31 Jan
2020
31 Jan
'20
9:49 p.m.
Oh, yeah, that’s part of the charm, everyone watching what happens. The little kid who
gets the gorilla and hugs it to themself and refuses to part with it. The three men who
end up at the top, in the days when they were more hesitant to dance with each other, and
then two just go for it and dance. If you don’t get chosen - well, you get to do the
choosing the next time! Very old dancers can be gently escorted down the line. Little ones
bound and leap. Adults pick a child way up high and run down the line with them. It works
for young and old, all the time.
Martha
On Jan 31, 2020, at 2:20 PM, Robert Livingston via
Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
From Cal - many authors and names - Jump Start Circle Dance to Bill Bailey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERLxubaP7w>
Mac McKeever noted creativity with the "Fan Dance". I've used a teddy
bear. Once a lady in the center looked at the gents
on either side of her, rejected both and danced down center with the bear. Also a gent in
the center ended up with his two
daughters on either side. He took them both; left the bear.
Bob Livingston
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, 6:41:36 PM EST, Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I call a super easy dance called "The Cat's Meow", usually to "Cry of
the Celts" , from Lord of the dance. It teaches phrasing quite well. With a circle
of 40+ children, they all seem to clap together. (This dance came from Cal Campbell, but
I am not sure of the author.)
A1 Walk in Four Steps, Clap Four Times
Walk Out Four steps, Clap Four Times
B1 Circle Left Eight Steps, Circle Right Eight Steps (or Circle Left 16)
This dance might seem too easy, but it success brings many smiles and builds a foundation
for the rest of the program.
https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10 <https://youtu.be/EmwDsd_yf10>
Rich Sbardella
Stafford Springs, CT
On Thu, Jan 30, 2020 at 1:16 PM Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
While that looks like a fun dance I don't think it is really appropriate for kids
ages 4-10.
You should check out the books from the New England Dancing Masters. I have Chimes
of Dunkirk, Sashay the Donut and Listen to the Mockingbird. These have several good
dances for kids.
Here are some that I use at an annual dance I call at our local library. The event
is called the Fairy Tale Ball and I often feel like I'm standing in a sea of knee-high
princesses.
The Blobs
Boston Tea Party
Chimes of Dunkirk
Circassian Circle - no-swing, non-mixer
Cumberland Reel
Duckpins
The Duke of York
Galopede
Heel and Toe Polka Promenade/Reel - longways, non-mixer
Jacob's Potato
Margate Hoy
Over The Top
Sasha
Snake
Traffic Jam
Some are better than others depending on the age of the kids. I like to have some
suitable for slightly older kids in the list.
I do a version of Circassian Circle with no swings and no mixing. The kids (and some
parents) get in a circle in groups. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes it is an adult
with 3 or 4 kids. All go into the center and back twice. Then have different groups go
in in A2, boys, girls, talls/smalls, those wearing red, etc. Then the pairs/groups
two-hand turn or circle and then everyone promenades around the big circle. It can be
hard to get very small kids to hold hands in a circle so I don't usually worry about
trying to get them to do that.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
<http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html>
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 1/30/2020 7:49 AM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hi Sandy,
Happy to share Frannie's Alarm Clock.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12216>
Most of them aren't as good as that one, but the vast majority of my dances are now
up on The Callers Box.
Thank you Chris Page & Michael Dyck!
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