California Twirlin' author - Contra Callers

Janet Levatin

31 Aug 31 Aug

7:40 p.m.

Hi. This is Janet Levatin, from Boston. Even though I'm not a caller, I joined this list because I like the idea of being a caller. This is the dance as I wrote it. It got called here in New England 2 or 3 times, but became popular in other places, mostly, I think, because Seth Tepfer saw it and liked it and has spread it around. Cheers, Janet California Twirlin' by Janet Levatin, 3/2007 Duple improper A1: Balance the ring Partner California Twirl and face back in Balance the ring Neighbor California Twirl and face back in A2: Balance the ring Partner California Twirl and face new neighbors Swing this new neighbor B1: Circle left 3/4 Partner swing B2: Ladies chain with courtesy turn (or another California twirl) Long lines forward and on the way back… Neighbor roll away with half sashay: women rolling left Double progression variation: B2: omit roll away, start dance with next neighbors The thing that is different about this dance is that you face back in to your current group of four after the first two California twirls instead of facing away as you usually do after a California twirl. As a teaching point, you can tell the dancers to use their joined hands to generate a bit of leverage to propel each other back in towards their group of four. Some dancers will want to add a full circle twirl as a flourish. The impetus for this can be generated by using those joined hands to propel each other. On Aug 31, 2009, at 9:50 PM, lynn ackerson wrote:

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The dance "California Twirlin'" has been travelling all over the country. I've seen multiple versions of the B2, and I've seen the author's name spelled multiple ways. It's something like Janet Leviton or Levinson. Does anyone know Janet? I'd love to get the correct spelling of her name, and her version of the dance. Thanks, Lynn _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

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Janet Levatin

7:58 p.m.

Lynn, Thanks for the feedback. I have to get some of those other dances out of my head and onto paper. On Aug 31, 2009, at 10:55 PM, lynn ackerson wrote:

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Thanks Janet. You wrote a great dance. Let us know when you write your next one. Lynn --- On Mon, 8/31/09, Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org> wrote: From: Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org> Subject: Re: [Callers] California Twirlin' author To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Date: Monday, August 31, 2009, 7:40 PM Hi. This is Janet Levatin, from Boston. Even though I'm not a caller, I joined this list because I like the idea of being a caller. This is the dance as I wrote it. It got called here in New England 2 or 3 times, but became popular in other places, mostly, I think, because Seth Tepfer saw it and liked it and has spread it around. Cheers, Janet California Twirlin' by Janet Levatin, 3/2007 Duple improper A1: Balance the ring Partner California Twirl and face back in Balance the ring Neighbor California Twirl and face back in A2: Balance the ring Partner California Twirl and face new neighbors Swing this new neighbor B1: Circle left 3/4 Partner swing B2: Ladies chain with courtesy turn (or another California twirl) Long lines forward and on the way back… Neighbor roll away with half sashay: women rolling left Double progression variation: B2: omit roll away, start dance with next neighbors The thing that is different about this dance is that you face back in to your current group of four after the first two California twirls instead of facing away as you usually do after a California twirl. As a teaching point, you can tell the dancers to use their joined hands to generate a bit of leverage to propel each other back in towards their group of four. Some dancers will want to add a full circle twirl as a flourish. The impetus for this can be generated by using those joined hands to propel each other. On Aug 31, 2009, at 9:50 PM, lynn ackerson wrote:

The dance "California Twirlin'" has been travelling all over the country. I've seen multiple versions of the B2, and I've seen the author's name spelled multiple ways. It's something like Janet Leviton or Levinson. Does anyone know Janet? I'd love to get the correct spelling of her name, and her version of the dance. Thanks, Lynn _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

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Janet Levatin

4:24 a.m.

Bill, Thanks for letting me know the square dancing terminology. When I wrote the dance I was trying to think of a move (or a variation on a move) that I didn't see used in contra dancing, at least not in dances I had done. I think the swing in A2 is fine as the dancers are facing a new neighbor and have plenty of time for the swing. Someone, like Seth, who has called the dance a lot may have more feedback on that. If I remember correctly, I think when he first called it he had the dancers swing their current neighbor instead of their new neighbors. I'm not sure how that would work. Janet On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Liz and Bill wrote:

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Hi Janet, An interesting use of California twirl. Looks like a neat dance. I'm getting a lot of square dancers at my contra dances in New Zealand. In MWSD terminology "California twirl and face back in" is "California twirl and roll". How do women find the swing coming out of the California twirl in A2? Cheers, Bill _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

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