Oh, yeah, that’s part of the charm, everyone watching what happens. The little kid who gets the gorilla and hugs it to themself and refuses to part with it. The three men who end up at the top, in the days when they were more hesitant to dance with each other, and then two just go for it and dance. If you don’t get chosen - well, you get to do the choosing the next time! Very old dancers can be gently escorted down the line. Little ones bound and leap. Adults pick a child way up high and run down the line with them. It works for young and old, all the time.
Martha
> On Jan 31, 2020, at 2:20 PM, Robert Livingston via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> From Cal - many authors and names - Jump Start Circle Dance to Bill Bailey
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w>
>
> Mac McKeever noted creativity with the "Fan Dance". I've used a teddy bear. Once a lady in the center looked at the gents
> on either side of her, rejected both and danced down center with the bear. Also a gent in the center ended up with his two
> daughters on either side. He took them both; left the bear.
>
> Bob Livingston
>
> On Thursday, January 30, 2020, 6:41:36 PM EST, Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>
> I call a super easy dance called "The Cat's Meow", usually to "Cry of the Celts" , from Lord of the dance. It teaches phrasing quite well. With a circle of 40+ children, they all seem to clap together. (This dance came from Cal Campbell, but I am not sure of the author.)
>
> A1 Walk in Four Steps, Clap Four Times
> Walk Out Four steps, Clap Four Times
> B1 Circle Left Eight Steps, Circle Right Eight Steps (or Circle Left 16)
>
> This dance might seem too easy, but it success brings many smiles and builds a foundation for the rest of the program.
>
> https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10 <https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10>
>
> Rich Sbardella
> Stafford Springs, CT
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 1:16 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>
> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
>
> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
>
> The Blobs
> Boston Tea Party
> Chimes of Dunkirk
> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
> Cumberland Reel
> Duckpins
> The Duke of York
> Galopede
> Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
> Jacob's Potato
> Margate Hoy
> Over The Top
> Sasha
> Snake
> Traffic Jam
>
> Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like to have some suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
>
> I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The kids (and some parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes it is an adult with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center and back twice. Then have different groups go in in A2, boys, girls, talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups two-hand turn or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually worry about trying to get them to do that.
>
> Jonathan
> -----
> Jonathan Sivier
> Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html <http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html>
> -----
> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>
> On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
> > Hi Sandy,
> >
> > Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
> >
> > https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216 <https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216>
> >
> > Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my dances are now up on The Callers Box.
> >
> > Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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 <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:contracallers-leave@listssharedweight.net>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
Hi All:
Most of you probably didn't know Roger Auman, who passed away earlier this week. Roger was a longtime avid contra dancer, a fine caller, an inventive choreographer, and most of all, as nice a person as you could ever hope to meet. We would cross paths at dances in Princeton, Philly, Bethlehem, and many other places, and for several years we had this routine; I would come up to him at the break, and ask "What do you have today?" and he would show me a new dance every time. It was fun to watch him progress from first-timer efforts to good to outright winners. Attached are some of the gifts he left us.
Roger hailed from Reading, PA, and if you happen to be at the nearby Birdsboro contra dance tomorrow, we will dance several of his to remember him. For those of us in the Mid-Atlantic region who knew him well, he will be truly missed -
Bob
May Heydays - the successor to Eastbourne International Folk Festival - is urgently in need of a Publicity Manager.
The Festival is basically being organised by just three people (not me - I'm only in charge of the website) and they
simply can't do it all.
If you would be interested in taking this (responsible though unpaid) position, please contact Mecki Testroet -
director(a)mayheydays.org.uk - and she will be very pleased to give you more information.
I'm sending this to the four lists I subscribe to: ECD, Trad Callers, Contra Callers and Contra Corner, but please pass
the request on to anyone else you think might be interested.
Read all about the Festival at http://mayheydays.org.uk/
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Very good - often if those sort of things are not happening I tip off a couple dancers that it is an option (at a wedding I usually tell the bride and/or the groom. For kids they are fine without all the 'options'
Mac
On Friday, January 31, 2020, 04:14:48 PM CST, Robert Livingston via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
From Cal - many authors and names - Jump Start Circle Dance to Bill Bailey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w
Mac McKeever noted creativity with the "Fan Dance". I've used a teddy bear. Once a lady in the center looked at the gentson either side of her, rejected both and danced down center with the bear. Also a gent in the center ended up with his twodaughters on either side. He took them both; left the bear.
