Tom:
As a caller I really can not say that I have much to say about squares. I
have attended a couple different workshops about calling squares, and not
doubt calling contras and squares are very different animals...
As a dancer, a contra dancer I can definately do without the square and if
anything I really am not a fan at all. Personally I do not really enjoy
dancing squares for a couple different reasons, same people, same dance moves
all the way through, the pace of a sqaure is usually such that there is not
much room for creative dance expression, and I find the majority of callers
are not good at either explaining or calling them.
A lot of callers and dancers really like squares and that is fine. A lot of
people like them because of the tradition, etc. that is behind them and that
is great as well. Personally, I would prefer to dance Chorus Jig or Money
Musk any day of the week over a square...
Squares are not for everyone...
Sincerely,
Jeff Petrovitch
Jeffrey M. Petrovitch
jeffrey.m.petrovitch(a)usa.net
"Five nights of contra dancing... through 'top-notch' style and technique,
with the love and passion for the dance, the title above all others was
awarded. I am an 'Iron Dancer'." - J.M. Petrovitch
Marlena,
Unfortunately, it's just too little notice, so I can't help you out.
I am copying the SharedWeight list just in case one of the callers on
there= is available to run up there tomorrow.
SharedWeight people: If you're looking to gain experience, and you're
ready for it, jumping on an opportunity like this is a great way to do
it.
Chris
-----Marlena Schilke <mschilke(a)gmail.c= om> wrote: -----
To: Chris Weiler <Chris.Weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
= From: Marlena Schilke <mschilke(a)gmail.com>
Date: 06/10/2005 04:31P= M
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gorham, New Hampshire new venue
Hello Chris,
Harry Brauser, our schedule= d caller for tomorrow, has developed
health
problems, and cannot make it= . Any chance you can come to Gorham
tomorrow for our small develo= ping contra dance scheduled to begin
at
7:30pm?
--= Marlena
On 4/29/05, Chris Weiler <Chris.Weiler@weirdtable= .org> wrote:
> Hi Marlena,
>
> Sorry, I c= an't make it the 15th. Keep me in mind for other
dances this
> summer= and fall.
>
> Thanks!
> Chris
>
Hi All,
Thank you very much for all of your feedback. I plan on doing a rework
of my program tonight and will publish the revised program afterwards.
On another note, I forgot to ask if anyone has worked with Calliope
and cou= ld give me any advice about working with them?
Thanks!
Chris
So sorry! There is a typo in my message in the first paragraph, second
sentence. It should read "Some form of going down the center"...thought I
caught all the typos, but that one got by me!
Linda Leslie
on 5/23/05 12:00 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net at
callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. thoughts for Chris W. (Linda A. Leslie)
> 2. Re: thoughts for Chris W. (David Millstone)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 22 May 2005 23:06:18 -0400
> From: "Linda A. Leslie" <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> Subject: [Callers] thoughts for Chris W.
> To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <BEB6C0EA.9AE4%laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Dear Chris,
> Good luck and have fun in Maine! A few thoughts about your program: your
> first half has three dances with some form of going to the center (two with
> 4 in line, and another with actives); then you have a fourth one in the
> second half. I would encourage you to strive for more variety. How about a
> dance with some Petronella balances/twirls, Give & Take, Rory O'More type
> Balance/slides? I have also found that doing triplets in the first half
> works out a bit better. If I wait for the second half, the energy level is
> sometimes reduced a bit too much; but they are perfect for some variety
> early on.
>
> In the second half, almost all of the dances have the women in the center
> (allemandes or chains mostly), so I would suggest taking a look at trying to
> replace at least one. Since it is a long evening, you might want to consider
> calling at least one dance that has only one swing (partner).
>
> Hope these ideas help!
> warmly, Linda Leslie
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: 23 May 2005 00:04:54 EDT
> From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
> Subject: Re: [Callers] thoughts for Chris W.
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Message-ID: <58783686(a)enfield.VALLEY.NET>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> Delighted to see Chorus Jig in that program!
>
> A few thoughts that occurred to me when I read your note...
