Are there any dances that go with the tune "The Montague Processional”? As it’s normally played slowly I doubt there’s a _contra_ dance per se, but maybe there exists some other choreographed movement that’d be accessible to contra dancers?
I’m calling for the Rainbow Contra Dancer’s last dance in Montague (they’re moving venues to Northampton), so I thought the tune would be a nice tribute to their 10 years there.
John,
This is just one person's usage, though it is appropriate. The Callerlab
Definitions do no use "Mirror Star Thru" in the definition, but rather say,
do the mirror image of a Star Thru.
From Callerlab website
:
Double Star Thru Timing: 6 From any appropriate formation (e.g. Normal
Facing Couples): Those who can Star Thru. Those who can do the mirror image
of a Star Thru (an arch is made with the man's left hand and the woman's
right hand; the man goes around the arch while the lady goes under). In
each part of the call, some dancers must be active. Normal facing couples
will end as sashayed couples back-to-back.
Rich Sbardella
On Mon, Dec 2, 2019 at 5:40 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> It appears that MWSD defines it at the Advanced level:
> https://www.ceder.net/def/doublestarthru.php?language=usa&level=A1
>
> It is a Mirror Star Thru. But only if that is what you meant by Reverse!
>
> But I would stick to "Twirl". :-)
>
> Happy dancing,
> John
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greenleaf via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> Sent: 02 December 2019 20:36
> To: Diane Silver <diane(a)diane-silver.com>
> Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Re: is there an agreed term?
>
> I think in MWDS it’s called mirror image star thru (Gents L, Lady’s R).
> If I’m calling it for contra dancers, I might explain the terminology, but
> then just call it “twirl to swap”, being careful to stress the end result:
> Side by side, both facing the same direction.
>
> Lisa G
>
> > On Dec 2, 2019, at 2:31 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> > A caller not on this list asked me: Is there an agreed term for a
> reverse star through?
> >
> > I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting
> it out there to everyone.
> >
> > Thanks.
> > -- Diane
> >
> > ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
> > Diane Silver
> >
> > diane(a)diane-silver.com
> >
> > ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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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>
> _______________________________________________
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>
It appears that MWSD defines it at the Advanced level:
https://www.ceder.net/def/doublestarthru.php?language=usa&level=A1
It is a Mirror Star Thru. But only if that is what you meant by Reverse!
But I would stick to "Twirl". :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
-----Original Message-----
From: Greenleaf via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 02 December 2019 20:36
To: Diane Silver <diane(a)diane-silver.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: is there an agreed term?
I think in MWDS it’s called mirror image star thru (Gents L, Lady’s R). If I’m calling it for contra dancers, I might explain the terminology, but then just call it “twirl to swap”, being careful to stress the end result: Side by side, both facing the same direction.
Lisa G
> On Dec 2, 2019, at 2:31 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> A caller not on this list asked me: Is there an agreed term for a reverse star through?
>
> I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting it out there to everyone.
>
> Thanks.
> -- Diane
>
> ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
> Diane Silver
>
> diane(a)diane-silver.com
>
> ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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 think in MWDS it’s called mirror image star thru (Gents L, Lady’s R). If I’m calling it for contra dancers, I might explain the terminology, but then just call it “twirl to swap”, being careful to stress the end result: Side by side, both facing the same direction.
Lisa G
> On Dec 2, 2019, at 2:31 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> A caller not on this list asked me: Is there an agreed term for a reverse star through?
>
> I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting it out there to everyone.
>
> Thanks.
> -- Diane
>
> ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
> Diane Silver
>
> diane(a)diane-silver.com
>
> ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Hi Diane,
I don’t believe there is an accepted term for a Reverse Star Through, especially as that could be ambiguous! Larry Jennings used the term “Twirl to Swap” as a generic term for any such movement.
For a “Twirl to Swap” the starting position will normally be defined by the end of the previous move. The caller then needs to specify which hand each person is using, who goes under the arch, and what the final position should be.
Once I have done that during the walkthrough I normally just call it a Twirl. Early in the dance it may help to provide a reminder about how it works; sometimes “inside hand” or “outside hand” works, depending on the dance.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
From: Diane Silver via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 02 December 2019 19:32
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] is there an agreed term?
A caller not on this list asked me: Is there an agreed term for a reverse star through?
I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting it out there to everyone.
Thanks.
