6 Aug
2024
6 Aug
'24
12:37 a.m.
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that significant
dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
noon
David, I’ve been saying that for years and thought it might just be me! Years ago I
have removed all my dance cards that end with a chain. The only exception is Steve
Zakon-Anderson’s great Trip to Lambertville which flows from a chain to ladies into the
middle for a long wave. Not nearly as awkward. Thanks for mentioning that!
Vicki MorrisonTallahassee
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 10:23 PM, David Harding via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My wife once complained to a caller about some awkward transition. The response was,
"You just haven't figured out the right flourish to make it flow." An
example of this is any improper dance that ends with courtesy turn, followed by some
interaction with your next neighbor to start the next time through. That transition is
fine for the robin, who doesn't go all the way around to face in, but rather stops
short, facing the next neighbor. The lark, on the other hand, winds up facing the wrong
direction. However, if the robin twirls under their joined left arms, spinning once or
twice or more, the lark smoothly ends up facing the right direction to meet a new
neighbor.
David
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that significant dance writers
(not necessarily a majority) consider Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across 2. right chain after a swing 3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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2:23 a.m.
My wife once complained to a caller about some awkward transition. The
response was, "You just haven't figured out the right flourish to make
it flow." An example of this is any improper dance that ends with
courtesy turn, followed by some interaction with your next neighbor to
start the next time through. That transition is fine for the robin, who
doesn't go all the way around to face in, but rather stops short, facing
the next neighbor. The lark, on the other hand, winds up facing the
wrong direction. However, if the robin twirls under their joined left
arms, spinning once or twice or more, the lark smoothly ends up facing
the right direction to meet a new neighbor.
David
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:06 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
It's interesting to me that an important aspect of a good contra dance is
that it flows well. That's when we are in person. When we were dancing on
zoom, I developed an appreciation for the sudden changes of direction. I
guess that particular action was taking the place of all the dynamics and
interactions we have with partners and neighbors in an in-person dance.
Claire Baffaut, Columbia, MO.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 16:30 Robert Livingston via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
"pass thru-partner trade"
Bob Livingston
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 04:49:32 PM EDT, Julian Blechner via Contra
Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I'd love more people to try swapping thus to "pass through, California
Twirl to face in" or, at least, Right and Left through (which seems to be
slowly going out of fashion?)
In dance,
Julian Blechner
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:32 PM Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Please, pretty please, with sugar on top!
Please don’t call (or write) any more dances where a Half-Promenade
(across the set) is followed by a Circle to the Left! With the possible
exception of interlocking long wavy lines-- another big ugh! in my book,
there is nothing more jarring than the 1/2 Prom to a Circle Left combo
I once attended an (out-of-town) dance where three dances were called that
had that combo (three!) and in spite of all the (other) pretty good dances
and excellent dance partners, this is what I remember about that experience
to this day!
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:29 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My biggest nono is "too much clockwise". If moves are awkward or with meh
flow, that's not a health or safety thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking long wavy lines, yet — I think
it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say
I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances
that include this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical
dances with both a partner and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be
okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I would essentially never call a
dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre ones,
honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list, and think that almost any
sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I
like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens
solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does
not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often happens in
Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation; examples
include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled right
and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances
would not count because they are full and discrete actions that are specifically
accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box the gnat can often
replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>, in
case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and
right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are
often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every
possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a CCW
courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment style
preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the
dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
------------------------------
*From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
*To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase
are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this
that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of the
potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can
be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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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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
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
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6 Aug
6 Aug
9:23 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
"pass thru-partner trade"
Bob Livingston
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 04:49:32 PM EDT, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I'd love more people to try swapping thus to "pass through, California Twirl to
face in" or, at least, Right and Left through (which seems to be slowly going out of
fashion?)
In dance,Julian Blechner
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:32 PM Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Please, pretty please, with sugar ontop!
