25 Apr
2023
25 Apr
'23
12:12 p.m.
*"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"*
The contra dance medley at NEFFA
<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023/> is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or
seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted
to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four
to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In
computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at
the bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side
couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides,
etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
4:38 p.m.
We do this in Seattle almost every time we have our annual marathon to
benefit Northwest Folklife Festival. Since I don't call squares I can't
help much, but I have a couple of the programs.
2016:
Tica Tica Timing (end w/partner b&s)
to a square, to a waltz, back to contra.
Then -
Still More O'More (end w/pb&s)
to a square, to
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
2019:
The Carousel (end w/neighbor sw)
to a square, to a waltz, back to contra.
and -
Waltz, scatter sets, contra
Sherry Nevins and Lindsey Dono are the masterminds behind the programming,
but I don't know if either is on this list.
-Amy
On Tue, Apr 25, 2023, 5:24 AM Rich Goss via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I remember Ron Buchannan doing it, but I don’t recall
how he did it.
Perhaps he went the other way, square to contra. Might be worth a youtube
search.
Rich
On Apr 25, 2023, at 1:13 PM, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
*"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"*
The contra dance medley at NEFFA
<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023/> is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or
seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted
to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In
computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at
the bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side
couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides,
etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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12:32 p.m.
New subject: [External] Putting a square in a contra medley
Ron Buchanan was the first person I saw medley a square into a contra. I don't
remember him doing the reverse, but he may have.
Going from square into contra is actually pretty easy. Sides chain, get the heads in
between the sides (say, heads DSD opposite, current corner DSD), then go down the hall
four in line. Turn alone, come back up, CL 3 places, partner swing. poof.
I haven't found a method for smoothly going from contra to a square on the fly. The
best I've done is Circle left, now pause, and change into hands eight. Then circle
left, open up. Then identify the square - and have sides chain across.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
________________________________
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 8:12 AM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
The contra dance medley at
NEFFA<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023… is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or seven). I was
thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to groups of
eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science speak the
issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the
top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is
fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by
figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the
bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples circle
left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
3:37 p.m.
New subject: [External] Putting a square in a contra medley
Square to Contra or effective Contra is, as Seth said, incredibly easy. All
it technically takes is
“Sides lead right,” but there are infinite solutions. There is inter-square
choreography in Lloyd Shaw’s book, so the basic idea goes back to at least
the 1930s, and it has been done as a gimmick periodically by my club to
transition to a contra since the 50s. I believe there is mention of it in
the notes of the Shaw Fellowship.
The challenge with creating squares from a contra is propagating the eight
hands down the line. If you don’t mind “breaking” the contra flow by
taking a moment for that, then it isn’t too hard—get into becket and count.
Making it organic is harder. You can use some of these tricks:
1. With two parallel contra lines: down hall In lines of four, merge to
lines of 8. Face the center, centers Star through, chain, and proceed.
2. Scatter promenade, merge to groups of 4, circle, merge to sets of 8
3. Start with Tempest formation and go.
4. My favorite for a natural propagation: create lines of four, down and
return. Have lead 4 wheel and start a dip and dive. You now have upward and
downward facing lines of four that will self-propagate. Once complete
through all lines, call as you will.
5. Same idea as above, except grand March style with progressively
conjoined alternating peel offs until you have lines of 8.
6. ChainsAw promenade in lines of 4
If you are really leaning into it as a square, or have actual square
dancers, there are other options. You could have them simply come up as 4s,
1st set wheel and call “if you can trade by and everyone repeat.”
Neal
On Tue, Apr 25, 2023 at 6:33 AM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Ron Buchanan was the first person I saw medley a
square into a contra. I
don't remember him doing the reverse, but he may have.
Going from square into contra is actually pretty easy. Sides chain, get
the heads in between the sides (say, heads DSD opposite, current corner
DSD), then go down the hall four in line. Turn alone, come back up, CL 3
places, partner swing. poof.
I haven't found a method for smoothly going from contra to a square on the
fly. The best I've done is Circle left, now pause, and change into hands
eight. Then circle left, open up. Then identify the square - and have sides
chain across.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
------------------------------
*From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Tuesday, April 25, 2023 8:12 AM
*To:* Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
*"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"*
The contra dance medley at NEFFA
<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023/> is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or
seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted
to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In
computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at
the bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side
couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides,
etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
3:42 p.m.
New subject: [External] Putting a square in a contra medley
Not to get too whacky here but: how about contra --> 4-face-4 --> square???
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Apr 25, 2023 at 8:33 AM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Ron Buchanan was the first person I saw medley a
square into a contra. I
don't remember him doing the reverse, but he may have.
Going from square into contra is actually pretty easy. Sides chain, get
the heads in between the sides (say, heads DSD opposite, current corner
DSD), then go down the hall four in line. Turn alone, come back up, CL 3
places, partner swing. poof.
I haven't found a method for smoothly going from contra to a square on the
fly. The best I've done is Circle left, now pause, and change into hands
eight. Then circle left, open up. Then identify the square - and have sides
chain across.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
------------------------------
*From:* Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Tuesday, April 25, 2023 8:12 AM
*To:* Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
*"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"*
The contra dance medley at NEFFA
<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023/> is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or
seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted
to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In
computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at
the bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side
couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides,
etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
4:17 p.m.
There are a number of dances in English Country Dance where 2 lines
function as 1 set (eg Pat Shaw's K&E). There is also at least one dance
in the contra repertoire which does this - Major Hey. Although Major Hey
is described as a 4-facing-4 it is really 2 becket sets side by side
with dancers involved from both sets together. As you are working in
groups of 8 dancers, it is not difficult to envision moving backwards
and forwards between contras and squares with this formation. The tricky
bit would be lining everyone up correctly, as it would need an even
number of lines and each pair of lines would require an equal number of
couples.
Over to you, Bob Isaacs!
Michael Barraclough
On 25/04/2023 13:12, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers wrote:
/"if we had more time we'd throw in a
square"/
The contra dance medley at NEFFA
<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023/> is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is
five or seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you
actually wanted to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do
this. In computer science speak the issue is that it takes time
linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the top
couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as
they pass, which is fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16
beats, and you adjust the time by figuring out how much intro to do on
the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier:
side couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at
the sides, etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
5:20 p.m.
I immediately think of the 4x4 dances that have a portion be in square formation. But yes,
the transition would be interesting.
Dorcas Hand
Houston
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 7:13 AM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
The contra dance medley at
NEFFA<https://www.neffa.org/folk-festival/new-england-folk-festival-2023… is
normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or seven). I was
thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to groups of
eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science speak the
issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the
top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is
fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by
figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the
bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples circle
left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
10:01 p.m.
Okay. It's time to tell an embarrassing story on myself.
Another caller and I once concocted an unusual medley for use at the transition between
our sets at an all-night dance: We would begin with one of those four-face-four dances in
which the dancers briefly get into square formation, then medley into another
four-face-four also featuring a temporary square, then keep the dancers in squares for a
while, and finally turn each column of squares into a duple-minor contra set. We carefully
worked out all the details, such as being sure that the square dance wouldn't have a
promenade with an ambiguous ending position, and figuring out how to make the dancers have
the same direction of progression in the final duple improper dance as they had had before
the transition from four-face-four to squares.
At the actual event, the other caller got the dancers lined up four facing four, making
sure that there were an even number of foursomes in each set (so that nobody would be left
out when we switched into the square dance) and that they were well spaced along the
length of the hall (so that the eventual duple improper sets wouldn't be too crowded),
walked them through the first dance, and cued the band to start playing.
All went well as we medleyed into the second four-face-four dance and then into the square
dance. As the time approached for the final transition from squares to duple improper
contra lines, I was at the microphone.