>
> I think you said the dance is 8 - 11:30, and you're planning on taking a break
> around 9:30. I find that taking the break a little more than halfway through
> works well. That way, the folks who plan to leave at the break get in plenty
> of
> dancing.
> Our usual Northern Spy dance, for example, is scheduled to run from 8 - 11,
> although we sometimes go longer. On a typical night, I'll start the break
> around
> 9:45 or 9:50, and then we come back after ten minutes or so for the last part
> of
> the evening, typically five dances.
>
> Ted's #38-- when we danced it as part of our Triplets Marathon, we used a rag
> for the tune, which made a nice change of pace and fit the zippy feeling of
> the
> dance.
>
> You might want to get a few more simple dances to have as a backup. Who knows?
> Hearing that there's an unfamiliar caller lined up may bring in masses of
> newcomers and it's nice to be ready if you need to stick to easier fare.
>
> Let us know how it all goes.
>
> David Millstone
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 9, Issue 6
> *************************************
Dear Chris:
Good luck in Maine... Just some thoughts about your program: of course a very
solid start with "The Nice Combination". This is a great starting dance, and
I really like that you have included a circle dance in your program. Though,
personally I am not a huge fan of a circle dance, depending on the type of
crowd you are calling for, this I think will be a wonderful selection and of
course "Love And Kisses"...
I would agree, that if you are going to a triplet it really has to be in the
first half of your program, probably number three or four, I would recommend.
As the night goes on there just will not be enough energy on the dance floor
to make a triplet work.
I would also consider that the first half of your program seems like it has a
lot of neighbor balances and swings, which is ok, but does not offer much
variety. There is "The Nice Combination", "Hey In The Barn", and "Forgotten
Treasure" all within about four or five dances of eachother. Personally, I
would recommend either or when it comes to "The Nice Combination" and
"Forgotten Treasure". I tend to go more with "Forgotten Treasure", because
there just seems to be better energy with that dance...
I love Chorus Jig, as you probably know, and love that you have included it in
your program... It is a great dance that really should be danced more... You
might want to consider waiting to late to call this dance, because contra
corner can be very differcult for new dancers. But yea!!! to Chorus Jig.
Also, there are only two dances without balances in your program, I would
consider, perhaps maybe adding a dance without a balance... Perhaps "Steel
Anniversary" by Rick Mohr or "Roll In The Hey" by Roger Diggie, both I would
consider very smooth dances. And of course different dances is always key
when I am calling, I really like Mary Cay's Reel, and no doubt it is a
classic, also there would be a good dance to call after a dance that has a lot
of gents movement, because in a lot ways, I think this dance is a good break
for the gents.
Just some other dances I really like that you should consider: "Balance To My
Lou" by Becky Hill, it has a great petronella balance squence in it, and it
just has a partners swing. Other dance like "Chuck the Bungie" by Rick Mohr
and "You Can't Get There From Here" by Carol Ormand have great balance
squences... All I would recommend... Just one finally thought, I would not
end a dance with the "The Baby Rose", it is great and solid dance... but I
would recommend going out either with more of a bang... or something very
smooth... If you are looking for bag of course there is "Trip To Lamberville"
by Steve Zakon-Anderson, one of my all time favorites, and of course request
the band play "Rainy Night in Montague (the only song that should be played
with this dance) or perhaps something very smooth like "Comfort Deluxe" by
Rick Mohr...
Well, just some thoughts, a lot of thoughts actually... But good luck, I'm
sure you will knock then dead...
Sincerely,
Jeff Petrovitch
Jeffrey M. Petrovitch
jeffrey.m.petrovitch(a)usa.net
"Five nights of contra dancing... through 'top-notch' style and technique,
with the love and passion for the dance, the title above all others was
awarded. I am an 'Iron Dancer'." - J.M. Petrovitch
Chris:
Unfortunately not yet... So the search is still on. This is a dance that we
call in Nelson a lot, and I really think that this is really a solid dance
with a great flow to it. So the search continues...
