Re: [Callers] Waltz contras - does anyone have any in their box?

Hello Hanny, There are two called waltzes that I’ve used at contra dances: Circle Waltz, and Duke of Kent’s Waltz. Circle Waltz is a wonderful way to begin. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLsJ6JIYqw> and <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w682qG7aG-M> both show the choreography I enjoy teaching the most because the couples’ waltzing time is only 8 beats, and can be done as a two hand turn, which feels doable for anxious or beginning waltz learners. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuYmJ48IezY> In this video, the Circle Waltz goes into an open waltz at the end. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivg4OsR3OeI> is a fine model for teaching. This video echoes my own recent experience. Although I did begin the teaching letting the ladies know they step forward on the right foot, and the gents on the left foot, I never mentioned it again. I encouraged people who were learning to waltz to let go of thoughts of where their feet needed to be, and to notice the pattern of the moves, to let the music [Ashokan Farewell is lovely and clearly phrased] come into their bodies and arms and feet. Dancers could choose to ‘step–2–3, step-2-3’, or just move forward and back. We did spend a few moments on ladies three-step roll and the gentle-manly assistance with a little weight in the handholds, but just a brief description; we went one time through the dance, moving, then once through the dance, imagining the moves to calls, and then began with the music. In this video, Peter Amidon sets the pace and the mood with bows and sighs. Choose words, make suggestions that seem appropriate to the group you are with. And Peter is absolutely right about what happens when the caller no longer speaks; I teared up as the circle became full and round and rhythmic and the room was quiet but for the swish of dancing and the lovely tune. Duke of Kent’s Waltz is an elegant tune worth seeking out, but the dance can go with any contra dance waltz tune. This video is well done and beautifully demonstrates the historical dance: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=KOL-TwoMMGs> You can hear the caller’s cues here: < http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/playford/333-duke-of-kents-waltz.html… and this pdf gives you the historical description: <http://www.folkdance.com/LDNotations/DukeofKentsWaltz2010LD.pdf> Because the enjoyment of the dancers has been so favorable, I’ve begun collecting other called waltzes that might be friendly to contra dancers. If you are interested, I will be happy to send you online sources. Karin Neils West Michigan _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers