<Can you do an initial impromptu lesson that lasts
about 15-20 minutes which then flows gracefully into your first contra
dance?
Woody>
Woody, I was able to ask for a lesson at the start, but will only do it if there are not enough experienced dancers to help. I’m told to expect new dancers rolling in throughout the evening, so we will have to just teach as we go.
Seth, Yes if there are lots of beginners and too few experienced contra dancers, I plan to bring barn dances, mixers for a fun time! I’m calling a family dance earlier in the day and will have a wide selection ready for various possibilities in dancers.
Nick, Yeah, too late to add a 50 minute intro to contra session, but I’ll give them the feedback for next year. I noticed at NEFFA they had an intro session every day. I didn’t notice any intro to contra at FolkLife, but wasn’t looking for it either…..
Jim, Thanks!! Great advice.
Thanks so much everyone !
Claire
Hi everyone.
I?m looking for advice. I?m calling a FFF next Sat and live in SF Bay Area, where the average person has never heard of contra dance. I got advice from Alan Winston, who called the contra dance a couple years ago when it was a 2 day event and the contra was Sunday evening. Now it?s a 1 day festival and the contra is Sat 630-10pm. The other dance that evening is Blues/Fusion, which I expect will have a HUGE crowd. There is also a contra dance about 30 minutes South of the venue and a waltz evening 30 minutes East, so I?m not confident that a bunch of experienced contra dancers will show up. I?m sure some will, as many are also musicians who will be volunteering that day.
I have several very easy contras (low piece count, connected, easy single progression, stays in minor set, etc) and plan to slip in brief reminders during each walk through (since new dancers can join at any time in the 3.5 hours). I?m sharing the contra calling with one person, and there is a caller for a couple squares, and a caller of 3/4 time contras. I don?t know how the eve will be broken down yet, but I?m likely to call 2-3 contras in each half.
It?s in a high school gym, so I know to keep calls short and clear due to acoustics.
I?m wondering about offering a 20 minute lesson before the dance???
Thanks for any advice about free folk festivals (assuming there won?t be a lot of experienced dancer ringers). I?m just back from FolkLife and NEFFA and they are full of experienced contra dancers??
Claire Takemori (SF Bay Area)
Interesting question Don!
Being one of those "trip to" choreographers, I think there are a number of
reasonable places to draw the reference from. Certainly the obvious one of
writing it while on the way to or from the particular location. Then it
might also be to commemorate or honor an individual know by their location.
I wrote one, *Trip to Harlem*, named after the tune I used*, Drop Me Off in
Harlem. *to honor the passing of the great Duke Ellington. I am pretty sure
there is no rule about it, and I'd so feel free to travel wherever your
imagination takes you.
Bob Green
St. Louis
On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 2:58 PM, Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Silly question of the day: is there some expectation/standard for what a
> "Trip to ..." dance contains - other than the words "Trip to" appear in the
> title?
>
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> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
Hi everyone.
I’m looking for advice. I’m calling a FFF next Sat and live in SF Bay Area, where the average person has never heard of contra dance. I got advice from Alan Winston, who called the contra dance a couple years ago when it was a 2 day event and the contra was Sunday evening. Now it’s a 1 day festival and the contra is Sat 630-10pm. The other dance that evening is Blues/Fusion, which I expect will have a HUGE crowd. There is also a contra dance about 30 minutes South of the venue and a waltz evening 30 minutes East, so I’m not confident that a bunch of experienced contra dancers will show up. I’m sure some will, as many are also musicians who will be volunteering that day.
I have several very easy contras (low piece count, connected, easy single progression, stays in minor set, etc) and plan to slip in brief reminders during each walk through (since new dancers can join at any time in the 3.5 hours). I’m sharing the contra calling with one person, and there is a caller for a couple squares, and a caller of 3/4 time contras. I don’t know how the eve will be broken down yet, but I’m likely to call 2-3 contras in each half.
It’s in a high school gym, so I know to keep calls short and clear due to acoustics.
I’m wondering about offering a 20 minute lesson before the dance???
Thanks for any advice about free folk festivals (assuming there won’t be a lot of experienced dancer ringers). I’m just back from FolkLife and NEFFA and they are full of experienced contra dancers……
Claire Takemori (SF Bay Area)
Requirement? I don't know. All the ones I know have gents and ladies
(in some order) going to the center for a
long wavy line.
On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 3:58 PM, Don Veino via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Silly question of the day: is there some expectation/standard for what a
> "Trip to ..." dance contains - other than the words "Trip to" appear in the
> title?
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
Perhaps you must take a "Trip to ... somewhere" and then write a dance to
celebrate the fact?
On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 3:58 PM, Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Silly question of the day: is there some expectation/standard for what a
> "Trip to ..." dance contains - other than the words "Trip to" appear in the
> title?
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
Hi Don, My expectation, or assumption maybe, is that the dance was composed on the way to the place in the title or after returning from there.. I don't think there is anything expected in the choreography.. at least there isn't for me..
bill
________________________________
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Don Veino via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 1, 2017 7:58 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] Trip to ... = ?
Silly question of the day: is there some expectation/standard for what a "Trip to ..." dance contains - other than the words "Trip to" appear in the title?
Silly question of the day: is there some expectation/standard for what a
"Trip to ..." dance contains - other than the words "Trip to" appear in the
title?
Hive Mind:
I wrote the following solid little contra on a recent flight when I had too much time on my hands, and it went well on its initial test. It didn't show up in my database, but do you know if it has been written previously?
Improper
A1. Neighbor balance, swing
A2. Gents allemande L 1 1/2, partner swing
B1. Long lines, circle L 3/4
B2. Neighbor allemande R 1 1/2, 1/2 hey (GL, PR, LL, -)
Bob