Please don’t call (or write) any moredances where a Half-Promenade (across the set) is
followed by a Circle to theLeft! With the possible exception of interlocking long wavy
lines-- another bigugh! in my book, there is nothing more jarring than the 1/2 Prom to a
Circle Leftcombo
I once attended an (out-of-town)dance where three dances were called that had that combo
(three!) and in spiteof all the (other) pretty good dances and excellent dance partners,
this iswhat I remember about that experience to this day!
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:29 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My biggest nono is "too much clockwise". If moves are awkward or with meh flow,
that's not a health or safety thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking long wavy lines, yet — I think it's
relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say I'm a huge
fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances that include
this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical dances with both a partner
and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I
would essentially never call a dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre ones, honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list, and think that almost any sequence CAN be
used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I like to call
“fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens solely because the sequence
doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does not flow naturally from the existing
movement. (This most often happens in Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett
formation; examples include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled
right and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances would not count
because they are full and discrete actions that are specifically accounted for in the flow
and timing.
Neal SchleinLibrarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box the gnat can often replace dsd and
shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make this (much
less extensive) list of figures + timings, in case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass through to
swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and right shoulder round 1.5x
don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are often frustrating. And I don't call
couples' dosidos anymore, they're a pain to execute correctly unless everyone in
the hall is EXTREMELY on top of it.)
--Maia McCormick (she/her)917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every possible move
transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a set of dances that now
numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s interesting which unlikely combinations
do occur and which rarely do. I hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a CCW courtesy turn)
into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment style preference, as I know plenty of
the classic dances have this combo. (Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure
while the 2s stand around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part because of the
strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure) followed by long lines drives
me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the dance is really
exceptional, ehhhh.
--Maia McCormick (she/her)917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
| | | Book time to meet with me | |
From: Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
To: New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos I don't agree with your list.
Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them.
There are dances with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can be a bit
awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the do-si-do. If only the
1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem. Shadow swings seem to be a
personal preference or dislike and not really a choreographic issue. I actually think
that a right chain after a swing can work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy
hands pointing across then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready
to pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can be very
welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same way. Not every dance
has to have continuous motion in the same direction all the time. I danced a dance with
that set of figures just last Friday and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to
work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a personal preference and
#2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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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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
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--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
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8:56 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I always try to do this when the transition to the next move works better (like a circle
L) If the next move is a hey or chain, I keep it as a R&L thru
Mac
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 03:49:10 PM CDT, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I'd love more people to try swapping thus to "pass through, California Twirl to
face in" or, at least, Right and Left through (which seems to be slowly going out of
fashion?)
In dance,
Julian Blechner
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:32 PM Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Please, pretty please, with sugar on top!
Please don’t call (or write) any more dances where a Half-Promenade (across the set) is
followed by a Circle to the Left! With the possible exception of interlocking long wavy
lines-- another big ugh! in my book, there is nothing more jarring than the 1/2 Prom to a
Circle Left combo
I once attended an (out-of-town) dance where three dances were called that had that combo
(three!) and in spite of all the (other) pretty good dances and excellent dance partners,
this is what I remember about that experience to this day!
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:29 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
My biggest nono is "too much
clockwise". If moves are awkward or with meh flow, that's not a health or safety
thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
Elizabeth Bloom Albert
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking
long wavy lines, yet — I think it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates
this move! Can't say I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances that include
this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical dances with both a partner
and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I
would essentially never call a dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre ones, honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list,
and think that almost any sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I like to call
“fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens solely because the sequence
doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does not flow naturally from the existing
movement. (This most often happens in Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett
formation; examples include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled
right and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances would not count
because they are full and discrete actions that are specifically accounted for in the flow
and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box the gnat can often replace dsd
and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings, in case it's useful to anyone!
>>
>> (This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and right shoulder
round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are often frustrating. And I
don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a pain to execute correctly
unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top of it.)
