16 Jan
2024
16 Jan
'24
5:26 p.m.
For the latter exercise, Sarah VanNorstrand led same sort of thing last
June at Lady of the Lake.
She had us take hands four and cross over (duple improper), then sent one
entire side of the set out of the room. She taught the dance to the
remaining folks while we were gone. I’m not sure whether she had them dance
with ghosts, or compacted them to teach and then distributed them out
again, or something else. Regardless, once they had mastered it she brought
everyone back in, had us rejoin our places, then the band started with no
further walk-through. We were bound to silence, using only gestures and eye
contact for those in the know to teach the ignorant. It was a basic
vocabulary sequence of course. With everyone primed to communicate and be
attentive we danced it pretty much error free.
-Joseph
On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 8:49 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi fellow contra callers :)
I am wondering if any of you have little activities/exercises that you use
to help dancers improve their knowledge/skills of contra dance?
I know there's lots of opinions on whether this is even necessary or
should be offered. However, I have a few situations where I've got dancers
who are keen to improve their skills and I'd like to have various fun ways
of doing so.
I'd love to hear your ideas!
One activity I remember from mannnnny years ago in Ottawa was led by Adina
Gordon. She had us form up in contra lines and then she would say 1-2
(maybe 3?) figures. We weren't to dance the figure... instead, simply go
to the spot where we would end up after the figure(s). I remember this as
being a lot of fun and a great learning experience.
I also remember from that same session something about sending some
dancers out of the room and teaching the dance to others and then doing the
dance. (I don't remember the details.)
Thoughts?
Any advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Emily in Ottawa ON
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