Import1 February 2018

import1@lists2.sharedweight.net

41 participants
61 discussions

Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?

by John Sweeney

Hi Amy, No, no, that’s not what See-Saw means! You can see a See-Saw being performed just after 31 seconds into: https://archive.org/details/square_dancing No, just kidding. 😊 Dosido and Seesaw mean lots of different things (I have a contra dance with three completely different “Dosidos”!). Your use of See-Saw is the one most contra dancers know, though Modern Western Square Dancing has redefined it as a Left Shoulder Gypsy! You’re in charge! Call it what you like! Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent From: Amy Cann [mailto:acann@putneyschool.org] Sent: 23 February 2018 16:15 To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist? Hello again all -- it has been brought (gently) to my attention that I have been laboring under a delusion, that I have strayed from the path... "Do-SI-do, do-SA-do" does not mean back-to-back starting right shoulder, then back to back starting left shoulder. Deep down I know this, I swear, I know they're the same term with different accents, but SOMEwhere.SOMEhow I started using the phrase/habit with a particular wedding dance and it stuck. No idea why. Total brain fart. Thank you, Tony Parkes, for leading me back into the light of truth. I'm going to go recite the moves of Moneymusk three times and light a candle to Ralph Page and hope that's enough penance. Please replace the B1 part of my silly Star Wars trash compactor dance with "Do Si Do, See-Saw" Yikes, Amy

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?

by Amy Cann

Hello again all -- it has been brought (gently) to my attention that I have been laboring under a delusion, that I have strayed from the path... "Do-SI-do, do-SA-do" does not mean back-to-back starting right shoulder, then back to back starting left shoulder. Deep down I know this, I swear, I know they're the same term with different accents, but SOMEwhere.SOMEhow I started using the phrase/habit with a particular wedding dance and it stuck. No idea why. Total brain fart. Thank you, Tony Parkes, for leading me back into the light of truth. I'm going to go recite the moves of Moneymusk three times and light a candle to Ralph Page and hope that's enough penance. Please replace the B1 part of my silly Star Wars trash compactor dance with "Do Si Do, See-Saw" Yikes, Amy On Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 2:22 PM, Amy Cann <acann(a)putneyschool.org> wrote: > Hey all! This dance just popped into my head as part of a discussion over > on the pourparler/family dance community. > > I have NO idea if I've just reinvented someone else's wheel or not. Anyone > know? > > > Working Title: *"I've Got a Bad Feeling About This" * > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U3Oti2L8S4 > Suggested Tune: *Cantina Theme* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6PDcBhODqo > > > Eight or more couples, "Big Square" formation > > Prep: form up like you're going to do a big circle, then "square the > circle": divide dancers into four equal sets of partners, lined up along > four NSEW walls. > Wave at people across the room, figure out who your opposite pair is. > Sides and Top walls can be slightly different numbers of partners as long > as they match each *other*. > > *Side walls advance, right hand allemande* with opposite, retire > *Top walls sashay *to opposite side (if gendered: "Drive in the right > lane, men passing back to back") > *Side walls advance, left hand allemande*, retire > *Top walls sashay* home > > Everyone *dosido* partner, > *do-SA-do* partner, > *promenade* to next WALL. > > Do the dance four times with calls, four times "on your own" > > Possible prep practice: Tops advance, meet/identify your opposite, retire. > Sides in, identify, retire. All promenade to next wall. > > Depending on size of hall, number of couples, and experience > level/sobriety of dancers, this could either be cleanly/tightly phrased or > a total pig-pile, sorta like Foula Reel. > > I'm going to totally try this at our (small, square-shaped, local, > fun-loving and open-minded) Peirce's Hall this weekend, if Steve Howland > will share the mic for a moment, but before I do: > > Does this already exist, and I've just forgotten? > Or anything similar? > Does it work in real life, with the right crowd/band/hall? > > Kinda excited to find out... > > Cheers, > Amy >

6 years, 10 months

[Callers] International Money Musk Day?

by Steven Janowiecki

Dear callers list, I'm a long time reader, first time writer, wondering if anyone knows about any plans for 2018 International Money Musk Day. Is it Wednesday March 14th this year? Thanks! Steven

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?

by Folk Dance

There's Suicide Square from Sheffield, giant square for as many as you can fit A1 Head ends of the room take their partner in a ballroom hold and gallop eight steps into the centre and back A2 Side do the same B1 Balance and swing your partner B2 Men form and inner circle facing out, women form and outer circle facing in, every body circle left, then find a new partner Best done with a large number of university students, to loud tunes with a great deal of vigour. Finding a partner tends to be less than orderly and risky since the first part of the dance is a full on gallop.

