Hi Chris,
I love the New England Dancing Masters Productions books, edited by Andy Davis, Peter
Amidon, and Mary Cay Brass, if you will be doing more family dances. Until then, here are
some of my tried and trues:
Grand March, can be done to just about any tune, ask for a "marchy" tune
Circassian Circle Mixer, just needs a 32 bar tune (it's in the above mentioned series,
and the book titled Listen to the Mockingbird) People love to go into the middle, clap,
and spin back to place.
Gallopede, (an ECD) it has it's own tune or many 32 bar tunes will work
Zodiac (most bands can play along with the singing "Here come's Zodiac" to
the tune "Mammy's little Baby..)
I often do a random couple dance using southern figures (circle 4, stars, dosido ptnr,
dosido crnr, swings, birdie in the cage, weathervane, duck for the oyster, etc, promenade
with your partner around and find another couple..)
Virginia Reel
Just get them up having fun and feeling success right away before the adults have a chance
to think they can't do it, then morph one dance into the next to make it difficult to
sit out!
Good luck, and feel free to contact me off list for more details about dances.
Jill Allen
On Jan 14, 2012, at 4:11 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Family dances (Chris Weiler (home))
2. Re: Family dances (Laur)
3. Re: Family dances (mavis mcgaugh)
4. Re: Family dances (Paul Wilde)
5. Re: Family dances (Laur)
6. Re: Family dances (JD Erskine)
7. Re: Family dances (JohnFreem(a)aol.com)
8. Re: Family dances (mavis mcgaugh)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:50:49 -0500
From: "Chris Weiler (home)" <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID: <92811735-15B4-4B13-B36A-CEA257BE2724(a)weirdtable.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate
with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:16:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID:
<1326572208.7217.YahooMailNeo(a)web121703.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I think many of these have been posted before.? This is an example of what I've done
with our
Wheat Scout's program.? typically younger Kids (not preadolescence) and their parents
at a family dance.
The "Blob" dance
Patty Cake Polka - hell and toe polka
Big Circle for little kids (I think this was in the White Mt. Reel book)
Portland Fancy (same book)
Family Contra - Sherry Nevin
Moons and Stars (Lisa Greenleaf, I believe)
I've also used the hat dance? I use a feather or something like that.
I have Sashay the Donut referenced for upper elementary
Seth Tepfer wrote Family Contra in the Castle
Rick Gross also has family dances to share.
Laurie
Grand Rapids, MI
?
________________________________
From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 2:50 PM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate
with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:22:32 -0800 (PST)
From: mavis mcgaugh <yankeecalls(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID:
<1326572552.47258.YahooMailNeo(a)web113213.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
?I?love La Bastrigne - because?the band can play?any?32 bar tune.???
the dance is easy to teach and folks quickly get the pattern down ---??
couples in a big circle facing in? - Mixer?
A1)?? forward & back
??????? forward & back
A2)?? circle left? and? back to the right
B1)? ALL turn to corner and? SWING??
B2?? w?corner (new partner)? Promenade??? ?
FAMILY Contra? by Sherry Nevins? ---? Sicilian Circle???????? No swings?? ---??and fun?
and folks get into the pattern quickly
A1)? Balance Ring 2x
???????? circle? Left
A2)? Balance Ring 2x
???????? Circle Right
B1)? Neighbor d-s-d
???????? Partner? d-s-d
B2? as couples?
?????? D-s-d? 1 1/2?
any version of a virginia reel dance -? is always popular? -? especially if the top
couple??get to do the?? Reel the Set figure [also known as Strip the willow]?
Le Brandy????? proper longways????? 10-12 couples
A1)??? lines forward & back
??????????? w/ Partner seesaw
A2)?? lines forward & back
????????????? w/ Partner d-s-d? 1 and 1/2 to end back to back?
B1)??? ALL count in french? -?[1,2,3]????? then once?dance is going I will yell in?
German or Japanese or Spanish??or ?Russian? -? and see how many are able to count
????? and then shout Poussez? -? PUSH ---?? they bump 'behinds' with each other
turn around and SWING?
B2)? ONLY? Top couple sashays down to the bottom?? while everyone else claps?? and all
then move 2 steps ?up the hall???? --?
Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)
________________________________
From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate
with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:26:58 -0500
From: Paul Wilde <zenyente(a)gmail.com>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID:
<CACyeUsNMfjzJ7Xjnji+4XCr=014A4-BnGeJNEB2Nvv6BvJrnmg(a)mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Chris,
I highly recommend the Suites of May. It's a 3 part dance, but as long as
you keep the general phrasing matched, no one seems to notice the dance
doesn't always begin on the A-1 of the music. It is a surprisingly fun and
exciting dance, compared to how it looks on paper. Keep lines to 6 or 7
couples or less. Sometimes I let them run the cast off longer than it
should, but as they get the hang of it, speed up the sequential cast off
calls. It adds an element of excitement, especially when the men's line is
getting back to starting position and you are calling both lines to cast
off.
Have fun!
