Import1 July 2018

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33 participants
41 discussions

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

by Kalia Kliban

On 7/24/2018 7:48 AM, Lorraine Sutton via Callers wrote: > Hello All, > > I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada > Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) > > I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper > & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers > and why you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings > definition of easy vs complicated ) > > I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle > and a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of > progression. Lots of really good advice in the replies here. One contra that has worked well for me with very beginning dancers is this version of the Washington Quickstep. The big bonus in this one is that the progression doesn't depend on the propriety of the 1s, so even if a couple gets confused about which side they should be on, the dance still works. It does use a R&L through, which can be a challenging move for the very new. Washington Quickstep duple improper (or proper, depending on how you've taught the R&L through) Star R/L 1s down/back/cast off R&L thru over/bk LLFB, 1s sw Jefferson and Liberty, in its infinite variations, is another good starter contra. Here's the version I tend to use: Jefferson and Liberty duple improper or proper Star R/L Circ L/R Lines of 4 (1s ctr) dn, 1s arch 2s thru, 2s up, 1s follow 1s swing This one does rely on the dancers being able to remember which role they're dancing, but it's nice and basic. Unruly Reunion (Robert Cromartie) duple improper Lines of 4 (1s in middle) dn, turn alone, bk, bend circle L/R N dos/sw LLFB, 1s sw My new favorite mixer, which I learned here on Shared Weight, is The Wheel by Gene Hubert. Needs a big crowd and a roomy dance space, but it's loads of fun. A1 Promenade (CCW)(16), and at the end of A1 gents move the ladies to the middle, so ladies are facing out and gents facing in (note: this is a variation from someone here, was it Mac? Somebody on this list. But it's a really good change). A2 Join 2 hands with partner and walk 8 steps IN (ladies backing up), then 8 slightly smaller steps out (gents backing up), and join hands in 2 concentric circles. (Here's where that modification makes the dance work better. Since men tend to have the longer arms, they're now in the larger, outer circle.) B1 All circle LEFT (opposite directions obviously) B2 *SWING* (nearest person) There are ALWAYS people who don't find a partner at the start of B2, and part of the fun is to then dive into the "odd-sock pile" in the center to find a partner, and rejoin the ring either in the swing or the next promenade. This dance can relieve a lot of the tension about "doing it right," since it's a big silly scramble. Also good swing practice. Kalia in Sebastopol

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

by Jacob or Nancy Bloom

WITH BEGINNERS, AVOID RIGHTS AND LEFTS! Half of them will turn right when they should have turned left, and the other half will turn all the way around and look back at the person they just walked past. To experienced dancers they seem similar to a ladies chain, but people who have never done either before find rights and lefts vastly more confusing. Jacob On Tue, Jul 24, 2018 at 11:17 AM, Jen Morgan via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Not necessarily. I called a contra dance in the ceilidh tent at a UK folk > festival with few if any experienced contra dancers. I made a list of very > basic figures and chose only dances with those figures in. I think I used > either only right and left throughs, or only ladies chains, but not both > (can't remember which sorry!) No work outside minor set, I preferred eight > bar figures to four bar figures (over and back etc). Lots of line of four > lead down sort of dances. Lots of the easier chestnuts. > > And I delivered the explanation of how to line up, how to know if you're a > one or two, how the progression works etc, before *every* *single* > *dance*. It worked and the dancers had a great time. > > Hope it goes well! > Jen > > > On 24 July 2018 at 15:53, Mac Mckeever via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I stay away from contras unless you have a good number of experienced >> dancers to hold things together. There are lots of dances that are more >> self correcting and don't have the complexity that progression creates. >> Virginia Reel works good with beginners >> >> Mac McKeever >> >> On Tuesday, July 24, 2018, 9:48:59 AM CDT, Lorraine Sutton via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> >> Hello All, >> >> I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada >> Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) >> >> I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper >> & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why >> you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition >> of easy vs complicated ) >> >> I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle >> and a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of >> progression. >> >> Thanks so much. >> >> Lorraine Sutton ( lorrainesutton7(a)gmail.com ) >> >> >> ... >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/ >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- jandnbloom(a)gmail.com http://jacobbloom.net/ View my Arlington Food Pantry fundraiser at https://www.youcaring.com/arlington-food-pantry-621657

