16 Sep
2023
16 Sep
'23
11:43 a.m.
In addition to "F&B, allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left,
circle, shoulders round, hey, swing, balance", other figures I'd definitely
count include dosido, pull by, California twirl, box the gnat, down the
hall, Petronella, roll away, pass through, give and take, walk/step
forward/back/left/right, turn alone, and courtesy turn, which makes 23.
Others I'd probably count include: mad robin, contra corners, Rory O'Moore,
pass through to an ocean wave, square through, cross trail, cast off, half
figure eight, dosido as couples, pousette, star promenade + butterfly
whirl, orbit, seesaw, zig-zag, on the diagonal chain/hey/R&L, and turn
alone, which makes 39. Others I wouldn't count include right hand high left
hand low, basket swing, swinging star, robin round two lark cut through,
sashay, hey for three, dolphin hey, ricochet, box circulate, star through,
and swat the flea.
(Additions/corrections welcome!)
One way to think about this is, what would you be able to include in a no
walkthrough dance for experienced dancers? What could you see someone
including in a dance early in the evening so they could use it in a harder
dance later in the evening (since you wouldn't do that with a
one-off/novelty figure)? For reference, here are some historical NEFFA
medleys: https://www.jefftk.com/contras/dances/medlies
(Not trying to take position either way on whether this expansion basics
has been a good thing)
Jeff
On Sat, Sep 16, 2023, 4:22 AM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I need to augment my list slightly:
F&B, allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left, circle, shoulders
round, hey, swing, balance.
A crowd comfortable with all these should be capable of learning one or
two less generic figures (appropriate for the crowd's collective skill
level) a caller might wish to utilize.
What additional figures would you add to my list to create your list of 36?
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On Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 10:14 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Bravo, Michael! (I’ve bolded, below, the point on
which I want to agree
wholeheartedly.) I’ve believed this for years, and had no way of knowing
what percentage of active contra callers agreed. I dare to hope that, as
Michael is known for writing and advocating difficult sequences, his
opinion will carry added weight.
Over the decades, I’ve seen the number of contra “basics” increase
dramatically – from about 12 in the 1960s, when many groups got started, to
at least 36 today. I’ve worried that the modern contra world has been going
down the same path as modern “western” squares did. There’s always a gap
between what a first-timer can grasp in one night and what a dancer needs
to know to be comfortable at a dance series. But if “basics” are
continually added, the gap gets ever wider, until a lesson or a series of
lessons is needed. Western squares started with 6 lessons in the late
1940s; currently the Plus program (the prevailing club level in most parts
of the US) contains 97 “basics” and (coincidentally) is recommended to be
taught in 97 hours, or about 50 lessons. (Most clubs insist that their
callers take less time, which results in new dancers not learning the calls
adequately.)
We contra and trad square callers are nowhere near the excesses of MWSD.
But even 36 “basics” are too many for an activity that supposedly anyone
can join in without lessons. Some sequences – maybe even some moves –
should be reserved for workshops. I’m glad to see an influential modern
contra caller speaking out on this.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)
*From:* Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Thursday, September 14, 2023 4:11 AM
*To:* Helle Hill <hellehill(a)yahoo.com>
*Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Re: New Terminology Question
Jeff's suggestion of "facing star" works perfectly, and merits becoming
the standard term used for discussions about and written descriptions of
dances. However, *such occasionally used figures must always be
explained during walk-throughs*, so the caller can designate, for the
duration of the dance, any appropriate name. (I think I have used "funny"
or "silly" star in the past.) The point being that *dancers should need
to understand the names of a dozen or so basic figures* (such as F&B,
allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left, circle, shoulders round,
hey, and maybe several more) and that callers should need only basic
figures to teach any dance.
On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 8:58 PM Helle Hill via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
With all the changes to the "old" terminology, I am wondering what a
"Gypsy Star" is now called.
Thank you.
Helle Hill
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