>> --
>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>> 917.279.8194
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
>>> Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every possible
move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a set of dances that now
numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s interesting which unlikely combinations
do occur and which rarely do. I hope this someday sees the light of day.
>>>
>>> —jh—
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>> Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
>>>>
>>>> My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a
CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment style preference,
as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo. (Likewise for dances where just
the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate
active couples.)
>>>>
>>>> Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure) followed by
long lines drives me up a wall.
>>>>
>>>> I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the
dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>>>> 917.279.8194
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>>>>>
>>>>> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>>>>>
>>>>> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>>>>>
>>>>> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> A right chain INTO a swing
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> A swing into a circle right
>>>>>> *
>>>>>> Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Book time to meet with me
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>> From: Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>>>>>> To: New Contra Callers List
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>>> Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half
of a phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this
that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of the potential issue and
teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can be a bit awkward in a crowded
line, but only if everyone is doing the do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are
doing it then there is no problem. Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or
dislike and not really a choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a
swing can work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across then
the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to pull by. I suppose you
might say there is a momentum change, but that can be very welcome in a dance where
everything seems to be traveling the same way. Not every dance has to have continuous
motion in the same direction all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just
last Friday and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is
a personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between figures.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jonathan
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>>>>>>> I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>>>> My list so far:
>>>>>>> 1. do-si-do across
>>>>>>> 2. right chain after a swing
>>>>>>> 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>>>>>>> 4. Shadow swings
>>>>>>> Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
_______________________________________________
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8:48 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I'd love more people to try swapping thus to "pass through, California
Twirl to face in" or, at least, Right and Left through (which seems to be
slowly going out of fashion?)
In dance,
Julian Blechner
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:32 PM Elizabeth Bloom Albert <ealbert75(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Please, pretty please, with sugar on top!
Please don’t call (or write) any more dances where a Half-Promenade
(across the set) is followed by a Circle to the Left! With the possible
exception of interlocking long wavy lines-- another big ugh! in my book,
there is nothing more jarring than the 1/2 Prom to a Circle Left combo
I once attended an (out-of-town) dance where three dances were called that
had that combo (three!) and in spite of all the (other) pretty good dances
and excellent dance partners, this is what I remember about that experience
to this day!
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:29 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My biggest nono is "too much
clockwise". If moves are awkward or with meh
flow, that's not a health or safety thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking
long wavy lines, yet — I think
it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say
I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances
that include this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical
dances with both a partner and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be
okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I would essentially never call a
dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre
ones, honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list,
and think that almost
any sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what
I like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a)
happens solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and
b) does not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often
happens in Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation;
examples include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly
angled right and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar
dances would not count because they are full and discrete actions that
are specifically accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box the gnat can
> often replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make
this
>> (much less extensive) list of figures + timings
>> <https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>,
>> in case it's useful to anyone!
>>
>> (This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and
>> pass through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x
>> and right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and
>> are often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore,
they're a
>> pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
>> of it.)
>> --
>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>> 917.279.8194
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <
>> contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every
>>> possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
>>> set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
>>> interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
>>> hope this someday sees the light of day.
>>>
>>> —jh—
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
>>>>
>>>> My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move
>>>> with a CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very
>>>> of-the-moment style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances
have
>>>> this combo. (Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the
2s
>>>> stand around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
>>>>
>>>> Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in
>>>> part because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn
>>>> figure) followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
>>>>
>>>> I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest
>>>> of the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>>>> 917.279.8194
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>>>>>
>>>>> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>>>>>
>>>>> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>>>>>
>>>>> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>>>>>
>>>>> Jeff
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
>>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - A right chain INTO a swing
>>>>>> - A swing into a circle right
>>>>>> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>>>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
>>>>>> time to meet with me
>>>>>>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
>>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
>>>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>>>>>> *To:* New Contra Callers List <
>>>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half
of a
>>>>>> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are
dances
>>>>>> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is
aware of
>>>>>> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The
do-si-do across
>>>>>> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is
doing the
>>>>>> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there
is no problem.
>>>>>> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not
really a
>>>>>> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a
swing can
>>>>>> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands
pointing across
>>>>>> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there
ready to
>>>>>> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but
that can
>>>>>> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling
the same
>>>>>> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same
direction
>>>>>> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just
last Friday
>>>>>> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is
>>>>>> a personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine
transition between
>>>>>> figures.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jonathan
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>>>>>> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence
that
>>>>>> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
>>>>>> Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>>> > My list so far:
>>>>>> > 1. do-si-do across
>>>>>> > 2. right chain after a swing
>>>>>> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>>>>>> > 4. Shadow swings
>>>>>> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>> 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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To unsubscribe send an email to
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_______________________________________________
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7:32 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Please, pretty please, with sugar on top!
Please don’t call (or write) any more dances where a Half-Promenade (across
the set) is followed by a Circle to the Left! With the possible exception
of interlocking long wavy lines-- another big ugh! in my book, there is
nothing more jarring than the 1/2 Prom to a Circle Left combo
I once attended an (out-of-town) dance where three dances were called that
had that combo (three!) and in spite of all the (other) pretty good dances
and excellent dance partners, this is what I remember about that experience
to this day!
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 8:29 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My biggest nono is "too much clockwise". If
moves are awkward or with meh
flow, that's not a health or safety thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
* Elizabeth Bloom Albert *
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking
long wavy lines, yet — I think
it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say
I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances
that include this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical
dances with both a partner and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be
okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I would essentially never call a
dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre
ones, honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list,
and think that almost
any sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I
like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens
solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does
not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often happens in
Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation; examples
include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled right
and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar
dances would not count because they are full and discrete actions that
are specifically accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and
box the gnat can
often replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make this
> (much less extensive) list of figures + timings
> <https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>,
> in case it's useful to anyone!
>
> (This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and
> pass through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x
> and right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and
> are often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're
a
> pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
> of it.)
> --
> Maia McCormick (she/her)
> 917.279.8194
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <
> contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every
>> possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
>> set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
>> interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
>> hope this someday sees the light of day.
>>
>> —jh—
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
>>>
>>> My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with
>>> a CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
>>> style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
>>> (Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
>>> around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
>>>
>>> Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in
>>> part because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn
>>> figure) followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
>>>
>>> I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest
>>> of the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>>> 917.279.8194
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>>>>
>>>> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>>>>
>>>> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>>>>
>>>> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>>>>
>>>> Jeff
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> - A right chain INTO a swing
>>>>> - A swing into a circle right
>>>>> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>>>>
>>>>>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
>>>>> time to meet with me
>>>>>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
>>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>>>>> *To:* New Contra Callers List <
>>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of
a
>>>>> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are
dances
>>>>> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware
of
>>>>> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do
across
>>>>> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing
the
>>>>> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is
no problem.
>>>>> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not
really a
>>>>> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a
swing can
>>>>> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing
across
>>>>> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready
to
>>>>> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but
that can
>>>>> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the
same
>>>>> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same
direction
>>>>> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last
Friday
>>>>> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>>>>
>>>>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
>>>>> personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition
between
>>>>> figures.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jonathan
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>>>>> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
>>>>> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
>>>>> Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>> > My list so far:
>>>>> > 1. do-si-do across
>>>>> > 2. right chain after a swing
>>>>> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>>>>> > 4. Shadow swings
>>>>> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
> 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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1:29 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
My biggest nono is "too much clockwise". If moves are awkward or with meh
flow, that's not a health or safety thing. Whereas getting dizzy is.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
He/him
Western Mass
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 8:40 AM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking long
wavy lines, yet — I think
it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say
I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances
that include this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical
dances with both a partner and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be
okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I would essentially never call a
dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre ones,
honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list,
and think that almost any
sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I
like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens
solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does
not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often happens in
Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation; examples
include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled right
and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances
would not count because they are full and discrete actions that are specifically
accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and
box the gnat can often
replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I
cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>,
in case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and
pass through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x
and right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and
are often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <
contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every
> possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
> set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
> interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
> hope this someday sees the light of day.
