25 Feb
2023
25 Feb
'23
2:01 p.m.
One night in Nelson it was someone named - I think - Larry's birthday.
I was calling a generic dance with a generic "First gent + second lady
do something for 8 beats that makes them swap sides" moment.
(I don't remember what the exact original move was - maybe allemande R 1&1/2?)
but Larry hollered "I don't want to do that, makes my arm hurt! It's
my birthday so I'm going to do a gypsy instead!"
So I said on mic - "OK, folks, you heard him, everyone has to do what
Larry says instead, it's his birthday"
So each time through the dance Larry hollered "Swing!" or "DoSiDo!"
and we all did that.
Being Nelson on a Monday in the summer, the choices started to
get...creative...and by the time the dance was over we'd done The Swim
and the Funky Chicken and the Macarena as well as the whole repertoire
of contra moves.
I think the card might still be in my stack, re-named "What He Said!".
Should go find it. :)
Thanks for kicking up that memory!
A
On 2/4/23, 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