I plan to call it on Friday in Charlottesville and also on Sunday evening
in Winston Salem at the Salem College dance. So strange to think about
calling a dance in the Triad without George being there. And if your group
of dancers isn't up to Dean's dance, A Nice Combination would also be great
to be called in his honor. Many years ago he wanted to have a dance that
he could call at open mics and such, and that was the one he picked.
I'm glad that so many people have liked the picture of George waltzing
(with Louie Cromartie, who we lost almost 2 years ago). I found it when
looking for pictures of him, and love it (even if it does make me start
tearing up every time I see it.)
Jack
On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 11:58 AM Bree Kalb via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Bill,
> The dance is at the end of Emily’s email. Note that it is in “indecent”
> formation and a little tricky. As was our dear George.
> Bree
>
> On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 11:15 AM Bill Olson via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Oh this is so sad.. "Suspenders George" was a good friend and one of my
>> very favorite dancers when we toured down that way. George was always
>> friendly and always helpful. And he sure was a great "dipper"..
>>
>> Please forward the Dean Snipes dance and I will call it next chance I
>> get!!
>>
>> bill in Maine
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of
>> Emily Rush via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 22, 2019 3:55 PM
>> *To:* Caller's discussion list
>> *Subject:* [Callers] In honor of George Rettie
>>
>> Hi all,
>> George Rettie, the NC dancer in the yellow ruler suspenders, passed away
>> unexpectedly this week. He'd been dancing since at least the 1980's, and it
>> was a rare dance that he didn't attend. He was always the first to
>> volunteer (and did, more hours than I can count), personally thanked the
>> musicians and callers, danced with beginners, dipped everyone beautifully
>> and frequently, flirted with us all, could call one dance (Gene Hubert's "A
>> Nice Combination"), brought his children into the dance community, and was
>> a favorite partner to many, many dancers.
>>
>> Myra, Adina, and JoLaine are calling a dance that Dean Snipes wrote for
>> George some years ago. If you're calling sometime soon and are so moved, I
>> would like to invite you to call it too. If you're dancing, I hope you'll
>> go up to the stage and thank the musicians and callers, welcome the
>> beginners, and have an extra-good time.
>>
>> Love,
>> Emily
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------
>>
>> George is Rettie, Willing, and Able
>> by Dean Snipes
>> Indecent (2s crossed), double progression
>>
>> A1.
>> Neighbor balance & swing
>>
>> A2.
>> Pass thru across, turn alone
>> Star R 1x, pull by up and down with your neighbor
>>
>> B1.
>> New ladies allemande L 1x while gents orbit 1/2 clockwise
>> Partner swing
>>
>> B2.
>> Long lines forward & back
>> Ladies right hand pull by, neighbor allemande L 1.5
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/
>
--
Jack Mitchell
Durham, NC
Hi, Hannah!
I very much second Alex Deis-Lauby's recommendations. The difficulty in a
contra corners figure in contra formation is two-fold: the out-of-minor-set
interaction and the short allemandes. If you can get the dancers to do
short allemandes earlier in the evening and use a dance without interaction
outside the minor set (as in, a triplet or 3-face-3), then you've prepared
them for one point of difficulty and removed the other.
My favorite triplet for contra corners is "Microcasmic Triplet" by Ann
Fallon and my favorite in 3-face-3 formation is "Down by the Riverside" by
Melanie Axel-Lute. The choreography for both are in others' responses.
If you determined to call contra corners in contra formation, I recommend
"Labor of Love" by Kathy Anderson (choreography here:
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/196-labor-of-love)
because it uses a box-the-gnat to get actives to trade places before the
contra corners figure, rather than a half-figure-eight, which is much more
difficult for newer dancers. "Labor of Love" also allows ones and twos to
trade off being active.
Good luck!
Dugan Murphy
Portland, Maine
dugan at duganmurphy.comwww.DuganMurphy.comwww.PortlandIntownContraDance.comwww.NufSed.consulting
>
> Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2019 16:37:54 -0500
> From: Hannah Chamb <hannahchamb(a)gmail.com>
> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners
>
> Hi all, first time posting here!
