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2524 discussions

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

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

I've had issues with the combination of box the gnat and pull by. I'd be hesitant to use that combination for a group with a lot of beginners. Kalia Kliban (who also posted about Another Nice Combination but forgot to sign it) On 10/10/2016 10:30 AM, Meg Dedolph via Callers wrote: > I like this one a lot: > > /Becky's Brouhaha - Rhiannon (Giddens) Laffan />//>/A1 N Bal and Box > the Gnat, Pull by R, (Previous N) Allemande L />/A2 (Current) N B&S > />/B1 Circle L 3/4, P Sw />/B2 Ladies Chain, Left Hand Star/ > > > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 11:36 AM K Panton via Callers > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: > > 3-33-33 is not a good choice for introducing beginners to extra-4some > expeditions. I've also found that a diagonal chain followed by a > straight-across figure causes confusion. > > The Young Adult Rose,and others, have a pass-through to shadow > allemande which is doable. > > Does anyone have some reliable key to unlock this mystery for new > dancers, thereby opening up a whole new world! > > Thanks > > Ken > > _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > <mailto:Callers@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 Don Veino via Callers

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.

8 years, 3 months

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

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Mary Cay's Reel (also by David Kaynor) and Poetry in Motion (Lisa Greenleaf) have expeditions out of your hands-4 to your future neighbor, and Little Green Heron (Joseph Pimentel) to the previous ones. Angel's Flight (Sue Rosen) is a really lovely dance with a jaunt to your future neighbor and back, but beginners may have trouble doing the gypsy the right distance, it needs careful teaching. In Cahoots (Rick Mohr) and Train Delay (one of mine) are some dances with brief shadow interaction that are pretty hard to mess up--no weird diagonal action or similar. Choreography below. Mary Cay's Reel by David Kaynor || becket left A1: circle L 3/4; pass N to alle. L with next N A2: orig. N b&S B1: long lines; ladies alle. R 3/4 (4), new lady by L 3/4 (4)* B2: P b&s *gents slide a little L to meet partner. Also, ladies should locate 2nd lady before starting (look across, and one lady to the right) Poetry in Motion by Lisa Greenleaf || improper A1: RH star; N alle. R 1 1/2 A2: gypsy next N L; swing N* B1: g&t to gent's side; P swing B2: ladies chain (to N); LH star 1x (to new Ns) * CURRENT N: the one you alle'd, NOT the one you gypsied Little Green Heron by Joseph Pimentel || improper A1 with current neighbors star L; with former neighbors star R A2 with current N b&s B1 gents alle L 1.5; P swing B2 circle L 1.25 (till the ones are looking down, twos looking up); with P zig left past current neighbors, zag right to greet new neighbors Angel's Flight by Sue Rosen || improper A1: N gypsy R 1 1/2*; RH star (ladies follow N) 1x A2: next N gypsy L 1x; orig. N swing B1: circle L 3/4; P swing B2: ladies chain (to N); LH star 1x * identify next N before starting the star (look away from this N along the side) In Cahoots by Rick Mohr || becket, CW A1: (slide left to) circle L 3/4 w/ next N swing A2: ladies alle. R 1 1/2 P alle. L 1 1/2 → short wave (gents R in middle) B1: bal. wave, walk forward to new wave (gents R, shadows L) bal. wave, shadow alle. L 3/4 B2: P b&s Train Delay by Maia McCormick || becket right A1: ladies alle. R 1 1/2*; N swing A2: ladies chain (to P); LH star 1x B1: w/ shadow, bal. & box the gnat; do-si-do shadow 1 1/2 B2: P b&s * look R for a new lady (gents will scooch R here) In the second half of B1, pull by R at the start of the do-si-do for some extra momentum (depending on the crowd, may be useful to teach this) On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 12:36 PM, K Panton via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > 3-33-33 is not a good choice for introducing beginners to extra-4some > expeditions. I've also found that a diagonal chain followed by a > straight-across figure causes confusion. > > The Young Adult Rose,and others, have a pass-through to shadow allemande > which is doable. > > Does anyone have some reliable key to unlock this mystery for new dancers, > thereby opening up a whole new world! > > Thanks > > Ken > > _______________________________________________ > 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 Meg Dedolph via Callers

