancer or good friend of mine, I'm happy to have more
>> shadow
>> interaction, but it's a gamble. I might be stuck with a shadow
>> who's a
>> terrible dancer, or smells bad, or is generally just not someone
>> I'd want to
>> dance with, and not only are you (the choreographer and caller)
>> forcing me
>> to swing him every time through the dance, you're also taking me
>> away from
>> the person who I *did* choose to dance with.
>>
>> On the other hand, there are really cool dances with lots of shadow
>> interaction, too. If the dance itself is cool enough, I'm willing
>> to let
>> myself get pulled away from my partner more.
>>
>> - Koren
>>
>> On 1/23/08, J L Korr <jeremykorr(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:35:16 -0500 (EST)
>> From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
>> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID:
>> <11856886.1201127716708.JavaMail.root@elwamui-
>> karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>>
>>
>> Jeremy,
>>
>> I enjoy shadow swings.
>>
>> Greg
>>
>> ********
>>> Chris Weiler wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:47:16 -0800 (PST)
>> From: Mark Galipeau <red72impala(a)yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
>> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID: <897118.62150.qm(a)web83611.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>>
>> I love it when I have a shadow, without a swing, and
>> the caller throws in in the last iteration of the
>> dance, swing your shadow, just as a final good bye
>> gesture! Makes for a nice finish to a dance.
>>
>>
>>
>> Message: 7
>> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:23:38 -0500
>> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
>> Subject: [Callers] Give the Scout a Hand
>> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID: <4798915A.2030804(a)weirdtable.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> Jeremy,
>>
>> Here is the dance that you asked for:
>>
>> Give the Scout a Hand Becket-L
>> Bob Isaacs and Chris Weiler
>>
>> A1. Circle L 3/4, neighbor swing
>> A2. Long lines, gents allemande L 1 1/2 - give R to partner
>> B1. Balance, box the gnat, 1/2 hey with hands (partner pull by R,
>> gents
>> pull by L, neighbor pull by R, ladies pull by L)
>> B2. Partner balance, swing, then slide L, etc.
>>
>> Written for a fundraiser auction for the Concord Scout House in
>> Concord,
>> MA. Written 6/17/07. I prefer the 1/2 hey with hands to a standard
>> hey
>> since it gives the whole dance a connected feeling. I have used it
>> with
>> mixed crowds before with success.
>>
>> Best,
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 8
>> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:35:52 -0500
>> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
>> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Message-ID: <47989438.5050705(a)weirdtable.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> Jeremy,
>>
>> I agree with Koren that it's a crap shoot when you call a shadow
>> swing.
>> I definitely would never call one with a crowd that has more than a
>> minimal number of beginners. I also would never call more than one
>> in an
>> evening.
>>
>> That said, I like the gamble. I think that I'm a little unusual in
>> that
>> I very often in the evening wait until the last minute to find a
>> partner
>> and take whoever is available. I've met some wonderful dancers and
>> friends that way. Sometimes I get to dance with someone I haven't
>> danced
>> with in a long time. I think it's fun. The shadow swing can be the
>> same
>> way. Quite often when I have shadow interaction in a dance, I'll
>> ask my
>> shadow to be my next partner when the dance is done.
>>
>> Head of the Bed is unusual with it's 3 swings (Neighbor, Partner and
>> Shadow). When I first danced it at the Flurry, I knew I had to
>> collect
>> it. But I haven't had more than one opportunity to call it. 8^)
>> It's a
>> fun dance!
>>
>> Happy Dancing!
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:35:38 -0800
> From: "Chris Page" <chriscpage(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID:
> <9469896c0801241435i424b5073w64fcba5b0d1815de(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I currently don't have any dances with shadow swings in my
> repertoire, by choice.
>
> Part of that is to avoid the situation where you're forcing two
> people to swing together who Really Don't Want To Swing
> Over and Over. And they'll let you know it, whether it's a
> breakup, or one person's someone that they don't want to
> dance with. (In my first community I went to, there was
> one person like this. It would drive which lines people went
> into, people would refuse sometimes to neighbor swing
> with said person, and it really corrupted the whole partner-
> asking dynamic of the dance. So I'm shaped by an extreme.)
