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Waltz-Time Contra Choreography

Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra...

Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra...

Dugan Murphy via Callers

8 Aug 2017 8 Aug '17

2:02 p.m.

Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting

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Colin Hume via Callers

8 Aug 8 Aug

2:19 p.m.

On Tue, 8 Aug 2017 14:02:07 -0400, Dugan Murphy via Callers wrote:

Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune?

Depends what you class as a contra! Here's one of mine - at least it's longways duple improper. http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#HeidisWaltz Colin Hume

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Tony Parkes via Callers

2:43 p.m.

Dugan Murphy wrote:

Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune?

The one popular waltz contra of the 1945–1960 square dance revival was Hills of Habersham, written in I think 1955: http://www.lloydshaw.org/uploads/3/4/2/3/3423313/hills_of_habersham.pdf The Lloyd Shaw Foundation will sell you a download of organ music for it (with or without calls by Don Armstrong). I like the music even though some might find it hokey, but even better I like “Spanish Waltz” on the Civil War Ballroom CD by Spare Parts. That track is also excellent for the Spanish Dance (a waltz Sicilian, for which it was intended) as well as the Fan Dance / Hat Dance / Rose and the Thorn / whatever you want to call it. Note that there is a typo on the LSF cue sheet: “Habersham River” should be the Chattahoochee River, which rises in the Hills of Habersham. LSF could use some cleaning up of the information on its download pages; many tunes are only listed under the name of the dance chosen for them, and most musicians’ and bands’ names have been lost, even those who recorded directly for LSF (as distinguished from tracks that were recorded elsewhere and licensed by LSF; with those, the omission of names is often the fault of the original recording company). Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon)

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Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

2:43 p.m.

Hi Dugan, One of my favorites is Bob Green’s Alison Wonderland, (improper): A1 1-8 Nbrs balance + swing A2 1-4 Circle L ¾ 5-8 Ptnr swing B1 1-4 Gents star promenade 1x* 5-8 Butterfly twirl B2 1-4 Women chain to Nbr 5-8 Long lines fwd + back * Consider gents linking elbows to get into this. Thanx, Ric Goldman From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dugan Murphy via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 11:02 AM To: Callers List Serve <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com <http://duganmurphy.com> www.DuganMurphy.com <http://www.DuganMurphy.com> www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com <http://www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com> www.NufSed.consulting <http://www.NufSed.consulting>

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Tony Parkes via Callers

3 p.m.

Ric, that looks more like a normal contra than a waltz contra to me. Can you share your experience of swinging, or teaching a swing, to waltz music? Thanks… Tony Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon) From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 2:44 PM To: 'Dugan Murphy' <dugan(a)duganmurphy.com>om>; 'Callers List Serve' <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Hi Dugan, One of my favorites is Bob Green’s Alison Wonderland, (improper): A1 1-8 Nbrs balance + swing A2 1-4 Circle L ¾ 5-8 Ptnr swing B1 1-4 Gents star promenade 1x* 5-8 Butterfly twirl B2 1-4 Women chain to Nbr 5-8 Long lines fwd + back * Consider gents linking elbows to get into this. Thanx, Ric Goldman From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dugan Murphy via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 11:02 AM To: Callers List Serve <callers@sharedweight.net<mailto:callers@sharedweight.net>> Subject: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com<http://duganmurphy.com> www.DuganMurphy.com<http://www.DuganMurphy.com> www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com<http://www.PortlandIntownContraDance.c… www.NufSed.consulting<http://www.NufSed.consulting>

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Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

3:22 p.m.

