Hi Joe,
I’m so glad you suggested this!
I’ve been contra dancing about 8 years and have NEVER heard anyone describe the waltz
circulating convention (counter-clockwise, faster toward outside). It would be SO easy to
just announce it (not every time, but even a few times a year would eventually get the
info/convention out there to everyone.)
I will try to remember to suggest it from the stage if I ever get to call again!
(I just moved from Toronto, where I called 2 or 3 times a year, to Bowen Island BC where
if I want a contra dance I will have to start it myself!)
Becky Liddle
On Mar 18, 2025, at 10:00 PM,
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than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..."Today's Topics:
1. bringing back waltz line of direction (Joe Harrington)
From: Joe Harrington <contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [Callers] bringing back waltz line of direction
Date: March 17, 2025 at 10:14:03 PM PDT
To: Shared Weight Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
There used to be a strong community tradition about the flow of waltzing at contra
dances. It was fast around the outside and stationary in the middle. You could do a nice
Viennese, flying around the outside of the hall with no trouble, except in the most
crowded of halls. You could do tricks galore standing virtually still. You could do
everything in between. There were a lot fewer collisions, despite some much-faster-moving
dancers. Halls were at least as crowded as they are today.
Today, that's a near-impossibility in many halls. There tends to be a
slow-circulating middle, but there isn't the former gradient of speeds outside of that
zone that increases options while reducing collisions. It's all just a slow-moving
mass, and people are so focused on their partners that collisions are common.
I think everyone's enjoyment would increase if we followed four simple
considerations:
a) If someone passes you on the inside, you are a slower-circulating couple and should
move closer to the middle,
b) If you pass someone on the inside, you are a faster-circulating couple and should move
farther out,
c) Moving counter-flow or wagging strongly sideways (much more than just a side-by-side
promenade) in the traveling ring are no-nos,
d) Both partners really need to look out for others all the time and protect each other
from collisions, elbows to the face, etc. This is not just the lead's job, especially
if they're being considerate and moving backward for a substantial portion of the
time.
I hope this is on-topic for this group. Callers are the evening's MCs, but they
usually don't have much to do with waltzes, other than to announce them. However,
what I'm talking about here would probably come about if callers a) announce it and b)
include it in their waltz lesson, if they hold one. And maybe c) discuss it with dancers
and organizers.
Happy(ier) waltzing!
--jh--
Joe Harrington
Orlando