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2524 discussions

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

On 10/13/2016 11:48 AM, Neal Schlein via Callers wrote: > I think of traditional and traditional-feeling dances as "smooth" not > because the choreography is technically more flowing but because they > somehow feel more lived in, as if any rough spots came naturally. They > don't feel carefully engineered and crafted to be exemplars of "flow" so > much as discovered, worn into shape through luck and happy use. Sort of > a Velveteen Rabbit effect, if that makes any sense. Now I want to see a dance called "The Velveteen Rabbit Effect"! Kalia Kliban

8 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Ralph Page Style

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Neal, Thanks. But I don't understand what Ralph's smoother style was. To me, modern contra dancing is beautifully smooth. Larry Jennings defines the style in Zesty Contras as "zesty, purposeful, extroverted, smooth, meticulously phrased, strongly connected, vigorous, New England, contra dancing" and goes on to define "Smooth: Refers both to the way the dancers carry their bodies and to the flow from one figure into another." If anything I would say that modern choreography has made much smoother dances; many of the Chestnuts have disjointed flows. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent Neal Schlein said: This might shed some light on the subject - https://www.library.unh.edu/find/archives/collections/ralph-page-dance-legac y-weekend Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend (RPDLW) is held every January at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. It takes its name from the man who was perhaps the single most important figure in the preservation of traditional dance in New England and was conceived to keep his legacy alive. Begun in 1988, the RPDLW celebrates the music and dance of New England: contras, squares, and more. From the beginning, the emphasis has been on preserving the smoother style of dancing that Ralph Page favored.

8 years, 2 months

[Callers] Is Pony Fun Unique?

by Don Veino via Callers

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"

8 years, 2 months

Re: [Callers] Ralph Page Style

by via Callers

This might shed some light on the subject - https://www.library.unh.edu/find/archives/collections/ralph-page-dance-lega… Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend The Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend (RPDLW) is held every January at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. It takes its name from the man who was perhaps the single most important figure in the preservation of traditional dance in New England and was conceived to keep his legacy alive. Begun in 1988, the RPDLW celebrates the music and dance of New England: contras, squares, and more. From the beginning, the emphasis has been on preserving the smoother style of dancing that Ralph Page favored. A significant portion of the program celebrates the tradition's roots and includes traditional contras and quadrilles, triple minor dances, singing squares, and couple dances as part of the program. The program also includes a retrospective focusing on a particular caller or musician's contribution to the tradition. The approach is not only one of preservation; there is a deliberate attempt to connect the past with the future of traditional dance. It also features some of the best new choreography and newly-composed tunes. Over the years the event has become noted for its cultivation of community, for being a gathering of "the ones who have played the music, called the figures, and danced the dances in crowded, joyful halls for decades," and for being a weekend of outstanding dancing. Ben ---- Neal Schlein via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I would agree--giving a place to smoother, calmer, and inequal dances that > give people time to interact, chat, make eye contact, etc, instead of > forcing a rapidity of constant interaction. It's not so much a matter of > music speed as choreographic selection. > > He was also known to occasionally use patter when calling contras and > quadrilles. Apparently the tradition historically existed in New England, > but was much less pronounced than elsewhere and has since virtually > vanished. > > I forget the source from which I got that tidbit, but it very possibly was > Time to Dance by Richard Neville. Or it could have been a letter in the > Lloyd Shaw Foundation Archive collection. Not sure. > > Neal > > Neal Schlein > Youth Services Librarian, Mahomet Public Library > > > Currently reading: *The Different Girl* by Gordon Dahlquist > Currently learning: How to set up an automated email system. > > On Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 10:11 AM, Jeff Kaufman via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > I think they're trying to refer to the style of dancing that was > > popular before Larry Jennings-style "zesty contra". > > > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 4:21 AM, John Sweeney via Callers > > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > I was at a workshop recently where someone asked me if I liked > > "the > > > Ralph Page style" of contra dance. They claimed that they had been told > > > that he wanted dances to be slower and calmer. > > > > > > Is there a "Ralph Page style"? If so what is it? > > > > > > If he wanted the music slower, what speed did he want? Did he > > want > > > it slower than the 130+bpm that square dancers used to use? Or slower > > than > > > the 120bmp that is common now in contra? > > > > > > Thanks. > > > > > > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

by Read Weaver via Callers

When I’m teaching, I make the point that it’s pretty much the only move in contra where you _shouldn’t_ give weight even though you could—human wrists being neither strong nor flexible in that direction. And that if someone behind you is uncomfortably giving weight, you can just let go and turn it into a single file for yourself, since you’re not giving weight to aid the circle's momentum anyway. Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On Oct 10, 2016, at 1:49 PM, Don Veino via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Not sure how I came by it, but I call them "pack saddle" stars when I teach beginners ("wrist-lock", no). "Raise your right hand, put it in the center and now lay it on the wrist of the person in front of you, like a pack saddle on a horse, to make a star. Notice you don't need to clamp on or even really use your thumb at all." > > And yes, very much the default star form from my experience. > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Good dances for beginners to safely leave/return to minor set.