>
> There's the secondary reason that it's not as interesting as
> it's the same person over and over and over. And you've
> already got your partner over and over and over, with the
> partner swing I need to pander to. So that cuts out still more
> neighbor interaction. It's why I strongly prefer neighbor grand
> right and lefts to shadow grand right and lefts, for instance.
>
> A shadow can be a convenient marker to create the effect
> of a lose-and-find partner sequence, so they do have their
> uses.
>
>
>
> Yet I call a dance with a shadow swing about one night
> of every three. They're the four-face-fours where you swing
> your corner. So I fully admit to irrational hypocrisy.
>
> -Chris Page
> San Diego
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:09:36 -0800
> From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings and Irrational Hypocrisy
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <7.0.0.16.1.20080124225159.01ce0440(a)earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
>
> Friends,
>
> It seems that having folks who really dislike swinging together at a
> community dance is bad news...with, or without shadow swings. I know
> it happens, but callers can work to create a more gracious and
> generous atmosphere. It would feel odd to plan an evening program
> while considering the needs of people who wish to avoid contact at a
> social dance.
>
> Chris, I wonder; how would you feel about a dance with a shadow
> swing, and a neighbor swing, but with NO partner swing? I suspect
> that many of us call a dance or two each night with no partner
> swing. Would you protest more if there were one partner-swing-free
> dance with a shadow swing? (And would that be "rational hypocrisy?)
>
> Also, how many dances a night do you call that have no partner swing?
>
> Just wondering,
>
> Greg
>
> *********
>
> At 02:35 PM 1/24/2008, Chris wrote:
>> I currently don't have any dances with shadow swings in my
>> repertoire, by choice.
>>
>> Part of that is to avoid the situation where you're forcing two
>> people to swing together who Really Don't Want To Swing
>> Over and Over. And they'll let you know it, whether it's a
>> breakup, or one person's someone that they don't want to
>> dance with. (In my first community I went to, there was
>> one person like this. It would drive which lines people went
>> into, people would refuse sometimes to neighbor swing
>> with said person, and it really corrupted the whole partner-
>> asking dynamic of the dance. So I'm shaped by an extreme.)
>>
>> There's the secondary reason that it's not as interesting as
>> it's the same person over and over and over. And you've
>> already got your partner over and over and over, with the
>> partner swing I need to pander to. So that cuts out still more
>> neighbor interaction. It's why I strongly prefer neighbor grand
>> right and lefts to shadow grand right and lefts, for instance.
>>
>> A shadow can be a convenient marker to create the effect
>> of a lose-and-find partner sequence, so they do have their
>> uses.
>>
>>
>>
>> Yet I call a dance with a shadow swing about one night
>> of every three. They're the four-face-fours where you swing
>> your corner. So I fully admit to irrational hypocrisy.
>>
>> -Chris Page
>> San Diego
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:06:20 -0500
> From: "gtwood(a)worldpath.net" <gtwood(a)worldpath.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Message-ID: <380-22008152514620414(a)M2W041.mail2web.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Give the dancers credit. They will adjust to the
> dance as needed.
> I recall, years ago, there was a couple who really
> did not care for each other and they were caught
> in the dreaded shadow swing. Instead of making a fuss
> thay turned the swing into a 'Lady Walpole' and did
> a DSD in it's place. The dance goes on!
> Gale
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> mail2web LIVE ? Free email based on Microsoft? Exchange technology -
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>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
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> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 41, Issue 15
> ***************************************
Way to go Delia!
----- Original Message ----
From: Delia Clark <delia_clark(a)comcast.net>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 8:41:19 AM
Subject: [Callers] labor of love
Hi,
When I mentioned my dream of starting a new dance series in my
community of Woodstock VT to Jeremiah McLane at Pinewoods a few
summers ago, the main thing that I remember him saying is "Good luck,
it's a labor of love." His comment has stuck with me as we've
muddled along up to this point but, hey...
