Hi All,
Thanks so much Jacqui, Maia, and Joe for chiming in on playful strategies
and dances. I'm sorry I didn't write back sooner but this was JUST the kind
of stuff I was looking for.
I love these types of moments as a dancer and would like to bring more of
them to the dance floor as a caller.
Thank you :) :)
Emily in Ottawa
On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 11:10 PM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Bob Isaacs calls a contra dance with a fun chase
figure at the end of some
longer multisession gigs. The ones chase around the twos with the first
going around both twos and the second going around one, reversing the order
of the ones on the return leg of the chase. They do this twice in 16 beats
(I think. That seems short but 32 seems long, hmmm…), each dancer leading
once and following once. It’s pretty fun with high-tempo music (like 125
bpm). It’s even more fun because after he stops cueing, he goes around the
room and quietly invites those sitting out to run through the set during
the chase, and then for everyone to chase out of the set. Pretty guaranteed
chaotic fun!
—jh—
On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 3:47 PM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hey folks,
After a number of relatively quiet caller years (parenting; pandemic),
I've started to dig deep to expand my repertoire and up my skills. It
feels like it's time for lots more dance fun! :)
One dance that I've really enjoyed is Heartbeat Contra (by Don Flaherty -
see below).
Tom Calwell called it in Ottawa way back in 2010 and at the top of the
B1, he called Al R 1.5 or ANYTHING (R shoulder round, swing, DSD).
*Do any of you throw in a 'do anything' moment in an evening of contra
programming?* I'm always looking for fun, playful moments that make
dancers smile and this feels like a lovely one. If you throw in an
anything moment, how do you choose when?
*And do you have other strategies for adding playfulness to an evening?*
I've got some dances which I find super playful and fun (e.g., Three's
Company - Altered & Alternating - Paul Balliet)
Thoughts on this?
Thanks!
Emily in Ottawa
-------------------------------
Heartbeat Contra (Don Flaherty)
A1
Bal Ring & Petronella Twirl
Bal Ring & Petronella Twirl
A2
Bal Ring & N Sw
B1
ROB Al R 1.5 *OR ANYTHING! *(Al R, Rshoulder round, swing, DSD...
original was RH round)
P Sw
B2
Cir L 3/4
Bal Ring & California Twirl
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net