7 Oct
2023
7 Oct
'23
8:37 p.m.
I've been asked if I will teach/lead a one hour long 'contra dance' at a
day program for young adults with a variety of physical and cognitive
disabilities. (The staff probably would be happy for me to do more than one
session, but I'm not willing to commit to that. At Least not now.)
My usual repertoire for a wedding or party of non-dancers seems tricky for
many of the clients--especially those who are uncomfortable being touched.
I did a similar event about 10 years ago--at a different program-- and it
didn't seem many of them had a good time.
I'd like to figure out a way to make it fun for this group.
I have a couple of ideas and am looking for more. Have you ever led a
dance/music event with a similar population?
I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions.
Bree Kalb
Carrboro NC
8 Oct
8 Oct
3:01 a.m.
A suggestion I was given for groups where hand holding was not possible for religious
reasons was holding ribbons or hankies
From: Bree Kalb via Contra Callers
Sent: 08 October 2023 02:38
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers
Subject: [Callers] Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental
disabilities
My usual repertoire for a wedding or party of non-dancers seems tricky for many of the
clients--especially those who are uncomfortable being touched.
Bree Kalb
Carrboro NC
9 Oct
9 Oct
1:32 a.m.
Thirty or so years ago a since deceased acquaintance told me his experience calling a
contra dance for developmentally disabled adults.
The first dance he chose (I assume it quite simple) took a while to teach.
But once started the group enjoyed it.
When the group lined up again and he started teaching another dance, the group protested.
They wanted to do the same dance !!
So he did the same dance for the rest of the program.
I don't recall his telling me how long the program was.
I can't imagine your doing more than 3 dances in an hour
But don't be surprised if you end up needing only one dance.
8:23 a.m.
There are (mainly UK?)Facebooks groups with knowledge about this as you don’t seem to be
getting much here.
(2) Callers' Forum | Facebook
(2) Double Progress (where everybody's in all of the time) | Groups | Facebook
From: Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers
Sent: 09 October 2023 07:32
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental
disabilities
Thirty or so years ago a since deceased acquaintance told me his experience calling a
contra dance for developmentally disabled adults.
The first dance he chose (I assume it quite simple) took a while to teach.
But once started the group enjoyed it.
When the group lined up again and he started teaching another dance, the group protested.
They wanted to do the same dance !!
So he did the same dance for the rest of the program.
I don't recall his telling me how long the program was.
I can't imagine your doing more than 3 dances in an hour
But don't be surprised if you end up needing only one dance.
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
10:10 a.m.
Bree,
I’ve done a few dances at a local residential facility which had
events for the clients and their families. My notes to myself after
doing it for the first time:
Spend some time re-writing dances so that there are
almost no "single
person" moves. The crowd does best when connected moves, such that one
person in the pair is able to help direct the other. Casting down the
outside is about the extent of "single person" moves that are
possible.
I did dances like these:
## The Snake
Big circle, no partners needed
Any tune
Do a series of figures such as
- circle left for a while
- circle right for a while
- into the center and back (once, twice, a few times)
- Thread the Needle, lead the line and duck under the arch between 2
dancers (adults)
- Snake, lead the line around the room in various ways, possibly out
one door and in the other
- Spiral in and out, end with this followed by getting back into a
circle,
circling left for a while and then going into the center and back twice.
## Bow & Swing
Longways
Linda Leslie
A1 Bow to your Partner
2-hand turn your partner
A2 Top couple sashay down to the bottom
## Kingston Flyer
(4-couple longways). From Tony Parkes **FAMILY**
A1. Line 1 around Line 2 (let it take as long as it takes)
A2. Line 2 around Line 1
B1. top couple strut down the middle and back
B2. top couple (only) cast to the bottom and everyone do- si-do (I
skipped the do-si-do)
Once I settled into realizing what was possible, I found these dances to
be very rewarding. It was wonderful to watch everyone working together
and having fun together.
Best,
Lisa
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa(a)lisasieverts.com
On 7 Oct 2023, at 21:37, Bree Kalb via Contra Callers wrote:
I've been asked if I will teach/lead a one hour
long 'contra dance' at
a
day program for young adults with a variety of physical and cognitive
disabilities. (The staff probably would be happy for me to do more
than one
session, but I'm not willing to commit to that. At Least not now.)
My usual repertoire for a wedding or party of non-dancers seems tricky
for
many of the clients--especially those who are uncomfortable being
touched.
I did a similar event about 10 years ago--at a different program-- and
it
didn't seem many of them had a good time.
I'd like to figure out a way to make it fun for this group.
I have a couple of ideas and am looking for more. Have you ever led a
dance/music event with a similar population?
I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions.
Bree Kalb
Carrboro NC
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
10:28 a.m.
New subject: Kingston Flyer and Ceilidh Dances (Was: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental disabilities)
Interesting that Lisa got Kingston Flyer from me, as I’ve only used it once or twice that
I can recall (though it’s definitely on my short list of nearly bombproof dances). Seeing
it here prompted me to search for its origin. I found this:
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/kingston-fly…
I had assumed the “down and back” was originally a sashay, but these directions just say
“lead.” And apparently the dance ended with the #1 couple doing a right-hand turn at the
bottom, rather than everyone doing a do-si-do. Like most easy dances, it’s been
folk-processed in various ways.
