I think the most difficult dance I have ever danced is a 7 couple double square with one
couple in both. I unfortunately don’t remember its name.
Another one is “maybe I never will”, a triple minor by Susan Elberger. I remember dancing
it and never knowing who I was going to be dancing with next.
Bob (Michigan)
On Sep 26, 2023, at 08:02, Adam Carlson via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
When I was a newish caller I wrote a dance called "CC & 7 With a Twist"
that had a contra corners move where every allemande on the side was 1 1/2 turns, sending
different people into the center. It caused the actives to progress four places away from
each other and then brought them back together with a yearn and had crazy end effects. I
only called it once in a "challenging contras" session at a DIY camp. It took
about 10 minutes just to teach, but worked once everyone knew it. It was less of a dance
and more of an exercise in Newtonian physics. Hey, it occurs to me that "Newtonian
Physics" and "Three Body Problem" would both be excellent names for dances.
(Oh, Seth Tepfer beat me to it on the second name.)
To give a more realistic answer to the question, there was a tradition (started by Kathy
Anderson, IIRC) at the same camp to hold a "Dutch Crossing" session. That also
took a long time to teach, but isn't an inherently difficult dance. Just a lot to
remember all the parts, and very satisfying to do correctly.
Fun topic.
Cheers!
Adam
On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 8:34 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
"Irish Stars" first appeared in the book Midwest Folklore, published in1995
by the Urbana (IL) Country Dancers, in honor of Orace Johnson, one of our group's
leaders who died of a heart attack at one of our community dances. I edited the dances
in the book, had not looked at the dance in almost 30 years, but had danced it 2 or 3
times. Orace and Al Olson used to talk often and long by phone (pre-internet days)
about dance compositions. Seeing it in your post I looked at it for the first time in
close to 30 years. The dance is challenging since A2 and B2 parts each a bit over 16
beats. So the music must be slowed and/or the dancers must adjust. I think dancers
today would have an easier time with it. And, as you know, it has no swings.
I must be wide awake before reflecting on "Reflections"
On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 6:22 PM Woody Lane via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Two dances, very different from each other (not afraid to call, just very reluctant):
"Irish Stars" by Orace Johnson
"Reflections" by Carey Ravitz
Woody
--
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
On 9/25/2023 3:38 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
What are the most difficult contras (improper,
proper, indecent or becket) that you have danced, have called, and remain afraid to call?
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