Sincerely,
Jeff Petrovitch
Jeffrey M. Petrovitch
jeffrey.m.petrovitch(a)usa.net
"Five nights of contra dancing... through 'top-notch' style and technique,
with the love and passion for the dance, the title above all others was
awarded. I am an 'Iron Dancer'." - J.M. Petrovitch
Hi Chris,
Delighted to see Chorus Jig in that program!
A few thoughts that occurred to me when I read your note...
I think you said the dance is 8 - 11:30, and you're planning on taking a break
around 9:30. I find that taking the break a little more than halfway through
works well. That way, the folks who plan to leave at the break get in plenty of
dancing.
Our usual Northern Spy dance, for example, is scheduled to run from 8 - 11,
although we sometimes go longer. On a typical night, I'll start the break around
9:45 or 9:50, and then we come back after ten minutes or so for the last part of
the evening, typically five dances.
Ted's #38-- when we danced it as part of our Triplets Marathon, we used a rag
for the tune, which made a nice change of pace and fit the zippy feeling of the
dance.
You might want to get a few more simple dances to have as a backup. Who knows?
Hearing that there's an unfamiliar caller lined up may bring in masses of
newcomers and it's nice to be ready if you need to stick to easier fare.
Let us know how it all goes.
David Millstone
Dear Chris,
Good luck and have fun in Maine! A few thoughts about your program: your
first half has three dances with some form of going to the center (two with
4 in line, and another with actives); then you have a fourth one in the
second half. I would encourage you to strive for more variety. How about a
dance with some Petronella balances/twirls, Give & Take, Rory O'More type
Balance/slides? I have also found that doing triplets in the first half
works out a bit better. If I wait for the second half, the energy level is
sometimes reduced a bit too much; but they are perfect for some variety
early on.
In the second half, almost all of the dances have the women in the center
(allemandes or chains mostly), so I would suggest taking a look at trying to
replace at least one. Since it is a long evening, you might want to consider
calling at least one dance that has only one swing (partner).
Hope these ideas help!
warmly, Linda Leslie
Hello Ev= eryone!!!
Does anyone know the author and name of = this dance??? I have heard
this danced called plenty of times, but = have never found out the
author or name. Thanks...
A1: Neighbors do-si-do
Neighbors allemende left three quarters<= /FONT>
Gents allemende once around
A2: Right shoulder full hey for four
B1: Neighbors gypsy
Neighbors swing
B2: Circle left
Active couples swing
Thanks,
Jeff Petrovitch
Hi everyone!
I have been working on my program for the May 27th North Whitefield, ME
dance, making tweaks here and there. I would love to get some feedback
from the group about the program. I was able to get up there and attend
the dance last month to get a feel for the crowd. Generally, they are
high energy dancers without much polish or smoothness. They can do the
more difficult dances (as Ted Crane proved while I was there), but they
have more fun with the simpler dances. The dance goes from 8-11:30, so I
added a couple of dances to make it a 14 dance program. I'm still going
to have the break around 9:30ish. Below are the titles and authors of
the dances, but I have also attached a PDF document of my cards put in
the evening's order.
The Nice Combination Gene Hubert
Love and Kisses Ted Sannella
Midwest Folklore Orace Johnson
Hay in the Barn Chart Guthrie
Forgotten Treasure Beth Parkes
Chorus Jig
Marian's Delight Carol Kopp
Waltz - Break - Hambo
The Carousel Tom Hinds
Square Affair Becky Hill
Ted's Triplet #38 Ted Sannella
Frederick Contra Tom Hinds
Weave the Line Kathy Anderson
Spring Fever Tony Parkes
The Baby Rose David Kaynor
I'm not so sure about the inclusion of the triplet, but I think that
it's a fun one to dance and including a couple of Ted's dances seems
very appropriate here (this is the dance series that Ted founded when he
retired to Maine). I have a few dances in reserve that are both more and
less difficult (though not many of the less difficult) that I can
substitute if needed. I could see putting Mary Cay's Reel or 333-33 in
the program fairly easily.
Thank you very much to Chrissy Fowler for the opportunity to fill in for
her. And many thanks to Lisa Sieverts for her notes from calling at this
dance (they were very helpful and also solidified my impressions from
attending the dance).
Thank you in advance for any feedback you can provide.
All the best,
Chris