Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

4404 discussions

by Katherine Kitching

Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else new or confusing. Other notes: - we are dancing only in Becket - swings are not necessary in each dance I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need the Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the correct order. I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin should look behind them and see their partner following them - and reach a hand to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, back to home place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next couple. But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from another dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow happy to give credit to that, if any is due :) Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) Star right Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the line (This figure I've done before without any issues) Lines of 4 down the hall, Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not mistaken!) Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass left in the middle... Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right shoulder to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with their right hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly take inside hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their Lark ahead of them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the Larks in single file. Thank you for your thoughts, if any! Kat Kitching Halifax Contra Dances

5 months, 1 week

addendum Re: Looking for input on this dance I wrote

by Katherine Kitching

Whoops, sorry everyone- I just re-checked my program: In fact we would do one dance prior to this one below, with a full Hey - The prior dance would keep things even more simple by not having anyone go down the hall - the Hey would take place in B1-- and the dance would end with a partner balance-and-swing (or two hand turn), in order to reset everyone to home place before progressing. So indeed the dance below is intended to have folks practice the hey with the slight added confusion of being out of home place :) > Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers > <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > Wednesday, May 28, 2025 12:57 PM > Hi from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada! > > As some of you know, I write a lot of my own dances because of the > specific needs of our crowd- I'm always working on contra dances that > are simpler than what most of you folks consider a "simple" dance :) > > For my upcoming dance I am doing a Hey as a "feature figure" - meaning > it is the one more complex figure we will focus on that night. > Am trying to write a dance that introduces the Hey, builds on other > simple things we've done that night, without introducing anything else > new or confusing. > > Other notes: > - we are dancing only in Becket > - swings are not necessary in each dance > > I like the flow of what I've written - which ends with a full Hey-- > But my issue is that the Lark will be following the Robin and I need > the Lark to get ahead at the end -- so everyone can progress in the > correct order. > > I've experimentally written that at the end of the hey, the Robin > should look behind them and see their partner following them - and > reach a hand to give them a little tug, to pull them ahead of them, > back to home place and then seamlessly progress onwards to the next > couple. > But it's hard to predict if this will work ok or be too confusing. > > Would welcome your thoughts on this and any other aspect of the dance. > I think I borrowed the Larks left hand turn 1.5 into a Hey from > another dance on Contra DB, though my memory is foggy now...anyhow > happy to give credit to that, if any is due :) > > Simple (maybe?) Hey Dance > Becket, CW (progressing by sliding left) > > Star right > Circle right - the #1 Lark leads out the line - at some point dropping > hands with their partner who will end up at the opposite end of the > line (This figure I've done before without any issues) > Lines of 4 down the hall, > Turn *alone*, come back up, bend line > > LLFB (you will be facing your partner for this figure, if I am not > mistaken!) > Larks: Allemande left 1.5x to face partner > All start fuly Hey - partners pass right on the ends, then Robins pass > left in the middle... > Once Robins get back to their home side, turn over their right > shoulder to see their partner right behind them - Robins reach with > their right hand, to their partner's left hand (i.e. partners briefly > take inside hands) - and Robins give a tug on the hand, to guide their > Lark ahead of them, to progress to the next group - Robins follow the > Larks in single file. > > Thank you for your thoughts, if any! > Kat Kitching > Halifax Contra Dances > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to > contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

5 months, 1 week

My Latest Crypto Scam (New Dance)

by Jerome Grisanti

I'm very proud to promote My Latest Crypto Scam (aka Jerome's Latest Crypto Scam). Unlike most such scams, all invested parties can actually expect a payoff, though not all at the same time. I must acknowledge inspiration from JoLaine Jones-Pokorney's GOD's Chariot Rides Again. Enjoy! My Latest Crypto Scam aka Jerome's Latest Crypto Scam By Jerome Grisanti Improper contra - duple minor A1: (8) Neighbor mirror do-si-do (twos split ones) (8) Ones swing A2: (5) In a line of four, go down the hall (W2-M1-W1-M2) (4) "Tag the line": as couples, trade while facing down; individually, turn alone (5) Lines return (W1-M2-W2-M1) (2) Face your neighbor B1: (4, 12) Neighbor balance & swing B2: (4, 4) Pass through across; Neighbors gate 3/4 (twos moving forward) (8) Twos swing; face up I reassure dancers that if they do-si-do instead of see-saw, or do a courtesy turn instead of gate, it's all okay, since dancing the exact moves as dictated by Jerome just plays into the hands of Big Contra. It is important, however, to remember if you're a one or a two. Enjoy! If you feel compelled to send money, address it to the CDSS. — Jerome Grisanti P.S. In case you didn't notice, no role terms are needed. Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

5 months, 1 week

Dance Experience Survey (specifically for New England dancers)

by Sandy Lafleur

Greetings from NH - An old high school friend of my daughter's reached out to me for help getting a survey out to contra dancers. Jen is someone personally known to me as we would go dancing together when she was a teen. How cool to see that while in her late 30's she is: Jennifer P. Agans, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management College of Health and Human Development The Pennsylvania State University Her request is this: "I am now a researcher studying recreation and well-being, and I'm doing a study of contra dancers' experiences. Would you be willing to help distribute my survey to the contra dance community in New England?" Here is the link to her survey: https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1M8Jyz3kzpVhzym Thanks, everyone! Sandy Sandy Lafleur PO Box 877285 Burns Hill RoadWilton, NH 03086 (603) 654-1245 Since the beginning of man the hours between the coming of night and the coming of sleep have belonged to the tellers of tales and the makers of music.

