Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

9 participants
4372 discussions

by Liz Benjamin

Since I call exclusively family dances, I have not found this busy list valuable to me right now, so please unsubscribe me. thanks, Liz Benjamin

7 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

by Dugan Murphy

Hi, Luke, Great new ideas on 4X4 choreography! In regards to the "Tamlin's Cross," I think the rollaway-swing transition in A1 would feel less than ideal, or even awkward because the direction of the rollaway is counter to the direction of the swing. I love that transition when the gent is sashaying left and passing a dancer in the lady role from the gent's left hand to gent's right hand right, then the gent can catch the other dancer in the lady role in a swing (as in "Rollin' with Rhode" by Jim Hemphill, "Rollaway Sue" by Bob Isaacs, "Luna in the Library" by Ron Blechner,""Roll Twelve" by Chris Page, and "Into the DMZ" by Cary Ravitz, among others). I fear that the rollaway-swing transition as it is written in "Tamlin's Crossing" wouldn't be as satisfying as int he dances I listed. Thank you for your innovations and I look forward to seeing more! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com > Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 12:16:42 -0400 > From: Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra > > Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils. > > As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I > certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the > half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers > I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation. > But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile. > > I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to. > Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and > the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing. > > Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if > I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver. > > Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of > contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work > up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares. > > As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and > letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of > handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in > time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each > other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the > neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's > comments on timing? > > Tamlin's Cross (variation) > 4x4 (lines or bent) > > A1 > (4) All 8 go into the middle > (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out > (8) Corner Swing, square set > A2 > (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out > (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x; > ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy > lines of 4) > B1 > (4) Balance the wavy lines of four > (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right > then turn away from corner you swung > B2 > (16) Partner Balance and Swing > End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy > couple > > That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle > as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or > monotonous. > <digression> > I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I > think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the > corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then > right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars > would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers. > A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond > of the swing->ladies go in transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain, > but I don't think it would add to the dance here. > </digression> > > Thanks again for sharing your experience :-) >

7 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] new dances

by Charles

Hello all - I have two dances I've been calling of late, and wanted to verify they are both original to the best of our collective knowledge. Both have been satisfying to call and dance, so I also wanted to share them in the hopes that others might want to call either or both. I'm not including instructions for the Zia dance - there are already general instructions in Shared Weight for Zia set up and calling tips. Thanks, Chuck X, Y, and Zia (Zia formation, double progression) Chuck Abell 3/18 A1 - Into the middle and back (8) Balance the ring/square, circle left four steps (8) A2 - Bal the ring/square, w/ partner California Twirl (8) New N swing on side (8) B1 - Give right to partner, balance square through past two (8) Give right to partner, balance square through past two (8) B2 - P bal and swing in middle, face new N (16) Caller’s Delight (Becket) Chuck Abell 2/18 A1 Bal ring, pass through across and turn alone (8) RHS (right hand star) 1x to long wavy line, gents face out (8) A2 Bal, box circulate 1x (8) N swing (8) B1 On left diagonal ladies chain, make ring (8) Bal ring, PT to ocean wave (8) B2 Bal wave, all walk fwd (8) P swing (8) w/ same N…

7 years, 2 months

Does this already exist? If so, what's its name and who wrote it?

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance

Hi all, I thru this together on the fly for a no walk thru, but I have to think someone already wrote this. Does anyone know the name and author? Temporary name “Just Do It”, improper A1 1-8 Neighbors balance and swing A2 1-4 Long lines fwd and back 5-8 Gents allemande left 1-1/2 B1 1-8 Partners balance and swing B2 1-4 Promenade across the set 5-8 Circle left ¾, pass thru Thanx, Ric Goldman letsdance(a)rgoldman.org

7 years, 2 months

easy dance to Wizard's walk ?

by Claire Takemori

Does someone have dance choreography for an easy contra that goes well with Wizard’s walk tune? I know there was a “Grumpy” longways family dance written to go with it. Thanks ! Claire Takemori SF Bay Area

