12 Oct
2022
12 Oct
'22
12:51 p.m.
Hey callers and dance-choreographic-encyclopedic-knowledgeable people*
Last Friday I needed a transitionary dance at the last second. We had many more first time
contra dancers than I was expecting. I wanted something a bit more than simply
"Family Contra" or "Family Contra in the Castle". So I came up with
this:
Formation: Duple Minor
A1: Circle left (8); Left hand star (8)
A2: partner DSD (8); neighbor DSD (8)
B1: Neighbor balance and swing
B2: long lines (8); 1s swing (8)
It was a perfect dance (transition from LH* to PDSD requires a moment for the robins/right
hand dancers) but it was good enough for the moment.
However, it is such an obvious dance someone must have written it previously. Anyone know
the name and the author?
Thanks
Seth
*those groups could be the same or not, as you will
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
13 Oct
13 Oct
12:57 a.m.
I can think of two out of print books where this dance or something terribly close
could be.
Holden, Rickey, Frank Kaltman, and Olga Kulbitsky. The Contra Dance Book. Newark, NJ:
American Squares, 1956; Lovendegem, Belgium: Anglo-American Dance Service, 1997.
A compilation of contras and progressive circle dances from available American literature
between 1850 and 1953.
Page, Ralph. An Elegant Collection of Contras and Squares. Denver, CO: The Lloyd Shaw
Foundation, 1984.
Over 60 of Page's favorite dances are described in great detail. Included are most of
the old "classic" contras as well as many of the contras and squares written by
"contemporary" composers between 1940 and 1980. All this and 53 good tunes as
well!
George Lowrey, who died in the late 1980's or early 1990's, was well known dance
caller and U of Illinois faculty member. He may well have created such a dance
For now I would name this dance "I Wonder Who Wrote This"
7:17 a.m.
In the "for what it's worth" department, the dance shares a transition with
Haste to the Wedding. There's the awkward bit for the (right-hand dancer in
each couple) when (pronoun) is coming out of the left-hand star and has to
do a quick U-turn in order to face across the set for the do-si-do.
I use Haste to the Wedding frequently in teaching workshops and sometimes
make the point that there's a "tricky bit" at this spot.
Anon.
R
Ridge Kennedy [Exit 145]
Hey -- I wrote a book! *Murder & Miss Austen's Ball. *
It's a novel with musical accompaniment. Now that's different.
Read all about it here! <https://www.hedgehoghousebooks.com>
3:15 p.m.
On 2022-10-12 1:51 p.m., Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hey callers and
dance-choreographic-encyclopedic-knowledgeable people*
Last Friday I needed a transitionary dance at the last second. We had many
more first time contra dancers than I was expecting. I wanted something a
bit more than simply "Family Contra" or "Family Contra in the
Castle". So I
came up with this:
Formation: Duple Minor
A1: Circle left (8); Left hand star (8)
A2: partner DSD (8); neighbor DSD (8)
B1: Neighbor balance and swing
B2: long lines (8); 1s swing (8)
I searched on The Caller's Box, and got
"Last Minute Contra {original version}" by ... Seth Tepfer!
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12150
You posted it to this list about 8 years ago:
https://lists.sharedweight.net/hyperkitty/list/contracallers@lists.sharedwe…
No other hits.
-Michael
14 Oct
14 Oct
noon
That guy from 8 years ago will probably sue you for copyright infringement, Seth!!
bill
________________________________
From: Michael Dyck via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 8:15 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Does this dance exist?
On 2022-10-12 1:51 p.m., Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hey callers and
dance-choreographic-encyclopedic-knowledgeable people*
Last Friday I needed a transitionary dance at the last second. We had many
more first time contra dancers than I was expecting. I wanted something a
bit more than simply "Family Contra" or "Family Contra in the
Castle". So I
came up with this:
Formation: Duple Minor
A1: Circle left (8); Left hand star (8)
A2: partner DSD (8); neighbor DSD (8)
B1: Neighbor balance and swing
B2: long lines (8); 1s swing (8)
I searched on The Caller's Box, and got
"Last Minute Contra {original version}" by ... Seth Tepfer!
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibibl…
You posted it to this list about 8 years ago:
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sha…
No other hits.
-Michael
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
12:23 p.m.
New subject: [External] Re: Does this dance exist?
🤦🏼♂️ 🤣
Thank you Michael D.
Bill, I'm talking to his lawyers to ensure he doesn't sue for copywrite
infringement.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
________________________________
From: Michael Dyck via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 4:15 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [External] [Callers] Re: Does this dance exist?