5 months, 2 weeks

Re: Is there an app?

by Masha Goodman Crawford

https://www.dance.ravitz.us/mrd.php~ Masha

5 months, 2 weeks

Video: Chain Figure - Teaching, Twirling Technique, Open Chain, North Country Chain

by John Sweeney

This video demonstrates the standard Chain Figure and how to do it well. We also teach you good technique for adding twirls, and variants such as the Open Chain and the North Country Chain. While it is traditionally known as a Ladies' Chain, it is also known as a Second Corner Chain, a Robins' Chain, a Right-Hand Chain, Chain by the Right, Chain Across or just Chain. I hope you enjoy the video and find it useful! https://youtu.be/dS8LxpVHB3M Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

5 months, 3 weeks

Re: Chase figure with neighbor?

by Mark Widmer

Bob, thanks for sharing. From your comment, "If the 2L and 1G chase it works equally well," it seems that an "alternating" version of this dance is possible. This would eliminate the need for short lines as it is then automatically fair to both pairs of neighbors. Though you might want to reserve that for more experienced dance crowds. Mark Widmer > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> > To: "Tepfer, Seth" <labst(a)emory.edu>, Chris Page <chriscpage(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Bcc: > Date: Wed, 7 May 2025 20:19:06 +0000 > Subject: [Callers] Re: Chase figure with neighbor? > Here's the one Chris mentioned - Bob > > *Cut to the Chase * > Becket-L Intermediate > A1. 8 Long lines forward and back > 8 Circle L ¾ and pass through > > A2. 8 Ladies allemande L 1½ > 8 Partner allemande R > 1½ (1) > > B1. 8 1L around two and 2G around one and he cuts > through (2) > 8 2G around two and 1L around one and she cuts through > > B2. 8 Actives swing > 8 Partner swing > > Written on December 1, 2005, and first called on April 5, 2006 at > Princeton, NJ. It was about time for a neighbor chase sequence. Short > sets are necessary to make this fair to both pairs of neighbors. > (1) – By varying the length of this allemande, partners can choose who > will be active. > (2) – The 1L and 2G are above their partners when the chase starts, which > is worth emphasizing in the teaching. If the 2L and 1G chase it works > equally well. By identifying the neighbors above as the active couple, the > call is “active couple chase – lady ‘round two and gent ‘round one and he > cuts through, gents ‘round two and lady ‘round one and she cuts through.” > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Chris Page via Contra Callers < > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:24 PM > *To:* Tepfer, Seth <labst(a)emory.edu> > *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Subject:* [Callers] Re: Chase figure with neighbor? > > "Cut to the Chase" by Bob Isaacs. > > You'll have to ask him for the specific figures. > > Cheers, > -Chris Page > Los Angeles, CA >

5 months, 3 weeks

Ang on "From the Mic"

by Lisa Sieverts

In light of Ang’s thumbs up, I want to point you all to the latest *From the Mic* podcast featuring Ang DeCarlis: https://cdss.org/podcasts/podcast/from-the-mic-episode-31-ang-decarlis/ A truly wonderful, thought-provoking, insightful episode. Lisa Nelson, NH Lisa Sieverts 603-762-0235 lisa(a)lisasieverts.com

5 months, 3 weeks

Chase figure with neighbor?

by Tepfer, Seth

Hello font of experience I was pondering chase figures in contra dance. You know, the move where one person goes around the other couple while being followed by their partner. Are there dances out there where the chase is done with a neighbor instead? Is it as much fun or is it awkward or unsettling? I enjoy the playfulness of the chase figure (especially when it goes both ways) but I always wonder if there is an unpleasant undercurrent for some. I can imagine there are people we would NOT want to be chased by. Am I overthinking this? Sent from my iPhone

5 months, 4 weeks

Unknown dance by Dean Snipes

by Sam Whited

I've got a dance in my collection with no title and chunks of the dance that I can't read. The author appears to be Dean Snipes, but I can't find it in any of the usual places (ContraDB, Callers Box, arbitrary web search, contra videos, etc.) Improper A1. N. Dosido; N allemande R. to put Larkes in the middle A2. Balance wave by left (??) to Star Promenade N to butterfly whirl [1] B1. Robin pass R to swing partner B2. Promenade across; circle L 3, pass thru Anyone happen to have this one or know somewhere else I can find it online? Thanks, Sam [1]: I have no idea what most of A2 says either. This is why I normally type/print my cards instead of writing them by hand, I think this is more or less right, but something must be wrong because I don't see how this could work from a wave to the star promenade. -- Sam Whited sam(a)samwhited.com

6 months

← Newer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
...
441
Older →

Jump to page:

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Contra Callers