6 Dec
2011
6 Dec
'11
11:30 p.m.
Hello,
The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is approaching very quickly. Please consider joining
us at the University of New Hampshire, January 13-15, next month. Details can be found at
http://ralphpage.neffa.org/
This year the retrospective will focus on the dances in the Nelson, NH town hall. If you
have ever attended or participated at a Nelson dance, I'd like to hear your memories
and reflections. You may be quoted at the Ralph Page weekend, so please let me know what
impressed you and what has stuck in your mind. Why do you think that we are still dancing
in the Nelson town hall? We have our own answers to that question, which you will hear at
the Ralph Page weekend, I'd like to add your thoughts, as well, if you have ever
joined us for an evening of dance in the Nelson town hall.
Thanks a lot,
Rich Hart,
Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend Committee.
7 Dec
7 Dec
7:36 p.m.
It's been maybe 10 years since I went - I learned to dance with Dudley Laufman in
South Amherst in the mid-70's, but I was so disappointed with the Nelson dance. For
an outsider, the center set syndrome was in full force, and the sides filled with new
dancers getting more coaching from me than from the local dance leadership.
However, I loved the hall and the town, and I'm so glad to have been there - I
haven't rushed back, and wish I wanted to. I know it is an institution in contra
history and I honor it as such. I also am relieved to see that even such institutions are
"human", faced with all the normal issues of dance communities and undoubtedly
struggling to solve them just like the rest of us.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf
Of Richard Hart
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 11:30 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
Hello,
The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is approaching very quickly. Please consider joining
us at the University of New Hampshire, January 13-15, next month. Details can be found at
http://ralphpage.neffa.org/
This year the retrospective will focus on the dances in the Nelson, NH town hall. If you
have ever attended or participated at a Nelson dance, I'd like to hear your memories
and reflections. You may be quoted at the Ralph Page weekend, so please let me know what
impressed you and what has stuck in your mind. Why do you think that we are still dancing
in the Nelson town hall? We have our own answers to that question, which you will hear at
the Ralph Page weekend, I'd like to add your thoughts, as well, if you have ever
joined us for an evening of dance in the Nelson town hall.
Thanks a lot,
Rich Hart,
Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend Committee.
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
8:58 p.m.
Dorcas,
This email should go to Richard Hart (rich(a)harts.mv.com ), not to me,
although yours is not the first I have gotten. As one who calls and dances
in Nelson most weeks for the last several years, let me report that the
things you experienced in Nelson are really not much like that now.
Rickey Holt, caller
Fremont, NH
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dorcas Hand
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 8:36 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
It's been maybe 10 years since I went - I learned to dance with Dudley
Laufman in South Amherst in the mid-70's, but I was so disappointed with the
Nelson dance. For an outsider, the center set syndrome was in full force,
and the sides filled with new dancers getting more coaching from me than
from the local dance leadership.
However, I loved the hall and the town, and I'm so glad to have been there -
I haven't rushed back, and wish I wanted to. I know it is an institution in
contra history and I honor it as such. I also am relieved to see that even
such institutions are "human", faced with all the normal issues of dance
communities and undoubtedly struggling to solve them just like the rest of
us.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Richard Hart
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 11:30 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
Hello,
The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is approaching very quickly. Please
consider joining us at the University of New Hampshire, January 13-15, next
month. Details can be found at http://ralphpage.neffa.org/
This year the retrospective will focus on the dances in the Nelson, NH town
hall. If you have ever attended or participated at a Nelson dance, I'd like
to hear your memories and reflections. You may be quoted at the Ralph Page
weekend, so please let me know what impressed you and what has stuck in your
mind. Why do you think that we are still dancing in the Nelson town hall? We
have our own answers to that question, which you will hear at the Ralph Page
weekend, I'd like to add your thoughts, as well, if you have ever joined us
for an evening of dance in the Nelson town hall.
Thanks a lot,
Rich Hart,
Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend Committee.
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
9:52 p.m.
Actually, a reply to my message will go to the whole group. I don't mind
this being discussed and seen by the whole group, but if you wish to send
your reply only to me, be sure to use my address, as Ricky suggested.
Rich Hart.
On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 9:58 PM, Rickey Holt <holt.e(a)comcast.net> wrote:
Dorcas,
This email should go to Richard Hart (rich(a)harts.mv.com ), not to me,
although yours is not the first I have gotten. As one who calls and dances
in Nelson most weeks for the last several years, let me report that the
things you experienced in Nelson are really not much like that now.