>
> I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up
> for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's
> a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few
> callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like
> contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo
> the skills the dancers will need later.
>
> With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a
> mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to
> be successful at contra corners?
>
> I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a
> dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Hannah Chamberlain
> Westbrook, ME
>
Bill,
The dance is at the end of Emily’s email. Note that it is in “indecent”
formation and a little tricky. As was our dear George.
Bree
On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 11:15 AM Bill Olson via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Oh this is so sad.. "Suspenders George" was a good friend and one of my
> very favorite dancers when we toured down that way. George was always
> friendly and always helpful. And he sure was a great "dipper"..
>
> Please forward the Dean Snipes dance and I will call it next chance I get!!
>
> bill in Maine
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of
> Emily Rush via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Friday, February 22, 2019 3:55 PM
> *To:* Caller's discussion list
> *Subject:* [Callers] In honor of George Rettie
>
> Hi all,
> George Rettie, the NC dancer in the yellow ruler suspenders, passed away
> unexpectedly this week. He'd been dancing since at least the 1980's, and it
> was a rare dance that he didn't attend. He was always the first to
> volunteer (and did, more hours than I can count), personally thanked the
> musicians and callers, danced with beginners, dipped everyone beautifully
> and frequently, flirted with us all, could call one dance (Gene Hubert's "A
> Nice Combination"), brought his children into the dance community, and was
> a favorite partner to many, many dancers.
>
> Myra, Adina, and JoLaine are calling a dance that Dean Snipes wrote for
> George some years ago. If you're calling sometime soon and are so moved, I
> would like to invite you to call it too. If you're dancing, I hope you'll
> go up to the stage and thank the musicians and callers, welcome the
> beginners, and have an extra-good time.
>
> Love,
> Emily
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> George is Rettie, Willing, and Able
> by Dean Snipes
> Indecent (2s crossed), double progression
>
> A1.
> Neighbor balance & swing
>
> A2.
> Pass thru across, turn alone
> Star R 1x, pull by up and down with your neighbor
>
> B1.
> New ladies allemande L 1x while gents orbit 1/2 clockwise
> Partner swing
>
> B2.
> Long lines forward & back
> Ladies right hand pull by, neighbor allemande L 1.5
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
Hi Rich,
Closest I have is a William Watson version of Bob Dalsemer's Dog Branch
Reel. William's version has the "coach and horses" return and cloverleaf
circle.
Also, Chris Page's NEWSreel has a whole set promenade and back in B1, but
is otherwise identical.
Regards,
Greg
On Fri, Feb 22, 2019 at 11:19 AM Rich Sbardella via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Can anyone ID this dance?
> Thanks, Rich
>
> Untitled Easy R&L Thru
>
>
>
> 1s in Center, Down in Fours
>
>
>
> Turn Alone, Come Back
>
>
>
> Face Across & Circle Left
>
> (Full Around)
>
> Neighbor Swing
>
>
>
> Promenade Across
>
>
> Right and Left Thru
>
>
> Lines Fwd & Bk
>
>
>
> 1s Swing
>
>
>
> 1s in Center, Down in Fours
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
Can anyone ID this dance?
Thanks, Rich
Untitled Easy R&L Thru
1s in Center, Down in Fours
Turn Alone, Come Back
Face Across & Circle Left
(Full Around)
Neighbor Swing
Promenade Across
Right and Left Thru
Lines Fwd & Bk
1s Swing
1s in Center, Down in Fours
duh, there's the dance at the end.. I will definitely call it..
bill
________________________________
From: Bill Olson <callbill(a)hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 4:07 PM
To: Caller's discussion list; Emily Rush
Subject: Re: [Callers] In honor of George Rettie
Oh this is so sad.. "Suspenders George" was a good friend and one of my very favorite dancers when we toured down that way. George was always friendly and always helpful. And he sure was a great "dipper"..
