13 Sep
2024
13 Sep
'24
12:41 a.m.
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at our
local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is
this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their repertoire?
Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this choreography to a
different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
22 Sep
22 Sep
1:35 p.m.
The choreography of contra corners dances tends to get complicated by going through
contortions to get the dancers into proper formation, from which the contra corners figure
begins. The dances often have a half figure eight, a cast off, a box the gnat, or some
other relatively unfamiliar figure, that adds complexity for some dancers on top of the
infrequently-seen contra corners figure itself.
That added complexity goes away if we dispense with the traditional requirements that
contra corners start from proper formation and that one's corners must be
opposite-role dancers. I love all contra corners dances, but I've gravitated toward
dances that don't force everyone into proper formation, and that often have a lower
piece count and more common figures as a result.
For relatively experienced dancers, I like Chris Page's Twirly Corners
(https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=13805). For less
experienced dancers, I sometimes use my dance Across the Pond
(https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14602), which is entirely
glossary figures except for the contra corners. I've had some success in calling Ann
Fallon's Microchasmic Triplet (mentioned elsewhere in this thread) earlier in an
evening program to teach the figure, then calling Across the Pond later in the program -
which also shocks experienced dancers who are startled to experience contra corners twice
in one evening.
Jeremy Korr
Claremont, Calif.
16 Sep
16 Sep
10:14 p.m.
Here's my favorite triplet for teaching Contra Corners:
DAVE’S TOLEDO TRIPLET (3 cpls proper)
By Dave Sebolt
A1
All six circle L
All six circle R (back to place)
A2
Bottom couple up the middle (others slide down)
All P. dosidos
B1
Middle couple contra corners
(P. R, first corner L; P. R, second corner L)
B2
All P. B&S
… (end facing across, form circle of 6)
First corners on R diag. Second corners on L diag. I prefer skip-change
step.
On Sat, Sep 14, 2024 at 7:51 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Contra Corners Special by Al Olson Proper
https://contradb.com/dances/514
Both couples turn contra corners each time through the dance
On Thu, Sep 12, 2024 at 11:42 PM Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
Susan [image: 🎶] [image: ☺]
330-347-8155
woosterdance.com
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None
have been called at our
local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is
this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their repertoire?
Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this choreography to a
different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
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14 Sep
14 Sep
7:51 p.m.
Contra Corners Special by Al Olson Proper
https://contradb.com/dances/514
Both couples turn contra corners each time through the dance
On Thu, Sep 12, 2024 at 11:42 PM Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have
been called at our
local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is
this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their repertoire?
Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this choreography to a
different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
9:04 a.m.
I guess I’ll chime in. About ten years ago I wrote a dance with a modified contra corners,
one I’m not sure exists in other dances. I did try it out at my local dance. To my
surprise, the modified contra corners was an easy teach, even with some less experienced
dancers in attendance. The dance itself got mixed reviews. But I guess I’ll share it here
in case it is of use to anyone, or can inspire something better.
Chorus Reel Sicilian Circle Richard Allen Fischer
Formation: Duple Improper Circle. Ones facing CCW, Twos facing CW. Dance begins with Ones
joining near hands while Twos stand normal distance apart.
A1) Everyone walks forward, Ones passing between Twos, two steps per pass, passing
Neighbors 1 & 2; Swing Neighbor 3. End swing facing across to Partner
A2) In current group of four, Ladies dosido, Gents dosido [Use dosidos to adjust
spacing.]
B1) All turn modified contra corners (in which everyone is moving). Allemande R with
Partner 3/4, allemande Same-Sex Neighbor by L 1x, allemande Partner by R 1/2, allemande
the other Same-Sex Neighbor by L 1x.
B2) All balance and swing Partner. End facing new neighbors in direction of progression,
Ones with near hands joined, Twos separating a bit from partner.
Suggested tune: Chorus Jig!
Best wishes to all, and thanks to Abbie for the original question.
Richard Fischer
Arlington, MA
On Sep 14, 2024, at 8:15 AM, Rich Goss via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Ted’s Triplet #7 and Linda Leslie’s Corner Triplet are both easy CC dances.