I would tend to think of Kingston Flyer as a ceilidh dance, but this website treats it as
a Scottish country dance. The site has a separate page with a list of ceilidh dances (with
links to directions) that may help some of us expand our list of easy material. The list
includes some fairly recently devised dances, but not Kingston Flyer.
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/ceilidh-dances.html
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/>
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)
From: Lisa Sieverts via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, October 9, 2023 11:10 AM
To: Bree Kalb <breekalb(a)gmail.com>om>; Shared Weight Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental
disabilities
Bree,
I’ve done a few dances at a local residential facility which had events for the clients
and their families. My notes to myself after doing it for the first time:
Spend some time re-writing dances so that there are almost no "single person"
moves. The crowd does best when connected moves, such that one person in the pair is able
to help direct the other. Casting down the outside is about the extent of "single
person" moves that are possible.
I did dances like these:
Kingston Flyer
(4-couple longways). From Tony Parkes FAMILY
A1. Line 1 around Line 2 (let it take as long as it takes)
A2. Line 2 around Line 1
B1. top couple strut down the middle and back
B2. top couple (only) cast to the bottom and everyone do- si-do (I skipped the do-si-do)
Once I settled into realizing what was possible, I found these dances to be very
rewarding. It was wonderful to watch everyone working together and having fun together.
Best,
Lisa
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa@lisasieverts.com<mailto:lisa@lisasieverts.com>
10 Oct
10 Oct
9:37 p.m.
New subject: Kingston Flyer and Ceilidh Dances (Was: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental disabilities)
There were a number of dances that very strongly resemble Kingston Flyer in
the 1790s, but back then they were done with a triple minor progression.
Jacob
On Mon, Oct 9, 2023, 11:29 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Interesting that Lisa got Kingston Flyer from me, as
I’ve only used it
once or twice that I can recall (though it’s definitely on my short list of
nearly bombproof dances). Seeing it here prompted me to search for its
origin. I found this:
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/kingston-fly…
I had assumed the “down and back” was originally a sashay, but these
directions just say “lead.” And apparently the dance ended with the #1
couple doing a right-hand turn at the bottom, rather than everyone doing a
do-si-do. Like most easy dances, it’s been folk-processed in various ways.
I would tend to think of Kingston Flyer as a ceilidh dance, but this
website treats it as a Scottish country dance. The site has a separate page
with a list of ceilidh dances (with links to directions) that may help some
of us expand our list of easy material. The list includes some fairly
recently devised dances, but not Kingston Flyer.
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/ceilidh-dances.html
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)
*From:* Lisa Sieverts via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Sent:* Monday, October 9, 2023 11:10 AM
*To:* Bree Kalb <breekalb(a)gmail.com>om>; Shared Weight Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* [Callers] Re: Teaching 'contra' to adults with various
developmental disabilities
Bree,
I’ve done a few dances at a local residential facility which had events
for the clients and their families. My notes to myself after doing it for
the first time:
Spend some time re-writing dances so that there are almost no "single
person" moves. The crowd does best when connected moves, such that one
person in the pair is able to help direct the other. Casting down the
outside is about the extent of "single person" moves that are possible.
I did dances like these:
Kingston Flyer
(4-couple longways). From Tony Parkes *FAMILY*
A1. Line 1 around Line 2 (let it take as long as it takes)
A2. Line 2 around Line 1
B1. top couple strut down the middle and back
B2. top couple (only) cast to the bottom and everyone do- si-do (I skipped
the do-si-do)
Once I settled into realizing what was possible, I found these dances to
be very rewarding. It was wonderful to watch everyone working together and
having fun together.
Best,
Lisa
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa(a)lisasieverts.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
9 Oct
9 Oct
8:15 p.m.
Many thanks to all of you who offered helpful suggestions. I am now more
confident I can help these folks create some joy. I’ll also check in with
those recommended Facebook groups to see if there are other good ideas.
On Sat, Oct 7, 2023 at 9:37 PM Bree Kalb <breekalb(a)gmail.com> wrote:
I've been asked if I will teach/lead a one hour
long 'contra dance' at a
day program for young adults with a variety of physical and cognitive
disabilities. (The staff probably would be happy for me to do more than one
session, but I'm not willing to commit to that. At Least not now.)
My usual repertoire for a wedding or party of non-dancers seems tricky for
many of the clients--especially those who are uncomfortable being touched.
I did a similar event about 10 years ago--at a different program-- and it
didn't seem many of them had a good time.
I'd like to figure out a way to make it fun for this group.
I have a couple of ideas and am looking for more. Have you ever led a
dance/music event with a similar population?
I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions.
Bree Kalb
Carrboro NC
206
days inactive
209
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
7 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Bree Kalb -
Jacob or Nancy Bloom -
Lisa Sieverts -
Michael Fuerst -
mjw＠mowaddington.plus.com -
Tony Parkes