19 Feb
2025
19 Feb
'25
4:15 a.m.
Thanks for the clarification, Sue and Stacy! Perhaps it wasn’t the appropriate rec for
this case—I was maybe overexcited about recently learning about it myself, though with
only limited details 😅
Harris Lapiroff (he/him)
Dance Caller and Organizer
Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
https://chromamine.com/contra/
On Tue, Feb 18, 2025, at 2:20 PM, Sue C. Hulsether via Contra Callers wrote:
I second EVERYTHING that Stacy said in her email.
Pourparler is a unique and wonderful annual gathering of dance leaders who specialize in
community dancing, family dancing, and dancing with school-aged people. It is
dance-sharing and conversation between colleagues, both experienced and new leaders, as
well as school teachers. What is most interesting to me (every year I go, and I am
definitely a long-timer) is that there is a 50/50 split between leaders who specialize in
American (contra-square-barndance) and International folk dancing. But what we don’t
share in repertoire, we share in “target audience,” as all the Pourparler attendees care
deeply about teaching dance to new dancers.
Like Stacy said, it is not an event to help you with contra calling chops or repertoire.
But it is an event to feed your teacher-soul as you teach, learn, dance and watch
colleagues teach and learn dance.
If anyone on this list would like to connect more about the Pourparler, I am happy to
correspond off list.
sue
Sue Hulsether
New Day Hoedown LLC
www.suehulsether.com
newdayhoedown(a)icloud.com
shulsether(a)mac.com
608-632-1267 Cell
P.O. Box 363, Viroqua, WI 54665
On Feb 18, 2025, at 10:03 AM, Stacy Rose via
Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As a contra caller AND a longtime Pourparler (PP) devotee, I don’t recommend attending
PP if you’re interested in learning contra calling and getting feedback on your calling
technique.
PP is fabulous! I’ve learned lots and have met amazing dance teachers from across the
continent. The focus is broad — contras, squares, Maypole dancing, international folk
dancing (IFD), singing, play party games… participants are varied — elementary school
music teachers, IFD teachers…
Maybe instead, you might enjoy attending a summer CDSS camp
<https://camp.cdss.org/> that focuses on contra calling. Or an intensive contra
calling week at John C. Campbell Folk School. Pourparler is a great program for learning
how to engage a wide audience of people into a wide variety of participatory dance.
Stacy Rose
541.808.1002
rosecontra(a)gmail.com
www.stacyrosedance.com
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On Feb 17, 2025, at 9:24 PM, Robert Matson via
Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
About Pour Parler:
"In the past we have learned dances from many traditions including Balkan, Mexican,
East Asian, Central Asian, Scandinavian, Israeli, French, English Country, square dancing,
contra dancing, sword dancing, line dancing, Maypoles, old-time couple dancing, singing
games, and many others. We discuss teaching techniques, repertoire, costuming, music,
school curricula and self-employment."
"Pourparler is a yearly gathering of dance and music educators from North America
who are dedicated to teaching folk/ethnic/world/traditional dance in schools and/or
community events. The brainchild of Sanna Longden, internationally respected dance
educator from Evanston, Illinois, this weekend is a unique blend of dance and song
sharing, discussion and networking. Experts in the field, teachers and musicians known
across the continent, join with relative newcomers to share their best dances and tips for
successful school residencies, family dances and other events that build community through
cross-cultural dancing. Pourparler is a gathering of colleagues, where we are all leaders
and participants, and there are no hired “experts.” "
Rob
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Robert Matson
Cell: (917) 626-2675
On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
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I recently saw a recommendation for Pourparler, happening in DC this year
(https://nfo-usa.com/pourparler/). I've never been (though I'm considering it
now), but I understand the focus there is broader than contra and it seems to be more
about dance sharing than a *course* per se. But if your community is almost all beginners,
I somewhat think you may want to do a lot of barn dances and similar things rather than
starting with full evenings of duple minor contras, which can be challenging in a largely
beginner crowd, in my experience.
Harris Lapiroff (he/him)
Dance Caller and Organizer
Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
https://chromamine.com/contra/
On Wed, Feb 12, 2025, at 4:31 PM, Brian Roberts via Contra Callers wrote:
> Long time dancer, first time caller.
>
> Anyone know of any courses / workshops to improve my calling (in person or online)?
I'm willing to travel for the right course. (E.g. Meet Me in St Louis had a calling
workshop in 2024, but the schedule isn't out yet for 2025.)
>
> My wife and I were long-time Boston-area contra dancers who are now trying to bring
the tradition to our adopted city in Austria. Almost all the dancers are new, I'm a
new caller, and I believe it would help me to attend a class to learn more and get
feedback on my technique.
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
> ----
> Bringing contra dance to Graz, Austria https://contradance.at/
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