Friday night we had OUR FIRST DANCE in the "Third Friday Woodstock
Dance Series" and it was an awesome success, far exceeding our
expectations!!! I thought I might share some of what went well and
ask for your thoughts on starting new series in case you can help us
to maintain momentum.
The committee that finally came together with enough energy to make
this happen included several parents of young children, Waldorf
School parents, parents of kids with developmental disabilities and
members of a newish contra band that has been performing irregularly
over the past couple of years plus me as caller (my husband and son
are in the band). Here's what we came up with
Gradual Build-Up
We held two private parties in this venue this fall and early winter
that included members of the same band and me calling. Both
attracted big crowds and we promoted our dance series at both, at
least in concept. One of the parties was to celebrate my high school
son's new film and a ton of local HS kids came, which helped build up
a base of interest there and they turned out in force on Friday.
Family Friendly
We decided to make this a very family-friendly dance. We came up
with a program that includes:
5:30 - dinner of vegetarian soup and bread.
6:30 - family dance
7:30 - break and pot luck desserts
8:00 - contra dance
Notes on dinner: the soup is made by committee members using veggies
bought from a local farmer and bread is donated by a local bakery.
We gathered up a bunch of mismatched cups, bowls and spoons and we'll
keep them together and use them each time.
Affordable
We are currently charging $5 per adult, with children and teens
free. The cost includes both parts of the dance and dinner. We made
enough on Friday to pay for the food ingredients plus enough for seed
money for food for next time, some money to pay the guy who helped
cook, plus a modest amount for each band member -- we were thrilled
at how the finances came out, because of the large turn-out. Still,
we think we might try putting out a donation bucket for extra
donations next time to pay band members better (it's a big band),
donate to local non-profits, and and maybe invest in better sound
equipment over time.
Local Business Sponsor
One of our committee members owns two local businesses that recycle
and make compost. He offered to sponsor the dances, covering the
cost of the hall for the first five dances, which is $100 per night,
which is a reduced rate from their usual $150. We promoted his
businesses on all the posters and announced it at each part of the
dance, encouraging folks to give his hand a squeeze as they passed
him in line.
We also plan to try choosing a local non-profit to co-host each
dance, promoting it with their constituency and receiving a share of
the proceeds.
Promotion
We advertised all five dances in the series on one poster, but I
think we will also announce each separately again. A lot of the
promotion happened through local organizations, churches, and schools.
Problems
- I can't make all the dances so I will need to find a substitute,
which feels sad for me, but maybe it's a more sustainable pattern,
given how much I travel for work.
- A lot of the families with younger kids stayed through the break
and were still there at 8:00 so it was a little challenging to meet
their needs and still make all the high school students and adults
who had come feel like this wasn't a little kid event. They mostly
danced one or two dances, which I made appropriate for their level,
though, so it worked out fine.
- We jury-rigged our sound system, which was imperfect. More money/
attention needed for that as we go.
Question
Do you have any suggestions for us about starting a new series?
We're all ears!!
Sorry to miss you at Ralph Page -- I'm sure it was wonderful.
Thanks!
Delia Clark
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Delia Clark
PO Box 45
Taftsville, VT 05073
802-457-2075
delia_clark(a)comcast.net
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
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Give the dancers credit. They will adjust to the
dance as needed.
I recall, years ago, there was a couple who really
did not care for each other and they were caught
in the dreaded shadow swing. Instead of making a fuss
thay turned the swing into a 'Lady Walpole' and did
a DSD in it's place. The dance goes on!
Gale
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Chris Weiler wrote:
> Once again, frigid New Hampshire was home to another warm and special
> Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend. It was great to see people from all
> over the country who came to dance and learn. The SharedWeight lunch
> gatherings were a couple of the high points for me.
. . . and Chris did an excellent job calling a fun dance he co-wrote. Will you consider posting it on SharedWeight, Chris?
