Hi Liz,
The dance below is “Witches’ Switches” By Al Olsen. You can find it in the original Zesty Contras collection.
Best regards,
George
> On Feb 29, 2020, at 2:56 PM, Liz Burkhart via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I collected this dance from Frederick Park but he didn't have an author listed. It's a triple progression dance with no partner swing, which then is medleyed with Delphiniums and Daisies. It's not on the Caller's Box or Contra DB, which I've never encountered before!
>
> Witches Stitches - author unknown (improper, triple progression)
> A1 New neighbors balance and swing
> A2 Circle L, Star L, face out of star
> B1 With NN allemande R 1 1/2 (1st progression)
> With next NN allemande L 1 1/2 (2nd progression)
> B2 with couple across, hey for 4 by the right
> end facing up or down along the set for 3rd progression
>
> It's interesting and flows perfectly with Delphiniums and Daisies. I've called this combination once or twice and dancers seem satisfied when I switch dances and they finally get to swing their partner. Anyone ever encounter this dance? Does anyone know the choreographer? Thanks!
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I collected this dance from Frederick Park but he didn't have an author
listed. It's a triple progression dance with no partner swing, which then
is medleyed with Delphiniums and Daisies. It's not on the Caller's Box or
Contra DB, which I've never encountered before!
Witches Stitches - author unknown (improper, triple progression)
A1 New neighbors balance and swing
A2 Circle L, Star L, face out of star
B1 With NN allemande R 1 1/2 (1st progression)
With next NN allemande L 1 1/2 (2nd progression)
B2 with couple across, hey for 4 by the right
end facing up or down along the set for 3rd progression
It's interesting and flows perfectly with Delphiniums and Daisies. I've
called this combination once or twice and dancers seem satisfied when I
switch dances and they finally get to swing their partner. Anyone ever
encounter this dance? Does anyone know the choreographer? Thanks!
For what it's worth, our sound engineer used to record some of the dances,
start to finish. He used his own sound system to do it, so it was much
better than if you were out in the room trying to record. He was getting
back into the recording business, so was practicing for his own use. I'm
_pretty_ sure we asked permission. I know that some of the bands requested
it. At any rate, we have recordings of some entire evenings. Those are
really great to practice to. It may be worth asking bands if you can do
that. I am not sure the recordings are good enough to actually dance to. I
think he was able to filter out the caller's voice, mostly.
Also, KGB's CD, Volga Notions, is specifically noted as dance-length
medleys (7-8 min). As callers we've used that for situations without a band.
-Amy
On Sat, Feb 29, 2020, 5:41 AM Mary Collins via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Rick, thanks! Just signed to lead a 6 week afterschool program. Have 2 -3
> musicians who have offered to help but just in case! And, I am always
> looking for music to practice to! Great help. Some tracks I don't already
> have.
>
> Mary Collins
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020, 10:23 AM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
>> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
>> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>>
>> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
>> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
>> for me?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Rick
>>
>> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
>> times through):
>>
>> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>>
>> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>>
>> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
>> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
>> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
>> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
>> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
>> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
>> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
>> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
>> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
>> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
>> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
>> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
>> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Rick, thanks! Just signed to lead a 6 week afterschool program. Have 2 -3
musicians who have offered to help but just in case! And, I am always
looking for music to practice to! Great help. Some tracks I don't already
have.
Mary Collins
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020, 10:23 AM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>
> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
> for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
> times through):
>
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>
> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>
> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
When dancing, I find the thing most left out that is that callers fail to
explain to the "second" person in that they too are moving...that they
don't until the people in the middle pass. Much like preparing to
receive a chain or right and left through the receiver or courtesy turner
should already be moving. Heys are relatively simple: Whatever you do in
the middle, you do the opposite on the outside. Over the past several
years, I have been experiencing any number of dancers (experienced and
inexperienced) who cant' remember that a hey should be completed in a
certain number of beats. We have explained "big turn on the outside" as if
that's the only requirement. You still need to accomplish the move in
rhythm. If you don't, someone will always be late for the next move. Just
saying.
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 2:30 PM Diane Silver via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Note: as the dance progresses, this much detail stops being needed and I
> cut back on the calls, as usual.
>
> On 2/28/2020 2:15 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers wrote:
>
> Like Erik, I emphasize the loop-around as a critical part of the move.