Hi Tony, Actually, it seemed to work pretty easily. I sometimes have to be a bit laborious in the teaching getting folks to sync up with the tempo. I find counting the steps helpful, and after a few times folks adjust to the timing. Here’s a video of one of my earliest attempts with the dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxbEGgYqhhc Hope this helps. Thanx, Ric From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Tony Parkes via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 12:01 PM To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Ric, that looks more like a normal contra than a waltz contra to me. Can you share your experience of swinging, or teaching a swing, to waltz music? Thanks… Tony Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. <http://www.hands4.com/> www.hands4.com New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon) From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 2:44 PM To: 'Dugan Murphy' <dugan(a)duganmurphy.com <mailto:dugan@duganmurphy.com> >; 'Callers List Serve' <callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Hi Dugan, One of my favorites is Bob Green’s Alison Wonderland, (improper): A1 1-8 Nbrs balance + swing A2 1-4 Circle L ¾ 5-8 Ptnr swing B1 1-4 Gents star promenade 1x* 5-8 Butterfly twirl B2 1-4 Women chain to Nbr 5-8 Long lines fwd + back * Consider gents linking elbows to get into this. Thanx, Ric Goldman From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dugan Murphy via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 11:02 AM To: Callers List Serve <callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com <http://duganmurphy.com> www.DuganMurphy.com <http://www.DuganMurphy.com> www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com <http://www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com> www.NufSed.consulting <http://www.NufSed.consulting>

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Robert Green via Callers

9 Aug 9 Aug

6:25 a.m.

Of course you are correct that it is a "regular" contra. There is nothing that forces the dance to be done in waltz time, only my intent makes it a waltz contra. I give a little of the back story in this video of the maiden voyage of the dance. http://youtu.be/PXwAAASyrSE I don't have any of the teach in the video, but like Ric, I had them practicing the swing in waltz time. I demoed how to do it with alternating feet, so yes, it added about a minute and a half to the walk-through. I will sometimes do it as the last dance of the first half with the instruction, "Find a partner for a waltz and line up for a contra". The last time thru at the end of the partner swing, the call is, "Free waltz with your partner!" Here is the dance done to a 4/4 tune: http://youtu.be/Xgbw3ID-RBU Sometimes you push her envelope.... ;-) Bob Green St. Louis Sent from my iPad

On Aug 8, 2017, at 2:00 PM, Tony Parkes via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: Ric, that looks more like a normal contra than a waltz contra to me. Can you share your experience of swinging, or teaching a swing, to waltz music? Thanks… Tony Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon) From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 2:44 PM To: 'Dugan Murphy' <dugan(a)duganmurphy.com>om>; 'Callers List Serve' <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Hi Dugan, One of my favorites is Bob Green’s Alison Wonderland, (improper): A1 1-8 Nbrs balance + swing A2 1-4 Circle L ¾ 5-8 Ptnr swing B1 1-4 Gents star promenade 1x* 5-8 Butterfly twirl B2 1-4 Women chain to Nbr 5-8 Long lines fwd + back * Consider gents linking elbows to get into this. Thanx, Ric Goldman From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dugan Murphy via Callers Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 11:02 AM To: Callers List Serve <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

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Bob Green via Callers

3:25 p.m.