6 years, 10 months

[Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?

by Amy Cann

Hey all! This dance just popped into my head as part of a discussion over on the pourparler/family dance community. I have NO idea if I've just reinvented someone else's wheel or not. Anyone know? Working Title: *"I've Got a Bad Feeling About This" * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U3Oti2L8S4 Suggested Tune: *Cantina Theme* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6PDcBhODqo Eight or more couples, "Big Square" formation Prep: form up like you're going to do a big circle, then "square the circle": divide dancers into four equal sets of partners, lined up along four NSEW walls. Wave at people across the room, figure out who your opposite pair is. Sides and Top walls can be slightly different numbers of partners as long as they match each *other*. *Side walls advance, right hand allemande* with opposite, retire *Top walls sashay *to opposite side (if gendered: "Drive in the right lane, men passing back to back") *Side walls advance, left hand allemande*, retire *Top walls sashay* home Everyone *dosido* partner, *do-SA-do* partner, *promenade* to next WALL. Do the dance four times with calls, four times "on your own" Possible prep practice: Tops advance, meet/identify your opposite, retire. Sides in, identify, retire. All promenade to next wall. Depending on size of hall, number of couples, and experience level/sobriety of dancers, this could either be cleanly/tightly phrased or a total pig-pile, sorta like Foula Reel. I'm going to totally try this at our (small, square-shaped, local, fun-loving and open-minded) Peirce's Hall this weekend, if Steve Howland will share the mic for a moment, but before I do: Does this already exist, and I've just forgotten? Or anything similar? Does it work in real life, with the right crowd/band/hall? Kinda excited to find out... Cheers, Amy

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Challenging Contras

by Rick Mohr

If you go to the archive https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net and type "challenging", many threads come up. On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 3:13 PM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Chuck, > > I would encourage you to have plenty of easy to medium-easy dances > available, and avoid programming all complex dances. > > Consider an easy dance done as a no-walk-through, or with minimal > walk-through, or with a focus on executing this one little timing thing > well so the whole crowd can have success with the dance. There is a reason > for it to be in the program, and a satisfaction with doing it well. > > So, yes, pepper the dance with complexity, but don't make the whole recipe > taste like pepper. > > Complexity can include: unusual formations, unusual figures, unusual music > (outside the 32-bar structure, for example), unusual interactions (shadows, > or same-sex swings). > > Also, consider using dances with figures that are unusual but not > difficult (ex: circle right). This puts experienced dancers out of their > pattern but does not unduly strain them. (It also puts beginning dancers on > even footing with experienced dancers, when you use this technique for > regular dance evenings). > > Good luck, I'm sure it'll be fun! > > --Jerome > > > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 <(660)%20528-0858> > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com > > "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and > power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > > On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 10:38 AM, Charles via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hello list members, >> >> I will be calling my first session of "Challenging Dances" soon, and I >> have a few questions: >> >> 1. Is there an archived discussion on this topic that any one knows >> about, and if so could someone point me to it? >> >> 2. If not, I'm wondering about other callers' experiences with these >> dances - how "challenging" is generally appropriate? (Bear in mind this is >> not Greenfield, Concord, or a similar dance series where it's safe to >> assume most dancers will be very experienced/skilled). What sort of "arc" >> has worked well for such sessions? I know the final program will be >> determined by the level of those who actually show up to the dance, but >> it'd be nice to start with a general frame of reference. >> >> 3. Any favorite challenging dances anyone has been having particular fun >> with lately? (I have a good assortment but am always looking for new ones). >> >> >> Thanks! Chuck >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > >

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Challenging Contras

by Jerome Grisanti

Chuck, I would encourage you to have plenty of easy to medium-easy dances available, and avoid programming all complex dances. Consider an easy dance done as a no-walk-through, or with minimal walk-through, or with a focus on executing this one little timing thing well so the whole crowd can have success with the dance. There is a reason for it to be in the program, and a satisfaction with doing it well. So, yes, pepper the dance with complexity, but don't make the whole recipe taste like pepper. Complexity can include: unusual formations, unusual figures, unusual music (outside the 32-bar structure, for example), unusual interactions (shadows, or same-sex swings). Also, consider using dances with figures that are unusual but not difficult (ex: circle right). This puts experienced dancers out of their pattern but does not unduly strain them. (It also puts beginning dancers on even footing with experienced dancers, when you use this technique for regular dance evenings). Good luck, I'm sure it'll be fun! --Jerome Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 10:38 AM, Charles via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello list members, > > I will be calling my first session of "Challenging Dances" soon, and I > have a few questions: > > 1. Is there an archived discussion on this topic that any one knows about, > and if so could someone point me to it? > > 2. If not, I'm wondering about other callers' experiences with these > dances - how "challenging" is generally appropriate? (Bear in mind this is > not Greenfield, Concord, or a similar dance series where it's safe to > assume most dancers will be very experienced/skilled). What sort of "arc" > has worked well for such sessions? I know the final program will be > determined by the level of those who actually show up to the dance, but > it'd be nice to start with a general frame of reference. > > 3. Any favorite challenging dances anyone has been having particular fun > with lately? (I have a good assortment but am always looking for new ones). > > > Thanks! Chuck > > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > >

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Challenging Contras

by Charles

Hello list members, I will be calling my first session of "Challenging Dances" soon, and I have a few questions: 1. Is there an archived discussion on this topic that any one knows about, and if so could someone point me to it? 2. If not, I'm wondering about other callers' experiences with these dances - how "challenging" is generally appropriate? (Bear in mind this is not Greenfield, Concord, or a similar dance series where it's safe to assume most dancers will be very experienced/skilled). What sort of "arc" has worked well for such sessions? I know the final program will be determined by the level of those who actually show up to the dance, but it'd be nice to start with a general frame of reference. 3. Any favorite challenging dances anyone has been having particular fun with lately? (I have a good assortment but am always looking for new ones). Thanks! Chuck

6 years, 10 months

[Callers] The loss of one of our own

by Seth Seeger

Dear callers, It is with great sadness that I pass on the message below. Her support of this community and to many of us as individuals cannot be overstated. She will be missed. Seth > Begin forwarded message: > > > To the dance community: > > These are excerpts from a letter from Chris Ricciotti. > > It is with great sadness that I am passing on the news that Linda Leslie passed away Sunday evening. She called on Thursday night at the Concord Scout House, Friday evening at the Rehoboth Contra Dance, and then again on Saturday evening at our own contra dance in Jamaica Plain. She called an amazing dance program for all of us those evenings! > > Linda had been having difficulty breathing during the past week or so, particularly after walking, and this became increasing worse over the past few evenings. On Sunday evening, she was taken by ambulance to her local Emergency Room and she passed away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. > > Her husband Bob Golder has requested that Linda’s passing NOT be posted on Facebook. Email and word of mouth is fine, but he prefers this not to become a Facebook event. > > As a caller, she took the love and the joy she experienced as a dancer, and transformed the dance community every where she went, touching us all with her lovely soft spoken presence that would make you feel embraced with that love she had when she danced. To many of us, she was like our dancing “mom” or “grandmom”, always a warm smile, always ready with humor, always looking out to make sure everyone was having a good time, and feeling safe within the room. > > In our community, she was a bridge builder, and a role model of what good dancing and community building are all about. She was also a HUGE advocate of gender-free dancing. She was one of the key people who helped us connect with and be an accepted part of the greater community of dancers, and encouraged us to share our love of dancing with others as a way to help build those connections. > > She was also a part of helping us to build the strong relationship we have with NEFFA, being a support to our fundraising food booth, being present at meetings we had with NEFFA as we worked on being more of a part of the greater dance community, helping us to navigate the issues that were occasionally a part of this process, as she helped us to better understand the greater dance community, as they came to know us > > At our dance camps, as many of you know, her presence was always a welcome treat, whether she came as a dancer simply because she loved our community so much, or when she would come as a caller to build our community, and the bonds that go with it, as she shared her passion and love of music and dancing. > > And of course, we cannot forget her delightful husband Bob, who has also been a warm personality, much loved in our community, also sharing his love of dancing with us, not only as a dancer, but as a caller, having written some of my favorite dances along the way. Bob has also being a great NEFFA advocate helping us many times along the way. His warm smile and delightful presence has brought a lot of joy to us a lot over the years, and he continues to be a part of the family that makes our dance a special place to be. > > I know we will all miss Linda very much. It’s very difficult to lose someone who has had such a presence in our lives and who has brought us so much, and who was a big part of our dancing family. As we find out more information about memorial service arrangements, we will let you know, along with any memorial dances that may be organized in her honor. > > In the mean time, when we come together to dance, let us honor her memory by sharing that joy she brought to each of us, with each other, and let us dance in honor of all our friends and loved ones who have gone before us. It is moments like this that are so precious – and Linda was certainly one of them! > > In sorrow and gratitude for having the honor of knowing Linda, > > Chris Ricciotti

6 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Nerdy dances

by Bill Baritompa

Hi Ron and all, I wrote this quite a while ago and not tested it out, but will try it with the Allemande Joy tour that are in NZ currently. Nerdy title and move at A2b. Spin Quantum Number Becket CW A1 Slice Left, Give and (lady) Take, Neighbor Swing A2 LLF(and on way Back) Gent roll lady away; Gents Right Allemand 1/2, Partner Left Allemand (1/4, 3/4, 1 1/4 etc as desired) to Long Waves (either G or L face out) B1 (with one of the 4 possible) Shadow(s) Balance Rory O'more slide right; Balance Rory O'more slide left B2 Partner Balance and Swing Note: At end of A2 the left allemand can be varied each time. Will end in long waves with a Shadow of same or opposite sex in right hand, Partner in Left. Cheers, Bill

6 years, 10 months

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Import1 February 2018