Contra Callers

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26 participants
4346 discussions

by J L Korr

Hi all, In her splendid NEFFA session, Chrissy Fowler called the following dance. She had it listed as probably by Gene Hubert, but with no name. I haven't been able to find it in my first look thru Gene's dances. Can anyone help me with the name and composer, so I can credit it properly when I call it this weekend? [Insert name here] duple improper A1: Ring balance; women roll neigbor gent away with a half sashay Ladies chain A2: Women gypsy Swing P B1: Circle L x3/4 Ring balance, Petronella twirl B2: Ring balance, Petronella twirl Ring balance, California twirl Thanks! Jeremy Korr

18 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Petronella and Green Mountain Petronella

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

--- Rickey wrote: As I recall the dances Petronella and Green Mountain Petronella differ in the order of the balances and the turns: Petronella: "Around to your right and you balance", while Green Mountain Petronella is "first you balance then you turn". If this is so then how can the tunes for these dances be played together as I have seen suggested. --- end of quote --- Well, you don't have to change the dance with the tune change, but it's fun to do so if your dancers are up for it. You can alert them that they'll be doing the balance/turn in different order and the givem them a heads-up and call once or twice as the tune changes. When we do that, we usually go from Petronella into GMP. The association of these tunes with the dances is a relatively recent phenomenon. Ralph Page cites alternate tunes as ones commonly played in the past for the dance. And remember, too, that the dance as it used to be done, until the early 1970s, was with just the active couple doing the balance and turn, a show-off moment when everyone would strut their stuff and demonstrate their highly individualistic balance steps. Still fun to do it that way. If your dancers are flexible enough to try that, you can encourage folks to try out different styles of balance steps. You'll find an interesting article titled "50 Variations of the Balance" in Northern Junket, Vol. 5, #1, pp. 13-19, located online starting at this URL: http://www.izaak.unh.edu/dlp/NorthernJunket/pages/NJv05/NJv05-01/NJv.05.01.… tm David Millstone

18 years, 11 months

Petronella and Green Mountain Petronella

by Rickey

Hi Callers, As I recall the dances Petronella and Green Mountain Petronella differ in the order of the balances and the turns: Petronella: "Around to your right and you balance", while Green Mountain Petronella is "first you balance then you turn". If this is so then how can the tunes for these dances be played together as I have seen suggested. Thanks for your help. Rickey Holt.

18 years, 11 months

ONS and canned music suggestions

by peter＠ccrwest.org

There have been terrific suggestions regarding beginner party contra dances (eg, David Kaynor's booklet - http://www.davidkaynor.com/booklet.html - which I recently received and have enjoyed very much). However, most of the gigs that I have done have not included live music. As a beginnning contra dance caller (I mostly call square dances), I would find very helpful suggestions to specific "purchasable" recordings (and cuts within the CDs) that people have enjoyed using for specific contra dances - especially contra dances appropriate for beginner parties. As a made-up example (since I don't have the CD in front of me), "for a teenage crowd I really like to use The Privy Tippers - cut 2 - The Curvy Line for Haymakers Jig - except that the music starts at A1 with no pickup, and at 4:15 it is a somewhat short". I'm especially interested in high energy and good quality recordings that could project nicely through a decent sound system. Any suggestions - or places to look for this kind of info? (I'm aware of Dudley Laufman's collections and of the New England Dancing Masters.) Thanks very much. And apologies in advance if this is an old question that is being re-asked for the n-th time. (So many topics do seem to be unintentionally revisited yearly on mailing lists. :) Peter Ostapenko (San Diego, CA) http://www.pirkadat.org/caller

18 years, 11 months

Thanks and more

by Rickey

Hi all, First I would like to thank all of you who have been answering my questions so far. At first I didnt know how to email back only those who had answered rather than the whole list, and then I thought that I would see you at NEFFA. That did not happen either so here is a general thanks. Secondly, I have two versions of Gene Huberts Summer of 84 (written with Steve Schnur ?), that differ in A1 and A2, and I was wondering which if any, was correct. I would love to call one of these versions this Thursday. Both versions are duple improper. The two versions are: Version 1 (A1) forward and back all (8), Men allemande left (1 ½), Right to Partner to a wavy line across (8) (A2) balance that wavy line (4), walk forward (leaving Partner) to new wavy line across (4), balance there (4), Allemande Right shadow (4) and back to Partner Version 2 (A1) forward and back all (8), Men allemande RIGHT ( ½ ) (2), Partner Allemande left to a wavy line across (6) (A2) balance the wave (4), walk forward (leaving Partner) to new wavy line across (4), Balance that wavy line (4), Allemande LEFT ( ¾ ) to Partner The B sections are the same. Finally, I would like to ask your opinion about starting a new dance series in a town that already has a series. In the case I am thinking of there already is a well established dance in the same town, and it is not at all clear that the town can support two dance series every month. Thank you all in advance for your replies, Rickey Holt.

