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Re: [Callers] Modern Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers

by Jeremy Child via Callers

Fascinating. I'm doing something similar at Eastbourne International Folk Festival (http://eiff.org.uk/new-for-2017/149-jeremytea.html). I,however, only have 2 1/2 hours in which to take them through the gamut of the Basic 1, 2 and Mainstream programmes. Wish me luck! Jeremy www.barndancecaller.net On 18 March 2017 at 19:59, Andy Shore via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I realize this post qualifies as both shameless self-promotion, as well as > possible improper use of this list for (somewhat) commercial purposes, but > I do think this topic may be of particular interest to contra and trad > callers and choreographers. Scold me if you must. > > I'll be teaching a special weeklong workshop at CDSS American Dance and > Music Week at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA) August 8-15, 2017 titled "Modern > Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers". > > This course is an intensive “blitz” exposure to Modern Western Square > Dancing (MWSD) for experienced contra dancers, traditional square dancers, > and contra or trad callers. If you enjoy learning new choreography and the > unexpected delights of no-walk-thru contra medleys, this is for you. > Starting with the 25 or so contra calls that are shared with Modern Western > squares, we will explore much of the CALLERLAB Basic, Mainstream, and Plus > lists. New calls will be taught and workshopped, but you’ll get plenty of > time to “just dance” and enjoy what you have already learned in both patter > and singing call contexts. The pace of the course will be determined by the > students’ ability to assimilate the material, but the goal will be that you > can dance most Mainstream calls smoothly at speed. We will cover several of > the more popular Plus calls as well. Expect to be challenged and have lots > of fun! > > Modern Western uses recorded music of various genres; the patter music is > designed to get you moving at a continuous flow and the singing call music > allows for a change of pace. The class time will be divided into an all > morning workshop session where we will learn new figures, then a late > afternoon practice and review session. You will have the middle of the day > to relax or enjoy other workshops at American Week. > > > More details at the CDSS site: http://www.cdss.org/programs/ > dance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/mwsd > > This class may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and > choreographers. Many MWSD moves have been "borrowed" into contra and > several contra choreographers who have had experience with MWSD have > written dances that have components inspired by MWSD moves. (Carol Ormand, > Bob Isaacs, and Chris Page to name a few.) Some of the moves that come from > MWSD are: box circulate, pass the ocean, square thru, star thru, California > twirl, hinge... If you'd like to stir your creative juices, or just learn a > bit more about some of the calls and their applications, this is a great > way to do so. Learning about the added rigor of MWSD may improve your own > teaching and presentation skills, as well as give you new insights into > contra and trad choreography. > > Space in this class is limited. Registration is currently open. > > my site: http://site.andyshore.com/ > > I taught a similar weekend workshop in Durham NC in 2011 with many contra > & trad callers in attendance. Here is my "trip report" (on facebook) from > that weekend > https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-shore/trip-report- > mwsd-for-contra-folks-blitz-or-how-i-spent-last-weekend/10150112721414483 > > Questions or comments - my best contact email is andyshore(a)gmail.com > > Thanks, > /Andy Shore > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 1 month

