24 Sep
2020
24 Sep
'20
4:20 p.m.
Caller Community,
It's been brought to my attention that there's an unintended
historical/cultural connection to a name given to one of my recent dance
compositions. I was not aware of that connection and had no desire to make
any reference to such for something intended to bring joy. Now that I'm
aware, I'm renaming that dance and a related title to eliminate any
potential allusions.
Should you have these dances in your collection, please make the associated
changes shown below. I would appreciate you not making reference to the
original titles in public from here forward. Please accept it was an honest
mistake and I don't wish to further the unintended connection, so therefore
ask that it not become an item of further discussion.
Thanks,
Don Veino
*Equal & Opposite (WAS Joy Division) v2 - Singlet - Don Veino*
*A1* Forward & Back to PNR, PNR LEFT Shoulder Around
(end backing out slightly, wherever music puts you)
*A2* Forward & Back to PNR, PNR Right Shoulder Around
(to wherever music puts you) - give LH to PNR
*B1* PNR Allemande Left 1+1/2x
Pull By Left & Big Loop Single Right (OR Allemande Right)
*B2* PNR Dosido & Swing
Note V2 revision to A1 = Left Shoulder Around, was Right in original version
*New Perspective (WAS New Order) - Singlet - Don Veino*
*A1* PNR Allemande Left 1+1/2x, Circle Left & Flatten to Wave/2
*A2* Wave Balance Right & Left, Twirl Right
Wave Balance Left & Right, Twirl Left
*B1* RH to PNR, Contra Corners (LH w/Ghosts)
*B2* PNR Balance & Swing
On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 6:27 PM Don Veino via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Kyla (and other colleagues),
I'd meant to reply sooner but... anyway... I like your thinking!
I've been jotting down dances for a similar purpose over the past few
months, since I started looking to submit something for the Virtual New
England Folk Festival 2020.
While you've targeted a single dancer, I chose to target two. To me, the
investment in dances suitable for two could last past the current
environment - for situations like the small crowd/slow start and tapering
crowd hot night, etc. Otherwise the reasoning/criteria I kept in mind was:
- Work/flow well for two dancers, acceptably for a single (imagine a
partner); good for 3 or more dancers = bonus points
- Use moves known to contra dancers or easily explained in
contra-style terms; have a contra "feel" to them
- Fit in/be adaptable to an "at home" space
- Minimize need to visualize motion or placement of dancers not
present - so, for instance, a hey should start with passing PNR; NBR Swings
avoided
- Enjoyable for 6-8 repetitions with tapering prompts, as allowing for
crowd
- Cover a range of difficulty, but no expectation of being a true
"beginner" dance (bonus points if it did and was still interesting)
- As much variety as possible within the other constraints (the real
challenge!)
-
- Bonus points for positional calling suitability (fairly easy to
achieve, it turns out)
- Bonus points if suitable to a future scatter mixer variation.
For my own purposes, I've been thinking of this series of dances as
"Co-Contras" (as in two/ cooperating/ happening together - near or far).
I've included several of mine so far below. Would love to see what other
choreographers might come up with in a similar vein!
-Don
[BALANCE OF CONTENT TRIMMED - donv]