Hello Callers !
Wondering if anyone has written some “contra” dances that maintain 6 feet distance?
I’m imagining trying (narrow)pool noodles to use as spacers (outdoors). Maybe cut to 3 foot lengths with magnets at the ends to clack & connect to the next noodle.
I know someone doing Intl Folk with ribbons and they were shared by accident, and are obviously too flexible to help keep distance.
I can also see it being more like solo dancing with “contra” moves in HUGE figures (more aerobic?) or maybe something totally different?
If you’d like to chat about choreo ideas for distanced outdoor (masks, gloves, etc) “contra” dances, please email me.
I believe there will be intermediate stages of coming back to dance and we can try when County and State Health limitations allow (Mine just opened up for out door gatherings last week).
(I’m very aware of the issues, the research about covid, and our State and County Health regulations.) I’m looking for conversation about what coming back to dancing might look like, and choreography to support this that is fun.
Thanks for your on-topic replies.
Best,
Claire Takemori (CA)
Hello all,
Sometimes I write in to check if a dance I've penned has already been
written; but this time I'm sure that it hasn't.
I was inspired by the news of the national coin shortage (
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pandemic-leads-national-coin-shortage-…)
to put together a dance called "The Laundromat Needs Quarters" full of
quarter turns and agitated motion.
Note, this is not a dance that I think should be called, it's a joke dance
and they have very limited utility. But I miss the extended contra
community and wanted to share as a reminder that our dance community is
still out there, and we will celebrate and dance in person again someday.
The Laundromat Needs Quarters
Becket
A1 -----------
(8) Ladies' Chain across
(4) Pass through to an ocean wave (ladies catch left, Neighbors right)
(4) Balance the short wave (forward and back)
A2 -----------
(4) Walk forward and catch right hand with next, 1/4 allemande to long waves
(4) Balance the long Wavy line (right and left)
(4) Slide to the right (as in Rory O’More), catch left hands and 1/4
allemande to short waves
(4) Balance the short Wavy line (left and right)
B1 -----------
(4) Slide to the left (as in Rory O’More)
(12) 3/4 of a hey, starting ladies pass left shoulder in middle; end on
home side with partner
B2 -----------
(16) Partner right shoulder round and swing
I'm planning to publish this page to the world on Saturday evening (that's mid-day California time and 3pm East Coast
time) so please let's have any more comments before then.
Thanks to all who have responded - it's made the page so much better! I've had useful comments from all four of the
lists that I've sent it out to.
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web page http://colinhume.com/master.htm
I've written a web page on the subject "What is a Dancing Master" and I'd love
to have some feedback from the list before I make it available to the world.
https://colinhume.com/master.htm
Colin Hume
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society invites you to join us for our July caller workshop with special guest Colin Hume!
Saturday, July 25, 12 noon – 1:30pm (US Central time)
$5 per household
Register here: http://scissortail.org/special-events/colin-hume-caller-workshop/
Join us for this unique opportunity: an online workshop with UK-based caller Colin Hume! Many of you know Colin thanks to his website (www.colinhume.com), as well as his dances, compositions, and calling—and that’s our topic for this workshop.
Why do callers build websites? What content do they include, and why? What’s the balance between website content and that published in other forms—books, CDs, etc.? How has the internet changed social folk dancing?
Our format will be a moderated discussion: you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask Colin your own questions.
Those registering for the workshop will receive a link to the online meeting 24-48 hours ahead of time, and a reminder email the day of. You will also receive a link to Colin’s new video introducing his website; that link will also be available here after July 18.
Questions? Please email dance(a)scissortail.org.
—
Louise Siddons
Scissortail Traditional Dance Society
www.scissortail.orgwww.facebook.com/groups/scissortail/
dance(a)scissortail.org
New Zoom series: Wednesday Walkthroughs
Wednesdays at 12 noon, US Central time, starting July 15
Caller Louise Siddons (http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/ <http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/>)
We’ve been solo dancing for a while now, and I’ve discovered that I really enjoy adapting existing choreography for solo dancers. I love the way it emphasizes pattern and position, encouraging dancers to think positionally and holistically about how the dance works. I’ve also been challenged, as a solo dancer, to find the fun in contra dance choreography, which often makes intense use of the connection between dancers for its zest.
In this workshop series, we’ll walk through the process of adapting dances for solo dancers, choosing new dances each week. We’ll see the original choreography (as interpreted by a solo dancer with ghosts), and then I’ll propose and call a solo adaptation. After we dance, together we’ll talk about why the adaptation feels good (or suggest a different one that feels better!). Along the way, I might introduce a variety of dance genres and blur the lines between them — and encourage participants to do the same.
Dances will be approached from a positional framework (in other words, we’re going to be gender-free by default, as solo dancers), and participants are encouraged to think holistically about pattern, momentum, and space.
These workshops are free and open to anyone who is interested. Sign up here to receive weekly details: https://forms.gle/eR8dbyLz9NV3592h8 <https://forms.gle/eR8dbyLz9NV3592h8>
—
Louise Siddons, dance caller
http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/
lesiddons(a)gmail.com
What a moment in history we are witnessing! I can't believe that I have done this, but I have created a folder on my computer called Zoom dances (for want of a better name).
If you have composed any dances for the current times, and are happy to share, I would be very pleased to have a copy. I have made baby steps into calling dances over zoom. Another whole level of challenge, and not for the technologically shy! My unending admiration for those of you who are pioneering this new dance form.
I hope you are all well. Being able to dance and witness this from the other side of the world is a little bit of a silver lining for me
CheersJeanette MillCanberra, Australia
Apropos of absolutely nothing, this stanza came to me after reading Ode by O’Shaughnessy:
They are the music makers,
and we the dancers of dreams,
Balancing by the lone ocean waves,
swinging our neighbors supreme,
world-losers and world-forsakers,
robins chaining to the extremes,
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
balancing the rings.
—me, with no apology to O'Shaughnessy
Inspired in a moment of madness from that famous poem...
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;—
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
— Stanza 1, Ode by Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy
Improvements and additions welcome!
\Bob Peterson
Billerica, MA
Dear Callers,
Hope you can come to this workshop, by Jeffrey Spero on Sun 6/14, from 2-330pm PDT(5-630pmEDT) He is a great dance musician and wonderful teacher/caller too.
RSVP to Jeff. Or share with a caller who might be interested!
Hey callers… ever wonder how to respond when a band asks “Would a jig work well for this dance?” Want to know what the band talks about while you’re teaching the dance? Interested in learning how to communicate better with the other people you share the stage with? Then this is the workshop for you! Led by caller/musician Jeffrey Spero (Syncopaths, Rhythm Raptors), we’ll delve into how the music effects the dance through time signatures (reels and jigs) and modes (major, minor, modal). We’ll talk extensively about on-stage communication - ways the caller and band can work more closely together to enhance the enjoyment for dancers, musicians and callers.
Join us on Zoom on Sunday, June 14th at 5p ET / 2p PT for this informative and fun workshop! Cost for the 90 minute workshop is only $25, and space is limited. For more information or to register, contact Jeff at mail(a)jeffreyspero.com <mailto:mail@jeffreyspero.com>.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1395246570678796/ <https://www.facebook.com/events/1395246570678796/>
Claire Takemori
Dance Caller
(408) 874-6840 <tel:(408)%20874-6840> (VM)
clairedancecaller(a)gmail.com <mailto:clairedancecaller@gmail.com>
https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/ <https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/>
bacds.org/teen <http://bacds.org/teen>
