I believe that it's important to have the contra dances in a database
be in a standardized format.  This will make it much easier for people
to use them, to exchange them, and I hope will improve the folk
process.
I've started discussion and coding on an interchange format and have a
lot of ideas about making a database.  I started working on this about
a year ago, but got distracted.  I would love to work on it again.
The main thing I need help with is making sure people have interest in
what I'm doing and getting feedback on my work.
For those that are technically minded, the small start that I've made
is here:  
https://github.com/clahey/folkdancedb/wiki/_pages   I would
love any feedback people have about the semantics rules and format.
Looking at it from the point of view of a user, I realize there is
probably a lot of complexity there, but hopefully any of that
complexity will be hidden from users by whatever software there is.
If people have any suggestions of ways to make this simpler while
still keeping accuracy, please make suggestions.
I've also realized that there's no example files, so I will make that
my first task.  Well maybe my second task with my first task being a
TODO page.
Again, the URL for the wiki is currently:
https://github.com/clahey/folkdancedb/wiki/_pages
On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 5:46 PM, Les Addison <les.addison(a)gmail.com> wrote:
  +1 to Andrea and Kalia.
 I like the idea of an online repository with notes/comments.  It is
 possible to set up a wiki so that people can upload a dance and that only
 comments to the dance can be made by others/edited.
 I understand not wanting to have Yelp-like problems with phony reviews and
 grudge-fests, but I think that is something that can be maintained via
 requiring CDSS membership and a non-anonymous log in/commenting mechanism.
 Les
 On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 12:44 PM, Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote:
  On 12/11/2013 3:51 AM, Perry Shafran wrote:
  I'm trying to figure out why having a
database of dances would detract
 from the folk process.  Isn't the folk process considered the handing down
 of material from person to person, generation to generation?  And should
 that not also include the way that material is handed down?  I think that a
 database of dances is extremely helpful to the evolution of the folk
 process.  When the web evolved, people put their dances on the web for all
 to see, use, adapt.  Now we have the cloud, and callers can share their
 dances using a cloud-based database.   Considering that this is what was
 highly requested on the survey, I think that we need to find ways to create
 this repository of dances that also respects the rights of the
 choreographers who write them.
 
 True enough, but hearing the experience of others with those dances can be
 really helpful.  Just like on a recipe site, reading the comments can make
 a world of difference.  If a preponderance of the commenters say "the dough
 was really sticky when freshly mixed, but a few minutes in the fridge made
 it perfectly easy to handle," or "letting the dancers who are out at the
 ends know not to cross over until _after_ the partner dosido solved the end
 effect problem," that would be really useful information to have.  I'm all
 in favor of putting the dances up in original form, but followup user
 commentary is also incredibly helpful.
 Kalia
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