Contra Callers

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28 participants
4298 discussions

Re: [Callers] What is a Clover Leaf Turn Single?

by crunchymama＠juno.com

David, Is a cloverleaf turn single always ladies over left and gents over right- because I am remembering that in this dance the turning is- inside shoulders towards the outside of the set- which would be ladies over their right and gents over their left. Alison confused in Memphis -- Nancy Turner <nancyturner(a)madriver.com> wrote: Hi All, Two questions. First, I'm looking at Sue Rosen's Handsome Young Maids and it includes a Clover-leaf turn single (Ladies turn over left shoulder, Gents Rt). In this move, it appears that both the ladies and the gents spin around themselves, with the ladies going around their left shoulders while the gents go around the right shoulders... they then meet for a balance and swing. Is this right?

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] What is a Clover Leaf Turn Single?

by Jerome Grisanti

I learned "Handsome Young Maids" from Lisa Ornstein, who called the move "flirt and twirl." The descriptions by other callers addressed the steps, but I believe this name addresses the attitude. Not that I'm a flirt. -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] What is a Clover Leaf Turn Single?

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

--- Alison wrote: Nobody minds getting into a neighbor balance and swing a bit early --- end of quote --- Well, actually, some of us DO mind. ;-) ----- A2: Bend the line, cirlce left 1x, balance the ring Clover-leaf turn single B1: Neighbor B&Swing ----- That's 8 counts for the circle left, 4 to balance the ring, 4 to turn single, arriving just in time for the neighbor balance right at the start of the B music. David "Okay, Call Me a Curmudgeon" Millstone

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] What is a Clover Leaf Turn Single?

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Chris provided a thoughtful and thorough answer to Nancy's questions. I'd just add that for this particular dance, you'll want to have plenty of space along the lines to do the cloverleaf turn single. Each dancer is making a loop, and if the neighboring sets along the line are too close to each other it's hard for dancers to make those loops large enough to use up the four beats allotted for the figure. David Millstone

17 years, 6 months

What is a Clover Leaf Turn Single?

by Nancy Turner

Hi All, Two questions. First, I'm looking at Sue Rosen's Handsome Young Maids and it includes a Clover-leaf turn single (Ladies turn over left shoulder, Gents Rt). In this move, it appears that both the ladies and the gents spin around themselves, with the ladies going around their left shoulders while the gents go around the right shoulders... they then meet for a balance and swing. Is this right? Here's the dance, so you can see it in context: A1: Lines of 4: Down 4 steps, turn alone Rejoin line, 4 steps down (going backwards) Up 4 steps, turn alone Up 4 steps (backwards) A2: Bend the line, cirlce left 1x, balance the ring Clover-leaf turn single B1: Neighbor B&Swing B2: LLFB, One's only Partner Swing (end facing down between new Neighbors) Second question: I'm looking for a copy of Sa-Sa-La-Do. Does anyone know it? Thanks very much, Nancy Turner Vermont

17 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Balance the star / left hands joined into swing

by Jerome Grisanti

>From a left-hand balance, a man can lift his left hand over his head and lead the woman's left hand onto his right shoulder. Ron Buchanan taught this styling at the (lamentably late) Celebration Dance weekend in Indianapolis in July 2003. Mange Tak *By Ron Buchanan* Improper Contra A1: Neighbors balance by Left hand & swing A2: Face across, pass thru to an ocean wave (ladies in middle, *neighbor* in other hand), Balance, Allemande Right neighbor ½, men pull by Left, allemande Right partner ¾ B1: Allemande Left shadow 1x Swing partner B2: Face across, pass thru to an ocean wave (ladies in middle, *Partner* in other hand), Balance, Allemande Right partner ½, men pull by Left, allemande Right neighbor ¾ to new neighbor. (Shadow is on your left diagonal at start of the dance) *** And returning to the original idea of figures that use a balance in a (hands-across) star, here's one of my favorite dances: Catch a Falling Star *By Melanie Axel-Lute* Contra - Improper easy-med A1 (16) Neighbors balance and swing A2 (8) Circle left 3/4 (8) Partners swing B1 (8) Long lines go forward and back (8) Hands across right-hand star B2 (4) Balance the star (4) Ladies trade places with a half gypsy, while the gents turn single left (8) Hands across left-hand star *Editor's Notes:* Turn single left: walk a loop over your left shoulder, ending up where you started. The term is from English Country dancing. --Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Balance the star, etc.

by Chip Hedler

Jerome Grisanti's use of the "hands-across grip in several dances where there is a 'balance the star' move before or after turning the star" immediately brought to mind Michael McKernan's "Daybreak Reel" (which was often called just before breakfast at the dawn dances that used to take place at the beautiful old hall on Number 10 pond in Calais, Vermont). Daybreak Reel, by Michael McKernan (Duple Improper) A1: Allemand L below 1-1/2; women dosido A2: Men balance, dosido, allemand R 1-1/4 to form wave by joining L hands with partners B1: Balance wave, swing partners B2: Women chain 1/2 to R-hands across star position; turn star 1/2 and look for next neighbor Following David Millstone's suggestion, went to David Smukler's discussion of Dandy's Hornpipe at http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/dandies.htm which was so intriguing that it was hard to resist trying yet another tweaked version. This is a totally spur-of-the moment conception with no time spent researching, so if it's already been done, my apologies for reinventing someone else's wheel. Comments and suggestions would be extremely welcome. Handy Dandy (Duple Proper) A1: Long lines forward and back; actives turn by R hand 1/2, allemand L neighbor (till women are facing in again--will be less than a full turn in men's line) A2: Ladies chain over and back B1: Star L; star R with NEXT couple down B2: Actives swing; end facing up and cast off with original neighbor If A1 is too rushed, what about A1: Actives turn by R 1-1/2; allemand L neighbor, etc?

17 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] New callers material?

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

Don't know whether you'd want to direct beginning callers to this, but folks on this list might also enjoy the articles by Richard Powers, including this one on teaching dances: http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/teaching_tips.htm His particular field of expertise is teaching vintage social dances, not particularly aimed at contras, and much of what he says here is aimed at people who will be teaching in a class setting, not at a public dance. Nonetheless, he is an experienced dance teacher and has much of value to offer. David Millstone

17 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Balance the star, etc.

by richgoss＠comcast.net

It's not really a California twirl though, more like a swat the flea. CT is gents right/ladies left hands. The end of the wave figure is left/left with your partner. Daybreak Reel, by Michael McKernan (Duple Improper) A1: Allemand L below 1-1/2; women dosido A2: Men balance, dosido, allemand R 1-1/4 to form wave by joining L hands with partners B1: Balance wave, swing partners B2: Women chain 1/2 to R-hands across star position; BALANCE; turn star 1/2 and look for next neighbor -------------- Original message -------------- From: "gtwood(a)worldpath.net" <gtwood(a)worldpath.net> > > Hi Rich, > If I am reading the dance correctly, and perhaps this has been already > suggested > How about a: Cal Twirl into the Partner swing. This can be done by either > partner > Its quick and sets up the swing nicely. > Thanks Gale > Original Message:

17 years, 7 months

Jacket found and heading to NEFFA ! [was: Re: Re: Jacket left at Scout House !]

by The Witful Turnip

Gotta luv the dance community :-) Thank you everyone who called and emailed, particularly Nell and Karen. And thanks Chris for putting the note out onto the other Boston Area list. Liza Carter has picked up my jacket and will be bringing it to NEFFA for me. Big hugs all ! Hope to see and dance with most of you later today. Bev *********************************** wturnip(a)sympatico.ca Travelling again ! Responding via web-based email ***********************************

17 years, 7 months

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