During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils Fredland's "Head of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it got me thinking. I've called dances with shadow swings infrequently, because in the back of my head I think about the following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra choreography: "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the entire dance. . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal preferences, and others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate others' thoughts on this -- are shadow swings as strongly negative an issue for you as they are for Cary? Clearly they were not an issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed" or Seth T. when writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Jeremy Korr
East of Los Angeles
_________________________________________________________________
Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
Greetings!
I very much agree with Greg's list of "thoughts about contra dance
moves". This is an area that begs for lots of wonderful
conversations among callers...we have a responsibility to keep a
healthy balance between the traditions, and the evolution of dancing.
I encourage one of you to apply for NEFFA 2009 (the schedule for 2008
is all done!), with this as a topic for discussion!
And as for shadow swings, three cheers to Chris Weiler for his
thoughts! One of the most satisfying venues for me to call is the
community dance, where dancers are happy to dance with each other,
regardless of skill. There is a recognition of the need to "take
care" of one another in order for the joy of the dance to be shared
by all, and an understanding that the dancing will continue only if
we make sure that new dancers feel welcome. The dance in Rehoboth,
MA is probably one of the best community dances that demonstrates
this commitment. I, like Chris, when dancing, tend to wait until the
last minute, and ask someone I don't know, or who seems shy, to
dance. If is works out to be fun, then it is great for both of us; if
is was not so pleasurable, thus is life....and after all, a dance is
*only* 12 minutes or so! The same can be said for having a shadow
that you do not choose: there is the potential serendipity of making
a new friend, or the possibility of a less than thrilling experience.
I am willing to take the risk! Certainly only one dance in an evening
with a shadow swing would be advisable, but not calling any at all
also seems to me to be a mistake.
I am also reminded of an experience at a very small dance on Cape
Cod. A not so skilled dancer (gent) who had trouble hearing the
calls, was a fervent attendee at the dance in Sandwich. Because the
number of dancers is small (though high in energy!), it was obvious
that this gent was left out until the end or entirely, and often
would be paired with new dancers. The experienced women got together
and decided that they would each take a turn asking him to dance one
dance on any given evening. What a marvelous plan! He was as happy as
could be, smiling the whole evening, and the dance in general was
more enjoyable for all as a consequence. He may not have been on
time, or skilled, but the joy from him made everybody feel great!
So Jeremy, I would say don't be shy about calling a dance with a
shadow swing!
warmly, Linda Leslie
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:48:49 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
> From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] What did he say !??? MWSD
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID:
> <20647868.1201114129207.JavaMail.root@elwamui-
> polski.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
>
> Jerome wrote:
>> One other thing I might mention about bringing Modern Western
>> Square moves
>> into Contra crowds: ...
>
> Then there is also the other, more basic, discussion about both the
> advisability of this course and the responsibilities it entails.
>
> The contra dance tradition, as it currently stands, is still one of
> the most effective means of bringing a roomfull of people with
> widely varying skill levels together in a joyful evening of social
> dance to live music, without the requirement of separate lessons.
>
> For some of us this is the most attracive quality of contras. An
> effort to increase the number of calls and the skills necessary to
> participate at any evening of contra dance is a bold course that
> could do violence to the traditional role of contras. An effort to
> do so should be pursued with caution. Each step in this direction
> should be precluded with a series of questions:
>
> - How will this addition affect the confidence level of first-time
> dancers in the hall?
>
> - How will it affect their ability to participate and the
> likelihood that they will return?
>
> - How should I characterize this addition to make it clear that it
> varies from the basic tradition of contras?
>
> - What is the appropriate venue to introduce this kind of
> variation? (Dance camps, special events, festivals, or regular
> contra dance series?)
>
> - Are my variations significant enough over the course of the
> evening that I have a responsibility to distinguish this event, in
> the publicity, from a regular evening of contras?
>
> - Would I like to see this variation become a part of the contra
> dance tradition?
>
> Just a thought,
> Greg McKenzie
>
>
>
>
>
> . . . and Chris did an excellent job calling a fun dance he co-
> wrote. Will you consider posting it on SharedWeight, Chris?
