If your crowd can handle it, hash calling can be a great way to spice up a dance—just kind of riffing, changing the dance every time through. If you want to be a jerk, you can call like 4x "long lines" in a row.

Same-role swings don't happen super often and can be a fun place for dancers to play. Likewise, for dances that have say, the 1s active and the 2s just hanging around, can allow for fun play on the sides. (But not everyone will do this by default. Also, it can be a little dicey to encourage this kind of sideline play from the mic—if you do, consider a little spiel about opting in/how to say "no thank you", to avoid people being aggressively danced at by shadows they don't particularly want to be swinging, etc.)

I also personally really like dances that switch every time: see e.g. Sundance/Moondance* by Robert Cromartie or Reflections by Cary Ravitz. The "oh shoot which version are we on???" can be stressful OR, if you frame it right and the dance hall has the right vibe, brainbendingly delightful.

Mixers—especially ones that actually have some choreographic complexity to them—can also be fun! One of my faves in this niche is No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk, by Chris Weiler.

Also, you can just call a really tricky dance and encourage people to have fun if they mess up. Some of the most fun I've had on a dance floor was when someone called Happy As a Cold Pig in Warm Mud by Mike Boerschig and before we started, warned us "sometimes your star might have 3 people in it. Sometimes it might have 5. Just roll with it!" The stars got NUTS (sometimes accidentally, sometimes intentionally) and people got really goofy, it was a great time.

Cheers,

Maia

* Sundance/Moondance
by Robert Cromartie (Maia McCormick var.)

A1: N seesaw
N alle. L 1½
A2: robins b&s
B1: P b&s
B2: robins RH chain (to N)
LH star 1x
* * *
(alternating with)
A1: N dsd
N alle. R 1½
A2: larks b&s
B1: P b&s
B2: larks LH chain (to N)
RH star 1x

On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 5:30 PM Qui Ann via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

I call Hot Buttered Rolls by Perry Shafran and sometimes modify the B1 to “pass P, shadow DSD” and then invite them to sort out with their shadow as to what they want to do.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=7821

Same with "Vote with Your Feet" by Bob Isaacs.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=1956
In this video you can hear me say “do something” when it comes to that part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKP1xR-fjgk&ab_channel=albatrossace101

Jacqui

On Feb 4, 2023, at 12:47, Emily Addison via Contra Callers <contracallers@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

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