>
> —jh—
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
>>
>> My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with
>> a CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
>> style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
>> (Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
>> around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
>>
>> Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in
>> part because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn
>> figure) followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
>>
>> I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of
>> the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
>>
>> --
>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>> 917.279.8194
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>>>
>>> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>>>
>>> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>>>
>>> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> - A right chain INTO a swing
>>>> - A swing into a circle right
>>>> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>>>
>>>>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
>>>> time to meet with me
>>>>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
>>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>>>> *To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>>> >
>>>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>>>
>>>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a
>>>> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances
>>>> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
>>>> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do
across
>>>> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing
the
>>>> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no
problem.
>>>> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really
a
>>>> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing
can
>>>> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing
across
>>>> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
>>>> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that
can
>>>> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the
same
>>>> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same
direction
>>>> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last
Friday
>>>> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>>>
>>>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
>>>> personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition
between
>>>> figures.
>>>>
>>>> Jonathan
>>>>
>>>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>>>> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
>>>> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
>>>> Choreographic No-Nos
>>>> > My list so far:
>>>> > 1. do-si-do across
>>>> > 2. right chain after a swing
>>>> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>>>> > 4. Shadow swings
>>>> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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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12:39 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Surprised no one's mentioned interlocking long wavy lines, yet — I think
it's relatively well-known that Lisa Greenleaf hates this move! Can't say
I'm a huge fan, either, but it has its moments.
For my two-cents, butterfly whirls are on thin ice! I'll program dances
that include this figure with a partner on rare occasion, and symmetrical
dances with both a partner and neighbor whirl could be novel enough to be
okay (???) on a cold day, but I think I would essentially never call a
dance with only a neighbor butterfly whirl.
There are too many excellent dances to ever bother with the mediocre ones,
honestly.
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 3:14 AM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list, and
think that almost any
sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I
like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens
solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does
not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often happens in
Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation; examples
include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled right
and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances
would not count because they are full and discrete actions that are specifically
accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and
box the gnat can often
replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I
cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>,
in case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and
right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are
often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <
contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant
spreadsheet with every
possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
>
> My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a
> CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
> style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
> (Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
> around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
>
> Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
> because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
> followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
>
> I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of
> the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
>
> --
> Maia McCormick (she/her)
> 917.279.8194
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>>
>> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>>
>> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>>
>> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> - A right chain INTO a swing
>>> - A swing into a circle right
>>> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>>
>>>
>>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>>
>>>
>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>>
>>>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
>>> time to meet with me
>>>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>>> *To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>>
>>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a
>>> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances
>>> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
>>> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across
>>> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
>>> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no
problem.
>>> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
>>> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
>>> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
>>> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
>>> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
>>> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
>>> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
>>> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
>>> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>>
>>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
>>> personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
>>> figures.
>>>
>>> Jonathan
>>>
>>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>>> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
>>> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
>>> Choreographic No-Nos
>>> > My list so far:
>>> > 1. do-si-do across
>>> > 2. right chain after a swing
>>> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>>> > 4. Shadow swings
>>> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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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To unsubscribe send an email to
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7:14 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I agree with Jonathan about your existing list, and think that almost any
sequence CAN be used if done with knowledgeable intent.
However, for the general list of things to avoid I would nominate what I
like to call “fudge down the line,” which is any adjustment that a) happens
solely because the sequence doesn’t fully progress the couples and b) does
not flow naturally from the existing movement. (This most often happens in
Beckett dances or those substantially in Beckett formation; examples
include a 2 count sideways slide along the line or a slightly angled right
and left thru.)