I maneuvered the dancers into lines at the sides and had them go forward and back. OK so
far. Then I had them make ``long contra lines'' and go forward and back again.
There were audible ``Oh''s from the floor as some of the dancers anticipated what
was supposed to happen next. The final step of the transition was a fairly ordinary
contemporary contradance ending, something like
Women [the term then in use] chain [to original partner]
Circle left 3/4; pass through [along the set]
that would leave the dancers ready to balance and swing the next in line as the band
kicked into the final tune of their set.
[Before you read the rest of this message, I invite you to guess what went wrong.]
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Within two seconds after uttering the words "Circle left" I saw to my dismay
that about half the dancers were in circles of four as I'd intended, but the other
half were in circles of eight! It was beyond whatever presence of mind I could muster at
that hour of the morning to find a way to recover, and I eventually just signaled the band
to go out as the floor dissolved into chaos. (Sigh!)
Addendum 1: At another event several years later, I did manage to call the same medley
without having it dissolve into chaos, this time using timely and emphatic calls that left
no doubt about which groups of FOUR dancers were to form the circles.
Addendum 2: I've sometimes seen callers new to calling squares create some confusion
with a much less spectacular build-up than in my story above, simply by calling a sequence
like
Head couples go forward and back.
Circle left.
without being explicit about whether the call "Circle left" was directed to the
heads or to all eight dancers.
--Jim
Santa Clara, CA
On Apr 25, 2023, at 10:20 AM, Dorcas Hand via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I immediately think of the 4x4 dances that have a portion be in square formation. But
yes, the transition would be interesting.
Dorcas Hand
Houston
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 7:13 AM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
The contra dance medley at NEFFA is normally six dances, each six times through (well,
the last one is five or seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you
actually wanted to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to groups of
eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science speak the
issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the
top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is
fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by
figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the
bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples circle
left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
26 Apr
26 Apr
1:34 p.m.
Can you just prime the dancers that AG some point you will call from becket “LLFB, take
hands 8 from the top” and then hash some basic things that hep with visualizing the 8
(circle left, back to the right, into the middle, etc) until it gets passed down? Then
square your sets and go.
Or you could do LLFB in becket over and over again until they pass hands 8 down and switch
as they’re doing so to into the middle in their circles.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 25, 2023, at 6:01 PM, jim saxe via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Okay. It's time to tell an embarrassing story on myself.
Another caller and I once concocted an unusual medley for use at the transition between
our sets at an all-night dance: We would begin with one of those four-face-four dances in
which the dancers briefly get into square formation, then medley into another
four-face-four also featuring a temporary square, then keep the dancers in squares for a
while, and finally turn each column of squares into a duple-minor contra set. We carefully
worked out all the details, such as being sure that the square dance wouldn't have a
promenade with an ambiguous ending position, and figuring out how to make the dancers have
the same direction of progression in the final duple improper dance as they had had before
the transition from four-face-four to squares.
At the actual event, the other caller got the dancers lined up four facing four, making
sure that there were an even number of foursomes in each set (so that nobody would be left
out when we switched into the square dance) and that they were well spaced along the
length of the hall (so that the eventual duple improper sets wouldn't be too crowded),
walked them through the first dance, and cued the band to start playing.
All went well as we medleyed into the second four-face-four dance and then into the
square dance. As the time approached for the final transition from squares to duple
improper contra lines, I was at the microphone.
I maneuvered the dancers into lines at the sides and had them go forward and back. OK so
far. Then I had them make ``long contra lines'' and go forward and back again.
There were audible ``Oh''s from the floor as some of the dancers anticipated what
was supposed to happen next. The final step of the transition was a fairly ordinary
contemporary contradance ending, something like
Women [the term then in use] chain [to original partner]
Circle left 3/4; pass through [along the set]
that would leave the dancers ready to balance and swing the next in line as the band
kicked into the final tune of their set.
[Before you read the rest of this message, I invite you to guess what went wrong.]