Please forward the Dean Snipes dance and I will call it next chance I get!!
bill in Maine
________________________________
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Emily Rush via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 3:55 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] In honor of George Rettie
Hi all,
George Rettie, the NC dancer in the yellow ruler suspenders, passed away unexpectedly this week. He'd been dancing since at least the 1980's, and it was a rare dance that he didn't attend. He was always the first to volunteer (and did, more hours than I can count), personally thanked the musicians and callers, danced with beginners, dipped everyone beautifully and frequently, flirted with us all, could call one dance (Gene Hubert's "A Nice Combination"), brought his children into the dance community, and was a favorite partner to many, many dancers.
Myra, Adina, and JoLaine are calling a dance that Dean Snipes wrote for George some years ago. If you're calling sometime soon and are so moved, I would like to invite you to call it too. If you're dancing, I hope you'll go up to the stage and thank the musicians and callers, welcome the beginners, and have an extra-good time.
Love,
Emily
----------------------------------------------
George is Rettie, Willing, and Able
by Dean Snipes
Indecent (2s crossed), double progression
A1.
Neighbor balance & swing
A2.
Pass thru across, turn alone
Star R 1x, pull by up and down with your neighbor
B1.
New ladies allemande L 1x while gents orbit 1/2 clockwise
Partner swing
B2.
Long lines forward & back
Ladies right hand pull by, neighbor allemande L 1.5
Oh this is so sad.. "Suspenders George" was a good friend and one of my very favorite dancers when we toured down that way. George was always friendly and always helpful. And he sure was a great "dipper"..
Please forward the Dean Snipes dance and I will call it next chance I get!!
bill in Maine
________________________________
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Emily Rush via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2019 3:55 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] In honor of George Rettie
Hi all,
George Rettie, the NC dancer in the yellow ruler suspenders, passed away unexpectedly this week. He'd been dancing since at least the 1980's, and it was a rare dance that he didn't attend. He was always the first to volunteer (and did, more hours than I can count), personally thanked the musicians and callers, danced with beginners, dipped everyone beautifully and frequently, flirted with us all, could call one dance (Gene Hubert's "A Nice Combination"), brought his children into the dance community, and was a favorite partner to many, many dancers.
Myra, Adina, and JoLaine are calling a dance that Dean Snipes wrote for George some years ago. If you're calling sometime soon and are so moved, I would like to invite you to call it too. If you're dancing, I hope you'll go up to the stage and thank the musicians and callers, welcome the beginners, and have an extra-good time.
Love,
Emily
----------------------------------------------
George is Rettie, Willing, and Able
by Dean Snipes
Indecent (2s crossed), double progression
A1.
Neighbor balance & swing
A2.
Pass thru across, turn alone
Star R 1x, pull by up and down with your neighbor
B1.
New ladies allemande L 1x while gents orbit 1/2 clockwise
Partner swing
B2.
Long lines forward & back
Ladies right hand pull by, neighbor allemande L 1.5
Hi all,
George Rettie, the NC dancer in the yellow ruler suspenders, passed away
unexpectedly this week. He'd been dancing since at least the 1980's, and it
was a rare dance that he didn't attend. He was always the first to
volunteer (and did, more hours than I can count), personally thanked the
musicians and callers, danced with beginners, dipped everyone beautifully
and frequently, flirted with us all, could call one dance (Gene Hubert's "A
Nice Combination"), brought his children into the dance community, and was
a favorite partner to many, many dancers.
Myra, Adina, and JoLaine are calling a dance that Dean Snipes wrote for
George some years ago. If you're calling sometime soon and are so moved, I
would like to invite you to call it too. If you're dancing, I hope you'll
go up to the stage and thank the musicians and callers, welcome the
beginners, and have an extra-good time.
Love,
Emily
----------------------------------------------
George is Rettie, Willing, and Able
by Dean Snipes
Indecent (2s crossed), double progression
A1.
Neighbor balance & swing
A2.
Pass thru across, turn alone
Star R 1x, pull by up and down with your neighbor
B1.
New ladies allemande L 1x while gents orbit 1/2 clockwise
Partner swing
B2.
