Re: g&t -- that's totally fair, and an experience I've had on the floor as well, but oh man when it's done right it's lovely! Maybe worth spending some time teaching the right way to do it from the mic? (This is something I might do myself the next time I call one, come to think of it.) Another option: select for dances with a g&t with partner (rather than with neighbor) so couples can adjust to each other refine their resistance, playfulness, etc. rather than starting from square zero with a new N every time. Might make for a more satisfying experience. Just a thought.

Cheers,
Maia

On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 9:58 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Thanks Luke,
You made some great points, and offer some good choices.
My experience as a dancer is the Give & Take is rarely satisfying.  Seldom is there any resistance, or playfulness, as intended by Jennings.
I try not to call more than one G&T in an evening.
Peace, Rich

On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 8:00 AM, Luke Donforth <luke.donev@gmail.com> wrote:
Lots of great dances already suggested.

Talking about the bigger picture programming thing, I hear wanting to change the feel and not have circles in every dance. While Give and Take might feel like a cheat to you, it will feel different for the dancers, and it's probably not egregious.

You can also add a fair bit of texture with just different results from the circle. A swing ->circle & swing transition is going to feel different than a circle into a chain, or a circle left to a circle right, etc. I think two no-circle dances in a half is a good thing to shoot for, but also showing the various ways the circle can be used.

A lot of 4x4 dances don't use circles, so if your crowds are up for (and large enough) for those, they can get you there and add other program texture.

As for specific dances that haven't been mentioned yet, here are some with 10+ calls from my box:
Marion's Delight by Carol Kopp
A turn for the better by Bill Pope
Friday Night Fever by Tony Parks
Rocket City Romp by Cis Hinkle
iFlirt by Luke Donforth
2nd Course by Luke Donforth
A Sure Thing by Chris Page (has Circle Right)
Treasure of the Sierra Madre by James Hutson (no N swing)
Amherst and Wooster by Chris Weiler (no N swing)


On Mon, Jul 9, 2018 at 8:16 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Helo Folks,

This group has been so quiet lately.  The group has been so important for me as I developed my Contra calling repertoire and skills, so I thought I'd initiate a conversation.

As I sit here programming a dance I realize that I do not have many dances without circles.  Many that I do have, do not have a Neighbor Swing, or have a Give & Take to cheat it out.  Those factors limit where and when I can use them.

I generally like to program two no circle dances in each half, and also a NO neighbor Swing dance in at least one half if not both halves of an evening.  Any thoughts on this?

Does anyone want to share some modern contras that have no Circles and no Give & Takes, but include a partner and neighbor swing.

Here are a few I have used.

Just for NEFFA, Linda Leslie
Rollin' and Tumblin'. Cis Hinkle
Rocket City Romp, Cis Hinkle
Travels with Rick and Kim, Shari Miller Johnson
Friday Night Fever, Tony Parkes

Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT



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