Notably, the 4 beat slide in “With Thanks to the Dean” and similar dances
would not count because they are full and discrete actions that are
specifically
accounted for in the flow and timing.
Neal Schlein
Librarian, MSLIS
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box
the gnat can often
replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I
cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>,
in case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and
right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are
often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant
spreadsheet with every
possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Contra Callers mailing list
-- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a
CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of
the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
>
> Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
>
> Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
>
> Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
>
> Jeff
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> - A right chain INTO a swing
>> - A swing into a circle right
>> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>>
>>
>> Plenty other bad flow examples
>>
>>
>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>
>>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
>> time to meet with me
>>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
>> *To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>>
>> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a
>> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances
>> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
>> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across
>> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
>> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
>> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
>> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
>> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
>> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
>> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
>> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
>> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
>> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
>> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>>
>> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
>> personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
>> figures.
>>
>> Jonathan
>>
>> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
>> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
>> Choreographic No-Nos
>> > My list so far:
>> > 1. do-si-do across
>> > 2. right chain after a swing
>> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
>> > 4. Shadow swings
>> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
_______________________________________________ 
4:27 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Depending on the flow of the dance, balance and box the gnat can often
replace dsd and shoulder rounds 1 1/2
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:17 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed
heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>, in
case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and
right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are
often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant
spreadsheet with every
possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Contra Callers mailing list
-- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a
CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of
the dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________ Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> - A right chain INTO a swing
> - A swing into a circle right
> - Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
>
>
> Plenty other bad flow examples
>
>
> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>
>
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
> time to meet with me
>
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
> *To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
>
> I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a
> phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances
> with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
> the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across
> can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
> do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
> Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
> choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
> work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
> then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
> pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
> be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
> way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
> all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
> and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
>
> So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
> personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
> figures.
>
> Jonathan
>
> On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
> > I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
> significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
> Choreographic No-Nos
> > My list so far:
> > 1. do-si-do across
> > 2. right chain after a swing
> > 3 short swings on an odd phrase
> > 4. Shadow swings
> > Does anyone have further suggestions?
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
_______________________________________________
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4:05 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't have Bob's list handy, but I cribbed heavily from it to make this
(much less extensive) list of figures + timings
<https://contra.maiamccormick.com/assets/pdfs/esc-choreo-figures.pdf>, in
case it's useful to anyone!
(This reminds me of some more things I don't like, ha. Circle L and pass
through to swing -- IME the swing always gets truncated. Dosido 1.5x and
right shoulder round 1.5x don't quiiite fit in 8 counts of music and are
often frustrating. And I don't call couples' dosidos anymore, they're a
pain to execute correctly unless everyone in the hall is EXTREMELY on top
of it.)
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Tue, Aug 6, 2024 at 12:02 AM Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant
spreadsheet with every
possible move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a
set of dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a
CCW courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment
style preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the
dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
------------------------------
*From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
*To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a
phrase are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances
with this that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of
the potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across
can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
> I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
> My list so far:
> 1. do-si-do across
> 2. right chain after a swing
> 3 short swings on an odd phrase
> 4. Shadow swings
> Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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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To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
4:02 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Is Bob Isaacs in the house? He has a giant spreadsheet with every possible
move transition and a count of the number of times it occurs in a set of
dances that now numbers in the hundreds or maybe a lot more. It’s
interesting which unlikely combinations do occur and which rarely do. I
hope this someday sees the light of day.
—jh—
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 11:29 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a CCW
courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment style
preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the
dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
------------------------------
*From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
*To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase
are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this
that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of the
potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can
be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst 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
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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
3:29 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Jeff, impressively bad, well done!
My biggest pet peeve is a RH chain (or promenade, or other move with a CCW
courtesy turn) into a circle L—though this is a very of-the-moment style
preference, as I know plenty of the classic dances have this combo.