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Within two seconds after uttering the words "Circle left" I saw to my dismay
that about half the dancers were in circles of four as I'd intended, but the other
half were in circles of eight! It was beyond whatever presence of mind I could muster at
that hour of the morning to find a way to recover, and I eventually just signaled the band
to go out as the floor dissolved into chaos. (Sigh!)
Addendum 1: At another event several years later, I did manage to call the same medley
without having it dissolve into chaos, this time using timely and emphatic calls that left
no doubt about which groups of FOUR dancers were to form the circles.
Addendum 2: I've sometimes seen callers new to calling squares create some confusion
with a much less spectacular build-up than in my story above, simply by calling a sequence
like
Head couples go forward and back.
Circle left.
without being explicit about whether the call "Circle left" was directed to the
heads or to all eight dancers.
--Jim
Santa Clara, CA
On Apr 25, 2023, at 10:20 AM, Dorcas Hand via
Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I immediately think of the 4x4 dances that have a portion be in square formation. But
yes, the transition would be interesting.
Dorcas Hand
Houston
From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 7:13 AM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
The contra dance medley at NEFFA is normally six dances, each six times through (well,
the last one is five or seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you
actually wanted to include a square...
The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to groups of
eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science speak the
issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you could have the
top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is
fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by
figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at the
bottom to square up?
(Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples circle
left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)
Would this work?
Jeff
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:39 p.m.
Oops without the typos.
Can you just prime the dancers that at some point you will call from becket “LLFB, take
hands 8 from the top” and then hash some basic things that help with visualizing the 8
(circle left, back to the right, into the middle, etc) until it gets passed down? Then
square your sets and go.
Or you could do LLFB in becket over and over again until they pass hands 8 down and switch
as they’re doing so to “into the middle“ in their circles.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 26, 2023, at 9:34 AM, Alexandra Deis-Lauby
<adeislauby(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Can you just prime the dancers that AG some point you will call from becket “LLFB, take
hands 8 from the top” and then hash some basic things that hep with visualizing the 8
(circle left, back to the right, into the middle, etc) until it gets passed down? Then
square your sets and go.
Or you could do LLFB in becket over and over again until they pass hands 8 down and
switch as they’re doing so to into the middle in their circles.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 25, 2023, at 6:01 PM, jim saxe via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Okay. It's time to tell an embarrassing story on myself.
>
> Another caller and I once concocted an unusual medley for use at the transition
between our sets at an all-night dance: We would begin with one of those four-face-four
dances in which the dancers briefly get into square formation, then medley into another
four-face-four also featuring a temporary square, then keep the dancers in squares for a
while, and finally turn each column of squares into a duple-minor contra set. We carefully
worked out all the details, such as being sure that the square dance wouldn't have a
promenade with an ambiguous ending position, and figuring out how to make the dancers have
the same direction of progression in the final duple improper dance as they had had before
the transition from four-face-four to squares.
>
> At the actual event, the other caller got the dancers lined up four facing four,
making sure that there were an even number of foursomes in each set (so that nobody would
be left out when we switched into the square dance) and that they were well spaced along
the length of the hall (so that the eventual duple improper sets wouldn't be too
crowded), walked them through the first dance, and cued the band to start playing.
>
> All went well as we medleyed into the second four-face-four dance and then into the
square dance. As the time approached for the final transition from squares to duple
improper contra lines, I was at the microphone.
>
> I maneuvered the dancers into lines at the sides and had them go forward and back.
OK so far. Then I had them make ``long contra lines'' and go forward and back
again. There were audible ``Oh''s from the floor as some of the dancers
anticipated what was supposed to happen next. The final step of the transition was a
fairly ordinary contemporary contradance ending, something like
>
> Women [the term then in use] chain [to original partner]
> Circle left 3/4; pass through [along the set]
>
> that would leave the dancers ready to balance and swing the next in line as the band
kicked into the final tune of their set.
>
> [Before you read the rest of this message, I invite you to guess what went wrong.]