Bob Livingston
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, 6:41:36 PM EST, Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I call a super easy dance called "The Cat's Meow", usually to "Cry of the Celts" , from Lord of the dance. It teaches phrasing quite well. With a circle of 40+ children, they all seem to clap together. (This dance came from Cal Campbell, but I am not sure of the author.)
A1 Walk in Four Steps, Clap Four Times Walk Out Four steps, Clap Four TimesB1 Circle Left Eight Steps, Circle Right Eight Steps (or Circle Left 16)
This dance might seem too easy, but it success brings many smiles and builds a foundation for the rest of the program.
https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10
Rich SbardellaStafford Springs, CT
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 1:16 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
The Blobs
Boston Tea Party
Chimes of Dunkirk
Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
Cumberland Reel
Duckpins
The Duke of York
Galopede
Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
Jacob's Potato
Margate Hoy
Over The Top
Sasha
Snake
Traffic Jam
Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like to have some suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The kids (and some parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes it is an adult with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center and back twice. Then have different groups go in in A2, boys, girls, talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups two-hand turn or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually worry about trying to get them to do that.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
> Hi Sandy,
>
> Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
>
> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216
>
> Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my dances are now up on The Callers Box.
>
> Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
From Cal - many authors and names - Jump Start Circle Dance to Bill Bailey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w
Mac McKeever noted creativity with the "Fan Dance". I've used a teddy bear. Once a lady in the center looked at the gentson either side of her, rejected both and danced down center with the bear. Also a gent in the center ended up with his twodaughters on either side. He took them both; left the bear.
Bob Livingston
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, 6:41:36 PM EST, Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I call a super easy dance called "The Cat's Meow", usually to "Cry of the Celts" , from Lord of the dance. It teaches phrasing quite well. With a circle of 40+ children, they all seem to clap together. (This dance came from Cal Campbell, but I am not sure of the author.)
A1 Walk in Four Steps, Clap Four Times Walk Out Four steps, Clap Four TimesB1 Circle Left Eight Steps, Circle Right Eight Steps (or Circle Left 16)
This dance might seem too easy, but it success brings many smiles and builds a foundation for the rest of the program.
https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10
Rich SbardellaStafford Springs, CT
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 1:16 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
The Blobs
Boston Tea Party
Chimes of Dunkirk
Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
Cumberland Reel
Duckpins
The Duke of York
Galopede
Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
Jacob's Potato
Margate Hoy
Over The Top
Sasha
Snake
Traffic Jam
Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like to have some suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The kids (and some parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes it is an adult with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center and back twice. Then have different groups go in in A2, boys, girls, talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups two-hand turn or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually worry about trying to get them to do that.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
> Hi Sandy,
>
> Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
>
> https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216
>
> Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my dances are now up on The Callers Box.
>
> Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
Around here it can be a broom dance or paddle dance (canoe paddle) and is done standing - no chairs. More experienced participants can get very creative
Mac McKeeverSt Louis
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, 06:12:15 PM CST, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
This dance is also called "The Fan Dance," and I carry fans around. And, not only kids will do it forever, but adults, too.
When we do it we start it out as a waltz, then at some point, switch to a reel/polka.
I've seen it done as a Civil War dance, where one line is women, the other men. Thus, when a man is in the middle two women take the side chairs, and vice-versa when a woman takes the center seat.
I jokingly call it, "The Original Soul Train..."
~Erik Hoffman
Oakland, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Wild via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2020 1:11 PM
To: Kalia Kliban <kalia.kliban(a)gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
And don’t forget the “Hat Dance” - which out here I do as the “Gorilla Dance” - it’s amazing how long kids will do this dance! Three chairs, two lines perpendicular to either side of the chairs, top person from each line sits in an outside chair, and one person sits in the middle. The middle person, in the original version, has a hat. But when you are dealing with kids - you have to think “head lice”. So no hats. Instead, I do the dance with a fairly large, cute, cuddly, stuffed animal gorilla. Person in the middle has the gorilla, and when the music starts, gives it to one of the other two chair people, then takes the one without the gorilla and sashay/polkas down between the two lines. Person with gorilla moves to center chair, next two sit down, repeat. Music goes on and on, people who’ve danced to end of line join on the ends for another go. I have seen this go 20 minutes until the musicians revolted, and the kids just shouted “Again, again!”. I’ve done it at dance camps and when we are going to dance the next day they run up and yell “The Gorilla Dance!” So it’s really a hit. You may use whatever large stuffed animal you like - it can be the Elephant Dance, the Unicorn dance, the Doggie dance. But it’s fun.
