Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

28 participants
4298 discussions

by J L Korr

>What idea have you tried at NYE dances ? What have you found to work ? Hi Bev, Here's what we did most recently for New Year's Eve in Pasadena (CA), which seemed to give everyone at least something. We had two callers on hand, but a similar plan would also work with one. The callers and band coordinated in advance to pull this off. To build up the energy approaching midnight, we began a four-dance contra medley soon after 11:40, alternating the callers with each dance. The band played six times through each of the first three dances. We then ran the final dance in the medley as long as we needed to fill up the remaining time until 11:58. At 11:58, we changed the B2 call to "everyone promenade up to the band and give them a hand." By the time the applause died down, it was 11:59. We (re-)introduced each member of the band, for more applause, and drew this out until it was ten seconds to midnight. At that point, everyone counted down together, cheered at midnight, and the band played "Auld Lang Syne." Not everyone participated in the waltz, as usual. But we felt like everyone got something out of this. Virtually everyone danced in the medley and ended up in a throng up toward the stage, so even those without a "special someone" were surrounded by friends for the cheers and the countdown. Good luck with your own program and let us know how it goes! Jeremy _________________________________________________________________ Your Hotmail address already works to sign into Windows Live Messenger! Get it now http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwme0020000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://ge…

17 years, 11 months

Streetsboro Reel by Becky Hill for Medley

by Karen Fontana

Hi Everyone, Does anyone have and is willing to post "Streetsboro Reel" Improper Contra by Becky Hill? It's in her book "Twirling Derbishes", p. 32. I only have the next book "Twirling Dervish Returns" and her following book "The Rosen Hill Collection". I am wanting to use "Streesboro Reel" in a medley (no, NOT for the last dance of the evening!). I haven't danced it before but I was looking up another dance: "Flying Flamingos" by Cary Ravitz which led me to "Streetsboro Daisies" by Cary Ravitz (the opposite hand version of the previous dance). "Streetsboro Reel" had a note by the author that it was designed to medley with "Streetsboro Daisies" by Becky Hill and "Delphiniums and Daisies" by Tanya Rotenberg. All these dances start and end the same........ So, now my curiosity is peaked!!! .... I have all the other dances mentioned above.... Have danced "Flying Flamingos" and "Delphiniums and Daises".... just looking for "Streetsboro Reel" by Becky Hill. I know it begins and ends like this: Streetsboro Reel by Becky Hill Improper Contra A1: N Al Left ~1.5x ? A2: ? ? B1: ? ? B2: probably: Cir L 3/4 N Al Rt ~1.5x Thanks much, and Happy Holidays! Karen Fontana <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Karen Fontana www.karenscontracorner.com karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com (H) 650-691-9663 <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>

17 years, 11 months

48 BAR dance - Beatrice

by mavis mcgaugh

Last night I called Beatrice -I had discussed this dance with the band several weeks ago - they played two 3-part jigs - [forgot the names already <sigh>] but they were a great match to the dance - it went really well. I wish I could have been dancing -as the dance contains three of my favorite figures. I will use it again. I had a large group of beginners on the floor so I taught the Full Hey figure and then immediately taught the dance. It flows so well all the beginners did fine. I called it as the first dance after the break. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

17 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Anyone recognize this dance or know a good source to sea rch for author?

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Becky Hill published a dance in "The Rosenhill Collection" called "Sadie, Sadie" -on page 38 of that collection. It is not the dance you are talking about- but it does have the "slice" move and in the comments it says: The "slice" move is adapted from Paul Balliet's "Hey Man" published in "Twirling Dervish Returns" (1997). Google reveals "Hey Man" here, but there is no gypsy. http://arcserv.astro.washington.edu/dances/FMPro?-db=acdol.db&- format=danceformat.html&-sortfield=Name&-recid=67&-find So either it's not your dance, or the caller subbed a gypsy meltdown in for the balance and swing? <shrugs> HTH Alison Murphy in Memphis TN -- mavis mcgaugh <yankeecalls(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I checked Michael Dyck's website but didn't find anything on this dance. I think the name is Hey Gorgeous it had a Full Hey for 4 a Partner Gypsy & Swing I think the ending was ---- Circle Left 1x left Diag forward & Back out [slice] and don't know author. I didn't get to dance but watched folks dancing and scribbled this much down before it ended. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now. _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

17 years, 11 months

Roll in the Hey

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Rich asked about the author of this dance. It's by Roger Diggle, a fine caller, whistler, and guitarist from Madison, Wisconsin. David Millstone

17 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Bluemont Reel

by Jerome Grisanti

One of the questions Rickey asked was whether dancers would have trouble with the sequence of circle, swing, circle a different amount, swing. I don't think this is particularly confusing sequence, but there may be other issues worth considering. Cary Ravitz (http://ravitz.cnc.net/dance/call.shtml) suggests that dances with more than 32 counts of consecutive clockwise rotation should be examined closely. This dance has exactly but not more than 32 counts of same-direction movement. I would avoid doing more than one or two such dances in an evening's program because of potential dizziness and the wear on one's legs and arms of so much motion in the same direction. Given that, I can see this particular dance as a good "cruiser" requiring only a minimal (or no) walkthrough. Jerome > 1. Bluemont Reel (Rickey) > 2. Re: Bluemont Reel (David Millstone) > 3. Re: [trad-dance-callers] Bluemont Reel (Goodwin Family) > > > > The Bluemont Reel (Warren Hofstra) duple improper > possibly the first contra with circle 3/4 in it (rather than 1x or 1/2) > > A1 Circle left; Swing neighbor on the side of the set > A2 Circle left 3/4; Swing partner on the side of the set, > end the swing facing down > B1 Down four in line, turn as couples; Up four in line > B2 Ladies chain across; Long lines forward and back > > and yes, the version published in Zesty Contras was a little different: > > A1 Circle L 1/2, Sw Nbr > A2 Circle L 3/4; Sw Pt > B1 DH4inL, Turn as a Cple, bend the line > B2 Wm Chain; R&L Thru > >