18 years, 11 months

NEFFA fun

by Karen Fontana

Hi Everyone who was at NEFFA, It was very fun getting to meet many of you in person. I think it worked well to have a couple of options and different times for gatherings. Aside from the great dancing and getting to call, my favorite part about NEFFA is getting to meet and talk with other callers. It's one of the few times I get to even DANCE with caller friends -- Jeremy Korr and I had our first dance, had to go to Boston to do it, even though we are both in California! It was also an amazing experience to cheer on the other callers before and after everyone called their gigs/ spots. It was great comraderie and not often that we can all be there to support friends; as we're usually off at seperate locations, calling dances. Even the sound engineer in the Main Hall said to me on the stage while I was calling "wow, you have your own cheering section"! when my caller friends clapped, cheered and smiled from the bleachers when I "saved" my second dance... I also enjoyed how easy it was to find people. Most were either in the Main Hall, the Lower Hall, or hanging out in the cafeteria, which we did a lot of. So wonderful to just have some time to sit with each other, talk and exchange ideas, share learnings. I took a few pictures which I'll hope to post, with other's permission. But I probably won't get to that until 1 - 2 weeks. Thanks again, and hope to see at Pinewoods, for those that are going. Karen Fontana California PS: let me know if you come out this way! <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Karen Fontana www.karenscontracorner.com karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com (H) 650-691-9663 <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>

18 years, 11 months

Introducing the Mill City Contra Dance!

by Chris Weiler

Hello! I am proud to introduce the Mill City Contra Dance! The dance will be held 3rd Fridays year 'round at the Mill-a-Round Dance Studio (http://www.millaround.com/) in Manchester, NH. Our first dance is on May 19th. I will be calling with the wonderful music of Apple Crisp! (http://applecrispcontra.com/) Beginner lesson at 7:30, dance at 8:00. $7 per person, under 12 free. More information and directions: http://www.nhdances.org/millcity/ The Mill-a-Round is located in the Millyard in Manchester. It is in the Waumbec Mill, a renovated mill building with high ceilings, a wood floor and plenty of space. It is a wonderful hall to dance in. It is air conditioned in the summer time. Take a look at the link above for more information. Please tell your friends, your enemies and random people on the street! We're going to have a great time! Feel free to print out the flyer on the website and distribute it. Let me know if you have any questions, Chris Weiler http://www.chrisweiler.ws/ H:603-668-1086

18 years, 11 months

Sat morn NEFFA mtg

by J L Korr

Chris, I really like the Saturday morning at 9 am plan. But the doors to the building don't open to the public until 9:30 (unless there's been a recent change). How about meeting outside instead at 9 am for the brunch, in the front courtyard? Jeremy > >Great idea, Karen! > >Instead of trying to find a time when none of us are performing or >dancing, how about we get together on Saturday morning at 9am in the >cafeteria. Let's have a potluck brunch! I could bring some bagels with >cream cheese.

18 years, 11 months

Callers & Dancetunes -- Saturday @ 11am

by Clark Baker

There is a lot that goes on at NEFFA and it may be easy to miss certain gems. I urge you to consider attending Lisa Greenleaf's Callers & Dancetunes North Star Room -- Saturday 11:00 am - Noon This is an interactive workshop for contra callers: How to pick the right kind of tunes for contra dancing; how styles of music affect the dance feel; and how to communicate with musicians. Lisa is a master at this and I know we will learn a lot that can't be picked up by book learning. -- Clark Baker, Belmont, MA cmbaker(a)tiac.net

18 years, 11 months

NEFFA Shared Wt gatherings

by Karen Fontana

Hi All, Here's two opportunities: 1. Friday evening: 9:15 - 9:45pm in the Main Hall; this leaves time to dance 1 - 2 Role Free contras... If on the dance floor, face the band, meet in bleachers to the LEFT of the stage... Then, of course, we all want to be there for the next session (10 - 11:30pm) to support Chris Weiler! 2. Saturday afternoon: 3pm - 4pm in the int'l bazaar cafeteria This means, we can attend two dances of each square session.... The only other opportunity I saw was: 8 - 9pm Saturday evening.... If anyone has any preference, or other suggestions, good meeting places - outside?, let me know, otherwise, I'll plan to be at #1 and #2 and hope to meet as many of you as possible! Karen Fontana <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Karen Fontana www.karenscontracorner.com karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com (H) 650-691-9663 <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>

18 years, 11 months

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Contra Callers