Rich Goss
Austin/Portland
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8:15 a.m.
Ted’s Triplet #7 and Linda Leslie’s Corner Triplet are both easy CC dances.
Rich Goss
Austin/Portland
13 Sep
13 Sep
11:06 p.m.
For another double contra corners dance, this time in the usual 32 bars,
there
is Double Trouble:
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10398
It is also an alternating dance, definitely not for beginners.
Peter
On 14/09/2024 12:42 pm, Maia McCormick via Contra Callers wrote:
At the risk of stating the obvious, I haven't seen
my go-to basic
contra corners dance in this thread yet, so I'll mention Kathy
Anderson's "Labor of Love"
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10545>,
an alternating CC dance that's about as simple as you can get. Replace
the box the gnat with a half figure eight, and it becomes Jim Kitch's
"Alternating Corners", which holds a similar spot in my repertoire.
And, if you wanna get wild and do /all four corners /(and can handle a
trickier dance and have a band willing to play AABBCC tunes), check
out Jeremy Korr's "Utah Reel"
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14600>.
Cheers,
Maia (Brooklyn, NY)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024 at 2:17 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Abbie,
Microchasmic is great.
My latest Contra Corners dance is:
Knightrider Contra Corners (by John Sweeney)
Sicilian Circle (or Longways – depends on how many dancers and the
shape of the room); Three Facing Three (no gender)
A1: Lines of Three Go Forward & Back; All: Opposite Dosido
A2: First Long Corners Dosido; Second Long Corners Dosido
B1: Middles Turn Contra Corners – as they finish go forwards to
form circles of three with their original partners
B2: Polka Swing: Circle Left while moving CCW around the other
trio to face a new line – open out with someone else in the middle
You can see the Polka Swing in the dance at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1xdpJOdp58 – one way of doing it
is: as each dancer reaches the outside they stand still
momentarily and swing the other dancers around; the end result is
that you feel like you are on the Waltzers at the fun-fair!
A2 gives the non-Contra Corners dancers something to do!
It has been going down well when I have called it
recently.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com
<mailto:john@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk <http://www.contrafusion.co.uk> for
Dancing in Kent
*From:*Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* 12 September 2024 23:42
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Contra corners recommendations needed
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at
our local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce
the move. I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good
time to try, but I haven't collected any contra corners dances yet
so I'd like to start with something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How
rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in
their repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I
call this choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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10:42 p.m.
At the risk of stating the obvious, I haven't seen my go-to basic contra
corners dance in this thread yet, so I'll mention Kathy Anderson's "Labor
of Love"
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=10545>, an
alternating CC dance that's about as simple as you can get. Replace the box
the gnat with a half figure eight, and it becomes Jim Kitch's "Alternating
Corners", which holds a similar spot in my repertoire.
And, if you wanna get wild and do *all four corners *(and can handle a
trickier dance and have a band willing to play AABBCC tunes), check out Jeremy
Korr's "Utah Reel"
<https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14600>.
Cheers,
Maia (Brooklyn, NY)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024 at 2:17 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Abbie,
Microchasmic is great.
My latest Contra Corners dance is:
Knightrider Contra Corners (by John Sweeney)
Sicilian Circle (or Longways – depends on how many dancers and the shape
of the room); Three Facing Three (no gender)
A1: Lines of Three Go Forward & Back; All: Opposite Dosido
A2: First Long Corners Dosido; Second Long Corners Dosido
B1: Middles Turn Contra Corners – as they finish go forwards to form
circles of three with their original partners
B2: Polka Swing: Circle Left while moving CCW around the other trio to
face a new line – open out with someone else in the middle
You can see the Polka Swing in the dance at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1xdpJOdp58 – one way of doing it is: as
each dancer reaches the outside they stand still momentarily and swing the
other dancers around; the end result is that you feel like you are on the
Waltzers at the fun-fair!
A2 gives the non-Contra Corners dancers something to do!
It has been going down well when I have called it recently.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
*From:* Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* 12 September 2024 23:42
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Contra corners recommendations needed
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at our
local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is
this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their repertoire?
Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this choreography to a
different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
2:16 p.m.
