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Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by David Chandler via Callers

Your mention of the magic of demonstrating a 2-hand turn led me to wonder how much you have used demonstration as the core of your teaching in this situation. I remember an English caller once who taught everything from the floor, demonstrating what she meant. Grabbing a few of the quicker or more confident kids to demonstrate figures might make it easier for others to learn, especially if they are in a big circle where everyone can see even if they can't hear (or listen). It would of course help if you had a wireless mic so you could make a noise (a funny-sounding whistle or kazoo?) to get them to pay attention to learn the next figure. Tough gig! David Chandler On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 1:07 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > 2-hand turns -- one year I was teaching a dance that had a 2-hand turn -- > which I discovered was beyond their comprehension. Lots of blank faces and > a few tried to hold onto each other and turn under their own arches. I > grabbed a young fellow close by and demonstrated a 2-hand turn and there > was a huge "ahhhh" from the group. Who'd have thought that was a foreign > term for 18-year olds. Why don't they teach this stuff in school anymore? > > Thanks for asking the gender question. I still use ladies and gents when > necessary, but I add "those who are pretending to be gents" and "those who > are pretending to be ladies". They're just kids and no one seems to mind. > But I've found it's easier to use mostly gender free dances. That's why > Grease and Glue worked fairly well this year. Don't have to be proper, > don't have to be improper, just have to have a partner. Same with most > easy longways dances -- doesn't matter which side of the set you're on. > > On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 11:51 AM, Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net> > wrote: > >> I use two hand turns with groups like yours….elbow swings work, too. >> Since there is more distance between dancers, they don’t seem to have any >> discomfort with these moves. >> >> A question for you, though: if girls are dancing with girls, and boys >> with boys, how are you approaching the use of language to distinguish >> positions? >> >> thanks! Linda Leslie >> >> >> On Jun 17, 2017, at 12:31 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> That Tony Parkes dance looks good, but I'd never be able to use it with >> this crowd. In years passed, I tried to teach them swings -- but I guess >> everybody still has cooties at 18 years -- never worked -- plus, you have a >> good number of girls dancing with girls and boys dancing with boys and it >> makes some of them uncomfortable. This is a crowd that, when I tell them, >> let's make a big circle all around the room, they have trouble with the >> concept of what a circle looks like. Not to re-mention the acoustics. >> >> As a contra dancer, I understand flow from figure to figure, but Swat the >> Flea into a right shoulder DSD wasn't a problem with this crowd. >> >> But thanks for sharing Tony's dance. I don't remember ever seeing it >> before. >> >> On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 4:55 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> Hi Linda, >>> Re your Box ‘n’ Swat: I have a somewhat similar dance in my >>> files: >>> >>> Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes) >>> >>> A1) Into the Middle & Back x 2 >>> >>> A2) Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido >>> >>> B1) Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw (Left >>> Shoulder Dosido) 1 & 1/2 to meet your New Partner >>> >>> B2) New Partner Balance (OR Gypsy) & Swing >>> >>> Note that your sequence of Swat the Flea into Dosido involves >>> passing by the right when you are holding left hands. Tony’s sequences >>> above allow much easier flow and connection as you can pull past with the >>> connected hand. >>> >>> Last time I had the challenge of working with a room full of >>> noisy youngsters (most of whom didn’t speak English) I just led by example, >>> starting with a Grand March then did: >>> Sausage (Circle) to the Left/Right (Till I was at the top) >>> Long Lines Go Forward & Back >>> Top couple Gallop Down (I just took the person opposite and galloped); >>> Next Couple; Next Couple; Next Couple >>> Repeat >>> >>> Once they has used up a bit of energy I was able to get them to >>> quiet down a bit! >>> >>> Happy dancing, >>> John >>> >>> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 >>> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* >> >> *102 Mitchell Drive* >> >> *Temple, Texas 76501* >> >> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* >> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* >> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com/>* >> >> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance >> buttons, t-shirts, & more)* >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> > > > -- > > > > *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* > > *102 Mitchell Drive* > > *Temple, Texas 76501* > > *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* > *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* > *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* > > *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance > buttons, t-shirts, & more)* > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by Linda Leslie via Callers