I guess this is a mixer dance. Oh well - it’s really good.
Martha
> On Jan 30, 2020, at 12:10 PM, Kalia Kliban via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> On 1/30/2020 10:16 AM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
>> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
>> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
>
> Great image!
>
>> The Blobs
>> Boston Tea Party
>> Chimes of Dunkirk
>> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer Cumberland Reel Duckpins The
>> Duke of York Galopede Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways,
>> non-mixer Jacob's Potato Margate Hoy Over The Top Sasha Snake Traffic
>> Jam
>
> The dances on this list that I recognize are all great for mixed-age
> groups, including with quite small children who are latched onto a
> parent (though Heel and Toe Polka would be tricky in that situation).
> They're in my steady rotation as well. And the dances I don't
> recognize I'm going to look up right now :>)
>
> Dances I use all the time that I don't see here are Le Brandy, La Bastringue (can be done as a non-mixer), variations on Virginia Reel, a wind-up/spiral dance (no partners), Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins) and Circle Shuffle (which might be by Luke Donforth).
>
> Kalia in Sebastopol
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to
> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
This dance is also called "The Fan Dance," and I carry fans around. And, not only kids will do it forever, but adults, too.
When we do it we start it out as a waltz, then at some point, switch to a reel/polka.
I've seen it done as a Civil War dance, where one line is women, the other men. Thus, when a man is in the middle two women take the side chairs, and vice-versa when a woman takes the center seat.
I jokingly call it, "The Original Soul Train..."
~Erik Hoffman
Oakland, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Wild via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2020 1:11 PM
To: Kalia Kliban <kalia.kliban(a)gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
And don’t forget the “Hat Dance” - which out here I do as the “Gorilla Dance” - it’s amazing how long kids will do this dance! Three chairs, two lines perpendicular to either side of the chairs, top person from each line sits in an outside chair, and one person sits in the middle. The middle person, in the original version, has a hat. But when you are dealing with kids - you have to think “head lice”. So no hats. Instead, I do the dance with a fairly large, cute, cuddly, stuffed animal gorilla. Person in the middle has the gorilla, and when the music starts, gives it to one of the other two chair people, then takes the one without the gorilla and sashay/polkas down between the two lines. Person with gorilla moves to center chair, next two sit down, repeat. Music goes on and on, people who’ve danced to end of line join on the ends for another go. I have seen this go 20 minutes until the musicians revolted, and the kids just shouted “Again, again!”. I’ve done it at dance camps and when we are going to dance the next day they run up and yell “The Gorilla Dance!” So it’s really a hit. You may use whatever large stuffed animal you like - it can be the Elephant Dance, the Unicorn dance, the Doggie dance. But it’s fun.
I guess this is a mixer dance. Oh well - it’s really good.
Martha
> On Jan 30, 2020, at 12:10 PM, Kalia Kliban via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> On 1/30/2020 10:16 AM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
>> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
>> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
>
> Great image!
>
>> The Blobs
>> Boston Tea Party
>> Chimes of Dunkirk
>> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer Cumberland Reel Duckpins The
>> Duke of York Galopede Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways,
>> non-mixer Jacob's Potato Margate Hoy Over The Top Sasha Snake Traffic
>> Jam
>
> The dances on this list that I recognize are all great for mixed-age
> groups, including with quite small children who are latched onto a
> parent (though Heel and Toe Polka would be tricky in that situation).
> They're in my steady rotation as well. And the dances I don't
> recognize I'm going to look up right now :>)
>
> Dances I use all the time that I don't see here are Le Brandy, La Bastringue (can be done as a non-mixer), variations on Virginia Reel, a wind-up/spiral dance (no partners), Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins) and Circle Shuffle (which might be by Luke Donforth).
>
> Kalia in Sebastopol
> _______________________________________________
> 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
I call a super easy dance called "The Cat's Meow", usually to "Cry of the
Celts" , from Lord of the dance. It teaches phrasing quite well. With a
circle of 40+ children, they all seem to clap together. (This dance came
from Cal Campbell, but I am not sure of the author.)
A1 Walk in Four Steps, Clap Four Times
Walk Out Four steps, Clap Four Times
B1 Circle Left Eight Steps, Circle Right Eight Steps (or Circle Left 16)
This dance might seem too easy, but it success brings many smiles and
builds a foundation for the rest of the program.
https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10
Rich Sbardella
Stafford Springs, CT
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 1:16 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really
> appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>
> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters.
