Contra Callers

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28 participants
4298 discussions

by Jeffrey Petrovitch

In response to the recent discussion regarding the swing, I would say as a caller, teaching the walking swing is easy. It gets new dancers doing something, when the caller says "swing". As a dancer I think perhaps teaching the walking swing is perhaps one of the most limiting factors in starting a dancer to dance. I think teaching the "buzz-step" is really important in establishing perhaps one of the great pleasures of contra dancing. I do not claim to have a full-proof way to teach the "buzz-step", but in teaching it is all about the language. It is about using language so that the new dancers understand. If you are teaching new dancers any dance move, if it is an allemande, do-si-do, and even the swing and they are not understanding how to do a certain dance move, then the caller or teacher is not using the correct language to teach them. From the many beginners workshops I have seen, I see a lot of good callers, good teachers, teach the "buzz-step" with success. I encourage people to go to beginners workshops, not necessary for learning how to contra dance, but to learn how to teach contra dance. You will see so teaching/language work well and so not... It's all about the communication, not necessary the subject matter. Jeff

18 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Calling Katie's Trip to Starbase 12

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

I used to call it a lot-- the swinging star is a nice gimmick and when you're in the right foursome, you can have a great time in that figure. > the lack of instructions as to the number of revolutions may be intentional Yes, I think that's the case. And yes, I agree with your solution to emphasize where you end up the LH star. In one of those wonderful cross-country leaps (Merilee Karr is in Portland, OR, and Seth Tepfer is in Atlanta), nspired by Merilee's dance, Seth wrote another, Swinging on a Star." I often use that one instead. I like the way it ends slightly better than the original. Seth's dance is here: http://www.dancerhapsody.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Choreography#SwinginStar Both dances, in my opinion, work better if not allowed to run too long. David Millstone

18 years, 8 months

Calling Katie's Trip to Starbase 12

by Rickey

Hi, I got such great responses to my very first question posted to this list that I thought I'd try another. "Katie's Trip to Starbase 12", by Merilee Karr calls for a "Swinging Star" (a double star, both wrist grip right-hand star and left hands across star at the same time). This takes up all of B1. The number of times around is not specified in my version. It can take a bit of time to get this star together, and as it uses a buzz step, it can really get going once assembled - so the lack of instructions as to the number of revolutions may be intentional. B2 starts with the left-hand hands across star, and it is important where that one ends. Perhaps the only thing to do is to point out where this second star ends when teaching the dance. Has anyone else on this list called the dance? How do you deal with this? Thanks, Rickey Holt.

18 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] 10 things

by Tom Hinds

It occurred to me that many of the behaviors on this list are due to insecurity (dancing with other beginners, waiting to be asked etc.) That got me to thinking about what callers can do to make sure the beginners have a good experience. So, I've come up with my own list for callers. These items may contain items that some may not agree with. But this may generate some good discussion. 10 things a caller can do to help beginners have a good experience: 1) Prepare a logical program that starts easy and builds. 2) Like a professional dance teacher, warm up muscles slowly. Use dances with 8 count swings (max) early in the evening. Keep the first couple of dances shorter. New and not so new dancers are entering the hall and you want them up and dancing sooner rather than later, 3) Be prepared well enough so that you don't have to use cards. Watch the dancers. Watch the dancers. 4) Encourage everyone to dance with everyone else. When a dance ends, suggest that those who just danced ask those sitting out for the next dance. 5) Demonstrate what smooth dancing looks like (especially if many newbees are skipping). 6) Teach safe dancing - like proper allemandes. If you see dancers dancing out of control take measures to make sure that they don't hurt anyone. 7) If you make a mistake, admit it. Often if something doesn't work, the new dancers think it's because of them. 8) Teach the buzz step swing in the beginning workshop. Teach it well. 9) If a dance has a tricky move, show the dancers how to perform the move with finesse. If the dance has a challenge in the timing department, communicate to the dancers how to be on time. 10) If you call a challenging dance and the new dancers look a bit confused, tell the crowd that that was a very difficult dance and that they handled it very well (this one from Ted Sannella). If the dance was so challenging that sets broke down, tell the dancers that you picked a bad dance (in other words it's you, not them). Tom Hinds 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. Re: Ten things (Gale T. Wood) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 11:06:25 -0500 > From: "Gale T. Wood" <Gale(a)robbinsauto.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Ten things > To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: > <79C5F2A3DD0551469291F6CD6BF5422E02FB33(a)officemail.robbinsauto.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Here Is the list presented by wikipedia: > 1. Dressing Impractically > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Dressing_Impractically> > 2. Skipping the Beginners Workshop > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Skipping_the_Beginners_Workshop> > 3. Waiting to Be Asked > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Waiting_to_Be_Asked> > 4. Sticking to Beginner Friends > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Sticking_to_Beginner_Friends> > 5. Sitting out Dances > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Sitting_out_Dances> > 6. Getting Too Fancy Too Quickly > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Getting_Too_Fancy_Too_Quickly> > 7. Tolerating Bad Behavior from Other Dancers > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Tolerating_Bad_Behavior_from_Other_Dancers> > > 8. Not Asking Questions > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Not_Asking_Questions> > 9. Not Counting > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Not_Counting> > 10. Leaving Too Early > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Leaving_Too_Early> > 11. Expecting Perfection > <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ > Their_Contradance_Experience:Expecting_Perfection> > The other list would pertain to Experienced dancers! > And I do agree with that list....I remember doing all those things when > I was trying to 'compete' with the CDance > clique ... happily I have 'mellowed' with age and experience. Do I still > transgress...sure on occasion I do like to cut loose, but.... > I am having a better time not competing. > Thanks Gale > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 19, Issue 9 > **************************************