>
> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils
> Fredland's "Head of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it
> got me thinking. I've called dances with shadow swings
> infrequently, because in the back of my head I think about the
> following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra choreography:
> "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't
> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the
> entire dance. . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
>
> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal
> preferences, and others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate
> others' thoughts on this -- are shadow swings as strongly negative
> an issue for you as they are for Cary? Clearly they were not an
> issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed" or Seth T. when
> writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
>
> Thanks,
> Jeremy
>
> Jeremy Korr
> East of Los Angeles
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
> http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?
> ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:37:56 -0500
> From: "Koren A. Wake" <koren.a.wake(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID:
> <99d834190801231337t76308643w47506638aed005a0(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> This is my opinion mainly as a dancer, not so much as a caller, but
> I'm
> inclined to agree with Cary - especially when you consider that the
> more
> shadow interaction there is, the less partner interaction! A nice
> shadow
> move that bounces me back to my partner can be very cool, and when
> my shadow
> is a good dancer or good friend of mine, I'm happy to have more shadow
> interaction, but it's a gamble. I might be stuck with a shadow
> who's a
> terrible dancer, or smells bad, or is generally just not someone
> I'd want to
> dance with, and not only are you (the choreographer and caller)
> forcing me
> to swing him every time through the dance, you're also taking me
> away from
> the person who I *did* choose to dance with.
>
> On the other hand, there are really cool dances with lots of shadow
> interaction, too. If the dance itself is cool enough, I'm willing
> to let
> myself get pulled away from my partner more.
>
> - Koren
>
> On 1/23/08, J L Korr <jeremykorr(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:35:16 -0500 (EST)
> From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID:
> <11856886.1201127716708.JavaMail.root@elwamui-
> karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> Jeremy,
>
> I enjoy shadow swings.
>
> Greg
>
> ********
>> Chris Weiler wrote:
>>
>>
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:47:16 -0800 (PST)
> From: Mark Galipeau <red72impala(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <897118.62150.qm(a)web83611.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> I love it when I have a shadow, without a swing, and
> the caller throws in in the last iteration of the
> dance, swing your shadow, just as a final good bye
> gesture! Makes for a nice finish to a dance.
>
>
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:23:38 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: [Callers] Give the Scout a Hand
> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <4798915A.2030804(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Jeremy,
>
> Here is the dance that you asked for:
>
> Give the Scout a Hand Becket-L
> Bob Isaacs and Chris Weiler
>
> A1. Circle L 3/4, neighbor swing
> A2. Long lines, gents allemande L 1 1/2 - give R to partner
> B1. Balance, box the gnat, 1/2 hey with hands (partner pull by R,
> gents
> pull by L, neighbor pull by R, ladies pull by L)
> B2. Partner balance, swing, then slide L, etc.
>
> Written for a fundraiser auction for the Concord Scout House in
> Concord,
> MA. Written 6/17/07. I prefer the 1/2 hey with hands to a standard hey
> since it gives the whole dance a connected feeling. I have used it
> with
> mixed crowds before with success.
>
> Best,
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:35:52 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <47989438.5050705(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Jeremy,
>
> I agree with Koren that it's a crap shoot when you call a shadow
> swing.
> I definitely would never call one with a crowd that has more than a
> minimal number of beginners. I also would never call more than one
> in an
> evening.
>
> That said, I like the gamble. I think that I'm a little unusual in
> that
> I very often in the evening wait until the last minute to find a
> partner
> and take whoever is available. I've met some wonderful dancers and
> friends that way. Sometimes I get to dance with someone I haven't
> danced
> with in a long time. I think it's fun. The shadow swing can be the
> same
> way. Quite often when I have shadow interaction in a dance, I'll
> ask my
> shadow to be my next partner when the dance is done.
>
> Head of the Bed is unusual with it's 3 swings (Neighbor, Partner and
> Shadow). When I first danced it at the Flurry, I knew I had to collect
> it. But I haven't had more than one opportunity to call it. 8^) It's a
> fun dance!
>
> Happy Dancing!
> Chris
>
>
>
I believe shadow swings should be limited to dance weekends or workshops,
and even then only rarely. While keeping in mind Cary Ravitz's rationale
that you don't choose your shadow, your chances of having a very pleasant
interaction with a shadow are very much higher at a dance weekend. Of
course, not all weekends are made the same.