Long lines forward & back
Ladies right hand pull by, neighbor allemande L 1.5
My concern with introducing CC in triplet is if you do that and then turn around and do it in a contra you have done it twice in one program - and probably very close together. I wouldn't want to do that
Mac McKeever
On Thursday, February 21, 2019, 12:12:29 AM CST, Chris Page via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Like many others, I recommend a triplet or 3-face-3. You're not going
out of your minor set, and not everyone's active all the time.
I recommend:
Corner Triplet (Linda Leslie)
Melanie's Triplet (Melanie Axel-Lute)
Microchasmic Triplet (Ann Fallon)
or
Down by the Riverside (3-face-3 by Melanie Axel-Lute)
I don't recommend Ted's Triplet #7, because it also includes a proper
right-and-left through, which many people these days are more
unfamiliar with than contra corners.
-Chris Page
San Diego, CA
On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 1:38 PM Hannah Chamb via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Hi all, first time posting here!
>
> I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo the skills the dancers will need later.
>
> With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to be successful at contra corners?
>
> I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Hannah Chamberlain
> Westbrook, ME
> _______________________________________________
> 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/
Linda Leslie's Corner Triplet is the dance that I'll often use to teach
Contra Corners. I call it every year or two.
That said, I call Chorus Jig at roughly every other dance I call (so
roughly 3-4 times per year), often as the second-to-last dance of the
evening, and I don't really worry about prepping the dancers with anything
other than just a careful walk through.
Here are my tips for teaching contra corners, for whatever they're worth:
- I'll often start by pointing out that although the 1s do most of the
moving, it is having engaged 2s that really makes the figure work. (Might
have learned that from Erik Hoffman, but I'm not sure.) The 2s have time to
think about who should be coming to them next, and assist to make that
happen. There really is more to being a 2 than just holding up your left
hand.
- I'll have 1s identify the corners by pointing both hands at his or her
P, then spreading them apart to point at the people next to the P (rt hd is
1st corner, lf hd is 2nd corner). I try to make sure that not only does the
1 identify the corner, but that each corner also connects with the active.
Yes, it's exceedingly hokey. I nonetheless do it every single time, because
it seems to help.
- I'll sometimes walk it through again with the previous 2s being
actives, so everybody gets to have the experience before the music starts.
I'm on the fence on whether or not that does more harm than good. With
Linda's triplet, I'll just walk it through 3 times, and there's something
to be said for that.
- For reasons I've never understood, my experience has been that new
dancers often seem to find Sackett's Harbor easier to dance than Chorus
Jig, even if it's their first triple minor dance, and even though the
timing for the forward-and-back after the contra corners is so much tighter
than the 1s swing in Chorus Jig.
Regards,
Grant
On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 9:30 PM Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I used this dance again just the other night for a mixed capabilities
> crowd. It has so few moving parts that it's easy to focus on the CC
> sequence.
>
> -Don
>
> Corner Triplet - Proper - Linda Leslie
>
> A1 1st couple down the center (the lady will be on the left going down
> the set)
> Turn alone, return
> Cast off with same role neighbor #2
> A2 Ones Contra corners
>
> B1 Ones Balance & Swing
>
> B2 Ones up the center to the top, separate, go down the outside
> Lines of three forward & back
>
> Linda said: "Written to have a dance for teaching contra corners."
>
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 4:38 PM Hannah Chamb via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi all, first time posting here!
>>
>> I'm new-ish to calling and I've yet to call contra corners. I think I'm
>> up for the challenge and could teach the figure itself, but I still think
>> it's a tricky one for dancers in all but the most experienced crowds. A few
>> callers I know have advised me to build up to a challenging figure like
>> contra corners over the course of an evening by calling dances that echo
>> the skills the dancers will need later.
>>
>> With that in mind, what dances would you call early in the evening in a
>> mixed-level group that would help "teach" dancers the skills they need to
>> be successful at contra corners?
>>
>> I've been thinking I should include an easy proper-ish dance, and maybe a
>> dance with allemandes outside the minor set... anything else come to mind?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Hannah Chamberlain
>> Westbrook, ME
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/
>
--
Grant Goodyear
web: http://www.grantgoodyear.org
e-mail: grant(a)grantgoodyear.org