[Callers] Modern Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers

by Andy Shore via Callers

I realize this post qualifies as both shameless self-promotion, as well as possible improper use of this list for (somewhat) commercial purposes, but I do think this topic may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and choreographers. Scold me if you must. I'll be teaching a special weeklong workshop at CDSS American Dance and Music Week at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA) August 8-15, 2017 titled "Modern Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers". This course is an intensive “blitz” exposure to Modern Western Square Dancing (MWSD) for experienced contra dancers, traditional square dancers, and contra or trad callers. If you enjoy learning new choreography and the unexpected delights of no-walk-thru contra medleys, this is for you. Starting with the 25 or so contra calls that are shared with Modern Western squares, we will explore much of the CALLERLAB Basic, Mainstream, and Plus lists. New calls will be taught and workshopped, but you’ll get plenty of time to “just dance” and enjoy what you have already learned in both patter and singing call contexts. The pace of the course will be determined by the students’ ability to assimilate the material, but the goal will be that you can dance most Mainstream calls smoothly at speed. We will cover several of the more popular Plus calls as well. Expect to be challenged and have lots of fun! Modern Western uses recorded music of various genres; the patter music is designed to get you moving at a continuous flow and the singing call music allows for a change of pace. The class time will be divided into an all morning workshop session where we will learn new figures, then a late afternoon practice and review session. You will have the middle of the day to relax or enjoy other workshops at American Week. More details at the CDSS site: http://www.cdss.org/programs/dance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/mwsd This class may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and choreographers. Many MWSD moves have been "borrowed" into contra and several contra choreographers who have had experience with MWSD have written dances that have components inspired by MWSD moves. (Carol Ormand, Bob Isaacs, and Chris Page to name a few.) Some of the moves that come from MWSD are: box circulate, pass the ocean, square thru, star thru, California twirl, hinge... If you'd like to stir your creative juices, or just learn a bit more about some of the calls and their applications, this is a great way to do so. Learning about the added rigor of MWSD may improve your own teaching and presentation skills, as well as give you new insights into contra and trad choreography. Space in this class is limited. Registration is currently open. my site: http://site.andyshore.com/ I taught a similar weekend workshop in Durham NC in 2011 with many contra & trad callers in attendance. Here is my "trip report" (on facebook) from that weekend https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-shore/trip-report-mwsd-for-contra-folks… Questions or comments - my best contact email is andyshore(a)gmail.com Thanks, /Andy Shore

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Yoyo Zhou via Callers

Hi Ron, Maybe instead of "good flow" you could think about "dancers love it" and instead of "bad flow" you could think about "dancers hate it". Of course this is a gross false equivalence (dancers love things that aren't flow too), and it ignores that dancers are all different, but it reminds us that we're serving the dancers. In your dance, I'd say the zig left into do si do feels good and you might even get a comment or two about it, because we don't dance it often. The right and left thru to gents allemande left is not good flow. Some dancers will struggle to remember it. A few will mutter to each other. Your friend who's real with you will tell you, "that was awkward for the gents". Still, I don't think either of these will provoke a strong reaction, but... The swing to circle right will really get people talking. You'll see people try to pull in opposite directions and get jerked around. A few who wouldn't have said anything about the previous transition will now grumble. Several experienced dancers will come up to you right after the dance and tell you how bad it was. But the silent majority will simply be relieved that it's over with. BTW, I don't object to circle rights - I think dancers like them just fine - and I agree with the general goal of breaking up the monotony of swing, circle left, swing, etc. for variety. But if you call a dance with a bad flowing circle right, it'll make contra dancers more averse to circle rights. Yoyo Zhou On Mar 14, 2017 8:19 PM, "Ron Blechner via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: I dance the ladies role enough where I feel I can confidently assert that swing -> circle R is as difficult for gents as swing -> circle L is for ladies. Either way, one person is unfolding from the swing opposite from the rotation of the subsequent circle. The bigger objection to flow is simply that it's a circle right that is from a standstill, and people don't dance many circle rights. (But we dance plenty circle lefts from a standstill.) In this case, I'm interested in the circle R as something to fill a second-half-of-evening slot where I often have need for dances that are fairly easy but not the same old circle lefts, swings, stars, chains, and allemandes. Best, Ron On Mar 14, 2017 11:05 PM, "Bob Isaacs via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Ron: > > > Two transitions in this dance I find troubling. The R and L through/gents > allemande is awkward for the gents, whose L hand is occupied in the > courtesy turn of the R and L through. This can be avoided by 1/2 hey (GL, > PR, LL, NR), gents allemande L 1 1/2 (or allemande/hey if you prefer that > order). > > > But swing/circle R? > > > Bob > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Ron > Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:49:10 PM > *To:* callers > *Subject:* [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance > > So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's > Rockin' Robin: > > Duple Imp. > A1. N DSD (6) > NS (10) > A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) > Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) > B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* > B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) > Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) > > I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give > credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. > > In dance, > Ron Blechner > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Rotation shifts (was: Another dance-check zig-zag R dance)