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

by Jacob or Nancy Bloom

Beginners are often confused by contra dances in which they focus on their partner across the set and progress sideways. For a first contra, I recommend that you start with a dance where the progression is "Pass through to the next" or "Duck through to the next couple", so that the dancers are focusing their attention up and down the set. In fact, you can start by having them do a Sicilian Circle, then stop, change the sets into lines, and have them continue with the same dance. Haste to the Wedding is a good choice, or here's a dance of mine which has been successful with beginners. Jacob's Polka Contra by Jacob Bloom Duple Improper Music: polka or polka-like reel Requires extra room up and down the line Give both hands to the next, or take ballroom position With the outside foot, heel, toe, two slides out, with inside foot heel, toe, two slides in Heel, toe, two slides out, Heel, toe, two slides in Dosido below All dosido partner Allemande left below, All swing partner Circle left with same couple Pass through, bow to next On Tue, Jul 24, 2018 at 10:48 AM, Lorraine Sutton via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello All, > > I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada > Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) > > I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper > & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why > you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition > of easy vs complicated ) > > I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and > a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression. > > Thanks so much. > > Lorraine Sutton ( lorrainesutton7(a)gmail.com ) > > > ... > > > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- jandnbloom(a)gmail.com http://jacobbloom.net/ View my Arlington Food Pantry fundraiser at https://www.youcaring.com/arlington-food-pantry-621657

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

by Mac Mckeever

I stay away from contras unless you have a good number of experienced dancers to hold things together. There are lots of dances that are more self correcting and don't have the complexity that progression creates. Virginia Reel works good with beginners Mac McKeever On Tuesday, July 24, 2018, 9:48:59 AM CDT, Lorraine Sutton via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: Hello All, I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition of easy vs complicated ) I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression. Thanks so much. Lorraine Sutton ( lorrainesutton7(a)gmail.com ) ... _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

6 years, 5 months

[Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

by Lorraine Sutton

Hello All, I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival) I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper & Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why you think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition of easy vs complicated ) I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and a Sicilian circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression. Thanks so much. Lorraine Sutton ( lorrainesutton7(a)gmail.com ) ...

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New dance

by Donna Hunt

I looked at it and thought "jigs" because of the 4 steps into the middle (and thinking of slowing folks down). What kind of tune did you use Chuck? Donna Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com Cell: 215-565-6050 -----Original Message----- From: Charles via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>; Kalia Kliban <kalia.kliban(a)gmail.com> Sent: Wed, Jul 18, 2018 1:35 pm Subject: Re: [Callers] New dance It's been road tested at our local caller's night; not yet at an actual dance. Hope to in the next couple weeks. From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Kalia Kliban via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2018 5:30 PM To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] New dance On 7/18/2018 6:54 AM, Charles via Callers wrote: > I'm posting a new dance of mine - the hook is a half hey into a long > wavy line of gents in the center. Haven't seen it before, and I'm > wondering if anyone knows of other dances with this figure. Also, I > looked for other dances called the Portland Reel and couldn't find any, > but if that name has been used let me know. > > Other feedback welcome: > > *Dugan**’s Duck Dynasty***(Becket)Chuck Abell 7/18 > (/aka/The Portland Reel) > *A1********Half hey, gents pass left to start (8)* > *Same gents take left hands in center to make long wavy line of > gents****(4)** > *****Gents bal left/right (4)* > *A2******Gents alle left 1 1/4x (4)* > *****N swing******(12)* > ** > *B1******On right diagonal ladies chain to shadow***(if someone is > there)***(8)* > **(w/ current N)***LHS 1x (8)* > *B2******P dosido and swing (16)* > ****/w/ these N…/ > / > / > /*Gents be sure to take four full steps/beats to get into the middle/ This looks good on paper. Have you road-tested it? That note at the bottom does look like the place where the pattern could be vulnerable, since getting folks to take their time and not arrive early can be tricky. Kalia in Sebastopol _______________________________________________ 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, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New Dance - Hey Dreaming by Emma Azelborn

