16 Apr
2025
16 Apr
'25
10:03 a.m.
From: Taco van Ieperen <tacovan(a)gmail.com>
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Related, I find the most annoying figures to call are 1.5 figures. There's
just no way to say
"New Neighbor Allemande Left Once and a Half" in four beats. Also,
beginners struggle parsing 1.5x as trading places, especially across the
set.
There are lots of other thoughts on this thread about your other questions,
but I will jump in on this specific one. Bear in mind here that you are
talking about two different things (1) what move the dancers have to start
at the top of the phrase, and (2) where they have to end up when they are
done with that move. Those two pieces of information do not have to be
presented in the same call, and in fact it may be easier for newer dancers
to sort things out if you separate the two. For example:
5 NEW
6 NEIGH-bor
7 LEFT
8 alle-MANDE
1 go ONCE and a
2 HALF to
3 TRADE
4 PLA-ces
5 ROB-ins
6 to the MIDdle
7 for a RIGHT-hand
8 CHAIN
1 do a COURTesy
2 TURN and
3 FACE
4 acROSS
etc.
Now, I am sometimes more pattery in my calling and use more words than
others might. Put in whatever words work for you, and obviously you can
reduce the number of calls as the dancers become more comfortable with the
figure. But the point is that there is no need to tell the dancers how many
times they have to allemande before they start. They need to know where to
go and what move to start doing. You have time to add the additional
information later.
David
19 Apr
19 Apr
5:35 a.m.
New subject: Calling Clearly for Beginner Heavy Groups
Thank you Joe for the list of easy dances. There are a few new ones to me
which I'll definitely use at an upcoming event.
I've created a list with all the dances together with their figures:
https://contradb.com/programs/647
Cheers,
Brian
https://contradance.at/
On Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 7:08 AM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Jumping in on dance selection and tempo.
You CAN call duple-minor contras to an all-beginner crowd if you choose
the right workshop and dances. See the video at orlandocontra.org, which
was 45 brand-new beginners. The key is to have very simple dances. Simple
dances done fast are fun, period, even for experts! Some people assume
that slowing things down makes it easier. But, except for dancers with
mobility issues, slow dances (e.g., 100 bpm) can be harder than the
standard 120 bpm of New England contras, if the dance itself is simple
enough.
What's simple?
1. Low piece count - more/all 16-beat figures
2. Rescue moves - long swings, long lines forward and back, that are done
in one place, so people can catch up and regroup
3. Highly connected - less chance to wander off in the wrong direction
4. Near-repeat dances - A and B parts are almost the same, one with
partner and one with neighbor
5. Use only the moves done in your workshop for the first several dances,
then max one new move (simple ones) per dance
6. Simple progression at end of B2
7. No leaving the set, pull-bys along the set, shadows
8. Simple figures only - no heys, chains, waves, roll-aways, contra
corners, orbits, spank the alligator, ...
Also:
If you try a dance that doesn't work, give them a win with a very simple
dance done quickly for the next dance. Have several of these ready. Don't
waste them early!
Design your workshop deliberately to teach just the half-dozen moves
you'll need in your first dances. Teach it through dance, not lecture.
Repeat a LOT (let your dances run a bit). Use simple circle dances, not
contras, at least initially. Visit other callers' lessons and take notes.
Simplicity
Clarity
Repetition
...
Simplicity
Clarity
Repetition
Write out your teaching scripts for several dances and edit them down.
Write out your calls and timing.
Video-record yourself and watch later (prepare to be embarrassed! forgive
yourself! eat some chocolate or ice cream...)
Know your group. Different beginners are different. There are
generational and stage-of-life differences in learning pace and style, as
well as individual differences in personality, aptitude, and prior
dance/music experience. Two groups of ten random people of the same age
and social background can be quite different! Adapt.
Label your dances by level. Select from the group that your dancers are
ready for.
Some of my collection (what's in each level depends on what your beginner
workshop teaches, so YMMV; I don't workshop a star, for example):
Level 1
Airpants
The Big Easy
Family Contra
Midwest Folklore
Level 2
Claire's Request
Easy Peasy
Hypnosis
Kinematic Vorticity
The Nice Combination
Pearls of Wisdom
Push the Button
Thursday Night Special #1
Level 3
Al's Safeway Produce
Another Easy One
Appetizer
The Baby Rose
The Balter Dance
Bristol Court
Broken Sixpence
The Cure for the Claps
Forgotten Treasure
Hocus Pocus
M.A.D. about Dancing
Missing You
Tica Tica Timing
Good luck!
