1 Aug
2023
1 Aug
'23
9:29 p.m.
I love the current discussion of AABBCC dances and will use this as an opportunity to
encourage the dance composers out there to write more! I began writing them for two main
reasons:
(1) I adore the beautiful 48-bar reels and jigs that many bands can play if given the
opportunity, but rarely get the chance.
(2) There are choreographic storylines that just can't fit into 32 bars of
choreography, but can fit nicely into a 48-bar "story."
With those factors in mind, I wrote Utah Reel which Maia mentioned (turn all four contra
corners plus a diagonal hey), Jabberwocky (a hey on the side with three neighbors, far
outside the minor set), and Three-Day Weekend (grand right and left all the way through
neighbor #5), all findable in Caller's Box. None of those figures would fit cleanly
for me into a 32-bar dance, but they work with 48 bars and dancers at
challenging/experienced dances can generally handle them. I'm happy to share tune
recommendations and teaching tips with anyone who'd like them, for any of those
dances. (Thanks to Chris Page for feedback during the composing process for all those
dances.)
It's true that, as Bill Olson wrote, dancers need extra prompting nudges to remember
that 48-bar dances go for more than 32 bars. But to me, it's worth it to get to dance
to Reel Beatrice, or Ragtime Annie, or Reel des Accordéonistes, or lots of other great
48-bar tunes, plus get to do some fun uncommon figure combinations. I'm sure there are
other fun choreographic storylines just waiting for their chance to star in a 48-bar dance
-- let me know if you write a new one!
Jeremy Korr
Claremont, Calif. / Woods Hole, Mass.
2 Aug
2 Aug
12:09 p.m.
New subject: AABBCC contras
Here’s a good one:
Which Circle Anyway?
By Steve Zakon-Anderson
Duple improper, double progression
A1 circle L x1, sw N
A2 hey for 4 (robins start w/ R)
B1 B&S next N
B2. circle L x 1, ones 1/2 fig 8 above
C1 ones contra corners
C2 ones B&S, face the next
I called this once and the band played Hangman’s Reel, a three-part tune,
as written in Portland’s. It was an excellent pairing!!
Jill Allen
On Tue, Aug 1, 2023 at 9:29 PM J L Korr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I love the current discussion of AABBCC dances and
will use this as an
opportunity to encourage the dance composers out there to write more! I
began writing them for two main reasons:
(1) I adore the beautiful 48-bar reels and jigs that many bands can play
if given the opportunity, but rarely get the chance.
(2) There are choreographic storylines that just can't fit into 32 bars of
choreography, but can fit nicely into a 48-bar "story."
With those factors in mind, I wrote Utah Reel which Maia mentioned (turn
all four contra corners plus a diagonal hey), Jabberwocky (a hey on the
side with three neighbors, far outside the minor set), and Three-Day
Weekend (grand right and left all the way through neighbor #5), all
findable in Caller's Box. None of those figures would fit cleanly for me
into a 32-bar dance, but they work with 48 bars and dancers at
challenging/experienced dances can generally handle them. I'm happy to
share tune recommendations and teaching tips with anyone who'd like them,
for any of those dances. (Thanks to Chris Page for feedback during the
composing process for all those dances.)
It's true that, as Bill Olson wrote, dancers need extra prompting nudges
to remember that 48-bar dances go for more than 32 bars. But to me, it's
worth it to get to dance to Reel Beatrice, or Ragtime Annie, or Reel des
Accordéonistes, or lots of other great 48-bar tunes, plus get to do some
fun uncommon figure combinations. I'm sure there are other fun
choreographic storylines just waiting for their chance to star in a 48-bar
dance -- let me know if you write a new one!
Jeremy Korr
Claremont, Calif. / Woods Hole, Mass.
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
3 Aug
3 Aug
4:48 a.m.
New subject: AABBCC contras
I wrote this one! I wanted a simple dance that followed the AABBCC format,
because all the others I'd found weren't very beginner-friendly. I based
this one on Don Flaherty's Heartbeat Contra, and just expanded a bit. If
anyone gets a chance to call it, please send me feedback! Thank you!
96 Heartbeats, by JJ Luxe.
Improper
A1: (16) Balance Ring & Petronella Twirl 2x.
A2: (16) Neighbor Balance & Swing.
B1: (8) Long Lines Fwd & Back.
(8) Robins Chain.
B2: (16) Hey for 4 [Robins start Right].
C1: (16) Partner Balance and Swing.
C2: (8) Circle Left ¾.
(8) Balance Ring and Partner California Twirl,
face new neighbors
On Tue, Aug 1, 2023, 22:29 J L Korr via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I love the current discussion of AABBCC dances and
will use this as an
opportunity to encourage the dance composers out there to write more! I
began writing them for two main reasons:
(1) I adore the beautiful 48-bar reels and jigs that many bands can play
if given the opportunity, but rarely get the chance.
(2) There are choreographic storylines that just can't fit into 32 bars of
choreography, but can fit nicely into a 48-bar "story."
With those factors in mind, I wrote Utah Reel which Maia mentioned (turn
all four contra corners plus a diagonal hey), Jabberwocky (a hey on the
side with three neighbors, far outside the minor set), and Three-Day
Weekend (grand right and left all the way through neighbor #5), all
findable in Caller's Box. None of those figures would fit cleanly for me
into a 32-bar dance, but they work with 48 bars and dancers at
challenging/experienced dances can generally handle them. I'm happy to
share tune recommendations and teaching tips with anyone who'd like them,
for any of those dances. (Thanks to Chris Page for feedback during the
composing process for all those dances.)
It's true that, as Bill Olson wrote, dancers need extra prompting nudges
to remember that 48-bar dances go for more than 32 bars. But to me, it's
worth it to get to dance to Reel Beatrice, or Ragtime Annie, or Reel des
Accordéonistes, or lots of other great 48-bar tunes, plus get to do some
fun uncommon figure combinations. I'm sure there are other fun
choreographic storylines just waiting for their chance to star in a 48-bar
dance -- let me know if you write a new one!
Jeremy Korr
Claremont, Calif. / Woods Hole, Mass.
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
291
days inactive
292
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
2 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
-
J L Korr -
Jill Allen -
JJ