Oh, that’s a wonderful image! I was thinking it was maybe the caller?

On Apr 17, 2019, at 8:52 PM, Rich Dempsey via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

The extra skater models the obligato of the kids frolic around the hall while we dance.

Rich

On Mon, Apr 15, 2019 at 10:06 PM Bree Kalb via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

This is terrific. Will you be posting this to any Contra groups on FB? If not, would it be okay if I post to Triangle Country Dancers' page? I think lots of people would enjoys seeing it.

On Mon, Apr 15, 2019 at 1:57 PM Luke Donforth via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

I'd like to share this because I think it's really fun. 

Several months ago, I was approached by the coaches of a Theater on Ice team about helping put together a program for their 2018-19 Choreographic Challenge, which was to showcase cultural dance. Burlington's team, "On Thin Ice" wanted to do a contra dance on ice. 

There were various restrictions; style and historic elements that they wanted included, coverage of the ring, movement on the ice, etc. What they generated is not a contra dance, but does showcase several elements of a contra dance, and they do it on ice. 

You can check out their performance at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EzYx4XtxSs&lc  

It was a learning experience for me, and a fun exercise in deconstructing and putting things back together with different constraints. For instance, they needed percussive elements in the choreography; I'd originally tried to sell them on petronellas; but they all balked at the turning over "outside edges" on skates (a harder feat). 

It's the first time I've every had folks dance to recorded calls, but they wanted them to add to the feeling of a contra (and I won't be travelling with them to nationals in Alabama this June). 

As a side not, for historical reasons relating to how their program would be judged, I used the term gypsy instead of my preference of an alternative. I still think they do a wonderful job of bringing contra dance to a different corner of the world. 

When I went to my first contra dance, I'd never have guessed where it would take me. Here's to more fun memories and interesting experiences in this community and others. 

--

Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth@gmail.com

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