by Tony Parkes via Callers

Ron Blechner wrote (after giving examples of transitions that some might call awkward): > And maybe the answer someone might give is “these are all bad flow”. Yet people seem to like many dances with them in it. I would be interested to find out why. The idea that every transition must be ultra-smooth is a fairly recent one, compared to the length of time that contras and squares have been around. It appears to have become prominent in the square dance revival in the late 1950s, and in the contra dance revival in the mid-1970s (I may be off by a few years in both cases). Both contras and squares began evolving into their present forms around 1800 (to use a very round number). And I think flow can be given too much emphasis. I’ve heard modern square dance callers speak of “overflow,” which happens when there is too much movement in one direction (say clockwise). Those I’ve heard have spoken of it as if it’s a bad thing, but there are people in that network who appear to think flow should take precedence over other criteria for a good sequence of moves. There’s been a trend away from using “forward and back” over the last two or three decades, and I can’t remember the last time I heard a modern caller follow a circle left with a circle right. In contras, I think it depends on where in the music the transition occurs. I wrote Shadrack’s Delight (1972) in a deliberate mix of traditional and modern style; it ends with a courtesy turn into a do-si-do with the next neighbor. I don’t think I would have put a transition like that in the middle of the dance even then; I’ve avoided it in most of the routines I’ve written since. Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published Spring 2017)

8 years, 1 month

[Callers] Rotation shifts (was: Another dance-check zig-zag R dance)

by Ron Blechner via Callers

As long as you're opening this line of thought, here's some more thoughts: Should we thus also say that every circle L / star R to circle R / star L transition has equally no place in contra? Because that's even more of a pronounced shift in rotational direction. (To be clear: with same neighbors, not as a transition.) I can imagine a counter-point would be noting that the swing is unique because it's a tighter rotation, and so it's not the same as stars/circles. But then how do we explain the frequency of dances with swing to ladies allemande right / ladies pass right to start a hey? It's absolutely ladies going from clockwise swing rotation to moving the opposite direction. Or how about some other frequently used transitions (from most frequent)?: Chain / R+L Thru to circle left. (Common, and a change in vector for both roles) Chain/star promenade to Face Next neighbor, DSD/"Gypsy"/Allemandes R with that new neighbor. (Less common, but I dance one of these every few weeks, on average.) Contra Corners dances where ladies role has to make both a hand and direction change (like... Chorus Jig) And maybe the answer someone might give is "these are all bad flow". Yet people seem to like many dances with them in it. I would be interested to find out why. In dance, Ron On Mar 14, 2017 11:41 PM, "Bob Isaacs" <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> wrote: Ron and All: I respectfully disagree. As long as we swing in a clockwise direction, the swing/circle R transition will flow poorly for both roles, and should have no place in any contra dance - Bob ------------------------------ *From:* Ron Blechner <contraron(a)gmail.com> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 14, 2017 11:19 PM *To:* Bob Isaacs *Cc:* Caller's discussion list *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance I dance the ladies role enough where I feel I can confidently assert that swing -> circle R is as difficult for gents as swing -> circle L is for ladies. Either way, one person is unfolding from the swing opposite from the rotation of the subsequent circle. The bigger objection to flow is simply that it's a circle right that is from a standstill, and people don't dance many circle rights. (But we dance plenty circle lefts from a standstill.) In this case, I'm interested in the circle R as something to fill a second-half-of-evening slot where I often have need for dances that are fairly easy but not the same old circle lefts, swings, stars, chains, and allemandes. Best, Ron On Mar 14, 2017 11:05 PM, "Bob Isaacs via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Ron: > > > Two transitions in this dance I find troubling. The R and L through/gents > allemande is awkward for the gents, whose L hand is occupied in the > courtesy turn of the R and L through. This can be avoided by 1/2 hey (GL, > PR, LL, NR), gents allemande L 1 1/2 (or allemande/hey if you prefer that > order). > > > But swing/circle R? > > > Bob > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Ron > Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:49:10 PM > *To:* callers > *Subject:* [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance > > So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's > Rockin' Robin: > > Duple Imp. > A1. N DSD (6) > NS (10) > A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) > Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) > B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* > B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) > Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) > > I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give > credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. > > In dance, > Ron Blechner > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Bob Isaacs via Callers