Paul
PS Top cpl that makes arch at bottom has to go down far enough to avoid
cramping at the top of the set.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:29:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Laur <lcpgr(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID:
<1326572962.90141.YahooMailNeo(a)web121703.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Chris - do you have any idea how old the kids in the family are?? I have some other
things I do at ONS that may be appropriate.? If you need to know details of the dances I
gave before send a PM.? I'll be around for the next 2 hours.
?
Laurie
________________________________
From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 2:50 PM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate
with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:42:04 -0800
From: JD Erskine <sailargh(a)victoria.tc.ca>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID: <4F11E89C.3080909(a)victoria.tc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 14/Jan/12 11:50, Chris Weiler (home) wrote:
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and
I haven't been able to coordinate with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
I understand the situation and the approach.
I wouldn't overly worry if you don't have the married tune.
If the band is happy picking tunes between dances just give them any
figures that may be helped by an emphasis of playing, show them the
tempo you want by walking/dancing at speed some of the figure. You'll be
providing them with what they can use. My friend told me in the fall,
"You didn't ask for that tune!", which I had assumed was now "in
there"
and found a lovely matching piece for Galopede. I called it "American
Galopede" after the fact.
If they're not able this or happy to work that way then you'll want to
meet earlier and go over some stuff.
I've sat at (music) Sessions, or when hanging around with musical
friends, parties, bands, band rehearsals (my performances are singing,
dancing, tactile instruments aren't really played in public) and noticed
myself thinking, "Hmm, this tune would work for ____."
There are seemingly innumerable pieces to which one may dance Canadian
Barn Dance, Patty Cake Polka, etc. Innumerable to me. I have no doubt
that if differences in regional tune/dance marriages occurred it was
when one band/musician thought similarly and it was repeated by them to
the point of being so associated.
Cheers, John
--
J.D. Erskine
Victoria, BC
Skype:
island.dance
Island Dance -- Folk & Country dance info for Vancouver Island
Now at
http://members.shaw.ca/island.dance please update links
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------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:14:49 -0500 (EST)
From: JohnFreem(a)aol.com
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID: <5bdcf.7df594c8.3c434a48(a)aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Chris,
There is not "correct" answer for this. This is "folk dance".
That said, do you know your audience? I've been leading a family dance
series for 21 years now. We've learned to plan a wide variety of dances because
we never know who is going to show up. I am a huge fan of play party singing
games and very simple dances for a younger set. We usually have a group
of high school foreign exchange students show up for either our January or
February dance. I've warned the band and the other leaders to be prepared!
Many simple play party games can be done to almost any reel or jig if YOU
make it okay. If this is an ONS, then make it fun and don't worry too much
about form or what is "correct". Keep it simple and keep it fun.
You should be able to find a ton of play party games and simple dances
online.
Good luck!
John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:11:22 -0800 (PST)
From: mavis mcgaugh <yankeecalls(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Family dances
Message-ID:
<1326579082.52606.YahooMailNeo(a)web113210.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
if you have a number of kids? under the age of ten?(especially boys)? --?? I use this one
anytime I?have youngsters?
?
Can't Jump? Josie -??? it is a big circle dance?No Partners? ?--??? I never have the
band play anything? --?
?I tell the dancers? -? you better learn this?song??quickly - or you will have to listen
to me sing!?? they always pick it up quickly? ---?????
?
you identify?? 1 young person to stand in the ?center of the circle??--? everyone else?
walks **single file? CW?? singing? (or? they join hands and circle left )
?
We're floating?down the river?
We're floating down below?
We're floating down the river
Down the old Saint Jo????? (?have also heard it done saying?? O H I O)?
?
then all in outer circle? face in? - and point to the person in the middle? [who NOW
begins jumping up and down ] and they sing?
?
:1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie
1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie
1 in the middle and he can''t jump Josie???
?Oh Susie Brown??:?? Repeat
?
while all are singing OH SUZIE BROWN?? the 2nd time? -?the person??in middle? grabs
someone from the outer circle and now there are two in the middle
?
those in outer circle face CW walking &??singing?? or Circle Left
?
?
We're floating down the river
We're floating down below
We're floating down the river
Down the? old Saint Joe?
?
ALL face to center and point at the 2 in the middle? who commence jumping? while others
point and sing
?
:? 2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie
? 2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie
? 2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie?
? OH SUZIE BROWN :? Repeat
?
?
last time? I just say? ALL in the middle ......???
?
**?I usually tell the folks in the outer circle? -? they need to face left and step ?onto
?their raft - so they can float down the river? - so we have our arms?outstretched??and we
kind of rock from side to side as we move over the water
?
?
the dance and tune are in the??? PEEL the BANANA? dance book?
also in the book? DOWN IN THE VALLEY?
also in the book? STEP LIVELY?? (Red Cover)??
?
Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)
________________________________
From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances
I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate
with the band on music for specific dances.
What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them?
I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions.
Thanks!
Chris
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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------------------------------
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End of Callers Digest, Vol 89, Issue 8
**************************************