Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

3 participants
4416 discussions

by Greg McKenzie

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

17 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] What did he say !??? MWSD

by Greg McKenzie

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

17 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] What did he say !??? MWSD

by Jerome Grisanti

Rickey, One other thing I might mention about bringing Modern Western Square moves into Contra crowds: Contra dancers will try to put balances where they are used to putting balances, even if you don't call them. For example, most contra dances using square thrus use a balance, pull by, pull by sequence (8 counts). Repeating the balance, pull by, pull by would complete a square thru four places. (total 16 counts) A MWSD crowd would just pull by twice in 4 counts (square thru two), three times in 6 counts (square thru three) or four times in 8 counts (square thru four). No balances. Many MW dancers don't know what to make of the balances that contra dancers love so much. In the same way, contra dancers are habituated to putting balances before a Box the Gnat, and I've had to remind dancers in certain dances that there is no balance before the Box the Gnat. On the other hand, I have had good luck explaining the swing thru. From a wavy line of four with the ladies in the middle holding left hands, I teach neighbors allemande right halfway, men allemande left halfway. I explain that I will prompt those allemandes as "swing thru." Find a dance (or adjust it) so that you don't have to teach more than one or two "new" moves. -- Jerome Yes, I know "thru" is actually spelled "through." On Jan 23, 2008 7:41 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:06:27 -0500 > From: "Tepfer, Seth" <LABST(a)emory.edu> > Subject: Re: [Callers] [trad-dance-callers] What did he say !??? MWSD > To: "trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com" > <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com>, "Caller's discussion list" > <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: > < > 65633D79D8703F46AD8D95203BA286EE9C00176805(a)EXCHANGE11.Enterprise.emory.net > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > One of the cool things about MWSD is that they have singing squares to > many fun songs of the past 50 years. Beatles, stones, salsa, C&W, you name > it. The downside is most are using the jargon of MWSD. This is why they have > 40 weeks of lessons. > > You have two choices - replace the given moves with ones that put the > dancers in basically that place but with moves they already know, or teach > all those moves in other dances earlier in the evening. > > Square thru dancers know from contra. > Swing thru appears in some contra dances (see Manga Tak by Ron Buchannan > or Southern Swing by Steve Zaikon Anderson) (it's basically - from a wavy > line - all allemande Right ?, centers allemande left ?). > Eight chain 4 I've seen in a couple of squares by Colin Hume (check out > his Squares with a Difference - singing square O Bla Di, Oh Bla Dah) > Spin the top - um .... Here you go: > http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~jsda/sdtext/sdtextdata/basicpro10-eng.html#57<http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/%7Ejsda/sdtext/sdtextdata/basicpro10-eng.html#57> > > > From: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto: > trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rickey > Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:43 PM > To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com > Subject: [trad-dance-callers] What did he say !??? MWSD > > > Hi, > > Found two incredible singing squares. One is to Everly brothers' "Dream, > Dream, Dream" and the other to the Beatles' "Money Can't Buy You Love". We > might like to try them for our Valentine's Dance, but they use calls from > Modern Western Square Dancing. So........... What do these terms mean? (I > tried http://www.ceder.net <http://www.ceder.net/> , but could not find > them.) > > Square thru > > Square thru go three (three quarter 'round now) > > Square thru (count it four hands 'round) > > 8 chain 4 > > Swing thru > > Spin the top > > O.K. I have done a square through but before I teach it (and any > variations > in this list), I need review. > > Thanks to those who know. > > I don't. > > Singing in New Hampshire > > Rickey Holt > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > __._,_.___ > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Really!?

by Rickey

Really! When I asked recently about the transition in the first move of a Beckett from circle left ¾ and do-si-do neighbor (or pass through and do-si-do the next neighbor), I was interested in differences in the experience for the man and the women. Try these two figures. To simplify this description I am thinking of the couple who are together in the line on the callers left (i.e. the couple who in setting up the Beckett with Hands four, Actives Cross over and all circle left one place to the left, started out as the active couple). (1) As the first move in a Beckett again, or at least from that home position, circle left ¾ and pass through to the neighbors above, or the next neighbors above that. (2) Starting as before, circle left ¾ and have the man go down and pass through and do-si-do the next neighbor below, while the woman goes up and passes through and do-si-dos the next neighbor above. This last figure I have worked into a dance. Still Surprised in New Hampshire. Rickey Holt.

17 years, 10 months

What did he say !??? MWSD

by Rickey

Hi, Found two incredible singing squares. One is to Everly brothers' "Dream, Dream, Dream" and the other to the Beatles' "Money Can't Buy You Love". We might like to try them for our Valentine's Dance, but they use calls from Modern Western Square Dancing. So........... What do these terms mean? (I tried http://www.ceder.net <http://www.ceder.net/> , but could not find them.) Square thru Square thru go three (three quarter 'round now) Square thru (count it four hands 'round) 8 chain 4 Swing thru Spin the top O.K. I have done a square through but before I teach it (and any variations in this list), I need review. Thanks to those who know. I don't. Singing in New Hampshire Rickey Holt