-- Diane
~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Diane Silver
diane(a)diane-silver.com <mailto:diane@diane-silver.com>
~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
A caller not on this list asked me: Is there an agreed term for a
reverse star through?
I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting
it out there to everyone.
Thanks.
-- Diane
~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Diane Silver
diane(a)diane-silver.com
~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~
Bill Kinsman died in hospital on Sunday 24th November. He had been in hospital for a couple of weeks and seemed to be improving enough to be discharged to sheltered accommodation with Barbara on the Monday but he developed double pneumonia and went downhill quite quickly. The funeral is on Friday, 20th December. There will be a short committal service at the crematorium at 1:00pm followed by a service of thanksgiving (approx 1:45pm) at St Barnabas Church, Kingshurst, Solihull, B37 6EY. Following this there will be a wake at a hotel in Coleshill.
Colin Hume
Emily and all,
I agree that “Do Si Three” is excellent. Fun, fast to learn. I use it alot.
I love 3Face3’s for certain types of gigs. They help newer dancers “feel” a contra progression. They help contra dancers at a community dance “feel like” they are contra dancing. :-)
Other 3x3’s I have and like are:
Haste to the Divorce, Tom Hinds
(I usually call it “Haste to the Reception”)
A1: F and B; Circle Left (all 6)
A2: Circle Right (all 6);
DSD opposite
B1: Hook waists (or elbows) in line of 3
As a 3-some, DSD the opposite 3 (in a blob of 3) 1 and 1/2 times to progress
B2: Basket swing for 3, face next
Ménage à Trois Al Olson
A1: Line of 3 go Forward, and pass thru (do not turn around); Center person does Right Hand High and Left Hand Low to turn the line of three 180 to face the same original opposites (neighbors) again.
Repeat. This gets everyone back to starting place again.
A2: Swing Opposite
Return to original trio and original direction
B1: Circle Left (all 6) half way
F and B
B2: Basket swing trio and face original direction (backs to original opposites)
My note: Teach “right hand high and left hand low” thoroughly. Dancers want to pass thru and turn alone to face original opp’s.
Sue
In Wisconsin,
not Snowing yet tonight.
Sue Hulsether
shulsether(a)mac.com
www.suehulsether.com
608-632-1267 Cell
608-629-6250 Home
P.O. Box 363
Viroqua, WI 54665
> On Nov 23, 2019, at 9:47 PM, Kalia Kliban via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> On 11/23/2019 11:41 AM, Richard Fischer via Contra Callers wrote:
>> Linda Leslie wrote Do Si Three. You can find it here:
>> http://lindalesliecaller.contracorner.com/dances/very-easy-dances.html
>> Richard Fischer
>> Princeton, NJ
>
> Do Si Three is great. I've used it at family dances, so I can vouch for it being an easy one. If your crowd is up for contra corners (I know, it's a long shot) then Melanie Avel-Lute's Down By The Riverside is a good choice. If it doesn't have to be 3 facing 3, but could be trios all facing the same way like spokes on a wheel, then I highly recommend Rebecca's Roundabout by John Chapman. Another trios-all-facing-CCW dance is Silly Threesomes. Here's a video link:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wL2ucm2Wds
>
> Kalia
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Regarding squares:
Every caller who uses squares should have Cumberland Square Eight in their repertoire. It’s easy both to dance and to call.
CUMBERLAND SQUARE EIGHT (trad. English)
Music: My Love Is But a Lassie Yet (2/4) or Athol Highlanders (6/8) or some of each
A.1 Heads slide across in ballroom hold or “kayak” position (join two hands, spread arms to side); gents pass back to back
Return, ladies passing back to back
A.2 Sides the same
B.1 Heads right hands across (English star), left hands back
B.2 Sides the same
C.1 Heads basket
C.2 Sides the same
D.1 All circle left once around
D.2 All promenade once around
A polka or rant step is traditional for D.1 and D.2, but a dance-walk can be used.
With groups that don’t know the buzz step (i.e. at most one-nighters), I replace the basket with a slipping circle of four (to the left only, about twice around).
It seems to be traditional to do the whole dance twice through – or is that just because it neatly filled up half a record side in the days of 78s?
Just about my favorite easy square is Kitchen Lancers. It does take a bit more calling skill than Cumberland.
