Hi, Hannah
I like your idea of teaching a proper dance earlier in your program. If you are going to choose a contra corners dance in which the active couple has to do a half-figure eight to get proper, you might want to teach the half-figure eight in an earlier dance, too.
Here's a triplet which I also find useful for teaching/learning contra corners. I am the author, but don't mean to be self-promoting here.
Microchasmic Triplet
Proper Formation, all facing partnerThe middle couple is the "active" couple, so there is no need to get them into position before starting the contra corners.
A1 Forward and Back, DSD PartnerA2 Middle couple turn contra cornersB1 ALL balance and swing Partner, end facing upB2 Top couple lead a cast off to the bottom. When they reach the bottom they make a two-handed arch and the other two couples go below them and come through the arch.
It's a peel the banana, come through the arch figure as in the Virginia Reel. Encourage the dancers to come to the top of their set before casting off to the bottom, or the sets will move too far down the hall.
Here's a link to a video.
Good luck!
Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: Hannah Chamb via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2019 4:38 pm
Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
Hi all, first time posting here!
I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo the skills the dancers will need later.
With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to be successful at contra corners?
I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
Thanks in advance, Hannah ChamberlainWestbrook, ME_______________________________________________
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Helo Folks,
This group has been so quiet lately. The group has been so important for
me as I developed my Contra calling repertoire and skills, so I thought I'd
initiate a conversation.
As I sit here programming a dance I realize that I do not have many dances
without circles. Many that I do have, do not have a Neighbor Swing, or
have a Give & Take to cheat it out. Those factors limit where and when I
can use them.
I generally like to program two no circle dances in each half, and also a
NO neighbor Swing dance in at least one half if not both halves of an
evening. Any thoughts on this?
Does anyone want to share some modern contras that have no Circles and no
Give & Takes, but include a partner and neighbor swing.
Here are a few I have used.
Just for NEFFA, Linda Leslie
Rollin' and Tumblin'. Cis Hinkle
Rocket City Romp, Cis Hinkle
Travels with Rick and Kim, Shari Miller Johnson
Friday Night Fever, Tony Parkes
Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
Hi all,
Happy new year everyone!
I'm hoping that someone on this list can identify the names of the two tunes
being played for this dance of Dan Pearl's, Beneficial Tradition.
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/245
I'm pretty sure that I've seen Bob Green post on this list. Bob, do you know
the tune names? Would Martha?
I'd welcome other tune suggestions for this dance that I think needs strong
4 beat phrases in that B2. The last time I called it, The Dam Beavers played
The George Paul Reel and it was a perfect fit. I'm just looking for other
choices.
Thanks all!
Bev
****************************************************************************
*****
The Witful Turnip <mailto:wturnip@sympatico.ca>
wturnip(a)sympatico.ca
"It will be alright in the end. So, if it is not alright, it is not yet the
end."
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
****************************************************************************
*****
I have been using "Circulate" as the call, after seeing that people got the
general idea of the figure during teaching. I have always liked this
technique borrowed from another caller (I forget who now...) for teaching
purposes: During the walk-through (after seeing that people have gotten
into the correct positions to begin the box circulate from the previous
figure - for example "men facing out, ladies facing in" in long wavy lines)
I give this "rule":
(after balancing):
When you are facing into the set, you will walk straight across (to the
other line), and take hands with those looping to face you.
When you are facing out of the set, you will loop over your right shoulder
taking hands with the people coming towards you, (on the same side) in a
wavy line.
I have avoided calling different roles, like "Gents cross, ladies loop",
and the dancers seemed to get the "face in means cross", "face out means
turn to the right to face in on the same side" When I taught this to a
less experienced group of dancers, they all got it, and also noticed on
their own that they had sort of a shadow, and said they liked realizing
that they were heading toward a familiar face to rejoin hands.
I think the best part of a box circulate dance is when one partner is
approaching another as they are turning to go into a balance and swing, as
most of them do.
Valerie Cohen
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 00:45:54 -0800
From: Lenore Frigo <lfrigo(a)gmail.com>
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate"
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I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and
got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual
word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible
alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used.
For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part
never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips
for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!).
Thanks so much,
Lenore Frigo
I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and
got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual
word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible
alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used.
For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part
never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips
for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!).
Thanks so much,
Lenore Frigo
I have acquired 2 copies of Sets in Order-The American Round Dance handbook
1948-56. Don't really want to throw them away-well, recycle them-but I am
not interested in them Does anyone want them? Willing to mail them to
interested parties. Please contact me off list.
Judy Greenhill
judy(a)relativeharmony.com
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Hello Contra Dancers:
Researchers Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann are currently conducting a
study on contra dance, in preparation for developing an article that
will introduce contra dancing to a wider audience. Their goal for this
article is to help promote the benefits of this form of dance to those
who aren’t currently familiar with it.
They would like to gather information from as many dancers around the
country as possible, and be able to compare the experiences and dynamics
of contra dancers in different parts of the country. They would greatly
appreciate your participation in a survey on contra dance that asks you
to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with contra dancing.
This survey is anonymous, and will only take a few minutes to fill out.
Please click on the link below to take this survey.
Contra Dance Survey
- Copy and paste the following address into your browser:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YYRJCNJ
Sincerely,
Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann
Jonathan Sivier, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
jsivier(a)illinois.edu / 217-359-8225
Jan Buhrmann, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology, Illinois College
jbuhrman(a)ic.edu / 303-503-0858
While taking today to clean up my dance inventory I took a look at French Four, which goes like this:
French Four
Contra Duple/Improper
Traditional
A1 1s balance, right pull by, cross below 2s, 2s move up
1s balance, right pull by, cross above 2s, 2s move down
A2 1s Balance & Swing
B1 1s down center, turn as a couple, come back
2s cast 1s to second place
B2 All right and left through, twice
If the major set is short and dancers tired, this can be done as a triple minor to give the 2s and 3s even more resting out (but pretty dull for the 3s). So then I wondered what it might take to make it a triplet (because I’m collecting my triplets as part of my inventory review) and came up with this variation in B2.
Triplet variation
All dancers proper
A1 (new) 1s balance, right pull by, cross below 2s, 2s move up
1s balance, right pull by, cross above 2s, 2s move down
A2 1s Balance & Swing
B1 1s down center, turn as a couple, come back
2s cast 1s to second place
B2 Lines of 3 forward and back
Lines of 3 forward, on the way back 3s roll 1s to bottom (left to right)
This variation gives the 3s more to do. What do you think? Is it too odd to have same-roles do the roll away with each other?
\Bob Peterson
bob(a)contracorner.com