On 2022-10-12 1:51 p.m., Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers wrote:
Hey callers and
dance-choreographic-encyclopedic-knowledgeable people*
Last Friday I needed a transitionary dance at the last second. We had many
more first time contra dancers than I was expecting. I wanted something a
bit more than simply "Family Contra" or "Family Contra in the
Castle". So I
came up with this:
Formation: Duple Minor
A1: Circle left (8); Left hand star (8)
A2: partner DSD (8); neighbor DSD (8)
B1: Neighbor balance and swing
B2: long lines (8); 1s swing (8)
I searched on The Caller's Box, and got
"Last Minute Contra {original version}" by ... Seth Tepfer!
https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibibl…
You posted it to this list about 8 years ago:
https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flists.sha…
No other hits.
-Michael
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
28 Oct
28 Oct
3:37 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by Kimberley Holmes in the radio thing.
Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her at Maine Fiddle Camp
this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my brain immediately starts
"writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't composed a contra dance since,
probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's from the mid 2000's I think. So this
"creative thing" that used to happen a lot hasn't happened for a while..
(understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly barn/community/family dances
and when I do call a contra dance it's with ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done
Larks and Robins but the choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah
hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up. I didn't
find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what track #9 is. The
title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title for a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
4:45 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
Here's a few similar ones I found:
Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better by Tavi Merrill
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14993
Different entrances to the swings, but Tavi opts for a Allemande 1x only,
and staring 2 passes of a hey for the Women/Ladies/Robins to get to their
partner.
Easy as Pie by Tom Lehmann
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=935
Different entrances to the swings, and no balance before the pass-through
There's plenty more that vary a little more, but, that's the way it is with
these glossary dances, yeah?
... I dig your version as a super forgiving way to teach the hey.
I'd love to know if someone else has this choreo down, because I'd like to
add it to my box.
-Julian Blechner
he/him
On Fri, Oct 28, 2022 at 4:37 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by
Kimberley Holmes in the radio
thing. Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her
at Maine Fiddle Camp this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my
brain immediately starts "writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't
composed a contra dance since, probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's
from the mid 2000's I think. So this "creative thing" that used to happen
a
lot hasn't happened for a while.. (understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly
barn/community/family dances and when I do call a contra dance it's with
ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done Larks and Robins but the
choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up.
I didn't find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what
track #9 is. The title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title
for
a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
6:40 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
Easy As Pie is pretty much the same dance. Still different enough to be unique I guess.
let's see what others say.
thanks Julian!
bill
________________________________
From: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 9:45 PM
To: Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] new dance?
Here's a few similar ones I found:
Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better by Tavi Merrill
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14993<htt…
Different entrances to the swings, but Tavi opts for a Allemande 1x only, and staring 2
passes of a hey for the Women/Ladies/Robins to get to their partner.
Easy as Pie by Tom Lehmann
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=935<https…
Different entrances to the swings, and no balance before the pass-through
There's plenty more that vary a little more, but, that's the way it is with these
glossary dances, yeah?
... I dig your version as a super forgiving way to teach the hey.
I'd love to know if someone else has this choreo down, because I'd like to add it
to my box.
-Julian Blechner
he/him
On Fri, Oct 28, 2022 at 4:37 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
wrote:
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by Kimberley Holmes in the radio thing.
Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her at Maine Fiddle Camp
this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my brain immediately starts
"writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't composed a contra dance since,
probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's from the mid 2000's I think. So this
"creative thing" that used to happen a lot hasn't happened for a while..
(understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly barn/community/family dances
and when I do call a contra dance it's with ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done
Larks and Robins but the choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah
hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up. I didn't
find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what track #9 is. The
title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title for a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
6:52 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
of course the A2 sequence was borrowed from my own dance 20 Below (and undoubtedly many
others)
20 BELOW
A Becket formation contra by Bill Olson
A1 Cir L 3/4 to wave across (R hand to N, W by L in center) (8), Bal wave (4), walk
forward to new wave (4)
A2 Bal wave (4), Sw (new) Neighbor (12)
B1 M allem L x 1.5 (8), 1/2 hey (Start Pt R sh) (8)
B2 B&S Pt (16)
bill
________________________________
From: Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 11:40 PM
To: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] new dance?
Easy As Pie is pretty much the same dance. Still different enough to be unique I guess.
let's see what others say.
thanks Julian!
bill
________________________________
From: Julian Blechner <juliancallsdances(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 9:45 PM
To: Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] new dance?
Here's a few similar ones I found:
Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better by Tavi Merrill
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=14993<htt…
Different entrances to the swings, but Tavi opts for a Allemande 1x only, and staring 2
passes of a hey for the Women/Ladies/Robins to get to their partner.
