I don't recall seeing the dip-and-dive-across-the-set figure before
(choreographically equivalent to right and through), came up with this,
called it tonight and people seemed to have fun. I don't think it
registers as too gimmicky for hot contra dancers because they get the
twirls to face back in, and it goes well pretty early in the evening
DIPPING DOTS
Improper contra
Bouncy, jolly (Quebecois, polka?), or smooth and driving.
Alan Winston, 9/27/2018
A1: Neighbor balance and swing, face across
A2: Dip and dive across the set (couple containing #1gent arches first)
1-2: Cross over
3-4: All California twirl
5-6: Other couple arches, cross back
7-8: All California twirl, let go.
B1: Gents/Larks pass right shoulder to partner
Partners right shoulder round and swing on the ladies/ravens side
B2: Cl 3/4 (to progressed crossed over places)
Balance the ring
California Twirl
-- Alan
Hi All:
I have some cryptic notes about the dance by Robert Cromartie: "Would you do it for $20", and it's not complete.
Would someone, please, send me the figures so that I can correct my notes? Thanks.
Donna Hunt
Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
Hi Everyone
My latest dance for your enjoyment, with an animation at
http://www.dancekaleidoscope.org.au/dance.html#Ophidian.
Ophidian
Keith Wood September 2018
Becket formation, double reverse progression
The snakelike move for the men to reunite with their partners inspired
this dance, and its name. If there's a spare couple at the bottom they
wait together on the "men's" line. The woman joins in from the diagonal
ladies chain, while the man joins in from the snake.
A1 Men allemande left once around, while women orbit clockwise half-way
Swing opposite
A2 On the left diagonal, ladies chain to shadow
Opposite do-si-do left shoulder
B1 Star left once around
Star right once around
B2 Snake: Men allemande right 5/8, next neighbour allemande left 1/2,
next neighbour allemande right 1/2 to face partner; man coming out at
the end loop right and rejoin immediately
Swing partner
Cheers
Keith
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Hey everyone,
Improbably, I've found that I've reached the bottom of my barrel of jokes
to tell while calling!
Part of it might be that I go through more than just 1 or 2 on some
nights....
Regardless, I've found that I need to restock my box of dance-safe humor a
bit if I'm going to keep up my infamous taste for humor. What are some of
your favorite dance-safe jokes that are short enough to pepper in-between
dances or before a walkthrough?
Thanks,
Isaac Banner
What is the difference between a dance caller and a savings bond?
A savings bond eventually matures.and makes money! (said with a grin, of
course!)
On a more serious note, I would like to get my local dance series doing
more-well, actually some!-triple minors. Eventually I'd like to get them to
at least tolerate some of the traditional dances, but the learning curve of
triple minor +plus unfamiliar figures + no swing has always been just too
steep for them to manage. I've gone through Zesty Contras for more modern
triples but so far haven't found one that I think will work-so, what are
your favourite triple minors? What worked-and what didn't-in introducing
them to a crowd used to at least one swing in every dance, and everybody
moving most, if not all of the time?
Can include contra corners as they are pretty proficient-thanks to 3 years
of including it every time I call!
Thanks everyone,
Judy Greenhill
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Hi Judy,
I like Alamo Triad from Give-and-Take.
Hands Six from the top. #1s Improper, #2s and #3s Becket, now
hold hands in a circle of six - #1s keep your backs to the band.
It is Double Progression, so you don't spend so long out at
the end. It has a swing. The #2s and #3s keep switching sides, but do the
same movements so there is less confusion. They are all standard contra
moves.
You just need to really make sure that they understand that
only one of the two couples out at the top can become the next #1s!
It may help them to start understanding some of the concepts.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Judy
Greenhill via Callers
Sent: 24 September 2018 22:35
To: callers discussion list <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
On a more serious note, I would like to get my local dance series doing
more-well, actually some!-triple minors. Eventually I'd like to get them to
at least tolerate some of the traditional dances, but the learning curve of
triple minor +plus unfamiliar figures + no swing has always been just too
steep for them to manage. I've gone through Zesty Contras for more modern
triples but so far haven't found one that I think will work-so, what are
your favourite triple minors? What worked-and what didn't-in introducing
them to a crowd used to at least one swing in every dance, and everybody
moving most, if not all of the time?
Can include contra corners as they are pretty proficient-thanks to 3 years
of including it every time I call!
Thanks everyone,
Judy Greenhill
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Hi Keith,
Nice dance! I think the notes in your email are different from the
animation though. In the first part of B2, your animation shows the men
allemanding with each other, not with their next neighbors (who would be
ladies). Is the intended instruction? It's a fun idea. Next time I am
calling to a group of capable dancers, I'll give it a try.
A similar figure with the gent-only interaction moving up/down the line
also occurs in Jim Hemphill's "Steam Train" and "Raindrops on a Chain" (
http://www.childgrove.org/mo-dances/jim-hemphill ). I've been trying to
write a variation on Steam Train which alternates between the women doing
the key figure (same-sex interaction up the line) and the men (as written),
but it hasn't quite converged yet....