Rickey Holt, caller
Fremont, NH
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dorcas Hand
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 8:36 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
It's been maybe 10 years since I went - I learned to dance with Dudley
Laufman in South Amherst in the mid-70's, but I was so disappointed with
the
Nelson dance. For an outsider, the center set syndrome was in full force,
and the sides filled with new dancers getting more coaching from me than
from the local dance leadership.
However, I loved the hall and the town, and I'm so glad to have been there
-
I haven't rushed back, and wish I wanted to. I know it is an institution in
contra history and I honor it as such. I also am relieved to see that even
such institutions are "human", faced with all the normal issues of dance
communities and undoubtedly struggling to solve them just like the rest of
us.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Richard Hart
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 11:30 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
Hello,
The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend is approaching very quickly. Please
consider joining us at the University of New Hampshire, January 13-15, next
month. Details can be found at http://ralphpage.neffa.org/
This year the retrospective will focus on the dances in the Nelson, NH town
hall. If you have ever attended or participated at a Nelson dance, I'd
like
to hear your memories and reflections. You may be quoted at the Ralph Page
weekend, so please let me know what impressed you and what has stuck in
your
mind. Why do you think that we are still dancing in the Nelson town hall?
We
have our own answers to that question, which you will hear at the Ralph
Page
weekend, I'd like to add your thoughts, as well, if you have ever joined us
for an evening of dance in the Nelson town hall.
Thanks a lot,
Rich Hart,
Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend Committee.
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
10:31 p.m.
Dorcas,
You didn't mention when you visited Nelson, but that doesn't matter too
much. Nelson does still need to address all the same problems that dancers
and organizers face everywhere. As Ricky said, we try to address center set
issues (although in Nelson it's actually the Northern set issue), and all
the others that might arise.
In the summer there are usually many more new dancers in Nelson than
experienced dancers. We absolutely depend on the experienced dancers to
dance with and help beginners when that is necessary, and callers say so.
This is even more important because of the open mike for callers, and the
possibility of a new caller trying his or her skills there. There are many
callers in New Hampshire (and probably countrywide), who learned and honed
their skills in the Nelson Town Hall.
And thank you for your observations. It always helps to be reminded that
there are things that can be improved. When problems occur, we'll
apologize, smile, and try again.
Rich Hart.
On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 8:36 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
It's been maybe 10 years since I went - I learned
to dance with Dudley
Laufman in South Amherst in the mid-70's, but I was so disappointed with
the Nelson dance. For an outsider, the center set syndrome was in full
force, and the sides filled with new dancers getting more coaching from me
than from the local dance leadership.
However, I loved the hall and the town, and I'm so glad to have been there
- I haven't rushed back, and wish I wanted to. I know it is an institution
in contra history and I honor it as such. I also am relieved to see that
even such institutions are "human", faced with all the normal issues of
dance communities and undoubtedly struggling to solve them just like the
rest of us.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
8 Dec
8 Dec
8:51 p.m.
Thanks - as far as how long ago, about 2000 or 2001, July. I know you work on it - just
commenting that the meccas of the world in whatever arena are still and always imperfect
human enterprises. Dorcas
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf
Of Richard Hart
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 10:32 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Nelson, NH dance memories
Dorcas,
You didn't mention when you visited Nelson, but that doesn't matter too
much. Nelson does still need to address all the same problems that dancers
and organizers face everywhere. As Ricky said, we try to address center set
issues (although in Nelson it's actually the Northern set issue), and all
the others that might arise.
In the summer there are usually many more new dancers in Nelson than
experienced dancers. We absolutely depend on the experienced dancers to
dance with and help beginners when that is necessary, and callers say so.
This is even more important because of the open mike for callers, and the
possibility of a new caller trying his or her skills there. There are many
callers in New Hampshire (and probably countrywide), who learned and honed
their skills in the Nelson Town Hall.
And thank you for your observations. It always helps to be reminded that
there are things that can be improved. When problems occur, we'll
apologize, smile, and try again.
Rich Hart.
On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 8:36 PM, Dorcas Hand <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
It's been maybe 10 years since I went - I learned
to dance with Dudley
Laufman in South Amherst in the mid-70's, but I was so disappointed with
the Nelson dance. For an outsider, the center set syndrome was in full
force, and the sides filled with new dancers getting more coaching from me
than from the local dance leadership.
However, I loved the hall and the town, and I'm so glad to have been there
- I haven't rushed back, and wish I wanted to. I know it is an institution
in contra history and I honor it as such. I also am relieved to see that
even such institutions are "human", faced with all the normal issues of
dance communities and undoubtedly struggling to solve them just like the
rest of us.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
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days old
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5 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
Dorcas Hand -
Richard Hart -
Richard Hart -
Rickey Holt