Hello all,
I was thinking about what I do at the "welcome to our contra dance"
introduction, and what dance would easily move in to that. Noodling around
with moves, I thought of a sequence with glossary moves, but I didn't have
it in my box. Anyone recognize it?
Improper
A1 -----------
(8) Neighbor Do-si-do
(8) Neighbor swing
A2 -----------
(8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2
(8) Partner swing
B1 -----------
(8) Promenade across the Set
(8) Long lines, forward and back
B2 -----------
(8) Circle Left 3/4
(4) Balance the Ring
(4) Pass through
During the introduction, I often teach the progression with a "ring
balance, walk past this neighbor", and I wanted something that included
that. There are lots of great accessible dances with that (The Big Easy,
Easy Peasy, etc), but I'm not seeing one with a partner promenade
(something I also use in the introduction; to go from a big circle to lines
of couples for a contra set).
If someone already wrote it, I'll happily give them credit. If not, I'll
call it "If you can walk, then you can dance" (which I'll note is not an if
and only if statement).
On 10/17/2016 3:26 PM, Neal Schlein via Callers wrote:
>
> Thanks for pointing that out! I was aware of the fact but didn't
> think of it here.
>
> The older New England swings also would have been 2-hand swings, which
> lend themselves to a different choreographic flow--for example,
> swinging and casting down the outside. Not a very nice transition
> from a ballroom swing, but perfectly lovely from a 2-hand turn and
> showcasing the English heritage.
I call and dance English (and Regency, so I have a specialty in dances
of the Chorus Jig time period) as well as contra, and you're right about
it not being ballroom swings (which seem to come in around 1900), and
likely two-hand turns (although the instruction "swing corners" in
Regency-era dance manuals seems to mean hand turns at least part of the
time, and comes out to be contra corners).
But I really don't mind the transition into casting off from a ballroom
swing in a proper dance. You shouldn't twirl out of it, but you can
just face up at the end of the spring and peel off (away from the pointy
end); it's pretty smooth.
For comparison, the typical reconstruction of the English "Trip to
Tunbridge" (originally using 3 out of 4 of the same standard figures
Chorus Jig uses) finishes with a progression that has the old 2s turning
two hands in first place, ready to cast off, while the old 1s cast to
the bottom of the three couple set. I don't really like the
two-hand-turn into down-the-outside transition any better than the
swing-face-up into down the outside transition.
-- Alan
Hi Neal,
Just a note: Many of the "chestnuts" have been modified from their
original form (By Ralph Page, Ted Senela and others) to be more
reflective of the modern era. Chorus Jig, Rory-O- More, Hulls Victory,
did not feature swings,
as originally written, and they (actually) dance with their original
tunes, much better than they do today.
Gale Wood
Erik,
I really like the break and figure you sent! Is the promenade in the
figure about 3/4 of the way around?
When you say it's "not the easiest in the world" do you think it's
better for an all experienced crowd?
Tom
On Thu, Oct 13, 2016, Don Veino via Callers wrote:
>
> Last night at bedtime my 5 year old daughter and I had the following
> interaction:
>
> Raeden: "Daddy. I want to write a new dance, Pony Fun."
> Me: "OK, how does it go?"
> R: "Star, Star, Swing. Swing, Courtesy Turn, Circle 3 places, Pass Through,
> repeat."
Don't care whether this is a new dance, this is adorable! When is she
going to call her first set?
--
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
<*> <*> <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
I called this last Sunday doing the Brattleboro, VT Contra Dance
Head Ladies Chain, and you - Swing 'em over thereSide Ladies Chain (RHStar), and you - SwingAll 4 Ladies Chain, it's a - three (3/4) quarter Chain
Swing with the third one - go 'round 2-3-4
4 Ladies Chain, go - 3 quarter roundSwing with the third one - around4 Ladies Chain, it's a 3 quarter ChainSwing with the third on one - around
Repeat first four AABB to finish. Call through again for the Gents.
This dance was called for years at the Heath, MA first and third Saturday dances to "Children of the Lord"Perhaps again this summer at the W. Mass fairs by Doug Wilkins
Used it for 25 years at the Killingly, CT dance and put it to the tune of "Do What You Do Do Well."No idea what the Dead Sea Squirrels played for me last Sunday, only that it moved.
I also used the Four Poster-Soldier's Joy square dance a couple of weeks before when Guillame Sparrow-Pepinasked if I would do the square at his dance. Forward and Backs, Divide the Rings, Swings outside the Set
Again for contradancers, not a lot of choreography - but Swinging all the Neighbors and, more or less,keeping PartnersAnd you can keep picking up the phrasing.
Bob LivingstonMiddletown, CT
From: Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2016 11:51 AM
Subject: [Callers] Contra friendly squares
Hi all,I'm looking to expand the number of contra-friendly Squares in my box.1. Keepers preferred unless it's a really good mixer.
2. Not too gimmicky.
3. Not really interested currently in Southern style visiting couple squares (heads and sides fine, but not one couple at a time).(Got Kimmswick Express, First Night Quadrille, a couple others)Thanks,
Ron
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Hi, Ron,
Here are some favorites of mine. I hope a few might be the type of square you would like. Have fun!
warmly, Linda
On Oct 14, 2016, at 11:51 AM, Ron Blechner via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm looking to expand the number of contra-friendly Squares in my box.
>
> 1. Keepers preferred unless it's a really good mixer.
> 2. Not too gimmicky.
> 3. Not really interested currently in Southern style visiting couple squares (heads and sides fine, but not one couple at a time).