KITCHEN LANCERS (one of several simplified versions of the 5th figure of the Lancers Quadrille from 1817, collected at country dances in New England and Quebec)
Music: Quebecois reels (note that it’s a 48-measure figure, but you can use 32-measure tunes and start the 2nd and 4th couples halfway through the tune)
A.1 Couple 1 promenade the inside, ending at home facing out; sides jump in behind #1 to form a column all facing the music
A.2 All forward and back; all slide to right and return to left
B.1 Ladies/ravens parade in single file around partner’s line (four around four, not each one around one)
B.2 Gents/larks the same
C.1 All face partner, back up three steps, forward three steps; swing partner to original place in the square
C.2 All join hands, forward and back twice
Sequence: Once for each couple (when a side couple is active, the heads will jump in at A.1)
After the walkthrough, I mention that the whole contraption will face a different wall for each active couple. Sometimes I walk A.1 and C.1 for Couple 2 to illustrate this.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, MA, USA
From: Emily Addison via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2019 2:19 PM
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Really fun 3X3 dances? And easy squares?
Hi fellow callers!
I remember seeing a video a few months back from the Portland Intown contra. The dancers seemed to be having an absolute blast with a 3X3 contra-like dance.
Does anyone have any really fun 3X3 dances?
I'm looking to add variety into the formations I'm calling at an upcoming contra/square/barn dance.
Also --> Any suggestions for super fun but easy to learn square figures?
Thanks!
Emily in Ottawa
Coming out of the swing, the lady's momentum is forward while the gent's is
backward, so lady in front in the Mad Robin makes a lot of sense.
Also it flowed nicely when I called it last night. The dancers seemed to
be pleased.
Dale
On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 11:41 AM Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> No I have not tried that. Let me know if you do and how it works!
>
> Jean
>
> On Nov 25, 2019, at 9:13 AM, Gregory Frock <gregfrock(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey Jean,
>
> Nice dance. Did you consider or field test reversing the mad robin (gents
> forward and left to start)? Just curious.
>
> Regards,
>
> Greg
>
> On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 12:09 PM Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Actually, I wrote it for my 69th birthday, which was on Oct 1. You see,
>> when you are born, that is your first trip around the sun. Then you have
>> your first birthday, which is actually your 2nd trip around the sun. I am
>> so happy the dance is being called! YAY!! The only tricky part seems to
>> be having the Neighbor gent end the swing in good time, to allow the Lady
>> to transition smoothly into the Mad Robin with their next neighbor.
>>
>> Amy - I will be up your way for my actual 70th birthday, on my
>> Septuagenarian Tour with Audrey Knuth and Amy Englesberg! Hope to see you
>> then!
>>
>> Jean
>>
>> On Nov 25, 2019, at 8:57 AM, Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Jean wrote it to celebrate her 70th birthday. 70 trips around the sun.
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 7:25 AM Dale Wilson via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I called this last night at Childgrove in Saint Louis. Dancers seemed
>>> pleased, but I got some questions about the title -- I think some of them
>>> heard 70 Libra Sons and were imagining a bunch of boys born in October.
>>> Where did the name come from?
>>>
>>> Dale
>>>
>>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 2:39 PM Tncontracaller via Callers <
>>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sounds like a fun dance. It is new to me.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Sep 24, 2019, at 11:28 AM, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers <
>>>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello All! I wanted to write a dance in celebration of my stepping
>>>> into the Libra Sun for the 70th time. I wanted it to be very balanced, in
>>>> Libra fashion.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone seen this dance before? It is not like anything in my data base
>>>> that has Mad Robin in the A1, but I did not search the other figures.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your input!
>>>>
>>>> Jean Gorrindo
>>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>> *From: *Jean Gibson-Gorrindo <jgorrindo(a)charter.net>
>>>> *Subject: **"70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo*
>>>> *Date: *September 24, 2019 at 8:25:56 AM PDT
>>>> *To: *jean gorrindo <jgorrindo(a)charter.net>
>>>>
>>>> 70 Libra Suns
>>>> by Jean Gorrindo
>>>> Contra/Improper/Easy
>>>>
>>>> A1 -----------
>>>> (8) Mad Robin (Ladies pass in front moving Right
>>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
>>>> A2 -----------
>>>> (16) Partner balance and swing
>>>> B1 -----------
>>>> (8) 1/2 Hey, Ladies passing right shoulders
>>>> (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2
>>>> B2 -----------
>>>> (16) Neighbor balance and swing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> List Name: Callers mailing list
>>>> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> List Name: Callers mailing list
>>>> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to
>>> one that never starts up.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
--
Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to
one that never starts up.
