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@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]