As a dancer I sometimes replace certain interactions (such as shadow
allemande right once and a half) with a shadow swing when it's someone I
enjoy swinging with. If my shadow is a beginner or a so-so swinger, I dance
the figure as called.
And I like Mark Galipeau's suggestion that the caller can change shadow
interaction to a swing on the last iteration of the dance, but only if that
would not confuse the dancers.
--Jerome
On Jan 24, 2008 11:00 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:25:25 -0500
> From: J L Korr <jeremykorr(a)hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Shadow swings
>
> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils Fredland's "Head
> of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it got me thinking. I've
> called dances with shadow swings infrequently, because in the back of my
> head I think about the following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra
> choreography: "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't
> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the entire dance.
> . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
>
> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal preferences, and
> others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate others' thoughts on this --
> are shadow swings as strongly negative an issue for you as they are for
> Cary? Clearly they were not an issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed"
> or Seth T. when writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
>
> Thanks,
> Jeremy
>
>
--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
660-528-0714
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
Jeremy,
Here is the dance that you asked for:
Give the Scout a Hand Becket-L
Bob Isaacs and Chris Weiler
A1. Circle L 3/4, neighbor swing
A2. Long lines, gents allemande L 1 1/2 - give R to partner
B1. Balance, box the gnat, 1/2 hey with hands (partner pull by R, gents
pull by L, neighbor pull by R, ladies pull by L)
B2. Partner balance, swing, then slide L, etc.
Written for a fundraiser auction for the Concord Scout House in Concord,
MA. Written 6/17/07. I prefer the 1/2 hey with hands to a standard hey
since it gives the whole dance a connected feeling. I have used it with
mixed crowds before with success.
Best,
Chris
Jeremy,
I enjoy shadow swings.
Greg
********
>Chris Weiler wrote:
>
>
>> Once again, frigid New Hampshire was home to another warm and special
>> Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend. It was great to see people from all
>> over the country who came to dance and learn. The SharedWeight lunch
>> gatherings were a couple of the high points for me.
>
>
>. . . and Chris did an excellent job calling a fun dance he co-wrote. Will you consider posting it on SharedWeight, Chris?
>
>During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils Fredland's "Head of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it got me thinking. I've called dances with shadow swings infrequently, because in the back of my head I think about the following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra choreography: "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the entire dance. . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed."
>
>However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal preferences, and others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate others' thoughts on this -- are shadow swings as strongly negative an issue for you as they are for Cary? Clearly they were not an issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed" or Seth T. when writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance.
>
>Thanks,
>Jeremy
>
>Jeremy Korr
>East of Los Angeles
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live.
>http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008
>_______________________________________________
>Callers mailing list
>Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Friends,
Jerome wrote:
>One other thing I might mention about bringing Modern Western Square moves
>into Contra crowds: ...
Then there is also the other, more basic, discussion about both the advisability of this course and the responsibilities it entails.
The contra dance tradition, as it currently stands, is still one of the most effective means of bringing a roomfull of people with widely varying skill levels together in a joyful evening of social dance to live music, without the requirement of separate lessons.
For some of us this is the most attracive quality of contras. An effort to increase the number of calls and the skills necessary to participate at any evening of contra dance is a bold course that could do violence to the traditional role of contras. An effort to do so should be pursued with caution. Each step in this direction should be precluded with a series of questions:
- How will this addition affect the confidence level of first-time dancers in the hall?
- How will it affect their ability to participate and the likelihood that they will return?
- How should I characterize this addition to make it clear that it varies from the basic tradition of contras?
- What is the appropriate venue to introduce this kind of variation? (Dance camps, special events, festivals, or regular contra dance series?)
- Are my variations significant enough over the course of the evening that I have a responsibility to distinguish this event, in the publicity, from a regular evening of contras?
- Would I like to see this variation become a part of the contra dance tradition?
Just a thought,
Greg McKenzie