I like this one a lot: *Becky's Brouhaha - Rhiannon (Giddens) Laffan *>>* A1 N Bal and Box the Gnat, Pull by R, (Previous N) Allemande L *>* A2 (Current) N B&S *>* B1 Circle L 3/4, P Sw *>* B2 Ladies Chain, Left Hand Star* On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 11:36 AM K Panton via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > 3-33-33 is not a good choice for introducing beginners to extra-4some > expeditions. I've also found that a diagonal chain followed by a > straight-across figure causes confusion. > > The Young Adult Rose,and others, have a pass-through to shadow allemande > which is doable. > > Does anyone have some reliable key to unlock this mystery for new dancers, > thereby opening up a whole new world! > > Thanks > > Ken > _______________________________________________ > 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 Angela DeCarlis via Callers

I've never heard "millstone" or "mill" before, but it sounds like it has precedence. My guess is that it was (is?) a useful term at dances where hands-across stars are default. Since that isn't generally the case in many places any longer, it makes sense that "hands-across" has become the more useful modifier. On Oct 10, 2016 11:37 AM, "Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > When I attended the Berea Christmas Dance School forty years ago, and put > my hand on the wrist in front of me during a walk through, someone > complained, saying, "He said a star, not a mill!" > > Is the term "mill", or the term "millstone", commonly used to refer to > wrist stars in areas where hands-across is the default way of doing a star? > > Jacob Bloom > > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 10:29 AM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I agree with Chet that Louisville's default star is hands-across, >> although weekend festivals in nearby cities tend toward the millstone star. >> I avoid the terms wrist-lock or even wrist-grip star, as I prefer the >> fingers to lay atop the adjoining wrist without using the thumb to "grip" >> in any way. >> >> The Midwest where I dance/call now is pretty solidly wrist-star territory >> (St. Louis, Columbia MO, Kansas City, Lawrence). When I call one-night >> events (parties, weddings), I dictate hands-across stars, but when calling >> for an established contra community I ask for the default. >> >> --Jerome >> >> >> Jerome Grisanti >> 660-528-0858 >> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com >> >> "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and >> power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe >> >> On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 3:31 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> Hi all, >>> I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and >>> everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star >>> (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent >>> choreography). >>> >>> But I am constantly challenged in England by people claiming that >>> wrist-lock stars are not the standard in America. >>> >>> When I go to somewhere like The Flurry and see 600 people from >>> all >>> over the country all doing wrist-locks it seems to me that it must be the >>> standard way of doing things. >>> >>> And obviously it has been common in America for a long time; this >>> video is from 1964 in Northern Vermont and shows wrist-lock stars: >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZubTju7g_s >>> >>> So, are there still significant communities that don't use >>> wrist-locks? >>> >>> Is the wrist-lock the de facto standard? >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> Happy dancing, >>> John >>> >>> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & >>> 07802 >>> 940 574 >>> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs >>> 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 >> >> > > > -- > jandnbloom(a)gmail.com > http://jacobbloom.net/ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

8 years, 3 months

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

by K Panton via Callers

3-33-33 is not a good choice for introducing beginners to extra-4some expeditions. I've also found that a diagonal chain followed by a straight-across figure causes confusion. The Young Adult Rose,and others, have a pass-through to shadow allemande which is doable. Does anyone have some reliable key to unlock this mystery for new dancers, thereby opening up a whole new world! Thanks Ken