Hi Abbie,
Microchasmic is great.
My latest Contra Corners dance is:
Knightrider Contra Corners (by John Sweeney)
Sicilian Circle (or Longways – depends on how many dancers and the shape of the room);
Three Facing Three (no gender)
A1: Lines of Three Go Forward & Back; All: Opposite Dosido
A2: First Long Corners Dosido; Second Long Corners Dosido
B1: Middles Turn Contra Corners – as they finish go forwards to form circles of three with
their original partners
B2: Polka Swing: Circle Left while moving CCW around the other trio to face a new line –
open out with someone else in the middle
You can see the Polka Swing in the dance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1xdpJOdp58 –
one way of doing it is: as each dancer reaches the outside they stand still momentarily
and swing the other dancers around; the end result is that you feel like you are on the
Waltzers at the fun-fair!
A2 gives the non-Contra Corners dancers something to do!
It has been going down well when I have called it recently.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England <mailto:john@modernjive.com> john(a)modernjive.com
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
<http://www.contrafusion.co.uk> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
From: Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >
Sent: 12 September 2024 23:42
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >
Subject: [Callers] Contra corners recommendations needed
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at our local dance for
years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move. I've been calling for a few
years and think it's a good time to try, but I haven't collected any contra
corners dances yet so I'd like to start with something as straightforward as
possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that basically every video I could
find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't
have this in their repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this
choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
8:23 a.m.
New subject: [External] Contra corners
I second what Ann says. I love Microcasmic Reel. It is a fabulous dance for introducing
contra corners. I've used it with groups with a large mix of first time dancers.
I've used it at our regular local dance group. It is a versatile, fun dance. Highly
recommended.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
[cid:b422b5be-b25b-477b-943a-6218878fd2e1]<https://outlook.office.com/boo…
Book time to meet with
me<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.n…
________________________________
From: Ann Fallon via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2024 8:09 AM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Peter Foster <pfoster(a)pcug.org.au>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Contra corners
Here is a triplet that I wrote years ago that works well for teaching the contra corners
figure.
I believe I used to program an evening by first teaching a dance with a half-figure 8
(can't remember which one specifically right now). A little farther on in the program
I'd use the triplet below for the contra corners figure. Ultimately I'd do a
longways modern contra corners dance.
MICROCHASMIC TRIPLET (Tune "Off She Goes" works well)
Active couple in center of line of 3
A1 F & B, DSD P
A2 Actives turn contra corners
B1 All B and S P, face up
B2 Top couple turn away from your partner, lead down the outside, everyone follow.
Top couple make an arch at the bottom, others come through the arch to the top, to make
new lines of three, with a new top couple ( as in Virginia Reel)
Here is a version of the same dance adapted to be more of an English dance:
OFF WE GO ....
Music, Off She Goes D 6/8 Three couple set
ECD VERSION of MICROCHASMIC TRIPLETT
Proper dance
A1 - Set towards your partner, turn single back
Back to back with partner
A2 - Center couple (#2) contra corners
B1 - All take R hand with P, balance, hold on and take L hand and balance
again, Cross-hand swing (as in Yellow Stockings) End facing up
B2 - Top couple turn away from your partner, lead down the outside, everyone
follow. Top couple make an arch at the bottom, others come through the arch to the top,
to make new lines of three, with a new top couple ( as in Virginia Reel)
On Friday, September 13, 2024 at 03:18:57 AM EDT, Peter Foster via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
For Those Who Cared is a good dance, but the second circle left
makes it a bit too much clockwise for the actives. It also makes
for a fairly rushed start to the half figure 8.
Virtually the same dance is Fruit Harvest Reel by Luther Black
http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_277.html
This changes the second circle to LLFB, which is a lot nicer.
Peter
On 13/09/2024 3:20 pm, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
The first hurdle in introducing contra corners to
dancers these days
is to get them to know which side of the dance is their proper side.
I've been trying to do a few proper dances when I call and many
dancers don't know how to handle it.
Here is a contra corners dance that I like. There are some aspects
that are a bit tricky for today's dancers. Circling all the way
around is a bit of a challenge. Half-figure 8 is unknown to most
contra dancers these days, though English and Scottish dancers will
have no trouble. Then there is the whole bit of doing the contra
corners figure while everyone is on their proper side.