17 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] [trad-dance-callers] What did he say !??? MWSD

by Tepfer, Seth

One of the cool things about MWSD is that they have singing squares to many fun songs of the past 50 years. Beatles, stones, salsa, C&W, you name it. The downside is most are using the jargon of MWSD. This is why they have 40 weeks of lessons. You have two choices - replace the given moves with ones that put the dancers in basically that place but with moves they already know, or teach all those moves in other dances earlier in the evening. Square thru dancers know from contra. Swing thru appears in some contra dances (see Manga Tak by Ron Buchannan or Southern Swing by Steve Zaikon Anderson) (it's basically - from a wavy line - all allemande Right ½, centers allemande left ½). Eight chain 4 I've seen in a couple of squares by Colin Hume (check out his Squares with a Difference - singing square O Bla Di, Oh Bla Dah) Spin the top - um .... Here you go: http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~jsda/sdtext/sdtextdata/basicpro10-eng.html#57 From: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto:trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rickey Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:43 PM To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [trad-dance-callers] What did he say !??? MWSD Hi, Found two incredible singing squares. One is to Everly brothers' "Dream, Dream, Dream" and the other to the Beatles' "Money Can't Buy You Love". We might like to try them for our Valentine's Dance, but they use calls from Modern Western Square Dancing. So........... What do these terms mean? (I tried http://www.ceder.net <http://www.ceder.net/> , but could not find them.) Square thru Square thru go three (three quarter 'round now) Square thru (count it four hands 'round) 8 chain 4 Swing thru Spin the top O.K. I have done a square through but before I teach it (and any variations in this list), I need review. Thanks to those who know. I don't. Singing in New Hampshire Rickey Holt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/message/11439;_ylc=X3oDMTM…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNjlzZ2ww…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZHQxaW5u…> Messages<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNmpz…> | Links<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJnaGQ5Z2d…> | Database<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJkanBr…> | Polls<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJndWJsNmh…> | Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZ2I5N…> | Calendar<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcTBv…> The Traditional Dance Callers List: Subscribe by sending a blank e-mail message (no subject, no message) to: trad-dance-callers-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com MARKETPLACE ________________________________ Earn your degree in as few as 2 years - Advance your career with an AS, BS, MS degree<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12m7alrn9/M=571476.12066680.12490312.11509771/D…> - College-Finder.net. 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17 years, 10 months

Really!?

by Rickey

Hi, Preparing to call, I just walked through a dance where I wanted to know where each man and each woman would be. It was a move we do very (!) often now: from Becket formation the first move is circle left ¾ and pass through. In this case you pass through to new neighbors and do-si-do there. For the men this is a very smooth move. The circle left ¾ leaves them facing in the direction they need to go. But it seems that the women have to turn around (????!!!!) if they are to progress to new neighbors in the same direction as the men. Women, is this true? Who knew!? The women knew. If it is true, how do you manage it? When I tried it I was not (!) graceful. Slow and Surprised in New Hampshire Rickey Holt

17 years, 10 months

Ralph Page Legacy Weekend

by Chris Weiler (home)

Hello everyone, 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. We had fascinating discussions about style, teaching, stubborn minded dancers, stubborn minded callers, psychology, choreography and so much more. Both Beth Parkes and Nils Freidland's caller's workshops made us think and philosophize this year. Beth's on what it means to be a "professional" caller. And Nil's on why we dance, why we call and what virtues we want and need to bring to the stage with us. The retrospective video about Ralph Sweet by David Millstone was great! Fun and funny and informative, David again shows his talent for storytelling. It would be great to hear from other people about their favorite parts. It was great to see everyone who came! Happy Dancing! Chris Weiler

17 years, 10 months

Ralph Page

by gtwood＠worldpath.net

Hi Chris and all Shared Weights, It was good to see those folks that I see but once a Year! Though I was in attendance for Part of the RPDLW, I did miss the callers workshops.(the outside world held sway) I would be grateful if folks who were in attendance would provide a brief synopsis of the workshops. Aside from the aforementioned Wkshps my favorite parts of the Weekend are Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Both sessions are very relaxed esp. Sunday! The session could be called hot without walkthroughs, and it lacks the manic aspects of a more crowded dance. Thanks in advance for the workshop synopsis º See ya Dancing, Gale -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web

17 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 41, Issue 10

by Martha Wild

Rickey, As a female, I've done that numerous times, and never had a problem with it, presuming you're going 3/4. Why would I be facing the wrong way? Maybe your circle is going too slow so you aren't far enough around before you start? From my vantage, I'm moving around to the left and I just sort of turn it into more of a spiraling in so that the circle contracts into a pass through (in my view of the track I'm on). No problem. Of course, if my neighbor gives me a little weight to pull against as I move that way it adds to the flow. Martha On Jan 21, 2008, at 9:00 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. Really!? (Rickey) > 2. labor of love (Delia Clark) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:37:45 -0500 > From: "Rickey" <holt.e(a)comcast.net> > Subject: [Callers] Really!? > To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <000001c85c43$9229db40$020fa8c0@maxx> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi, > > Preparing to call, I just walked through a dance where I wanted to > know > where each man and each woman would be. It was a move we do very > (!) often > now: from Becket formation the first move is circle left ? and pass > through. In this case you pass through to new neighbors and do-si- > do there. > For the men this is a very smooth move. The circle left ? leaves them > facing in the direction they need to go. But it seems that the > women have to > turn around (????!!!!) if they are to progress to new neighbors in > the same > direction as the men. Women, is this true? Who knew!? The women > knew. If > it is true, how do you manage it? When I tried it I was not (!) > graceful. > > Slow and Surprised in New Hampshire > > Rickey Holt > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:41:19 -0500 > From: Delia Clark <delia_clark(a)comcast.net> > Subject: [Callers] labor of love > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <DA736B98-27D1-448C-BDFA-47AAD1A3B07D(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > 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 > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 41, Issue 10 > ***************************************

17 years, 10 months

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