by Joy Greenwolfe via Callers

I’ve had god success in teaching out of minor set moves by orienting the dancers before they move to the new neighbor. If they will simply visit another neighbor, I’ll point out that they are visiting, and then coming back. Or I will have them look ahead to their next neighbor and have them wave at each other. Then I’ll them them, “tell your first neighbor, 'I’ll be right back’” and wait until they do. That helps them get the storyline in their head, and think two steps ahead rather than one. Joy Greenwolfe > On Oct 11, 2016, at 12:07 PM, Don Veino via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > My opinion is "current Neighbor", from a dancer's standpoint, is equivalent to simply saying "Neighbor" (but with possible added confusion). Current is contextual in conventional experience, so many people would interpret it as the closest Neighbor. > > I've started trying to find remembered/distinguishing features to describe the targeted individual in my call. For example, in my dance I posted above, I call "...look AWAY, NEXT Neighbors Star Left, find your ALLEMANDE Neighbor, Swing..." for the first few times through and then fall back to simpler language once they've got it. > > On Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 10:19 AM, Chet Gray via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: > Does anybody have any experience with using "original neighbor" vs "current neighbor" in these outside-minor-set-interaction dances? My thinking is to prefer "current neighbor" for dances with previous neighbor interaction, and "original neighbor" for dances with future neighbor interaction, but I don't have enough evidence for any strong decision in the matter. > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 3 months

[Callers] Mark Widmer's email address is changing

by via Callers

Please change your address book to use Mark Widmer's new email address: widmermt98(a)gmail.com The old email address (mark(a)harbormist.com) will be going away soon.

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Ralph Page Style

by Neal Schlein via Callers

I would agree--giving a place to smoother, calmer, and inequal dances that give people time to interact, chat, make eye contact, etc, instead of forcing a rapidity of constant interaction. It's not so much a matter of music speed as choreographic selection. He was also known to occasionally use patter when calling contras and quadrilles. Apparently the tradition historically existed in New England, but was much less pronounced than elsewhere and has since virtually vanished. I forget the source from which I got that tidbit, but it very possibly was Time to Dance by Richard Neville. Or it could have been a letter in the Lloyd Shaw Foundation Archive collection. Not sure. Neal Neal Schlein Youth Services Librarian, Mahomet Public Library Currently reading: *The Different Girl* by Gordon Dahlquist Currently learning: How to set up an automated email system. On Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 10:11 AM, Jeff Kaufman via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I think they're trying to refer to the style of dancing that was > popular before Larry Jennings-style "zesty contra". > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 4:21 AM, John Sweeney via Callers > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hi all, > > I was at a workshop recently where someone asked me if I liked > "the > > Ralph Page style" of contra dance. They claimed that they had been told > > that he wanted dances to be slower and calmer. > > > > Is there a "Ralph Page style"? If so what is it? > > > > If he wanted the music slower, what speed did he want? Did he > want > > it slower than the 130+bpm that square dancers used to use? Or slower > than > > the 120bmp that is common now in contra? > > > > Thanks. > > > > 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 > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Good dances for beginners to safely leave/return to minor set.

by Don Veino via Callers

My opinion is "current Neighbor", from a dancer's standpoint, is equivalent to simply saying "Neighbor" (but with possible added confusion). Current is contextual in conventional experience, so many people would interpret it as the closest Neighbor. I've started trying to find remembered/distinguishing features to describe the targeted individual in my call. For example, in my dance I posted above, I call "...look AWAY, NEXT Neighbors Star Left, find your ALLEMANDE Neighbor, Swing..." for the first few times through and then fall back to simpler language once they've got it. On Tue, Oct 11, 2016 at 10:19 AM, Chet Gray via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Does anybody have any experience with using "original neighbor" vs > "current neighbor" in these outside-minor-set-interaction dances? My > thinking is to prefer "current neighbor" for dances with previous neighbor > interaction, and "original neighbor" for dances with future neighbor > interaction, but I don't have enough evidence for any strong decision in > the matter.

8 years, 3 months

[Callers] Ralph Page Style

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi all, I was at a workshop recently where someone asked me if I liked "the Ralph Page style" of contra dance. They claimed that they had been told that he wanted dances to be slower and calmer. Is there a "Ralph Page style"? If so what is it? If he wanted the music slower, what speed did he want? Did he want it slower than the 130+bpm that square dancers used to use? Or slower than the 120bmp that is common now in contra? Thanks. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

8 years, 3 months

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