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

by Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers

When I attended the Berea Christmas Dance School forty years ago, and put my hand on the wrist in front of me during a walk through, someone complained, saying, "He said a star, not a mill!" Is the term "mill", or the term "millstone", commonly used to refer to wrist stars in areas where hands-across is the default way of doing a star? Jacob Bloom On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 10:29 AM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I agree with Chet that Louisville's default star is hands-across, although > weekend festivals in nearby cities tend toward the millstone star. I avoid > the terms wrist-lock or even wrist-grip star, as I prefer the fingers to > lay atop the adjoining wrist without using the thumb to "grip" in any way. > > The Midwest where I dance/call now is pretty solidly wrist-star territory > (St. Louis, Columbia MO, Kansas City, Lawrence). When I call one-night > events (parties, weddings), I dictate hands-across stars, but when calling > for an established contra community I ask for the default. > > --Jerome > > > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com > > "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and > power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 3:31 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi all, >> I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and >> everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star >> (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent >> choreography). >> >> But I am constantly challenged in England by people claiming that >> wrist-lock stars are not the standard in America. >> >> When I go to somewhere like The Flurry and see 600 people from all >> over the country all doing wrist-locks it seems to me that it must be the >> standard way of doing things. >> >> And obviously it has been common in America for a long time; this >> video is from 1964 in Northern Vermont and shows wrist-lock stars: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZubTju7g_s >> >> So, are there still significant communities that don't use >> wrist-locks? >> >> Is the wrist-lock the de facto standard? >> >> Thanks. >> >> Happy dancing, >> John >> >> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 >> 940 574 >> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs >> 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 > > -- jandnbloom(a)gmail.com http://jacobbloom.net/

8 years, 3 months

[Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi all, I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent choreography). But I am constantly challenged in England by people claiming that wrist-lock stars are not the standard in America. When I go to somewhere like The Flurry and see 600 people from all over the country all doing wrist-locks it seems to me that it must be the standard way of doing things. And obviously it has been common in America for a long time; this video is from 1964 in Northern Vermont and shows wrist-lock stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZubTju7g_s So, are there still significant communities that don't use wrist-locks? Is the wrist-lock the de facto standard? Thanks. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

8 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

by Angela DeCarlis via Callers

Where I've called recently, in the Northeast and in New England, wrist-grip is definitely the default, and I wasn't aware that parts of the south default to hands-across. Neat! Here to comment that Florida, where I'm from originally, holds true to its role as the Exception to the Rule: despite being in the South, they definitely default to wrist-grip there, as well. Angela On Oct 10, 2016 9:44 AM, "Chet Gray via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I tend to consider my home dance, Louisville, KY, and nearby Lexington, as > two of the last bastions of hands-across-by-default. Wrist-grip seems to be > the default (for contra; squares are a different matter) even in relatively > nearby cities: Indianapolis, Bloomington, IN, Nashville, Cincinnati. Not > sure about Berea and Somerset, KY, also nearby. > > I'd be hesitant to use weekends, Flurry in particular, as bellwethers of > what is typical in anything but weekends. I'd wager that the vast majority > of contra dancers, even habitual dancers, have never been to a dance > weekend, perhaps not even their "home" weekend. Just as there is a sort of > "weekend-style" dance program, there is a "weekend-style" of dancing that > is a pidgin not necessarily representative of any particular regional style. > > On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 9:41 AM, Tim Klein via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I call for dances in Knoxville, TN and occasionally in the surrounding >> area (Jonesboro, Chattanooga). I've been dancing here for 30 years. Kaufman >> was correct. I recall hands across stars in Knoxville, Atlanta, Brasstown, >> Asheville and points between, but wrist grip stars in Lexington, Louisville >> and Nashville. I'm certain about Knoxville, but perhaps others can confirm >> for the other cities. >> >> The wrist star has gradually taken over as the default in the area, but a >> couple of us old-timers are still holding out. I still teach the hands >> across star in the pre-dance lesson because it's quicker, but acknowledge >> that there are variations. When I call and dance, I still prompt and >> encourage the hands-across grip. We've got to hold onto our traditions and >> fight the globalization of contra, right? >> >> Of course, there are situations where one variety works better than >> another - to/from a move with an adjacent person (star to alemande, >> courtesy turn to star) suggests a wrist star, while moves where the contact >> is across (star old neighbors to star with new, ladies start star then >> gents join in) suggest the hands across. In those cases, I'll explicitly >> suggest one version in the walk through. >> >> Tim Klein >> Knoxville, TN >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Dave Casserly via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> >> *To:* John Sweeney <john(a)modernjive.com> >> *Cc:* "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> >> *Sent:* Monday, October 10, 2016 8:37 AM >> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars >> >> Jeff Kaufman wrote a paper on regional variations in contra dance. >> Here's what he found >> <https://www.swarthmore.edu/sites/default/files/assets/documents/linguistics…> >> for wrist-grip stars (page 31 of the link). Basically, they're common >> everywhere in the US except in some parts of the South. This is based on >> data from ten or more years ago, so I'm not sure if that's still true. I >> would not be surprised if it isn't-- there's enough cross-contamination >> that wrist-grips could have taken over even in the South. We do have >> people from Georgia and North Carolina on the list; hopefully they'll chime >> in. >> >> -Dave >> Washington, DC >> >> On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 4:31 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and >> everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star >> (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent >> choreography). >> >> But I am constantly challenged in England by people claiming that >> wrist-lock stars are not the standard in America. >> >> When I go to somewhere like The Flurry and see 600 people from all >> over the country all doing wrist-locks it seems to me that it must be the >> standard way of doing things. >> >> And obviously it has been common in America for a long time; this >> video is from 1964 in Northern Vermont and shows wrist-lock stars: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=pZubTju7g_s >> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZubTju7g_s> >> >> So, are there still significant communities that don't use >> wrist-locks? >> >> Is the wrist-lock the de facto standard? >> >> Thanks. >> >> Happy dancing, >> John >> >> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 >> 940 574 >> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs >> 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 >> <http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> David Casserly >> (cell) 781 258-2761 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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 Tim Klein via Callers

