Re: [Callers] Borrowing call terminology from modern square dancing

I would caution people from going too far down this road. One risk is that the MWSD calls all have very specific starting and stopping places and rules on how they are done. If the contra version is only a close approximation, someone might get upset. Also, just because MWSD has a name and precise definition doesn't make that name "better" or more instantly understandable to a newer dancer. On Dec 5, 2011, at 3:02 AM, Chris Page wrote: The orbits I have danced are not Fan The Top. Fan The Top starts in a wave, has the centers arm turn 3/4 while the ends move forward around the formation 1/4 of the way. Ends in a new wave. Orbit (or Orbit The Wave) has the centers arm turn once (or 1 1/2) while each end walks forward a half circle to the other end. It is usually followed by a Swing or Balance and Swing. MWSD would call it Half Sashay and have you do it twice. However, this would always have the dancer on the right go in front. Some contra moves can be right-handed or left-handed with the same name and what to do is explained in the walk thru. In MWSD, these moves all have two names. Also the Mad Robin in the dance I am think of has the Mad Robin go 1 1/4 to have the centers guys start a Hey. Asking for a Half Sashay 2 1/2 sounds like doing math. Celtic Knot comes up so infrequently, I would ignore this. Also, on the rare cases I have danced Celtic Knot, I remember it being taught more as Pully Bys, a star in the center and the dancers on the outside doing a cloverleaf. It is true that Spin The Top moves the body along the same path, but you are facing 90 degrees different while doing it. Perhaps call it Box Circulate. "Split" is used when you divide the 8-dancers set into two groups of 4. Slide would be the term. Spread is a suffix added to a call that has the dancers moving into a wave. We woldn't call Balance The Wave and SPread at MWSD. I think asking "couples veer left" or "veer over to the left" is more using common English. It is the case that Veer Left and Veer Right are MWSD calls, but they almost make sense from their names. In squares, Walk Around Your Corner has the idea that you will next interact with your Partner. I would find it jarring to encounter that terminology in contras. Zoom is a precise 360 degree movement for the leader and a walk forward one position for the trailer. Lead/cast (and I am no expert) seems to be more a 180 or 270 degree turning action. We have a call Zing which starts in a tandem and ends on the same spots as a couple. Perhaps that would work. Perhaps that makes my point :-) -- Clark Baker, Belmont, MA cmbaker(a)tiac.net