> Presuming the preceding move is an 8-count move and there's no short
> 4-count move that needs to be called, I use the entire preceding 8 beats to
> prompt the start of the hey before it needs to happen. I call the general
> move "Hey for four" and also pre-call the descriptive details for how it
> starts. (I teach the hey emphasizing that as the Robins start passing
> right, the Larks' first move is to slide over into the right-hand position,
> and then they'll follow the Robin through the weaving (and of course,
> vice-versa if it's a left-shoulder hey)). Then I continue to pre-call each
> piece of the hey while the preceding piece is taking place, in 4-count
> chunks. Feels like patter calling because there's no stopping:
>
> *CAPital letters indicate calling on the downbeat, with emphasis.
> lower-case calls are like pick-up notes for the following downbeat:*
>
>
>
> Starting the call way back on beat 9 of the preceding part does not seem
> to be a problem for the dancers. They finish the move they're doing (often
> swinging) and the extra thinking time helps them end that move and face
> across to start the hey on time. I've never had anyone start the hey early
> because the beginning of the call came so early.
>
> -- Diane
>
> On 2/28/2020 1:30 PM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers wrote:
>
> One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the *
> *WHILE** problem:
>
> While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the end—a
> sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face actually
> cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to pass, and often
> try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
>
> Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
>
> Robins WHILE Larks
>
> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often
> replaced by a “pause”)
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
>
> Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>
> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>
> Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
>
>
>
> Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems.
> Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I watch
> the problems dancers have I might start calling to those dancers who are
> doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or right) to pass Left
> (right) Again.”
>
>
>
> Erik Hoffman
>
>
>
> *From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
> *To:* Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com> <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
> *Cc:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
>
>
>
> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things
> so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>
>
>
> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
> being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>
> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>
>
>
> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
> (ie tomorrow)
>
>
>
> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>
>
>
> ravens pass right
>
> neighbours pass left
>
> larks pass right
>
> partners left
>
> ravens pass right
>
> neighbours pass left
>
> larks pass right
>
> partner balance and swing
>
>
>
> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls for
> this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of
> instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>
>
>
> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>
>
>
> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>
>
>
> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before* they
> do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>
>
>
> thanks muchly :)
>
>
>
> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Note: as the dance progresses, this much detail stops being needed and I
cut back on the calls, as usual.
On 2/28/2020 2:15 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers wrote:
> Like Erik, I emphasize the loop-around as a critical part of the
> move. Presuming the preceding move is an 8-count move and there's no
> short 4-count move that needs to be called, I use the entire preceding
> 8 beats to prompt the start of the hey before it needs to happen. I
> call the general move "Hey for four" and also pre-call the descriptive
> details for how it starts. (I teach the hey emphasizing that as the
> Robins start passing right, the Larks' first move is to slide over
> into the right-hand position, and then they'll follow the Robin
> through the weaving (and of course, vice-versa if it's a left-shoulder
> hey)). Then I continue to pre-call each piece of the hey while the
> preceding piece is taking place, in 4-count chunks. Feels like patter
> calling because there's no stopping:
>
> /CAPital letters indicate calling on the downbeat, with emphasis.
> lower-case calls are like pick-up notes for the following downbeat://
> /
>
>
> Starting the call way back on beat 9 of the preceding part does not
> seem to be a problem for the dancers. They finish the move they're
> doing (often swinging) and the extra thinking time helps them end that
> move and face across to start the hey on time. I've never had anyone
> start the hey early because the beginning of the call came so early.
>
> -- Diane
>
> On 2/28/2020 1:30 PM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers wrote:
>>
>> One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the
>> **WHILE** problem:
>>
>> While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the
>> end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face
>> actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to
>> pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
>>
>> Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
>>
>> Robins WHILE Larks
>>
>> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often
>> replaced by a “pause”)
>>
>> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
>>
>> Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
>>
>> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>>
>> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
>>
>> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>>
>> Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
>>
>> Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems.
>> Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I
>> watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those
>> dancers who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or
>> right) to pass Left (right) Again.”
>>
>> Erik Hoffman
>>
>> *From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
>> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
>> *To:* Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
>> *Cc:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
>>
>> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue
>> things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>>
>> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass
>> left", being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
>> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it
>> wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>>
>> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this
>> Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)
>>
>> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction
>> for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't
>> know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>>
>> ravens pass right
>>
>> neighbours pass left
>>
>> larks pass right
>>
>> partners left
>>
>> ravens pass right
>>
>> neighbours pass left
>>
>> larks pass right
>>
>> partner balance and swing
>>
>> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the
>> calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions
>> so the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the
>> figure starting.
>>
>> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller
>> actually called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>>
>> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>>
>> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" _just
>> before_ they do it, or _while_ they are doing it?
>>
>> thanks muchly :)
>>
>> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list --
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Like Erik, I emphasize the loop-around as a critical part of the move.