> I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird.
> These have several good dances for kids.
>
> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local
> library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm
> standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
>
> The Blobs
> Boston Tea Party
> Chimes of Dunkirk
> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
> Cumberland Reel
> Duckpins
> The Duke of York
> Galopede
> Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
> Jacob's Potato
> Margate Hoy
> Over The Top
> Sasha
> Snake
> Traffic Jam
>
> Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like
> to have some suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
>
> I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The
> kids (and some parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are
> pairs, sometimes it is an adult with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center
> and back twice. Then have different groups go in in A2, boys, girls,
> talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups two-hand turn
> or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be
> hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually
> worry about trying to get them to do that.
>
> Jonathan
> -----
> Jonathan Sivier
> Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
> jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
> Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
> -----
> Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
> A: It depends on what dance you call!
>
> On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
> > Hi Sandy,
> >
> > Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
> >
> > https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216
> >
> > Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my
> dances are now up on The Callers Box.
> >
> > Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
>
And don’t forget the “Hat Dance” - which out here I do as the “Gorilla Dance” - it’s amazing how long kids will do this dance! Three chairs, two lines perpendicular to either side of the chairs, top person from each line sits in an outside chair, and one person sits in the middle. The middle person, in the original version, has a hat. But when you are dealing with kids - you have to think “head lice”. So no hats. Instead, I do the dance with a fairly large, cute, cuddly, stuffed animal gorilla. Person in the middle has the gorilla, and when the music starts, gives it to one of the other two chair people, then takes the one without the gorilla and sashay/polkas down between the two lines. Person with gorilla moves to center chair, next two sit down, repeat. Music goes on and on, people who’ve danced to end of line join on the ends for another go. I have seen this go 20 minutes until the musicians revolted, and the kids just shouted “Again, again!”. I’ve done it at dance camps and when we are going to dance the next day they run up and yell “The Gorilla Dance!” So it’s really a hit. You may use whatever large stuffed animal you like - it can be the Elephant Dance, the Unicorn dance, the Doggie dance. But it’s fun.
I guess this is a mixer dance. Oh well - it’s really good.
Martha
> On Jan 30, 2020, at 12:10 PM, Kalia Kliban via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> On 1/30/2020 10:16 AM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
>> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
>> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
>
> Great image!
>
>> The Blobs
>> Boston Tea Party
>> Chimes of Dunkirk
>> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
>> Cumberland Reel
>> Duckpins
>> The Duke of York
>> Galopede
>> Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
>> Jacob's Potato
>> Margate Hoy
>> Over The Top
>> Sasha
>> Snake
>> Traffic Jam
>
> The dances on this list that I recognize are all great for mixed-age groups, including with quite small children who are latched onto a parent (though Heel and Toe Polka would be tricky in that situation). They're in my steady rotation as well. And the dances I don't recognize I'm going to look up right now :>)
>
> Dances I use all the time that I don't see here are Le Brandy, La Bastringue (can be done as a non-mixer), variations on Virginia Reel, a wind-up/spiral dance (no partners), Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins) and Circle Shuffle (which might be by Luke Donforth).
>
> Kalia in Sebastopol
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On 1/30/2020 10:16 AM, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
> While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really
> appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
>
> You should check out the books from the New England Dancing
> Masters. I have Chimes of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the
> Mockingbird. These have several good dances for kids.
>
> Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local
> library. The event is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like
> I'm standing in a sea of knee-high princesses.
Great image!
> The Blobs
> Boston Tea Party
> Chimes of Dunkirk
> Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
> Cumberland Reel
> Duckpins
> The Duke of York
> Galopede
> Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
> Jacob's Potato
> Margate Hoy
> Over The Top
> Sasha
> Snake
> Traffic Jam
The dances on this list that I recognize are all great for mixed-age
groups, including with quite small children who are latched onto a
parent (though Heel and Toe Polka would be tricky in that situation).
They're in my steady rotation as well. And the dances I don't recognize
I'm going to look up right now :>)
Dances I use all the time that I don't see here are Le Brandy, La
Bastringue (can be done as a non-mixer), variations on Virginia Reel, a
wind-up/spiral dance (no partners), Family Contra (by Sherry Nevins) and
Circle Shuffle (which might be by Luke Donforth).
Kalia in Sebastopol