18 years, 8 months

A Question on Thanks to the Dean

by Rickey

HI ALL, It seems to me that Steve Zakon-Andersons Thanks to the Dean has 3 progressions even though I know that it is a double progression dance. (A1) Allemande left below (1 ½ ) PROGRESSION #1 Ladies chain ( ½ ) (A2) Women Allemande Right once around and back to their partner All Balance and Swing your Partner (B1) Circle left about once and lead up or down the set to new neighbors PROGRESSION #2 Circle left with these neighbors ¾ around (B2) Dos-i-do this same new neighbor (who is now below you) (Does this mean that the circle left ¾ has undone PROGRESSION #2???????????) Allemande Right with this same new neighbor ( 1 ½ ) WHICH LOOKS LIKE PROGRESSION #3 ??????????? Can you straighten me out? Ive checked the web site but it does not help with this. Thanks, Rickey Holt, caller Contra Dances in Exeter, NH P.S. I am hoping to use this dance tomorrow night.

18 years, 8 months

Thanks to the Dean, II

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Something didn't seem right in the directions as cited-- I don't call the dance with a balance in A2-- so I went back and checked. When the dance was published in Ted Sannella's "Swing the Next," Ted had this to say: "Originally there was a balance before the swing in A2. I found the transition from the allemande directlyu into the swing to be more pleasing, and mentioned this to Steve. He tried it without the balance, liked it and declared that to be the 'official' version.... It's one of my favorites." Steve wrote the dance shortly after Ralph Page died in February of 1985. David

18 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] A Question on Thanks to the Dean

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

The title is "With Thanks to the Dean," referring to Ralph Page, and the dance was published in the Coutnry Dance and Song Society News in the Parch/April issue of 1988. At the end of A2, you and your partner are one side of the set, the side where the men started the dance. You circle left once around with your neighboring couple (who are across from you) then shift to the left along the line, man in the lead. In that place, you meet another neighboring couple who have been shifting along _their_ side of the set, and with those new neighbors you circle 3/4 of the way around. (At this point, ones are facing down, improper, and twos are facing up, proper.) You've progressed one place at this point. In B2, you do-so-do and RH turn 1-1/2 this new neighbor, which is the second progression. Hope this helps. David Millstone

18 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Ten things

by Gale T. Wood

Here Is the list presented by wikipedia: 1. Dressing Impractically <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Dressing_Impractically> 2. Skipping the Beginners Workshop <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Skipping_the_Beginners_Workshop> 3. Waiting to Be Asked <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Waiting_to_Be_Asked> 4. Sticking to Beginner Friends <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Sticking_to_Beginner_Friends> 5. Sitting out Dances <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Sitting_out_Dances> 6. Getting Too Fancy Too Quickly <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Getting_Too_Fancy_Too_Quickly> 7. Tolerating Bad Behavior from Other Dancers <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Tolerating_Bad_Behavior_from_Other_Dancers> 8. Not Asking Questions <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Not_Asking_Questions> 9. Not Counting <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Not_Counting> 10. Leaving Too Early <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Leaving_Too_Early> 11. Expecting Perfection <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_ Their_Contradance_Experience:Expecting_Perfection> The other list would pertain to Experienced dancers! And I do agree with that list....I remember doing all those things when I was trying to 'compete' with the CDance clique ... happily I have 'mellowed' with age and experience. Do I still transgress...sure on occasion I do like to cut loose, but.... I am having a better time not competing. Thanks Gale

18 years, 8 months

Fwd: Ten Stupid Things Beginners Do to Mess Up Their Contradance Experience - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks

by Seth Tepfer

Well, I think it should be "Ten Stupid Things experienced dancers do to mess up their contradance." But interesting, nonetheless: >Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:04:34 -0500 >From: "Darrell Webb" <dlw0193(a)gmail.com> >Subject: Ten Stupid Things Beginners Do to Mess Up Their Contradance > Experience - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks > >I just came across this and thought you might be interested. Hope things >are going well for you. ><http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_Thei…>http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ten_Stupid_Things_Beginners_Do_to_Mess_Up_Thei… > Let's see: Don't dance with new dancers twirl new dancers hot dog take more time for moves than allotted (swinging into next move) dance wildly without concern for others don't listen to the caller dance only in the center line disdain/badmouth/ignore local bands/callers don't volunteer/help out the dance 10. ? ========================================================================= Seth Tepfer: Director of Administrative Computing & Innovative Technology Oxford College of Emory University - 770-784-8487 - labst(a)emory.edu For fast and easy computer help, try... <http://help.emory.edu>http://help.emory.edu Jex Raven Eidson Tepfer - Born 6/5/05 00:52! Say hi at: http://www.jexRaven.com/ ========================================================================= "A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." -Dorothy L. Sayers

18 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Gender Free dance arm bands

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

In his original post, Dan wrote: "I hope this isn't a Galopede event." Just curious... Why do you hope that? Is it that you don't enjoy calling simple dances? Or that you don't feel you have a strong enough repertoire of simple dances? Or other reasons? David Millstone Lebanon, NH

18 years, 8 months

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Contra Callers