7 years, 2 months

Handheld mic advice

by Delia Clark

Hi, I need some advice. My wireless mic (Shure PGx2) has finally died - a problem with the on/off switch. I sent it to Shure but they said it was was too old to repair. Rather than buying through a cheap online site like I did last time, which might be why it seems to have broken and gone out of date so quickly, I went to the Shure website to look at new ones. Two that seem to look a lot like my old one are below. Can anyone recommend which might be better for calling, or another handheld wireless mic that you’d recommend more? BLX The ideal entry-level wireless microphone system for small venues, BLX offers professional quality sound with simple setup and an intuitive interface. $299 - Transmitter form factors include handheld (customizable at designstudio.shure.com), bodypack, headworn, lavalier, instrument clip-on, and combo - Single-channel, dual-channel, and rack mount receiver options available - Powered with AA batteries - Offers a 24 MHz tuning bandwidth and up to 12 compatible systems per frequency band (region dependent) PGX-D Digital offers wireless audio that sounds like wired, rock-solid RF performance, and simple setup and operation for small clubs and venues. $349 Transmitter form factors include handheld, lavalier, headworn, bodypack, and instrument clip-on Powered with AA batteries Operates in the 900 MHz frequency band Up to 5 systems can be used simultaneously Thanks for any advice you have! Delia <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Delia Clark PO Box 45 Taftsville, VT 05073 Office/mobile: +1-802-457-2075 deliaclark8(a)gmail.com www.deliaclarkconfluence.com

7 years, 2 months

Unknown Dance,

by Liam Binley

Hi, I don’t know if anyone can help me, but this is worth a shot. I recently viewed a video of a dance on youtube called by Will Mentor, at the Atlanta dance weekend, but I cannot find a name for it, and am struggling to get the full notation for it. I have attached the link for the dance below and any help would be appreciated! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkXO3VOXu78&index=18&list=PL_1-nPBZes8RfQKh… <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkXO3VOXu78&index=18&list=PL_1-nPBZes8RfQKh…> Many Thanks, Liam Binley. liam.binley(a)me.com P.S. I’m a 22 year old caller from the uk, not sure if I’ve done this right!

7 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 48, Issue 9

by Dugan Murphy

Hi, Claire, My favorite dance to pair with the tune "Wizard's Walk" is "Bev's Becket" by Cary Ravitz: http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#bb. I find that the hey in A2 pairs well with the musical buildup in that phrase and that the balance at the top of B1 pairs well with the musical explosion at the top of that phrase. Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com > > From: Claire Takemori <cht(a)mac.com> > Subject: [Callers] easy dance to Wizard's walk ? > > Does someone have dance choreography for an easy contra that goes well > with Wizard?s walk tune? > > I know there was a ?Grumpy? longways family dance written to go with it. > > Thanks ! > > Claire Takemori > SF Bay Area

7 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Great dances for learning how to dance with ghosts?

by K Panton

Warning: rabbit hole ahead. Colin: I read your text for your workshop. All useful stuff and you do say more than "treat your partner as a neighbour". Re Michael Fuerst's quote, I agree that end-effects are what they are and they are not (necessarily?) the point of the dance, but they sometimes must be dealt with head-on. Example: I have tried to make any sense of the end effects in the dance The Hobbit http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_283.html . I think it's a great dance - if you can avoid the ends - but I'll be [darned] if I can make it around the end successfully. I've tried calling it, walking thru at a callers workshop with several experienced dancers and none of us could make sense of the end-effects. We were missing some magical key to understanding (perhaps guarded by Smaug). "Go where you are needed" wasn't going to work. Nor were the other rules. Sometimes, it seems, the end-effects must be taught just as the dance. No easy feat. Colin Hume via Callers <https://www.mail-archive.com/search?l=callers@lists.sharedweight.net&q=from…> Thu, 05 Apr 2018 02:42:50 -0700 <https://www.mail-archive.com/search?l=callers@lists.sharedweight.net&q=date…> I'm not sure that dancing with ghosts is the best way to deal with end-effects - I prefer "treat your partner as a neighbour". I have a whole section of notes on End-effects at https://colinhume.com/dtendeffects.htm Colin Hume

7 years, 2 months

Cinco deMayo dances

by Mary Collins

Looking for dance ideas. Either with May or '5' idea in title. Thanks! Mary Collins

7 years, 2 months

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Contra Callers