>
> (Got Kimmswick Express, First Night Quadrille, a couple others)
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
Virginia Reel Square
by Ted Sannella
Square/Easy
A1 -----------
1st cpl down the center
Swing opposite (back up to lines at the heads/sides)
A2 -----------
(8) Long lines, forward and back
Cpl #1 alle R once
Alle L the first in line
B1 -----------
1st cpl alle Right once and a half
Next alle Left once
1st cpl Right once and a half
Last alle left once
B2 -----------
All P swing
Texas Star
by (Traditional)
Square/Easy
A1 -----------
All four lades forward and back
All four gents right hand star
A2 -----------
Let hand star, other way back
Pass your P pick up the next Star Promenade
B1 -----------
“Outsides in, and the Insides out”
Gents back out and the ladies forward around you whirl (cw)
ladies in the center and star promenade
B2 -----------
Drop that star and swing
Promenade
Mittens for Three
by Chris Ricciotti
Square/Int
A1 -----------
Heads/Sides forward and back
Same 2 ladies chain
A2 -----------
Same four circle left three-quarters, pass through to original corner
Corner do si do
B1 -----------
Hey for four (o, r, corner)
B2 -----------
Corner/New Partner Balance and Swing
C1 -----------
All star promenade once
Ladies drop out at new home
C2 -----------
Gents continue left hand star once
Swing this new partner again
Knaves Quadrille
by Tony Parkes
Square/Easy
A1 -----------
Head couples forward and back
Head gent cross and swing that opposite lady
A2 -----------
Side couples forward and back
Side gents cross and swing that opposite lady
B1 -----------
All join hands and circle left
Break that swing with a corner swing
B2 -----------
Keep this one and promenade the ring (gent's place)
Hey on the Square
by Becky Hill
Square/Easy-Int
A1 -----------
H/S do si do your opposite
Face the S/H, and circle left once around
A2 -----------
Corner do si do once and a quarter to waves (corner Left)
Balance the wave, slide Right
B1 -----------
same corner Allemande Left 1/2
Ladies start a Hey for 4
B2 -----------
Same corner B&S
C1 -----------
Lines at the sides/heads Forward and back
Four gents star left
C2 -----------
Same corner Promenade to the gent’s home place
Dip & Dive
by Traditional French Canadian
Square/Easy
A1 -----------
Cpl #1 out to the right
Circle up four half way
Insides arch, outsides under
Dip and dive, go like thunder
A2 -----------
On to the next and circle half,
Insides arch, outsides duck AND ON TO THE NEXT
B1 -----------
Circle left 1/2
Insides arch, outsides duck.
dip and dive until home
B2 -----------
Everybody home and swing
Crooked Stovepipe
by Traditional French Canadian
Square/Easy
A1 -----------
Head ladies*
Forward again & swing, six hands around while they swing
A2 -----------
Once around till you get back home & everybody swing your own
B1 -----------
Alle L your corner, Alle R your own
do si do your corner
B2 -----------
Do si do your own
Swing your partners there at home
I like The Compost Pile Breakdown by Gene Hubert. (You can find it online.)
Richard
On Oct 14, 2016, at 11:51 AM, Ron Blechner via Callers wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm looking to expand the number of contra-friendly Squares in my box.
>
> 1. Keepers preferred unless it's a really good mixer.
> 2. Not too gimmicky.
> 3. Not really interested currently in Southern style visiting couple squares (heads and sides fine, but not one couple at a time).
>
> (Got Kimmswick Express, First Night Quadrille, a couple others)
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Hi all,
I'm looking to expand the number of contra-friendly Squares in my box.
1. Keepers preferred unless it's a really good mixer.
2. Not too gimmicky.
3. Not really interested currently in Southern style visiting couple
squares (heads and sides fine, but not one couple at a time).
(Got Kimmswick Express, First Night Quadrille, a couple others)
Thanks,
Ron
I know it's not what she intended, but here's what comes to my mind from a
literal interpretation of the original instructions:
A1 Right hand star with (current) neighbors,
Left hand star with (previous) neighbors
A2 Go back to (current neighbor) and swing,
Ladies roll away to partner swing
B1 Gents chain, starting with a left hand (the free hand) pull-by, courtesy
turn with gent on left walking forward
Gents chain back
B2 Circle L 3/4, pass through
It's not a good dance like this, though -- too busy, too dizzy, and the
B2/A1 transition is awkward. I suppose this might stand as a cautionary
example for anyone reconstructing dances from the historical record; the
intended dance as recorded by Don is different from this particular minimal
literal reconstruction.
- Roger Hayes
Madison WI
On Thu, Oct 13, 2016 at 1:08 PM, Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Last night at bedtime my 5 year old daughter and I had the following
> interaction:
>
> Raeden: "Daddy. I want to write a new dance, Pony Fun."
> Me: "OK, how does it go?"
> R: "Star, Star, Swing. Swing, Courtesy Turn, Circle 3 places, Pass
> Through, repeat."
>
> A little bit of back and forth figuring out the glue resulted in the
> following. Has someone else written it first?
>
> Thanks,
> Don
>
> Pony Fun - DI - Raeden Veino 20161012
>
> A1
> Star Left
> Neighbor Allemande Left 1x
> Gents start Hands-Across Star Right (1/4x)
>
> A2
> Ladies join Star behind N, all Star Right 3/4x
> Partner Swing
>
> B1
> Give & Take to Gents Side, N Swing
>
> B2
> Ladies Chain
> Circle Left 3/4, Pass Through
>
> BTW, in case you may call this, Raeden's name is pronounced "RAY-den
> VEE-no"
>
>
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>
>
