CDSS has an online events list:
 https://www.cdss.org/community/covid19/online-events

There is also a Facebook page called DisDance that lists online events (I’m not a Facebook user so don’t have the direct link)

Toronto has a twice a month online dance on 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 7:30 Eastern always at this link: 
http://contradance.link/tvc

Drew Delaware and I organize that dance. Drew has put together a security recommendations resource (to avoid “zoom bombing” internet troll attacks). http://drewdelaware.com/virtual-contra-dance-security-guide/#toggle-id-12 .  Using the settings/methods he recommends we have never had any attacks/disturbances of our dances. (Many other online dances have been disrupted by trolls.) Drew has been very generous about consulting with folks who are setting up online dance events so if you have additional questions he might be a good resource/contact. (I can put you in touch)

People take different approaches to the “Zoom lag” problem (coordinating music and calling given the slight but noticeable lag between the music and the caller if they are in different locations). Some folks call to pre-recorded music (from CDs/MP3s) using the screen-sharing (advanced, share audio) feature in Zoom—there is no lag with this. Drew and I wanted to feature and support individual bands who need gig income during the pandemic, so we have each band pre-record videos and then we call to the videos the same way we would with audio files (again, no lag problem). Some dances have live bands and a caller in a different location and just don’t worry about the fact that this means the caller cannot call right on the beat. That approach is simple, allows for live music, and gets the job done, tho some folks (including me) are bothered by the lack of rhythmic coordination between caller and band with that approach. Finally, there is the live band with no lag system that Ian Brehm (Mt. Airy/Philadelphia) came up with and that is described here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qe7TwWY59du5OrPuFS915nqSUwkmQNRJCMPTIO4g4xY/edit. This system requires several people to run but allows for live music and caller in different locations, with the calling and music synchronized so that the calling falls right on the beat. That is the system that Mt Airy (Philly) and Atlanta dances are using. 

Hope that helps you get started! I highly recommend the Mt. Airy & Atlanta dances (and of course ours in Toronto!). If you have trouble finding them let me know.

Becky Liddle






On Jul 26, 2020, at 3:23 AM, Lenore Frigo via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hi all,
I'm looking for opportunities to participate in online Contra dancing (and possibly get something going locally eventually).

Are there any listings of online contra events? Or if you have info about attending a Zoom/online dance that you're calling?
Thanks much,
Lenore Frigo
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