(Likewise for dances where just the 1s do a figure while the 2s stand
around, doubly so if the dance doesn’t alternate active couples.)
Long lines followed by a chain is quite idiomatic—and probably in part
because of the strength that idiom, a chain (or other courtesy turn figure)
followed by long lines drives me up a wall.
I don’t love long lines into a circle—I’ll tolerate it if the rest of the
dance is really exceptional, ehhhh.
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 10:31 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
------------------------------
*From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
*To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase
are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this
that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of the
potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can
be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst 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
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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
2:30 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
Balance neighbor (4), swing partner (12)
Ones dosido below while twos seesaw above (8).
Long lines forward (4), swing on the side (8), long lines back (4).
Circle left 1x (6) pass through (2)
Jeff
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 9:51 PM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
- A right chain INTO a swing
- A swing into a circle right
- Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
------------------------------
*From:* Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
*To:* New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase
are challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this
that generally work fine, especially if the caller is aware of the
potential issue and teaches and calls accordingly. The do-si-do across can
be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if everyone is doing the
do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is no problem.
Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can
work very well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across
then the right hands of the right hand dancers are right there ready to
pull by. I suppose you might say there is a momentum change, but that can
be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be traveling the same
way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same direction
all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday
and I was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a
personal preference and #2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between
figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that
significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
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
1:50 a.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
*
A right chain INTO a swing
*
A swing into a circle right
*
Standard right shoulder hey into a swing
Plenty other bad flow examples
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
[cid:c9c7a39d-d3d0-4a42-adc2-ba03eb28306a]<https://outlook.office.com/boo…
Book time to meet with
me<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.n…
________________________________
From: Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 9:48 PM
To: New Contra Callers List <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Choreographic No-Nos
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase are
challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this that generally work
fine, especially if the caller is aware of the potential issue and teaches and calls
accordingly. The do-si-do across can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if
everyone is doing the do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is
no problem. Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can work very
well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across then the right hands of
the right hand dancers are right there ready to pull by. I suppose you might say there is
a momentum change, but that can be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be
traveling the same way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same
direction all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday and I
was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a personal preference and
#2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
1:48 a.m.
I don't agree with your list. Yes, swings on the first half of a phrase are
challenging and I might try to avoid them. There are dances with this that generally work
fine, especially if the caller is aware of the potential issue and teaches and calls
accordingly. The do-si-do across can be a bit awkward in a crowded line, but only if
everyone is doing the do-si-do. If only the 1's or 2's are doing it then there is
no problem. Shadow swings seem to be a personal preference or dislike and not really a
choreographic issue. I actually think that a right chain after a swing can work very
well. If you end the swing with the pointy hands pointing across then the right hands of
the right hand dancers are right there ready to pull by. I suppose you might say there is
a momentum change, but that can be very welcome in a dance where everything seems to be
traveling the same way. Not every dance has to have continuous motion in the same
direction all the time. I danced a dance with that set of figures just last Friday and I
was thinking to myself how well it seemed to work.
So I see #1 and #3 as more of a challenge than a problem. #4 is a personal preference and
#2 seems like a perfectly fine transition between figures.
Jonathan
On 8/5/2024 7:37 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
I am accumulating a list of figures, or figure
sequence that significant dance writers (not necessarily a majority) consider
Choreographic No-Nos
My list so far:
1. do-si-do across
2. right chain after a swing
3 short swings on an odd phrase
4. Shadow swings
Does anyone have further suggestions?
118
days inactive
119
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
18 comments
16 participants
participants (16)
-
Alexandra Deis-Lauby -
Angela DeCarlis -
Claire Baffaut -
David Harding -
Elizabeth Bloom Albert -
Jeff Kaufman -
Joe Harrington -
Jonathan Sivier -
Julian Blechner -
Mac Mckeever -
Maia McCormick -
Neal Schlein -
Robert Livingston -
sjapartments＠gmail.com -
Tepfer, Seth -
Vicki Morrison