I realized last night that I had let the deadlines pass for the
performer applications for Down East and NEFFA this year. I also
realized that part of the reason that I let them pass was because I
wasn't sure what was expected on the forms. Here are the questions I
should have asked weeks ago:
Generally the festivals provide 1 hour slots. Do you put a theme with a
short description onto the application, or can you just request a slot
and figure out the theme later? How much do callers try and do something
totally original or do they pick a theme that hasn't been done in a
while? Do you work out something with a band before, or does the
festival scheduler pair you up?
I would enjoy hearing how some of the callers with festival experience
approach the application process.
Thanks!
Chris
Hi!
I'm searching for a contra dance I vaguely remember from my pre-calling
days. (I would have danced this in Philadelphia at Glenside around 2002.)
The distinctive figure was:
The very top couple and very bottom couple of the set sashay towards the
center for 8 beats.
Those two couples sashay back to place for 8 beats.
It was probably preceeded by long lines forward and back.
Any ideas based on that scanty recollection?
Thanks,
-Chris Page
San Diego
Yes I have seen those boards, which at the moment are sitting in the bed of my pickup truck. As I wrote, I was thinking about computer checking of the draft schedule so that, for example, you could look at the fifty-four individual members of the Animaterra Womens' Chorus, see which members have other NEFFA commitments besides Animaterra, and thus do everything possible to avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure a happy, creative festival experience for each performer. Didn't mean to imply that software does the scheduling, only that it is a necessary tool. And even computerization is the work of skilled human volunteers; in this case Dan Pearl, I believe. For any applicant to any festival, "talk to the people making the decisions" is surely good advice. ... Bob
--
Robert Jon Golder
164 Maxfield St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-2486
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Beth Parkes" <ebay(a)hands4.com>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <robertgolder(a)comcast.net>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Festival Applications
>
>
> > If you're wondering why performer applications are required so far in
> > advance of a festival, note that NEFFA may have 1700 performers, many of
> > whom perform in multiple sessions (perhaps performing alone, and with a
> > participatory dance group, and also with a concert performance group!).
> > You can't doublebook a performer (or larger groups to which she may
> > belong), you have to give her time to move from one venue to another, plus
> > a bunch of other scheduling etceteras that would drive me loony to
> > contemplate further. How scheduling was done in the days before computers
> > is beyond me.
>
> You've seen the boards, Robert. You know how the scheduling for NEFFA is
> done: the same as before computers, cards thumbtacked in a time slot for
> each event. (Just like the schedule board in the TV show Studio 60, if any
> of you watch it.) It is a very manual process. The computers have helped
> with printing the cards, gathering the information and preparing the program
> book and schedule but the process of actual scheduling is manual.
>
> To respond to the original post: each festival is different and the
> absolutely best thing you can do talk to the people making the decisions.
> Just ask! "What are their criteria?" "Do they prefer bands and callers to
> apply together or separately." "What is the date?" "If I missed the
> deadline, should I submit an application anyway?" (no, for NEFFA, btw.) "Do
> you want catchy names?" "Do you accept people from outside the area?" Etc.,
> Etc., Etc. Festivals are run by real people who care about their events.
> They will answer your questions! And you can't have someone say "yes" if you
> don't ask.
>
> HTH,
> Beth
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Hi,
I'm doing an ONS on a Sunday afternoon for a church group. There will be 4,
5, 6th graders, with some contra dance experience, and adults, some old,
with none. The room has two ROWS of columns, but there is room at the sides
and between the rows of columns. I am thinking of doing a Grand March to
start, to get everyone involved. I have done this several times with
Dudley, all more that twenty years ago, and don't remember how to start
them. Mostly I remember Dudley pointing alternately left and right, very
cool, as we went from marching in two's to marching in four's, eight's and
so forth. Any ideas for what else to do? I'll probably do a circle mixer
next. It would be fun to somehow end the grand march so everyone was in the
circle. How might you do that? And of course, any great ONS dances would be
great to have.
Thanks,
Rickey Holt.
The Shared Weight callers list is now 2 years old!
We have around 70 callers of different experience levels subscribed to
the list. My, how we have grown! We are pleased and proud to have helped
get this community started. There have been some great discussions and
shared experiences here.
We hope that this list will continue to be a useful tool for everyone
and encourage you to invite other callers, especially new ones, to join!
Happy Dancing (and calling)!
Chris Weiler and Seth Seeger
Thanks All! It's nice to find the origins of this dance. Jeff
commented, in Dover, that this is a fine end
of the evening dance. Indeed it is!
Thanks,
Gale
Linda Leslie shared this dance with me, titled "After the Solstice," but the author is unknown to us. I usually call the A1 as Neighbor Do-Si-Do and Swing to make the timing of the move from old neighbors to new neighbors more forgiving for beginner dancers. ... Bob
--
Robert Jon Golder
164 Maxfield St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-2486
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jeffrey Petrovitch <jeffrey.petrovitch(a)verizon.net>
> Gale:
>
> Not sure name and author. Maybe someone here knows???
>
> A1:
> (16) Neighbor balance and swing
>
> A2:
> (8) Long lines forward and back
> (8) Gents allemande left 1 1/2
>
> B1:
> (16) Partner balance and swing
>
> B2:
> (8) Right and left through
> (8) Circle left 3/4, pass through
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Hi All,
After many years dancing, I decided to start calling
and recently completed Lisa Greenleaf's course at
Pinewoods, which was great-stupendous.
First of all, I want to thank all of you who have
shared of your experience and knowledge on this and
other sites so freely- your generosity is amazing and
is of great assistance.
As I begin to build a repertoire, I'm faced with how
to develop dance cards that work for me, and recording
systems for previous dance programs, event planning
aids etc.
Lisa shared what works for her, and I'd like to know
what systems works for other folks, it seems that each
person has found their own sorting/grouping structure
and recording systems-ie: grouping dances by
difficulty or prominant dance feature. I'd appreciate
feedback so I can choose among a range of
possibilities that might fit me best.
Thanks very much, Will Walton
I can also be reached at: mainesail113 atyahoodotcom
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