--jh--
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM Taco van Ieperen via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Thanks so much for all the suggestions and
discussion everyone! I picked
up some great tips.
Taco
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM David Kirchner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
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From: Taco van Ieperen <tacovan(a)gmail.com>
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To unsubscribe send an email to
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To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Related, I find the most annoying figures to call are 1.5 figures.
There's just no way to say
"New Neighbor Allemande Left Once and a Half" in four beats. Also,
beginners struggle parsing 1.5x as trading places, especially across the
set.
There are lots of other thoughts on this thread about your other
questions, but I will jump in on this specific one. Bear in mind here that
you are talking about two different things (1) what move the dancers have
to start at the top of the phrase, and (2) where they have to end up when
they are done with that move. Those two pieces of information do not have
to be presented in the same call, and in fact it may be easier for newer
dancers to sort things out if you separate the two. For example:
5 NEW
6 NEIGH-bor
7 LEFT
8 alle-MANDE
1 go ONCE and a
2 HALF to
3 TRADE
4 PLA-ces
5 ROB-ins
6 to the MIDdle
7 for a RIGHT-hand
8 CHAIN
1 do a COURTesy
2 TURN and
3 FACE
4 acROSS
etc.
Now, I am sometimes more pattery in my calling and use more words than
others might. Put in whatever words work for you, and obviously you can
reduce the number of calls as the dancers become more comfortable with the
figure. But the point is that there is no need to tell the dancers how many
times they have to allemande before they start. They need to know where to
go and what move to start doing. You have time to add the additional
information later.
David
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To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
17 Apr
17 Apr
5:26 a.m.
New subject: Calling Clearly for Beginner Heavy Groups
Hi,
I believe that the most important thing you can teach new contra dancers is
how to Swing well.
It has been estimated that, if you have an evening of modern contra dances,
then you will spend THIRTY MINUTES Swinging!
It is crucial to make sure everyone can Swing well. And please don’t rely
on the “experienced” dancers to teach the Swing; they are quite likely to pass on bad
habits!
See https://contrafusion.co.uk/SwingWorkshop.html for tutorial videos and
essays on Swinging and hints & tips for teaching it.
For beginner-heavy sessions I add in Circle Mixers, Sicilian Circles, easy
Squares, Triplets and anything else to give variety (like they did in the old days, before
contra dance evenings polarized into just contras). Variety is the spice of life! For
over 100 different formations see https://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html!
I also avoid Allemande 1.5. Mainly because it is so often so badly
performed, with so many dancers treating it as arm-wrestling. There are much better ways
to cross the set!
You will find the combined wisdom of this discussion group on Allemandes at
https://contrafusion.co.uk/Allemande.html .
I personally find dances with both Partner Balance & Swing and Neighbour
Balance & Swing rather tedious; add in a simple transition between the two and nearly
three-quarters of the dance is just Swinging. I love Swinging, but not at the expense of
making the dance boring.
If you are going to run dances like that, then I would recommend only
running them 7 or 9 times through, then moving on to give variety.
I hope that helps.
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
16 Apr
16 Apr
10:08 p.m.
New subject: Calling Clearly for Beginner Heavy Groups
Jumping in on dance selection and tempo.
You CAN call duple-minor contras to an all-beginner crowd if you choose the
right workshop and dances. See the video at orlandocontra.org, which was
45 brand-new beginners. The key is to have very simple dances. Simple
dances done fast are fun, period, even for experts! Some people assume
that slowing things down makes it easier. But, except for dancers with
mobility issues, slow dances (e.g., 100 bpm) can be harder than the
standard 120 bpm of New England contras, if the dance itself is simple
enough.
What's simple?
1. Low piece count - more/all 16-beat figures
2. Rescue moves - long swings, long lines forward and back, that are done
in one place, so people can catch up and regroup
3. Highly connected - less chance to wander off in the wrong direction
4. Near-repeat dances - A and B parts are almost the same, one with partner
and one with neighbor
5. Use only the moves done in your workshop for the first several dances,
then max one new move (simple ones) per dance
6. Simple progression at end of B2
7. No leaving the set, pull-bys along the set, shadows
8. Simple figures only - no heys, chains, waves, roll-aways, contra
corners, orbits, spank the alligator, ...
Also:
If you try a dance that doesn't work, give them a win with a very simple
dance done quickly for the next dance. Have several of these ready. Don't
waste them early!
Design your workshop deliberately to teach just the half-dozen moves you'll
need in your first dances. Teach it through dance, not lecture. Repeat a
LOT (let your dances run a bit). Use simple circle dances, not contras, at
least initially. Visit other callers' lessons and take notes.