I call for dances in Knoxville, TN and occasionally in the surrounding area (Jonesboro, Chattanooga). I've been dancing here for 30 years. Kaufman was correct. I recall hands across stars in Knoxville, Atlanta, Brasstown, Asheville and points between, but wrist grip stars in Lexington, Louisville and Nashville. I'm certain about Knoxville, but perhaps others can confirm for the other cities. The wrist star has gradually taken over as the default in the area, but a couple of us old-timers are still holding out. I still teach the hands across star in the pre-dance lesson because it's quicker, but acknowledge that there are variations. When I call and dance, I still prompt and encourage the hands-across grip. We've got to hold onto our traditions and fight the globalization of contra, right? Of course, there are situations where one variety works better than another - to/from a move with an adjacent person (star to alemande, courtesy turn to star) suggests a wrist star, while moves where the contact is across (star old neighbors to star with new, ladies start star then gents join in) suggest the hands across. In those cases, I'll explicitly suggest one version in the walk through. Tim KleinKnoxville, TN From: Dave Casserly via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: John Sweeney <john(a)modernjive.com> Cc: "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2016 8:37 AM Subject: Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars Jeff Kaufman wrote a paper on regional variations in contra dance. Here's what he found for wrist-grip stars (page 31 of the link). Basically, they're common everywhere in the US except in some parts of the South. This is based on data from ten or more years ago, so I'm not sure if that's still true. I would not be surprised if it isn't-- there's enough cross-contamination that wrist-grips could have taken over even in the South. We do have people from Georgia and North Carolina on the list; hopefully they'll chime in. -DaveWashington, DC On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 4:31 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: Hi all, I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent choreography). But I am constantly challenged in England by people claiming that wrist-lock stars are not the standard in America. When I go to somewhere like The Flurry and see 600 people from all over the country all doing wrist-locks it seems to me that it must be the standard way of doing things. And obviously it has been common in America for a long time; this video is from 1964 in Northern Vermont and shows wrist-lock stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=pZubTju7g_s So, are there still significant communities that don't use wrist-locks? Is the wrist-lock the de facto standard? Thanks. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs 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 -- David Casserly (cell) 781 258-2761 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 3 months

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