In my dance community a proper dance won’t help because everyone dances all the roles so training folks to look for certain genders isn’t a good idea (and in my opinion never is). Instead, I’d suggest something with short Allemandes (half, 3/4) or diagonal waves (dr Blums delight). 

If the figure is new to your dancers, use a triplet (by David smuckler) or a three facing three (Melanie axel lute wrote one).  Contra corners is much easier in that formation. 

A

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 20, 2019, at 5:06 PM, Ann Fallon via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hi, Hannah

I like your idea of teaching a proper dance earlier in your program.  If you are going to choose a contra corners dance in which the active couple has to do a half-figure eight to get proper, you might want to teach the half-figure eight in an earlier dance, too.

Here's a triplet which I also find useful for teaching/learning contra corners.  I am the author, but don't mean to be self-promoting here.

Microchasmic Triplet

Proper Formation, all facing partner
The middle couple is the "active" couple, so there is no need to get them into position before starting the contra corners.

A1    Forward and Back, DSD Partner
A2    Middle couple turn contra corners
B1    ALL balance and swing Partner, end facing up
B2    Top couple lead a cast off to the bottom.   When they reach the bottom they make a two-handed arch and the other two couples go below them and come through the arch.

 It's a peel the banana, come through the arch figure as in the Virginia Reel. 
Encourage the dancers to come to the top of their set before casting off to the bottom, or the sets will move too far down the hall. 

Here's a link to a video.  

Good luck!

Ann



-----Original Message-----
From: Hannah Chamb via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wed, Feb 20, 2019 4:38 pm
Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners

Hi all, first time posting here!

I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo the skills the dancers will need later. 

With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to be successful at contra corners? 

I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?

Thanks in advance, 
Hannah Chamberlain
Westbrook, ME
_______________________________________________
List Name:  Callers mailing list
List Address:  Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Archives:  https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
List Name:  Callers mailing list
List Address:  Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Archives:  https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/