by Tom Hinds

Emma, Thanks for sharing your new dance. I believe it’s always best to have larks, men or first corners gypsy, walk around or allemande by the left. One reason is that the dancers keep their positioning better especially if there’s a swing. Of course a large number of dances follow this rule so I also believe that it’s a good idea to do something out of the ordinary once in a while. So which hand/shoulder you use may also depend on one’s program. Tom Sent from my iPad > On Jul 18, 2018, at 3:17 PM, Emma Azelborn via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hi Everyone, > > I'm writing to share a contra dance I've written. We've tried it out twice, once at the Camp Sturtevant weekend and once at our 5th Saturday advanced dance. The interesting part is the progression, from a hey into a circle with new neighbors. > > Switching the 2nd half of A1 to Raven instead of Lark also works, it just flips the direction the dance progresses. I ended up choosing Larks because of the Raven alamande at the end. > > Any feedback or thoughts are welcome! > > Emma Azelborn > Los Angeles > > Hey Dreaming > Contra Dance by Emma Azelborn > > Beckett, progresses to the left > Works best with ample floor space for the orbit > > Teaching notes: > It helps to identify future neighbors before starting, so dancers know who to be looking for in the progression out of the hey (they're on the left diagonal) > Ravens turn over their left shoulder to progress & circle instead of looping right at the end of the hey > Larks keep going the same direction of travel into the orbit > > A1 > 8 > Long lines fwd & back > > 8 > Larks right shoulder round 1½ > A2 > 16 > Neighbor balance and swing > B1 > 8 > Larks in for half a left shoulder hey > > 8 > Circle right 3 places with new neighbors (this is the progression) > Larks assist Ravens to center > B2 > 8 > Ravens alamande right 1½ while Larks orbit halfway counterclockwise > > 8 > Partner swing > > > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

6 years, 5 months

[Callers] New Dance - Hey Dreaming by Emma Azelborn

by Emma Azelborn

*Hi Everyone,I'm writing to share a contra dance I've written. We've tried it out twice, once at the Camp Sturtevant weekend and once at our 5th Saturday advanced dance. The interesting part is the progression, from a hey into a circle with new neighbors.Switching the 2nd half of A1 to Raven instead of Lark also works, it just flips the direction the dance progresses. I ended up choosing Larks because of the Raven alamande at the end.Any feedback or thoughts are welcome!Emma AzelbornLos AngelesHey DreamingContra Dance by Emma AzelbornBeckett, progresses to the leftWorks best with ample floor space for the orbitTeaching notes: - It helps to identify future neighbors before starting, so dancers know who to be looking for in the progression out of the hey (they're on the left diagonal)- Ravens turn over their left shoulder to progress & circle instead of looping right at the end of the hey- Larks keep going the same direction of travel into the orbitA18Long lines fwd & back8Larks right shoulder round 1½A216Neighbor balance and swingB18Larks in for half a left shoulder hey8Circle right 3 places with new neighbors (this is the progression)Larks assist Ravens to centerB28Ravens alamande right 1½ while Larks orbit halfway counterclockwise8Partner swing*

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New dance

by Kalia Kliban

On 7/18/2018 6:54 AM, Charles via Callers wrote: > I'm posting a new dance of mine - the hook is a half hey into a long > wavy line of gents in the center. Haven't seen it before, and I'm > wondering if anyone knows of other dances with this figure. Also, I > looked for other dances called the Portland Reel and couldn't find any, > but if that name has been used let me know. > > Other feedback welcome: > > *Dugan**’s Duck Dynasty***(Becket)Chuck Abell 7/18 > (/aka/The Portland Reel) > *A1********Half hey, gents pass left to start (8)* > *Same gents take left hands in center to make long wavy line of > gents****(4)** > *****Gents bal left/right (4)* > *A2******Gents alle left 1 1/4x (4)* > *****N swing******(12)* > ** > *B1******On right diagonal ladies chain to shadow***(if someone is > there)***(8)* > **(w/ current N)***LHS 1x (8)* > *B2******P dosido and swing (16)* > ****/w/ these N…/ > / > / > /*Gents be sure to take four full steps/beats to get into the middle/ This looks good on paper. Have you road-tested it? That note at the bottom does look like the place where the pattern could be vulnerable, since getting folks to take their time and not arrive early can be tricky. Kalia in Sebastopol

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New dance

by Michael Dyck

On 2018-07-18 09:54 AM, Charles via Callers wrote: > Also, I looked for other dances called the Portland Reel and couldn't > find any, but if that name has been used let me know. http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/index/search.php?ti=portland+reel returns 2 hits for "Portland Reel" by/from Herbie Gaudreau. It appeared in Ralph Page's "Northern Junket" vol 11 #9 (April 1974) and can be seen here: http://digital.unh.edu/fedora/objects/northernjunket:0129/datastreams/APPLI… (It's unclear to me whether the "I" in the subsequent notes is Ralph Page or Herbie Gaudreau.) This was then reproduced (without the notes) in Roger Knox's "Contras: As Ralph Page Called Them" (1990). -Michael

6 years, 5 months

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Import1 July 2018