Easy as Pie by Tom Lehmann
https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=935<https…
Different entrances to the swings, and no balance before the pass-through
There's plenty more that vary a little more, but, that's the way it is with these
glossary dances, yeah?
... I dig your version as a super forgiving way to teach the hey.
I'd love to know if someone else has this choreo down, because I'd like to add it
to my box.
-Julian Blechner
he/him
On Fri, Oct 28, 2022 at 4:37 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers
<contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
wrote:
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by Kimberley Holmes in the radio thing.
Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her at Maine Fiddle Camp
this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my brain immediately starts
"writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't composed a contra dance since,
probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's from the mid 2000's I think. So this
"creative thing" that used to happen a lot hasn't happened for a while..
(understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly barn/community/family dances
and when I do call a contra dance it's with ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done
Larks and Robins but the choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah
hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up. I didn't
find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what track #9 is. The
title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title for a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list --
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>
29 Oct
29 Oct
2:11 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
I can't speak to whether this is absolutely original, but as. a choreographer myself
who was completely dry for over a year during the pandemic - after wearing out my interest
in Zoom adaptations of existing dances, new solo stuff, etc - it felt really good when
that spring started flowing again late last year, and I'm gold there's water in
your well now. It's a good feeling.
Otherwise - really like that allemande/hey transition in B1. Might be worth notating that
it's a half-hey. Also, seems pretty easy to call without gender reference even if
you're not interested in doing that.. After the swing it's the people who have
left hands free who allemande left.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 1:37 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] new dance?
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by Kimberley Holmes in the radio thing.
Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her at Maine Fiddle Camp
this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my brain immediately starts
"writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't composed a contra dance since,
probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's from the mid 2000's I think. So this
"creative thing" that used to happen a lot hasn't happened for a while..
(understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly barn/community/family dances
and when I do call a contra dance it's with ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done
Larks and Robins but the choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah
hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up. I didn't
find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what track #9 is. The
title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title for a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
3:13 p.m.
New subject: new dance?
Alan, thanks, my well went a bit dry way before Covid. and yeah certainly a half hey.. I
just dashed it down in a hurry.
anyway:
KIMBERLEY'S HOUSE PARTY Improper Bill Olson
A1 DSD N, Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, ½ hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
bill
________________________________
From: Winston, Alan P. <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2022 7:11 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>et>;
Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: new dance?
I can't speak to whether this is absolutely original, but as. a choreographer myself
who was completely dry for over a year during the pandemic - after wearing out my interest
in Zoom adaptations of existing dances, new solo stuff, etc - it felt really good when
that spring started flowing again late last year, and I'm gold there's water in
your well now. It's a good feeling.
Otherwise - really like that allemande/hey transition in B1. Might be worth notating that
it's a half-hey. Also, seems pretty easy to call without gender reference even if
you're not interested in doing that.. After the swing it's the people who have
left hands free who allemande left.
-- Alan
________________________________________
From: Bill Olson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 1:37 PM
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] new dance?
So I'm driving down the road, stick a CD by Kimberley Holmes in the radio thing.
Kimberley is an amazing fiddler and pianist from Halifax. I met her at Maine Fiddle Camp
this year. This tune in the queue just HITS me and my brain immediately starts
"writing" a dance to go with it. I haven't composed a contra dance since,
probably, Ellie's Pumpkin Show and that's from the mid 2000's I think. So this
"creative thing" that used to happen a lot hasn't happened for a while..
(understatement)......
I'm not calling a lot of contra dances these days. Mostly barn/community/family dances
and when I do call a contra dance it's with ladies, gents, gypsies, etc. I have done
Larks and Robins but the choreographer part of me only does ladies and gents etc. hah
hah...
Anyway here's what popped out:
A1 DSD N Sw N
A2 M allem L x 1.5, ½ hey (start Partner R Sh)
B1 Pt B&S (or Gyp & Sw)
B2 Cir L 3/4, bal ring, Pass thru
I have about 5 alternate B2 parts here's just one:
B2 Pass thru across (NO courtesy turn), face L, L/H star x 1.25
I prefer the easy original version. I figured I could check "callers' box"
as Russell pretty much always does, to see if any of the sequences come up. I didn't
find anything but not sure I am specifying the figures properly.
OK so I have this dance in my brain and I go to the CD jacket to see what track #9 is. The
title is "Kimberley's House Party". What a great title for a dance..
This is such an easy dance, simple sequence.. Does it already exist?
thanks.... bill
789
days inactive
806
days old
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
11 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
Bill Olson -
Julian Blechner -
Michael Dyck -
Michael Fuerst -
Ridge Kennedy -
Tepfer, Seth -
Winston, Alan P.