At the urging of dancers who were recently at Harmony Week at Pinewoods, I tried Larks and Robins today for role identifiers in contra, and it was great. I physically like saying the word Robins more than the word Ravens, and the dancers were fine with it, too, even with a dance that had a Mad Robin. Callers—experiment!
Lisa
Sent from my iPhone
I had these responses from trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com
<mailto:trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
Otto Warteman:
I had an exhibition group from 1975-1998 and we did it with 32 dancers, but
with 8 steps and turn and alternating couples turning.
You can have like spokes of a wheel four couples deep where all the heads
are facing the center or as alternating couples face their partner.
You can also do four different contras at the same time where to number one
couple is the furthest out from the center.
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
Jim Saxe:
There's a dance by Ted Sannella called "Ted's Double Quadrille No. 1" (or
"... #1") that includes a different (and, I think, simpler) version of grand
square for sixteen dancers than the one in the video John cited. The
starting formation is a square with two couples side-by-side on each side of
(as in Rod's Quads) and the action is simply for each couple to act the part
of an individual in a normal eight-person grand square. If I recall
correctly, when I danced to Ted's calling at Augusta Dance Week in 1985, he
had partners put our near arms around each other's backs as in a star
promenade, but it might also be done with partners simply holding near
hands.
Side couples begin by facing up or down the hall toward the other side
couple in their foursome and backing away, while heads begin by dancing
forward towards the opposite head couple. On the fourth beat each couple,
turns as a unit 90 degrees to face across the square. On the next four
beats, the original heads back out toward the side spots, while the original
sides advance toward the head spots, all couples turning on the last beat to
face uo and down. Etc.
A spreadsheet index of Ted's dances linked from
http://davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/ted-sannella-index/
lists the date of composition as 1965.
--Jim
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
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
Hi John,
Nice researching!
I checked Burleson’s SD Encyclopaedia but it’s not mentioned.
It would be fun to use both this move and the Dutch crossing figure in new dance.
Cheers, Bill
Hi all,
This post is all about Double Grand Squares. But just to justify it being
on a contra dance forum, here are a couple of nice Four-Facing-Four contras
that incorporate Grand-Square-like figures, and call them "Double Grand
Squares":
https://grandsquare.dk/alle/index.php?menu=5
<https://grandsquare.dk/alle/index.php?menu=5&id=2045> &id=2045
http://www.grandsquare.dk/alle/index.php?menu=5
<http://www.grandsquare.dk/alle/index.php?menu=5&id=2108> &id=2108
On with my query:
I've just seen the video of Seth calling a Double Grand Square (thanks Seth
- hope I can try it someday!):
https://www.facebook.com/seth.tepfer/videos/10204536010419503
Looks like the figure was created by Martha Edwards around 2009:
http://www.westendweb.com/doublegrandsquare/http://dancecaller.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-on-double-grand-square.html
But I found a number of earlier references to "Double Grand Square". Does
anyone know whether any other versions of a Double Grand Square exist?
Some of these may just be references to two sets doing Grand Square side by
side (maybe interlocked?), or to doing a Grand Square twice.
1955
https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-apr-13-1955-p-36/
"A double grand square, never before presented for a local audience, is
being prepared by B Squares under the direction of Bernice Braddon.
Precision timing is the keynote of the square..."
1959
http://www.folkdance.com/LDArchive/1959October.pdf
Exhibitions
Lariat Swingers
Director: Ace Smith
Dance - DOUBLE GRAND SQUARE - American
1978
http://doczz.net/doc/577224/american-square-dance-marcy-1978
"Keith does a fine job on his side, but the dancers felt that a double grand
square in the opener, middle break and closer were too many. "
1979
American Square Dance Vol. 34 no. 3 (search for ""double grand square"
dance")
"Bob has used a grand parade in his opener, and a double grand square in his
closer."
Note: "grand square" is italicized, "double" is not. So it might just mean a
Grand Square twice.
2005
http://squaredancehumor.blogspot.com/
"This was one big double square with six side couples and two head couples.
The other and even more difficult thing was I could not use my hands. To me
square dancing is hands. Every since I started it was right hand this and
left hand that. I can't remember anyone mentioning anything about my feet.
Patty was picking everything up just fine while I was slowly starting to get
some if it with many gentle pushes and endless pointing by the other
Stumblers. And of course there was the caller Ivan patient as ever saying,
"George - to the right, the right, the other right . . . very good!" Bill,
an experienced dancer, explained carefully how I was to count my steps,
especially for the double grand square. Eight steps and turn, repeated eight
times, that was the secret for my position."
This one may not be serious! :-)
Thanks,
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
Hi John,
Expanding Concentric Circles to add to your fantastic list:
https://youtu.be/XDDbPEmoTwQ
Not sure where I got the dance. Words very adaptable to other occasions.
Cheers, Bill
Thanks to all those who have contributed more formations since I started
this page with about 80 formations.
I was going to let you know when I hit 100.
But Carmen Giunta sent me Wheels Within Wheels this morning, and I found
Seth Tepfer calling Double Grand Square this afternoon.
So there are now 101 diagrams of different formations:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html
That doesn't include all the ways of setting up partners or genders (e,g.
First Couples Improper is not a separate diagram).
I hope you find something you like!