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> Within two seconds after uttering the words "Circle left" I saw to my
dismay that about half the dancers were in circles of four as I'd intended, but the
other half were in circles of eight! It was beyond whatever presence of mind I could
muster at that hour of the morning to find a way to recover, and I eventually just
signaled the band to go out as the floor dissolved into chaos. (Sigh!)
>
> Addendum 1: At another event several years later, I did manage to call the same
medley without having it dissolve into chaos, this time using timely and emphatic calls
that left no doubt about which groups of FOUR dancers were to form the circles.
>
> Addendum 2: I've sometimes seen callers new to calling squares create some
confusion with a much less spectacular build-up than in my story above, simply by calling
a sequence like
>
> Head couples go forward and back.
> Circle left.
>
> without being explicit about whether the call "Circle left" was directed to
the heads or to all eight dancers.
>
> --Jim
> Santa Clara, CA
>
>>> On Apr 25, 2023, at 10:20 AM, Dorcas Hand via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> I immediately think of the 4x4 dances that have a portion be in square formation.
But yes, the transition would be interesting.
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston
>>
>> From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 7:13 AM
>> To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Subject: [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
>>
>> "if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
>>
>> The contra dance medley at NEFFA is normally six dances, each six times through
(well, the last one is five or seven). I was thinking about what you'd need to do if
you actually wanted to include a square...
>>
>> The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of four to
groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In computer science
speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number of dancers. But maybe you
could have the top couple sashay down from the top, and everyone takes hands eight as they
pass, which is fast enough even in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust
the time by figuring out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left
out at the bottom to square up?
>>
>> (Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side couples
circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides, etc)
>>
>> Would this work?
>>
>> Jeff
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
27 Apr
27 Apr
5:39 p.m.
Jeff, you and the Free Raisins were playing for me when I did this at an
hour+ medley at a dance weekend in the midwest. I started with a grand
march, went into and out of La Bastrigue (as a mixer and then got them back
to their original partners) and then from the floor (with wireless mic) got
them into 4x4 formation. We went into the square midway through the 4x4
with a band change, and then came out of the square back into the 4x4, and
then from the 4x4 into regular contra sets.
It was an incredibly complex piece to orchestrate (choreography, bands,
sound, and expectations), and came close to breaking down multiple times.
I'll also add that some of the dancers found it incredibly frustrating
(including one who told me to my face, while I was on the floor calling and
directing the transition out of the grand march, to "fuck off and die";
that stuck with me). Sometimes dancers see the medley as their chance to do
what they want to do (show-off, chaos sets, swap partners, etc.) and think
they know what's happening. Deviating from their expectations on 'the big
thing' that they've built up in their heads can ruffle some feathers. Folks
seem to care about their medley more than just the sum of the dances.
So while I can see the appeal of surprising them with a square inside their
medley, if you cross the streams and mix a chaos set with a non-chaos set,
that might annoy some folks. It might be worth forgoing the surprise and
prepping them for it. That's just one example, but I mention it to
highlight that there's more to manage about the whole thing than just the
choreographic elements.
On Wed, Apr 26, 2023 at 9:41 AM Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Oops without the typos.
Can you just prime the dancers that at some point you will call from
becket “LLFB, take hands 8 from the top” and then hash some basic things
that help with visualizing the 8 (circle left, back to the right, into the
middle, etc) until it gets passed down? Then square your sets and go.
Or you could do LLFB in becket over and over again until they pass hands 8
down and switch as they’re doing so to “into the middle“ in their circles.
Sent from my iPhone
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
On Apr 26, 2023, at 9:34 AM, Alexandra Deis-Lauby
<adeislauby(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Can you just prime the dancers that AG some point you will call from
becket
“LLFB, take hands 8 from the top” and then hash some basic things
that hep with visualizing the 8 (circle left, back to the right, into the
middle, etc) until it gets passed down? Then square your sets and go.