17 years, 11 months

Bluemont Reel

by Rickey

Hi Listers, I have two versions of Bluemont Reel (one by Warren Hofstra), but it does not seem possible that both can work. Do I have either version right? There are some other questions peppered throughout. Thanks. Version 1 (Warren Hofstra) (A1) Circle left ½ (4 counts ?) Neighbor Swing (must be 12 counts?) (A2) Circle left ¾ (do dancers have any problems going from the circle ½ to the circle ¾?) Partner Swing (end facing down) (B1) Down-thehall 4-in-line (Ones in the center???) Turn as couples (Who???, ones only or split in the center into two couples) Back (Hand cast?) (B2) Ladys Chain (over but not back) Long Lines Forward and Back Version 2 (from Larry Jennings, Zesty Contras) The only difference seems to be in B2. My version 2 reads Ladys Chain (over but not back) Right and left 4 (over but not back) As I have them, both versions cannot work. Thanks, Rickey Holt

17 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Bluemont Reel

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

There was quite a bit of discussion a while back about this dance on the trad-dance-caller list. Here's what emerged: The Bluemont Reel (Warren Hofstra) duple improper possibly the first contra with circle 3/4 in it (rather than 1x or 1/2) A1 Circle left; Swing neighbor on the side of the set A2 Circle left 3/4; Swing partner on the side of the set, end the swing facing down B1 Down four in line, turn as couples; Up four in line B2 Ladies chain across; Long lines forward and back and yes, the version published in Zesty Contras was a little different: A1 Circle L 1/2, Sw Nbr A2 Circle L 3/4; Sw Pt B1 DH4inL, Turn as a Cple, bend the line B2 Wm Chain; R&L Thru Just as a minor note to others on this list, please avoid using special characters for fractions-- they don't translate equally to all machines. Thanks! David Millstone

17 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] newbie caller with question about a dance

by Jerome Grisanti

Alison, I would say the progression happens in A1, with the allemande 1 1/2 the ones are now below the twos. You end A1 in the progressed position and, except for a brief visit with the next neighbors, you continue to interact with the original neighbors throughout the sequence. The chase ends in the same place, ones below their original neighbors. The progression is standard; ones move down, twos move up. The flirt/chase could happen with either set of neighbors, but I prefer how it is written -- up around the original neighbors rather than down around the next neighbors. The interaction with the next neighbors in A2 is potentially confusing, so a teaching point at the beginning might be to have dancers locate their current neighbor and find their next neighbor, and say you will briefly interact with the next neighbor at one point in the dance. "Swing-obsessed" and "everybody-must-be-active" dancers may find the "lady round two and gent drop through" figure to be unsatisfying. If you as the caller set the tone for this figure to be fun, this sentiment won't predominate. If you as the caller equivocate or are unclear, you may hear from those folks I mention. I like how Kathy Anderson teaches "hooks" and unusual figures with the attitude "now here's the fun part!" One other note: a demonstration of the "lady round two..." figure is worth much more than any description. And the twos have lots of opportunities to flirt throughout this figure as well. Good luck! Jerome > A1: > Circle left > Allemande right neighbor 1-1/2 > > A2: > Allemande left next neighbor once or 2x > Gypsy 1x > Ending gypsy below original neighbor, women facing out and men facing > in > > B1: > Chase "lady round two and the gent cut through; gent around two and > the lady cut through" > > Active woman walks in a clockwise direction around the inactive > couple above while the active man follows her until he can (and > does!) cut through the inactive couple. > > The man now walks clockwise around the couple above, while the woman > follows until she can and does cut through the couple. > > B2 > Actives balance & swing, end facing down > > I tried diagramming it and it seems like a backward progression? At > the end of A2 it has progressed, but during the chase it goes > backwards 2x so you end up with 1's/actives out at the top and > 2's/inactives out at the bottom. > > Has anyone danced and or called this dance- is it supposed to be a > backward progression? > > If I change it minutely, having the #1/active man in the chase > sequence go around the same couple he just split- in other words > moving him around the couple below rather than the next couple above- > then it seems to work out as a single progression. If I called it > with this change, does etiquette demand that I announce the change? > > So grateful to have found this list- I was looking at another dance > http://blake.prohosting.com/austinbd/dances/chocolate_swirls.shtml > wondering how to do a "come back cozy" into a cloverleaf and had > given up finding the info- until I found this list with the Squeaking > Wheel thread! Thanks! > > Thanks in advance! > > Alison Murphy > Memphis TN > > > -- > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 > 660-528-0714 > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

17 years, 11 months

Anyone recognize this dance or know a good source to search for author?

by mavis mcgaugh

I checked Michael Dyck's website but didn't find anything on this dance. I think the name is Hey Gorgeous it had a Full Hey for 4 a Partner Gypsy & Swing I think the ending was ---- Circle Left 1x left Diag forward & Back out [slice] and don't know author. I didn't get to dance but watched folks dancing and scribbled this much down before it ended. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now.

17 years, 11 months

Jump to page:

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Contra Callers