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
Greetings all,
I'd like to announce a little project I've been chipping away at for
some months now. It's a browser extension that works with the excellent
Caller's Box website.[0]
The extension provides an integrated user interface for searching and
viewing dances from the Caller's Box. The main feature is you can
bookmark dances. That allows you to focus on a more manageable
personalized subset of dances. Also, dance data is cached locally for
quick access and offline use.
You can see a screenshot, find out more about it, and install it for
Firefox here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/the-caller-s-extension/
(It should also work for Chrome/Chromium browsers, but I haven't had
time yet to check this and submit it to the Chrome extensions site.)
It is free and open source software.[1]
I hope you'll give it a try and enjoy using it! Feel free to email me
with feedback. (There are many ways it could be improved, time permitting.)
Many thanks to Chris Page and Michael Dyck for their work creating and
maintaining The Caller's Box, a truly amazing resource.
Cheers,
-Paul
[0] The Caller's Box: http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/
[1] Extension source code lives here, contributions welcome:
https://gitlab.com/paulmorris/the-callers-extension
Hi Chuck, looking forward to meeting you at our dance this upcoming Monday!
Seeing few responses and that you did ask for challenging... 😏 I was on a
mission to fit two CC sequences (everyone gets to be active) in one 32-bar
dance with the "desired" PNR/NBR swings and this resulted. I believe the
sequence is unique?
Will Mentor has called Rev 1 a few times, Rev 2 addresses his
observations. The dance originally was Becket CW & started with new GNT/LRK
reaching on left diagonal to start the reverse CC - dancers had difficulty
with the resulting skew and ended up progressing differing amounts.
Noodling on this during a dark highway drive home generated the fractional
slice idea to align the action (eureka!) led to this revision.
Note there are many alternate versions in both Becket CW & CCW, varying by:
-the CC being by RH or LH in the center
-which role starts
-slice fraction
-promenade indexing (whom ends opposite) and
-slice or promenade first.
The version below appears to be a good compromise on progression behavior,
next hand predictability/flow and end effects - I believe it should be
dependably single progression. There's a Becket CW variation which may get
its own name, I'll write up the full set before posting the dance(s) as
final to my site.
Not heard if Will's tried Rev 2 yet nor had a chance to call it myself in
public. Walked it through with dancers on a sideline and that went fine.
Would love to hear should anyone give it a go - feedback welcomed overall.
Thanks,
Don
PS: have other multi-CC 40-bar or systematically/automatically alternating
(no need to keep track of actives) 32-bar CC dances drafted. Awaiting an
opportunity to at least walk them through before calling/distributing. Or
seeking a suitable choreography pen pal/review buddy to look them over &
exchange feedback before greater exposure.
*Contraventional Corners (DRAFT **Rev 2)** - Becket RIGHT/CCW Var. - Don
Veino **20170117**, Rev'd 20190329*
A challenging dance not for Contra Corners newbies!
*A1* Slice Right 1+1/2x*
(forward on right diag. until NEW GNT/LRK are face to face, fall straight
back)
GNT/LRK Turn 1/2x REVERSE Contra Corners
(LH w/NBR1 GNT/LRK Center, RH with NBR1 LDY/RVN)
*A2* GNT/LRK Turn 1/2x (finish full) Reverse Contra Corners
(LH w/NBR1 GNT/LRK Center, RH with NBR2 LDY/RVN)
(end facing back along side to)
NBR1 Swing
*B1* NBR1 Promenade Across (Pass PNR & Opp Role NBR1 by Left) w/tight
Courtesy Turn to face back
(ends w/LDY/RVN from NBR1 pairs directly opposite each other, a la the
GNT/LRKs in A1 Slice)
LDY/RVN Turn 1/2x Contra Corners
(RH w/NBR1 LDY/RVN, LH with PNR)
*B2* LDY/RVN Turn 1/2x (finish full) Contra Corners
(RH w/NBR1 LDY/RVN, LH with Shadow)
(end facing back along side to)
PNR Swing
*Slice in 1/2x increments puts same role dancers opposite. First time
through could be Slice 1/2x so original foursome GNT/LRK face & start the
A1 CC (using some ghost corners - e.g. for GNT2 and LDY2 at the top) &
swing with the original NBRs.
On Wed, Jul 17, 2019, 2:55 PM Charles Abell via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> There was a recent discussion of easy contra corners dances on here. As I
> have a nice body of beginner level CC dances, I am looking to add some more
> challenging contra corners dances into my repertoire. What do you all got?
> (Triplets are okay, but definitely some in contra formation ...)
>
> Chuck
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
My name is Jonathan Janzen (though my friends call me JJ). I've been
calling for about 4 years, and have been calling outside of my home dance
for about 2 years or so now. I'm wanting to grow my skills in teaching,
building programs, and also to work on getting more gigs outside of my home
state. I have have asked questions of as many callers as I can, but I do
not yet have a Mentor who can work with me individually.
If anyone would be interested in Mentoring me as a Caller, please send me
an Email at jcgj95(a)gmail.com.
Many thanks in advance,
JJ.
I'd like to hear examples of contra dances with combos of Mad Robins with
Lady/Raven figures, such as:
Chain
Mad Robin (Counterclockwise)
Ravens Alle R / DSD / Lead a hey
Or especiall a Mad Robin progression to Mad Robin with a Lady/Raven role on
either/both end.
Thanks,
Ron Blechner