Or you could do LLFB in becket over and over again until they pass hands
8 down
and switch as they’re doing so to into the middle in their circles.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 25, 2023, at 6:01 PM, jim saxe via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Okay. It's time to tell an embarrassing story on myself.
>
> Another caller and I once concocted an unusual medley for use at the
transition between our sets at an all-night dance: We would begin with one
of those four-face-four dances in which the dancers briefly get into square
formation, then medley into another four-face-four also featuring a
temporary square, then keep the dancers in squares for a while, and finally
turn each column of squares into a duple-minor contra set. We carefully
worked out all the details, such as being sure that the square dance
wouldn't have a promenade with an ambiguous ending position, and figuring
out how to make the dancers have the same direction of progression in the
final duple improper dance as they had had before the transition from
four-face-four to squares.
>
> At the actual event, the other caller got the dancers lined up four
facing
four, making sure that there were an even number of foursomes in
each set (so that nobody would be left out when we switched into the square
dance) and that they were well spaced along the length of the hall (so that
the eventual duple improper sets wouldn't be too crowded), walked them
through the first dance, and cued the band to start playing.
>
> All went well as we medleyed into the second four-face-four dance and
then
into the square dance. As the time approached for the final
transition from squares to duple improper contra lines, I was at the
microphone.
>
> I maneuvered the dancers into lines at the sides and had them go
forward and
back. OK so far. Then I had them make ``long contra lines''
and go forward and back again. There were audible ``Oh''s from the floor
as some of the dancers anticipated what was supposed to happen next. The
final step of the transition was a fairly ordinary contemporary contradance
ending, something like
>
> Women [the term then in use] chain [to original partner]
> Circle left 3/4; pass through [along the set]
>
> that would leave the dancers ready to balance and swing the next in
line as
the band kicked into the final tune of their set.
>
> [Before you read the rest of this message, I invite you to guess what
went
wrong.]
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> .
>
> Within two seconds after uttering the words "Circle left" I saw to my
dismay that about half the dancers were in circles of four as I'd intended,
but the other half were in circles of eight! It was beyond whatever
presence of mind I could muster at that hour of the morning to find a way
to recover, and I eventually just signaled the band to go out as the floor
dissolved into chaos. (Sigh!)
>
> Addendum 1: At another event several years later, I did manage to call
the
same medley without having it dissolve into chaos, this time using
timely and emphatic calls that left no doubt about which groups of FOUR
dancers were to form the circles.
>
> Addendum 2: I've sometimes seen callers new to calling squares create
some
confusion with a much less spectacular build-up than in my story
above, simply by calling a sequence like
>
> Head couples go forward and back.
> Circle left.
>
> without being explicit about whether the call "Circle left" was
directed to the heads or to all eight dancers.
>
> --Jim
> Santa Clara, CA
>
>>> On Apr 25, 2023, at 10:20 AM, Dorcas Hand via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> I immediately think of the 4x4 dances that have a portion be in square
formation. But yes, the transition would be interesting.
>> Dorcas Hand
>> Houston
>>
>> From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 7:13 AM
>> To: Contra Callers <contracallers(a)sharedweight.net>
>> Subject: [Callers] Putting a square in a contra medley
>>
>> "if we had more time we'd throw in a square"
>>
>> The contra dance medley at NEFFA is normally six dances, each six
times
through (well, the last one is five or seven). I was thinking about
what you'd need to do if you actually wanted to include a square...
>>
>> The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this. In
computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
of dancers. But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
out how much intro to do on the square)? And then tell anyone left out at
the bottom to square up?
>>
>> (Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier:
side
couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the
sides, etc)
>>
>> Would this work?
>>
>> Jeff
>> _______________________________________________
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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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11 comments
11 participants
participants (11)
-
Alexandra Deis-Lauby -
Amy Wimmer -
Dorcas Hand -
Jeff Kaufman -
jim saxe -
Luke Donforth -
Maia McCormick -
Michael Barraclough -
Neal Schlein -
Rich Goss -
Tepfer, Seth