Ron and All: I respectfully disagree. As long as we swing in a clockwise direction, the swing/circle R transition will flow poorly for both roles, and should have no place in any contra dance - Bob ________________________________ From: Ron Blechner <contraron(a)gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 11:19 PM To: Bob Isaacs Cc: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance I dance the ladies role enough where I feel I can confidently assert that swing -> circle R is as difficult for gents as swing -> circle L is for ladies. Either way, one person is unfolding from the swing opposite from the rotation of the subsequent circle. The bigger objection to flow is simply that it's a circle right that is from a standstill, and people don't dance many circle rights. (But we dance plenty circle lefts from a standstill.) In this case, I'm interested in the circle R as something to fill a second-half-of-evening slot where I often have need for dances that are fairly easy but not the same old circle lefts, swings, stars, chains, and allemandes. Best, Ron On Mar 14, 2017 11:05 PM, "Bob Isaacs via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Hi Ron: Two transitions in this dance I find troubling. The R and L through/gents allemande is awkward for the gents, whose L hand is occupied in the courtesy turn of the R and L through. This can be avoided by 1/2 hey (GL, PR, LL, NR), gents allemande L 1 1/2 (or allemande/hey if you prefer that order). But swing/circle R? Bob ________________________________ From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net>> on behalf of Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:49:10 PM To: callers Subject: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's Rockin' Robin: Duple Imp. A1. N DSD (6) NS (10) A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. In dance, Ron Blechner _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Ron Blechner via Callers

I dance the ladies role enough where I feel I can confidently assert that swing -> circle R is as difficult for gents as swing -> circle L is for ladies. Either way, one person is unfolding from the swing opposite from the rotation of the subsequent circle. The bigger objection to flow is simply that it's a circle right that is from a standstill, and people don't dance many circle rights. (But we dance plenty circle lefts from a standstill.) In this case, I'm interested in the circle R as something to fill a second-half-of-evening slot where I often have need for dances that are fairly easy but not the same old circle lefts, swings, stars, chains, and allemandes. Best, Ron On Mar 14, 2017 11:05 PM, "Bob Isaacs via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Ron: > > > Two transitions in this dance I find troubling. The R and L through/gents > allemande is awkward for the gents, whose L hand is occupied in the > courtesy turn of the R and L through. This can be avoided by 1/2 hey (GL, > PR, LL, NR), gents allemande L 1 1/2 (or allemande/hey if you prefer that > order). > > > But swing/circle R? > > > Bob > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Ron > Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:49:10 PM > *To:* callers > *Subject:* [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance > > So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's > Rockin' Robin: > > Duple Imp. > A1. N DSD (6) > NS (10) > A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) > Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) > B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* > B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) > Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) > > I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give > credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. > > In dance, > Ron Blechner > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Bob Isaacs via Callers

Hi Ron: Two transitions in this dance I find troubling. The R and L through/gents allemande is awkward for the gents, whose L hand is occupied in the courtesy turn of the R and L through. This can be avoided by 1/2 hey (GL, PR, LL, NR), gents allemande L 1 1/2 (or allemande/hey if you prefer that order). But swing/circle R? Bob ________________________________ From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 9:49:10 PM To: callers Subject: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's Rockin' Robin: Duple Imp. A1. N DSD (6) NS (10) A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. In dance, Ron Blechner

8 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Ron Blechner via Callers

I'm also debating the merits of swapping the A2a with a half hey (GL, PR, LL, NR) On Mar 14, 2017 9:49 PM, "Ron Blechner" <contraron(a)gmail.com> wrote: > So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's > Rockin' Robin: > > Duple Imp. > A1. N DSD (6) > NS (10) > A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) > Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) > B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* > B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) > Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) > > I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give > credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. > > In dance, > Ron Blechner >

8 years, 1 month

[Callers] Another dance-check zig-zag R dance

by Ron Blechner via Callers

So, this is a cross between Jeff Spero's Kiss the Bride and Rick Mohr's Rockin' Robin: Duple Imp. A1. N DSD (6) NS (10) A2. R+L Thru (8) (across) Gents Alle L 1.5x (8) B1. P Meltdown Swing (16)* B2. Circle R 1.25x (10) Zig R, Zag L (6) (to next Ns) I was futzing with Kiss the Bride and this came out. I'd like to give credit if it's been written, or pick a name if not. In dance, Ron Blechner

8 years, 1 month

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