For Those Who Cared
Tony Parkes
duple improper
1 - circle left 1 time
2 - swing neighbor, end facing across
3 - circle left 1 time
4 - actives half figure 8 above, around inactives
5-6 contra corners
7-8 actives balance and swing
Chorus Jig can certainly be done to a different tune, though if the
band can play the Chorus Jig tune you might as well use it. As I
mentioned above a proper dance is a bit of a challenge these days, and
no one knows how to cast off anymore. I've been trying to bring some
of those dances back and have had a little luck in doing so.
One suggestion I have heard is to use a triplet with contra corners to
get the dancers up to speed on the figure and then put it into a
longways dance.
Jonathan Sivier
Champaign, IL
On 9/12/2024 11:41 PM, Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers wrote:
> Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at
> our local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the
> move. I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to
> try, but I haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd
> like to start with something as straightforward as possible.
>
> Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
> basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How
> rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their
> repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this
> choreography to a different tune?
>
> Abbie Sorg
> Tucson, AZ
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list --
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> To unsubscribe send an email to
>
contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
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8:09 a.m.
New subject: Contra corners
Here is a triplet that I wrote years ago that works well for teaching the contra corners
figure.
I believe I used to program an evening by first teaching a dance with a half-figure 8
(can't remember which one specifically right now). A little farther on in the program
I'd use the triplet below for the contra corners figure. Ultimately I'd do a
longways modern contra corners dance.
MICROCHASMIC TRIPLET (Tune "Off She Goes" works well)
Active couple in center of line of 3
A1 F & B, DSD P
A2 Actives turn contra corners
B1 All B and S P, face up
B2 Top couple turn away from your partner, lead down the outside, everyone follow.
Top couple make an arch at the bottom, others come through the arch to the top, to make
new lines of three, with a new top couple ( as in Virginia Reel)
Here is a version of the same dance adapted to be more of an English dance:
OFF WE GO .... Music, Off SheGoes D 6/8 Three couple setECDVERSION of MICROCHASMIC
TRIPLETT
Proper dance
A1 - Settowards your partner, turn single back
Backto back with partner
A2 - Centercouple (#2) contra corners
B1 - Alltake R hand with P, balance, hold on and take L hand and balance
again, Cross-handswing (as in Yellow Stockings) Endfacing up
B2 - Top couple turnaway from your partner, lead down the outside, everyone
follow. Top couple make an arch at the bottom,others come through the arch to the top,
to make new lines of three, with a newtop couple ( as in Virginia Reel)
On Friday, September 13, 2024 at 03:18:57 AM EDT, Peter Foster via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
For Those Who Cared is a good dance, but the second circle left
makes it a bit too much clockwise for the actives. It also makes
for a fairly rushed start to the half figure 8.
Virtually the same dance is Fruit Harvest Reel by Luther Black
http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_277.html
This changes the second circle to LLFB, which is a lot nicer.
Peter
On 13/09/2024 3:20 pm, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
The first hurdle in introducing contra corners to
dancers these days
is to get them to know which side of the dance is their proper side.
I've been trying to do a few proper dances when I call and many
dancers don't know how to handle it.
Here is a contra corners dance that I like. There are some aspects
that are a bit tricky for today's dancers. Circling all the way
around is a bit of a challenge. Half-figure 8 is unknown to most
contra dancers these days, though English and Scottish dancers will
have no trouble. Then there is the whole bit of doing the contra
corners figure while everyone is on their proper side.
For Those Who Cared
Tony Parkes
duple improper
1 - circle left 1 time
2 - swing neighbor, end facing across
3 - circle left 1 time
4 - actives half figure 8 above, around inactives
5-6 contra corners
7-8 actives balance and swing
Chorus Jig can certainly be done to a different tune, though if the
band can play the Chorus Jig tune you might as well use it. As I
mentioned above a proper dance is a bit of a challenge these days, and
no one knows how to cast off anymore. I've been trying to bring some
of those dances back and have had a little luck in doing so.