Steven
On Mon, Sep 24, 2018 at 2:54 AM <callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
wrote:
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> 1. New dance, new move (Keith Wood)
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2018 15:27:15 +1000
> From: Keith Wood <wood.keith(a)optusnet.com.au>
> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] New dance, new move
> Message-ID: <ba85f45e-37df-b33b-b0b1-5bbad90c2bd4(a)optusnet.com.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> Hi Everyone
>
> My latest dance for your enjoyment, with an animation at
> http://www.dancekaleidoscope.org.au/dance.html#Ophidian.
>
> Ophidian
> Keith Wood September 2018
> Becket formation, double reverse progression
>
> The snakelike move for the men to reunite with their partners inspired
> this dance, and its name. If there's a spare couple at the bottom they
> wait together on the "men's" line. The woman joins in from the diagonal
> ladies chain, while the man joins in from the snake.
>
> A1 ?? Men allemande left once around, while women orbit clockwise half-way
> ? ?? ?? Swing opposite
> A2??? On the left diagonal, ladies chain to shadow
> ? ?? ?? Opposite do-si-do left shoulder
> B1 ?? Star left once around
> ? ?? ?? Star right once around
> B2 ?? Snake: Men allemande right 5/8, next neighbour allemande left 1/2,
> next neighbour allemande right 1/2 to face partner; man coming out at
> the end loop right and rejoin immediately
> ? ?? ?? Swing partner
>
> Cheers
>
> Keith
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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> End of Callers Digest, Vol 53, Issue 14
> ***************************************
>
I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many
ways.
My easiest “regular evening” contras are a good challenge for the group, so
I’m looking for some varied easy contras to lead up to those. (Also
interesting barn dances -- asking about those in a separate thread.)
The teens are fine with swings but aren’t hooked on them like most contra
dancers. So contras with no partner swing, no neighbor swing, or no swings
at all are just fine, and good for variety. And our lines are fairly short,
so unequal dances are OK.
Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? The group is all
about having fun, so it’s fine to have chases, basket swings, sashaying,
and other goofiness.
Family Contra (Sherry Nevins)
A1: Bal ring x2, circle R
A2: Bal ring x2, circle L
B1: Dosido P, dosido N
B2: Dosido as couples 1.5
Andy White's (Amy Cann)
A1: Circle L, dosido P
A2: As couples dosido Ns, 2 hand turn N
B1: Clap both/R/both/L with P, same with N; repeat all
B2: 2s arch, 1s duck; 1s arch, 2s duck BACK; 2s arch, 1s duck
Jefferson & Liberty
A1: Circle L/R
A2: Star R/L
B1: 1s balance & swing
B2: Down center, 1's arch, 2's duck; return (1s backing up)
Monterey Detour (Bob Dalsemer)
A1: Down center (turn alone) & back
A2: Circle R/L
B1: Dosido N, sw N
B2: F&b, 1s sw
Thanks!
Rick
I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in many
ways.
We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from worrying
about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong side. But
the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my box are too
easy.
Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add?
Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up
Country Bumpkin -
https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_Bumpkin
Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?id=33
Firehose Reel
Intersection Reel
Roll the Arches
Sashay the Donut
Waves of Tory
Dances that can include everybody are best (longways, circles) rather than
fixed-size sets (squares, triplets) where some people have to sit out.
Thanks!
Rick
Following up on Rick's request for dances for a monthly group of teenagers,
I was trying to put a basket swing in a becket dance; and I'd appreciate
folks thoughts and suggestions on flow and timing.
Basket swings are not something I'd run in a regular dance, but this sounds
like the same group of teens getting together regularly, and I was
intrigued on what you might be able to do in a class where all the students
know each other.
Couple of options:
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the RIGHT
Left Hands Across Star
A2
Right Hands Across Star
Gents Do Si Do 1x
B1
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing (crosses over into B2)
B2
Basket swing continues,
on home side, partner swing
This seems a little odd to me in that it breaks up the two stars into
different musical phrases, whereas often (in beginner dances) those occupy
once section of the tune together.
It could be that you make it a long lines yearn left, and then make the
stars right and left, and the gents sea saw; not sure it's worth it.
Alternatively, make it only one star, get the basket swing nominally
contained to B1, and leave all of B2 for partner swing; for a clearer split
with the tune.
Contra/Becket-CCW
A1
Long lines yearn to the LEFT
Right Hands Across Star
A2
Gents Do Si Do 1x
Ladies Two Hand turn 1x
B1
Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies
ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents
Basket Swing
B2
on home side, partner swing
That's probably ~24+ beats of cw swinging between the basket->partner,
which seems excessive. Trying to cut that a little shorter, possibly moving
the basket and partner swing to just B2, leads to something like
B1
(4) Gents take two hands, balance,
(4) Gents lift hands over ladies heads and behind backs
(4) Ladies take two hands, balance
(4) Ladies lift hands over gents heads and behind backs
B2
(8) Basket Swing
(8) On home side with partner, swing
Where you could put the A1&A2 of either of the previous versions on top of
it.
Anyway, if you have thoughts or experiences, I'd like to hear them.
Happy Dancing.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
