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@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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