One suggestion I have heard is to use a triplet with contra corners to
get the dancers up to speed on the figure and then put it into a
longways dance.
Jonathan Sivier
Champaign, IL
On 9/12/2024 11:41 PM, Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None
have been called at
our local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the
move. I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to
try, but I haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd
like to start with something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How
rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their
repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this
choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
3:18 a.m.
For Those Who Cared is a good dance, but the second circle left
makes it a bit too much clockwise for the actives. It also makes
for a fairly rushed start to the half figure 8.
Virtually the same dance is Fruit Harvest Reel by Luther Black
http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_277.html
This changes the second circle to LLFB, which is a lot nicer.
Peter
On 13/09/2024 3:20 pm, Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers wrote:
The first hurdle in introducing contra corners to
dancers these days
is to get them to know which side of the dance is their proper side.
I've been trying to do a few proper dances when I call and many
dancers don't know how to handle it.
Here is a contra corners dance that I like. There are some aspects
that are a bit tricky for today's dancers. Circling all the way
around is a bit of a challenge. Half-figure 8 is unknown to most
contra dancers these days, though English and Scottish dancers will
have no trouble. Then there is the whole bit of doing the contra
corners figure while everyone is on their proper side.
For Those Who Cared
Tony Parkes
duple improper
1 - circle left 1 time
2 - swing neighbor, end facing across
3 - circle left 1 time
4 - actives half figure 8 above, around inactives
5-6 contra corners
7-8 actives balance and swing
Chorus Jig can certainly be done to a different tune, though if the
band can play the Chorus Jig tune you might as well use it. As I
mentioned above a proper dance is a bit of a challenge these days, and
no one knows how to cast off anymore. I've been trying to bring some
of those dances back and have had a little luck in doing so.
One suggestion I have heard is to use a triplet with contra corners to
get the dancers up to speed on the figure and then put it into a
longways dance.
Jonathan Sivier
Champaign, IL
On 9/12/2024 11:41 PM, Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers wrote:
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None
have been called at
our local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the
move. I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to
try, but I haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd
like to start with something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How
rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their
repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this
choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
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3:10 a.m.
I particularly like "The Bag Lady of Falls Church" by Bob Howell:
=========================
Longways duple Improper 32 bar American reels
Double progression
A1: Long lines, forward & back. Ones cross over, cast around one - twos move up.
A2: Ones turn contra corners.
B1: Ones balance and swing, finish facing down between new twos.
B2: Down in a line of four. [Spare couple at top cross over immediately.] Turn towards
neighbour to face up, come
back, hand cast.
Bob Howell, 1993.
===================
It's a double progression, so more people have a chance to experience both numbers.
My notes say:
If you're a one, it helps to know who your corners are as you start the contra corner
move with your partner. Look on
the right diagonal, then on the left diagonal. That's easy in the walk-through, where
you're standing still while the
caller describes the move. The trouble is, in many dances you've only just got to the
proper side and you may not be
able to look at two people in a fraction of a second while starting to turn your partner.
So you have to go by places
not faces. Right-hand turn your partner just over half-way and look for someone in the
other line - nominally opposite
sex. Then back to your partner for a right-hand turn, again just over half-way, and again
left-hand turn someone in the
opposite line. If you're a two feeling confident, look to your right for the first
left-hand turn and left for the
second left-hand turn, which is just what the ones are doing. If you're not so
confident, face into the set so that you
can see people on both diagonals, stick your left hand out and turn anyone who comes at
you!
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
1:50 a.m.
Hi Abbie,
If you don’t object to a Sicilian 3x3, I have a dance, Walpole Condo, with double-contra
corners which is surprisingly accessible and has the advantage of using positional
calling. You can find the video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLQoKOQCIo0
There’s a whole thread about Contra Corners Dance at
https://lists.sharedweight.net/hyperkitty/list/contracallers@lists.sharedwe…
which include instructions for Walpole Condo.