I use two hand turns with groups like yours….elbow swings work, too. Since there is more distance between dancers, they don’t seem to have any discomfort with these moves. A question for you, though: if girls are dancing with girls, and boys with boys, how are you approaching the use of language to distinguish positions? thanks! Linda Leslie On Jun 17, 2017, at 12:31 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > That Tony Parkes dance looks good, but I'd never be able to use it with this crowd. In years passed, I tried to teach them swings -- but I guess everybody still has cooties at 18 years -- never worked -- plus, you have a good number of girls dancing with girls and boys dancing with boys and it makes some of them uncomfortable. This is a crowd that, when I tell them, let's make a big circle all around the room, they have trouble with the concept of what a circle looks like. Not to re-mention the acoustics. > > As a contra dancer, I understand flow from figure to figure, but Swat the Flea into a right shoulder DSD wasn't a problem with this crowd. > > But thanks for sharing Tony's dance. I don't remember ever seeing it before. > > On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 4:55 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Linda, > Re your Box ‘n’ Swat: I have a somewhat similar dance in my files: > > Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes) > > A1) Into the Middle & Back x 2 > > A2) Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido > > B1) Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw (Left Shoulder Dosido) 1 & 1/2 to meet your New Partner > > B2) New Partner Balance (OR Gypsy) & Swing > > Note that your sequence of Swat the Flea into Dosido involves passing by the right when you are holding left hands. Tony’s sequences above allow much easier flow and connection as you can pull past with the connected hand. > > Last time I had the challenge of working with a room full of noisy youngsters (most of whom didn’t speak English) I just led by example, starting with a Grand March then did: > Sausage (Circle) to the Left/Right (Till I was at the top) > Long Lines Go Forward & Back > Top couple Gallop Down (I just took the person opposite and galloped); Next Couple; Next Couple; Next Couple > Repeat > > Once they has used up a bit of energy I was able to get them to quiet down a bit! > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > > -- > Looking forward, > > Linda S. Mrosko > 102 Mitchell Drive > Temple, Texas 76501 > (903) 292-3713 (Cell) > (903) 603-9955 (Skype) > contradancetx.com > www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more) > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by Linda S. Mrosko via Callers

Oh how I wish that would work. I've tried that technique over the years. They just ignore me. Shushing works, but I have to repeat the shhhhh into the mic lots of times. A big part of the challenge is the acoustics -- it's worse than being in a gym. For instance, I get them quiet and then teach them the first move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach the next move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach the third move -- there is a roar -- ad nauseam. The musicians crank up their music to the max for the dance, but even I can barely hear it over the din from the dancers. Short of hiring a person who can do that loud whistle, I'm at a loss. I've sort of grown used to it, but my temper is short and I really have to watch myself. On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 7:42 AM, Jeremy Child <jeremy.m.child(a)gmail.com> wrote: > To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique: > > I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise > their hand too. More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly > diminished volume). This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks > in, and is a very effective technique. You have to teach it to them first, > of course, but they pick it up quite quickly. > > Jeremy > www.barndancecaller.net > > On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible >> acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same >> time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most >> basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of >> sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which >> lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, >> worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where >> credit is due.) >> >> They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a >> very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- >> >> BOX'NSWAT (Circle) >> A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back >> A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right >> B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & >> Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea >> B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end >> facing into the center ready to go F&B) >> >> >> Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous, >> energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra >> dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would >> probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. >> >> GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a >> partner) >> A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD >> A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD >> B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) >> B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, >> facing next couple >> >> >> As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of >> loud people? Thanks! >> >> -- >> >> >> >> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* >> >> *102 Mitchell Drive* >> >> *Temple, Texas 76501* >> >> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* >> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* >> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* >> >> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance >> buttons, t-shirts, & more)* >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Linda, Re your Box ‘n’ Swat: I have a somewhat similar dance in my files: Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes) A1) Into the Middle & Back x 2 A2) Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido B1) Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw (Left Shoulder Dosido) 1 & 1/2 to meet your New Partner B2) New Partner Balance (OR Gypsy) & Swing Note that your sequence of Swat the Flea into Dosido involves passing by the right when you are holding left hands. Tony’s sequences above allow much easier flow and connection as you can pull past with the connected hand. Last time I had the challenge of working with a room full of noisy youngsters (most of whom didn’t speak English) I just led by example, starting with a Grand March then did: Sausage (Circle) to the Left/Right (Till I was at the top) Long Lines Go Forward & Back Top couple Gallop Down (I just took the person opposite and galloped); Next Couple; Next Couple; Next Couple Repeat Once they has used up a bit of energy I was able to get them to quiet down a bit! Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by Jeremy Child via Callers