I think the distinction between a contra dance and other longways set dances is actually a pretty blurry line that is primarily a function of time, place and convention. By our current convention, contras have become primarily longways dances 64 counts long, usually danced to 32 bar reels or jigs. Most waltzes (but certainly not all) are also 32 bars, but that is 96 counts. To do a contra in waltz time, the footfalls have to be adapted to the music in some way, at least if you want it to have any kind of satisfactory feel. One of the ways, at least on this side of the pond, we designate the difference is we refer dances with 64 counts danced to square reels and jigs with partner/neighbor swings as contra dances. When we vary the length, meter, or remove the swings, we call then English country dances. ;-) One of the distinguishing features of modern contra dances is that they do not have any footwork. While most contra dancers add a buzz step for the swing, the whole dance can be done with a walking step. There is no skipping, setting, rigadoons or the like. what we refer to as English dances can have those features. As Tony pointed out, the 3/4 time music present a different challenge in a swing, as it adds a different element of footwork. Bob On Wed, Aug 9, 2017 at 5:25 AM, Robert Green via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Of course you are correct that it is a "regular" contra. There is nothing that forces the dance to be done in waltz time, only my intent makes it a waltz contra. I give a little of the back story in this video of the maiden voyage of the dance. http://youtu.be/PXwAAASyrSE I don't have any of the teach in the video, but like Ric, I had them practicing the swing in waltz time. I demoed how to do it with alternating feet, so yes, it added about a minute and a half to the walk-through. I will sometimes do it as the last dance of the first half with the instruction, "Find a partner for a waltz and line up for a contra". The last time thru at the end of the partner swing, the call is, "Free waltz with your partner!" Here is the dance done to a 4/4 tune: http://youtu.be/Xgbw3ID-RBU Sometimes you push her envelope.... ;-) Bob Green St. Louis Sent from my iPad On Aug 8, 2017, at 2:00 PM, Tony Parkes via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: Ric, that looks more like a normal contra than a waltz contra to me. Can you share your experience of swinging, or teaching a swing, to waltz music? Thanks… Tony Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon) *From:* Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net>] *On Behalf Of *Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers *Sent:* Tuesday, August 8, 2017 2:44 PM *To:* 'Dugan Murphy' <dugan(a)duganmurphy.com>om>; 'Callers List Serve' < callers(a)sharedweight.net> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Hi Dugan, One of my favorites is Bob Green’s *Alison Wonderland*, (improper): A1 1-8 Nbrs balance + swing A2 1-4 Circle L ¾ 5-8 Ptnr swing B1 1-4 Gents star promenade 1x* 5-8 Butterfly twirl B2 1-4 Women chain to Nbr 5-8 Long lines fwd + back ** Consider gents linking elbows to get into this.* Thanx, Ric Goldman *From:* Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net>] *On Behalf Of *Dugan Murphy via Callers *Sent:* Tuesday, August 08, 2017 11:02 AM *To:* Callers List Serve <callers(a)sharedweight.net> *Subject:* [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

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Alan Winston via Callers

8 Aug 8 Aug

3:16 p.m.

Dugan -- Over in English-country-dance land there are a zillion longways duple minor waltz-time dances. Some of them have contra figures. Gary Roodman's "Winter Dreams Waltz" to Jonathan Jensen's tune starts off with a leisurely unassisted 1s cast down and face up while 2s lead up and face down which will require a demonstration, but after that it's mirror gypsy, pass through across, courtesy turn, left -had-star, long lines fall back/come forward, circle left 1x,square-thru 2 (no balances), partner two-hand-turn once round, whch should all be pretty accessible for contra dancers, and it's a gorgeous dance. (There's a couple of videos up of it which each show people who don't have hold of it yet.) I wrote this one which has English figures that have already infiltrated contra dance (poussette, dolphin hey); even though it's not standard contra figures (and the right hand turn halfway isn't an allemande) I think contra dancers will like it. MOVEMENT AFOOT Alan Winston - thought of it at AmWeek, Jul 3, 2013 longways duple minor Tune: "Steciaks" in waltz book II, by Larry Unger A1: 1-2: Men set forward to women (boureeish, stamping optional) 3-4: Men fall back as women come forward 5-6: All turn single R 7-8: All RH turn halfway A2: As above, with women leading. Keep right hands ... B1: 1-4: ... take left hands as well for Clockwise half poussette (progressed) 5-8: contra-style Mad Robin (W1 and M2 through the middle first) B2: 1-8: 1s acting as a unit, dolphin hey for three (M1 turns round coming out of the mad robin to give Left shoulder to M2, W1 takes the lead, giving right to M2 on the other side, M1 takes the lead to arrive progressed and proper.) NOTE: Alan is agreeable to couple-dance style variations in the half-poussette, and in general hopes for a spirit of flirtatious play. Here's a video into which I had no input, where some of the dancers have the spirit. (They don't seem to understand that in A1 1-2 the women should stand their ground rather than falling back, but it's an acceptable variation.) -- Alan On 8/8/17 11:02 AM, Dugan Murphy via Callers wrote:

Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? I danced one once many years ago and haven't thought much about it since, though it was pretty special. Thank you in advance for sharing some choreography! Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com <http://duganmurphy.com> www.DuganMurphy.com <http://www.DuganMurphy.com> www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com <http://www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com> www.NufSed.consulting <http://www.NufSed.consulting> _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

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Alan Winston via Callers
Bob Green via Callers
Colin Hume via Callers
Dugan Murphy via Callers
Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers
Robert Green via Callers
Tony Parkes via Callers