Simplicity
Clarity
Repetition
...
Simplicity
Clarity
Repetition
Write out your teaching scripts for several dances and edit them down.
Write out your calls and timing.
Video-record yourself and watch later (prepare to be embarrassed! forgive
yourself! eat some chocolate or ice cream...)
Know your group. Different beginners are different. There are
generational and stage-of-life differences in learning pace and style, as
well as individual differences in personality, aptitude, and prior
dance/music experience. Two groups of ten random people of the same age
and social background can be quite different! Adapt.
Label your dances by level. Select from the group that your dancers are
ready for.
Some of my collection (what's in each level depends on what your beginner
workshop teaches, so YMMV; I don't workshop a star, for example):
Level 1
Airpants
The Big Easy
Family Contra
Midwest Folklore
Level 2
Claire's Request
Easy Peasy
Hypnosis
Kinematic Vorticity
The Nice Combination
Pearls of Wisdom
Push the Button
Thursday Night Special #1
Level 3
Al's Safeway Produce
Another Easy One
Appetizer
The Baby Rose
The Balter Dance
Bristol Court
Broken Sixpence
The Cure for the Claps
Forgotten Treasure
Hocus Pocus
M.A.D. about Dancing
Missing You
Tica Tica Timing
Good luck!
--jh--
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM Taco van Ieperen via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Thanks so much for all the suggestions and discussion
everyone! I picked
up some great tips.
Taco
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM David Kirchner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
From: Taco van Ieperen <tacovan(a)gmail.com>
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Related, I find the most annoying figures to call are 1.5 figures.
There's just no way to say
"New Neighbor Allemande Left Once and a Half" in four beats. Also,
beginners struggle parsing 1.5x as trading places, especially across the
set.
There are lots of other thoughts on this thread about your other
questions, but I will jump in on this specific one. Bear in mind here that
you are talking about two different things (1) what move the dancers have
to start at the top of the phrase, and (2) where they have to end up when
they are done with that move. Those two pieces of information do not have
to be presented in the same call, and in fact it may be easier for newer
dancers to sort things out if you separate the two. For example:
5 NEW
6 NEIGH-bor
7 LEFT
8 alle-MANDE
1 go ONCE and a
2 HALF to
3 TRADE
4 PLA-ces
5 ROB-ins
6 to the MIDdle
7 for a RIGHT-hand
8 CHAIN
1 do a COURTesy
2 TURN and
3 FACE
4 acROSS
etc.
Now, I am sometimes more pattery in my calling and use more words than
others might. Put in whatever words work for you, and obviously you can
reduce the number of calls as the dancers become more comfortable with the
figure. But the point is that there is no need to tell the dancers how many
times they have to allemande before they start. They need to know where to
go and what move to start doing. You have time to add the additional
information later.
David
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
10:33 a.m.
New subject: Calling Clearly for Beginner Heavy Groups
Thanks so much for all the suggestions and discussion everyone! I picked up
some great tips.
Taco
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025 at 11:04 AM David Kirchner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
From: Taco van Ieperen <tacovan(a)gmail.com>
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Related, I find the most annoying figures to call are 1.5 figures.
There's just no way to say
"New Neighbor Allemande Left Once and a Half" in four beats. Also,
beginners struggle parsing 1.5x as trading places, especially across the
set.
There are lots of other thoughts on this thread about your other
questions, but I will jump in on this specific one. Bear in mind here that
you are talking about two different things (1) what move the dancers have
to start at the top of the phrase, and (2) where they have to end up when
they are done with that move. Those two pieces of information do not have
to be presented in the same call, and in fact it may be easier for newer
dancers to sort things out if you separate the two. For example:
5 NEW
6 NEIGH-bor
7 LEFT
8 alle-MANDE
1 go ONCE and a
2 HALF to
3 TRADE
4 PLA-ces
5 ROB-ins
6 to the MIDdle
7 for a RIGHT-hand
8 CHAIN
1 do a COURTesy
2 TURN and
3 FACE
4 acROSS
etc.
Now, I am sometimes more pattery in my calling and use more words than
others might. Put in whatever words work for you, and obviously you can
reduce the number of calls as the dancers become more comfortable with the
figure. But the point is that there is no need to tell the dancers how many
times they have to allemande before they start. They need to know where to
go and what move to start doing. You have time to add the additional
information later.
David
_______________________________________________
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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4 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
Brian Roberts -
David Kirchner -
Joe Harrington -
John Sweeney -
Taco van Ieperen