To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique: I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise their hand too. More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly diminished volume). This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks in, and is a very effective technique. You have to teach it to them first, of course, but they pick it up quite quickly. Jeremy www.barndancecaller.net On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible > acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same > time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most > basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of > sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which > lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, > worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where > credit is due.) > > They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a > very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- > > BOX'NSWAT (Circle) > A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back > A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right > B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & > Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea > B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end facing > into the center ready to go F&B) > > > Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous, > energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra > dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would > probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. > > GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a > partner) > A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD > A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD > B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) > B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, > facing next couple > > > As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of > loud people? Thanks! > > -- > > > > *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* > > *102 Mitchell Drive* > > *Temple, Texas 76501* > > *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)* > *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)* > *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* > > *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance > buttons, t-shirts, & more)* > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 6 months

[Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by Linda S. Mrosko via Callers

I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part, worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where credit is due.) They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one -- BOX'NSWAT (Circle) A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner & Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end facing into the center ready to go F&B) Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous, energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd. GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a partner) A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands) B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back, facing next couple As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of loud people? Thanks! -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Docey-Doe (Was: Swing Like Thunder)

by John Sweeney via Callers

There is a very good example of the rollaway into a Docey-Doe, that Tony mentions, in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZZdB2MyKs at 5:16 Then you can see it danced three times in the next dance sequence. Especially check out the one at 6:44 with a lady doing a double spin! Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

7 years, 6 months

Re: [Callers] Swing Like Thunder

by jim saxe via Callers

Deborah Hyland wrote: > > The next question I had was whether the circles got progressively bigger or whether it was always circles of 4. Thanks so much! And Tony Parkes replied, in part: > One could conceivably use a Texas do-si-do (now called do-paso just about everywhere) with circles of six or more. ... True. However, the Colorado docey-doe discussed earlier in this thread, where women begin by switching places with each other--either by a left shoulder pass [something like a left half gypsy] or by rollaway type action with the "opposite" gent--doesn't generalize naturally to a circle of more than two couples. In any case, regardless of whether you use the basket in a cumulative (4,6,8) or single visiting form, you of course get to match it with whatever chorus figure(s) you think will be accessible and fun for the dancers at your event, and that needn't necessarily include any variant of docey-doe. --Jim

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Swing Like Thunder

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Deborah, The move for two couples is also known as a California Show Basket, an Appalachian Big Set/Square dance move. I have the full Swing Like Thunder as: First Couple out to the Right : Circle Up Four Take Hands Across: Men take hands; Ladies take hands below Ladies Bow: Men raise arms over Ladies' heads and bring them down to waist level Men Bow: Ladies lift arms over Men's heads to their shoulders - or keep hold behind the Man's backs Swing Like Thunder (Basket); Drop Hands; Circle Left Pick up each next couple and repeat with 6 and 8 dancers: Men Take Hands: Men step in and hold hands in a Circle Ladies Bow: Ladies duck under the Men's Arches and take hands The rest as above You can see it danced at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5145AaQMliI You can also have a lot of fun with Reverse the Basket - see 7:22 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdztRcvtY_o Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Docey-Doe (Was: Swing Like Thunder)

by jim saxe via Callers

The version of the "Docey-Doe" done by Shaw's exhibition group, the Cheyenne Mountain Dancers, can be seen multiple times in this video: https://squaredancehistory.com/items/show/769 also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA-Qoipv-Kk Tony Parkes wrote: > ... the instructions in Shaw’s book and those on the LSF webpage describe two related-but-different versions of the docey-doe. ... > Brief descriptions: In Shaw’s book, from a circle of four, the ladies pass left shoulders and face partner. On the webpage, from a circle of four, ladies do a rollaway with their opposite to face partner. In both versions, continue with left hand to partner, ... Note that two versions are even more closely related than a cursory reading of Tony's description might suggest. The action for the women in the "rollaway" is to follow pretty much the identical track as they would if they were to pass left shoulders with each other, but doing a solo clockwise spin (pirouette) as they travel. In the film/video cited above, there are some cases where a woman pirouettes twice around. And note, by the way, that the women do not finish the "rollaway? by rejoining hands with the dancer they rolled past (their opposite), but instead go directly into a left hand action with partner. --Jim

7 years, 7 months

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