Note: as the dance progresses, this much detail stops being needed and I
cut back on the calls, as usual.
On 2/28/2020 2:15 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers wrote:
Like Erik, I emphasize the loop-around as a critical
part of the
move. Presuming the preceding move is an 8-count move and there's no
short 4-count move that needs to be called, I use the entire preceding
8 beats to prompt the start of the hey before it needs to happen. I
call the general move "Hey for four" and also pre-call the descriptive
details for how it starts. (I teach the hey emphasizing that as the
Robins start passing right, the Larks' first move is to slide over
into the right-hand position, and then they'll follow the Robin
through the weaving (and of course, vice-versa if it's a left-shoulder
hey)). Then I continue to pre-call each piece of the hey while the
preceding piece is taking place, in 4-count chunks. Feels like patter
calling because there's no stopping:
/CAPital letters indicate calling on the downbeat, with emphasis.
lower-case calls are like pick-up notes for the following downbeat://
/
Starting the call way back on beat 9 of the preceding part does not
seem to be a problem for the dancers. They finish the move they're
doing (often swinging) and the extra thinking time helps them end that
move and face across to start the hey on time. I've never had anyone
start the hey early because the beginning of the call came so early.
-- Diane
On 2/28/2020 1:30 PM, Erik Hoffman via Contra Callers wrote:
One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the
**WHILE** problem:
While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the
end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face
actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to
pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.
Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:
Robins WHILE Larks
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left (often
replaced by a “pause”)
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by Left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass Right
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins pass Right Larks Loop Left
Robins pass Larks by Left Larks pass Robins by left
Robins Loop Left Larks pass by Right
Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems.
Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I
watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those
dancers who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or
right) to pass Left (right) Again.”
Erik Hoffman
*From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
*To:* Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching(a)gmail.com>
*Cc:* contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
*Subject:* [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four
I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue
things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.
You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass
left", being shorter. Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.
Jeff
On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it
wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)
I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this
Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)
our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction
for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't
know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partners left
ravens pass right
neighbours pass left
larks pass right
partner balance and swing
I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the
calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions
so the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the
figure starting.
But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller
actually called out the actions *as* they were happening....
Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?
In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" _just
before_ they do it, or _while_ they are doing it?
thanks muchly :)
Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada
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