Presuming the preceding move is an 8-count move and there's no short
4-count move that needs to be called, I use the entire preceding 8 beats
to prompt the start of the hey before it needs to happen. I call the
general move "Hey for four" and also pre-call the descriptive details
for how it starts. (I teach the hey emphasizing that as the Robins start
passing right, the Larks' first move is to slide over into the
right-hand position, and then they'll follow the Robin through the
weaving (and of course, vice-versa if it's a left-shoulder hey)). Then I
continue to pre-call each piece of the hey while the preceding piece is
taking place, in 4-count chunks. Feels like patter calling because
there's no stopping:
/CAPital letters indicate calling on the downbeat, with emphasis.
lower-case calls are like pick-up notes for the following downbeat://
/
Starting the call way back on beat 9 of the preceding part does not seem
to be a problem for the dancers. They finish the move they're doing
(often swinging) and the extra thinking time helps them end that move
and face across to start the hey on time. I've never had anyone start
the hey early because the beginning of the call came so early.
-- Diane
On 2/28/2020 1:30 PM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers wrote:
>
> One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the
> **WHILE** problem:
>
> While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the
> end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face
> actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to
> pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
>
> Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
>
> Robins WHILE Larks
>
> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often
> replaced by a “pause”)
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
>
> Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>
> Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
>
> Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
>
> Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
>
> Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems.
> Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I
> watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those dancers
> who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or right)
> to pass Left (right) Again.”
>
> Erik Hoffman
>
> *From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
> *To:* Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
> *Cc:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
>
> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue
> things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>
> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
> being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
> <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
>
> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it
> wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>
> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this
> Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)
>
> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction
> for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't
> know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>
> ravens pass right
>
> neighbours pass left
>
> larks pass right
>
> partners left
>
> ravens pass right
>
> neighbours pass left
>
> larks pass right
>
> partner balance and swing
>
> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the
> calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so
> the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure
> starting.
>
> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller
> actually called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>
> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>
> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" _just
> before_ they do it, or _while_ they are doing it?
>
> thanks muchly :)
>
> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list --
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> To unsubscribe send an email to
> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the *WHILE* problem:
While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
Robins WHILE Larks
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often replaced by a “pause”)
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems. Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those dancers who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or right) to pass Left (right) Again.”
Erik Hoffman
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
To: Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left", being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
Jeff
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)
our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partners left
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partner balance and swing
I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually called out the actions *as* they were happening....
Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" just before they do it, or while they are doing it?
thanks muchly :)
Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
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I agree with Bob. After the initial mention of who starts the Hey, the
dancers may find it harder to track both the shoulder they are using and
the role of the person they are passing.
I often will drop roles and say things like, "Right in the Middle; Left on
the End; Right in the Middle; Left on the End" (or whatever is needed for a
particular Hey).
Once the alternation of shoulders is established, I'll drop that and start
focusing the dancers' attention on other things (e.g., "Keep going" in a
Full Hey), including where they need to end the move ("All the way over;
all the way *back*"; "Find your Partner, Balance & Swing").
The only part of this for which timing is *essential* is the actual
command--"Hey for Four" (or however it's phrased), which must come just
before the dancers start the move. The additional verbiage are just "helper
words," and the timing is less crucial, though they obviously need to come
*no later* than when the dancers are executing that part of the move.
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:57 AM Folk Dance via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I'd drop the all the passes and after the initial ravens right, just say
> left *beat* right *beat* *left* *beat* right *beat* left *beat* right
> *beat* balance and swing
>
> That way you're providing a scaffold without obscuring the
> underlying music you're trying to link them to.
>
> Bob
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 2:50 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things
>> so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
>>
>> You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left",
>> being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong
>>> (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
>>>
>>> I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday..
>>> (ie tomorrow)
>>>
>>> our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the
>>> first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common
>>> this is but our previous caller would actually say--
>>>
>>> ravens pass right
>>> neighbours pass left
>>> larks pass right
>>> partners left
>>> ravens pass right
>>> neighbours pass left
>>> larks pass right
>>> partner balance and swing
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls
>>> for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit
>>> of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.
>>>
>>> But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually
>>> called out the actions *as* they were happening....
>>>
>>> Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
>>>
>>> In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" *just before*
>>> they do it, or *while* they are doing it?
>>>
>>> thanks muchly :)
>>>
>>> Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
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I have over 40 CD's by US and UK bands but the most usable are the two CD's
by "The English Contra Dance Band" who are Gareth Kiddier and Linda Game.
Don't just take my word talk with Kathy Anderson, Lisa Greenleaf or Seth
Tepfer.
Barrie Bullimore (UK)
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 3:23 PM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>
> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
> for me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rick
>
> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
> times through):
>
> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp…
>
> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>
> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
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>