Thanx, Ric Goldman
letsdance(a)rgoldman.org <mailto:letsdance@rgoldman.org>
971-206-1956
From: Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2024 9:42 PM
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Contra corners recommendations needed
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have been called at our local dance for
years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move. I've been calling for a few
years and think it's a good time to try, but I haven't collected any contra
corners dances yet so I'd like to start with something as straightforward as
possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that basically every video I could
find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is this tradition? What if the band doesn't
have this in their repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this
choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
1:20 a.m.
The first hurdle in introducing contra corners to dancers these days is to get them to
know which side of the dance is their proper side. I've been trying to do a few
proper dances when I call and many dancers don't know how to handle it.
Here is a contra corners dance that I like. There are some aspects that are a bit tricky
for today's dancers. Circling all the way around is a bit of a challenge.
Half-figure 8 is unknown to most contra dancers these days, though English and Scottish
dancers will have no trouble. Then there is the whole bit of doing the contra corners
figure while everyone is on their proper side.
For Those Who Cared
Tony Parkes
duple improper
1 - circle left 1 time
2 - swing neighbor, end facing across
3 - circle left 1 time
4 - actives half figure 8 above, around inactives
5-6 contra corners
7-8 actives balance and swing
Chorus Jig can certainly be done to a different tune, though if the band can play the
Chorus Jig tune you might as well use it. As I mentioned above a proper dance is a bit of
a challenge these days, and no one knows how to cast off anymore. I've been trying to
bring some of those dances back and have had a little luck in doing so.
One suggestion I have heard is to use a triplet with contra corners to get the dancers up
to speed on the figure and then put it into a longways dance.
Jonathan Sivier
Champaign, IL
On 9/12/2024 11:41 PM, Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers wrote:
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have
been called at our local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that basically every video I
could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is this tradition? What if the band
doesn't have this in their repertoire? Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I
call this choreography to a different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:17 a.m.
Chorus Jig is both a dance and a tune written for that dance, but you can
dance it to any tune. Note that it's a proper dance, so you really need to
either have short lines or call it a long time to get everyone active. At
NEFFA they make short lines stacked end-to-end for a session of chestnuts,
so everyone can be active.
It used to be that everyone knew this dance, so much so that, at a weekend
event in the mid '90s, we once played a joke on Steve Zakon-Anderson by
dancing Chorus Jig rather than the dance he called. Another time, we got
it as a no-walkthrough with the single call, "OUTSIDE!" and we knew what to
do.
I've been using a dance Seth Tepfer posted here, with the unlikely name
"The Bodacious Babe and Her Fabulous Femmes". The reason I like it is that
it does corners in an unusual way that I find easier to teach. The Robins
turn corners around the Larks. This makes it a bit easier to teach and
less confusing to dance, for some reason I can't really fathom. I make
clear during the teaching that usually a couple is the runners, and they
swing each other afterwards.
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=18132
One thing that has helped me in teaching corners successfully is that I
spend almost equal time talking to the corners as the runners. I get them
to identify the first runner coming at them and to signal that person by
catching their eye and holding up their left hand/arm in allemande
position, then do the same for their second runner. With both sides
actively looking rather than the corners just waiting for someone to come
at them, there's less confusion.
--jh--
On Fri, Sep 13, 2024 at 12:42 AM Abbie Sorg via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Any suggestions on contra corners dances? None have
been called at our
local dance for years now, and I want to try and re-introduce the move.
I've been calling for a few years and think it's a good time to try, but I
haven't collected any contra corners dances yet so I'd like to start with
something as straightforward as possible.
Chorus Jig seems like the natural choice, but I noticed that
basically every video I could find of it uses the same tune. How rigid is
this tradition? What if the band doesn't have this in their repertoire?
Will the contra police raid the dance hall if I call this choreography to a
different tune?
Abbie Sorg
Tucson, AZ
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
60
days inactive
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days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
15 comments
15 participants
participants (15)
-
Abbie Sorg -
Ann Fallon -
Colin Hume -
jeremykorr＠hotmail.com -
Joe Harrington -
john＠modernjive.com -
Jonathan Sivier -
Maia McCormick -
Peter Foster -
Ric Goldman - letsdance -
Rich Goss -
Richard Fischer -
sjapartments＠gmail.com -
Susan English -
Tepfer, Seth