Hi Rich,
Are the bride and groom actual contra dancers?
I would talk with them first. Get a feel for their comfort about
contras, and also dancing in general. Ask them if they waltz. If you
hear a few moments of silence -- that says a lot about their dancing.
Assure them that everyone will have a great time.
With a 145 attendees, why assume that there will only be 40 dancers (20
couples)? Maybe there will be only 40 if all the dances you call are
modern contras. But if you, as the MC for that part of the event, can
get all the attendees on the dance floor (or at least 100+), all happy
and celebrating -- would that be an option? Would that be what the
couple really wants but is either narrow in their perspective or doesn't
know how to articulate it?
This weekend, I called a wedding for some folks who wanted contras.
That's what they advertised. Well, yes, except that the bride and groom
had really never waltzed or had done real contras.
Nonetheless, contras was what they had in their heads. There were 80
attendees. The dance area was a relatively narrow rectangle of grass.
But we began with a Grand March -- which everyone (and I mean everyone)
could do, with a wind-up spiral. Even the non-dancers could walk through
it and laugh. Then a very phrase-driven circle mixer, then a Virginia
Reel style of dance. Nearly everyone was on the dance floor, having a
great time. And they stayed on the floor, ignoring the free drinks. Yes,
it was occasionally a bit crowded, but nobody cared. Actually, that's
what I think the wedding couple really wanted -- to have lots of fun on
their special day and share the celebration. They were absolutely
delighted that so many of their non-dancer friends were clearly having a
great time on the dance floor. (and then we did more dances after a
dessert break, ending with a simple fun mixer.) And at the end of the
evening, they gave me an extra tip on top of my payment.
Just some thoughts. Good luck.
Woody
--
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
http://www.woodylanecaller.com
home: 541-440-1926 cell: 541-556-0054
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
On 8/1/2016 6:01 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> Friends,
>
> I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known
> contra dancers. The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras.
>
> I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical
> requirement for a line of twenty couples?
>
> Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend? I plan on using
> "Family Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln".
>
> Thanls,
> Rich
Hi, Rich!
A couple of thoughts that I have:
I would make sure that I asked about the wedding couple’s definition of “modern contra”. Their actual definition might help make your programming easier; of course, the opposite is also true! Does this mean no squares, no circle mixers, no sicilian circles?
I would also ask them about what their goals are for their dance. If it is mostly to please the contra dancers, that is important to know; but if it is to get the non-contra dancing families and friends dancing together, then you have a way in to get permission to do some programming with those desires in mind.
Do they want gender role-free terminology used? Asking this may encourage them to think about their attendees.
As for “modern contras” that are a bit easier, I do have a few listed on my webpage. Do Si Three is a great way to get non-dancers used to dancing, as well as progressing. And since it was written not so very long ago, I assume it is defined as a “modern contra” ;-)
After the concept of progressing, the most challenging part of doing “modern contras” is how to end a swing. So dances in which this is a bit easier to figure out might be helpful to you. An example is the dance below; however, you will need room up and down, since the P swing is across. This dance (like most contras), can be done as a sicilian circle; this formation is a great choice, as aefallon suggested in her note to you. There are also a number of Becket dances that might be considered. I have included one below by Orace Johnson.
As for floor space: I saved some advice from John Sweeney and Martha Wild, when this question came up a while back. Here is what they each said:
We usually plan 1.5 square yards / person. 35 feet x 16
feet = 62 sq.yds. so 40 people will be able to dance comfortably. 60
people is starting to get tight.
John Sweeney
And from Martha (this is a digest of what she shared):
20 feet across for two contra lines
Length of the hall, divided by 4 determines the number of couples in the line.
I hope you have a great experience! Do let us know how the event goes!
Linda
Que Guapo by Linda Leslie
Contra/Improper/Beginner
A1 -----------
Circle left
Circle right
A2 -----------
Right hand star
Left hand star
B1 -----------
Partner do si do
Partner 2 hand Swing (face these neighbors)
B2 -----------
Forward and Back
Twos arch, Ones Duck
Midwest Folklore
by Orace Johnson
Contra/Becket-CW/Easy
A1 -----------
Circle left three-quarters
Neighbor do si do
A2 -----------
Neighbor Balance and Swing
B1 -----------
Circle left three-quarters
Partner Do si do
B2 -----------
Partner Balance and Swing
(look left and slide left to a new couple)
On Aug 1, 2016, at 9:01 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Friends,
>
> I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known contra dancers. The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras.
>
> I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical requirement for a line of twenty couples?
>
> Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend? I plan on using "Family Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln".
>
> Thanls,
> Rich
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Hi, Rich. I can't answer your question about space. But I do have one suggestion about dancers. How about doing a simple Sicilian Circle dance to introduce the concept of modern contra dance progression? Good luck!
Sent from my Verizon LG Smartphone
------ Original message------From: Rich Sbardella via Callers Date: Mon, Aug 1, 2016 9:02 AMTo: Caller's discussion list;Cc: Subject:[Callers] Floor Space Requirement
Friends,
I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known contra dancers. The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras.
I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical requirement for a line of twenty couples?
Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend? I plan on using "Family Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln".
Thanls,Rich
Friends,
I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known contra
dancers. The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras.
I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical requirement for
a line of twenty couples?
Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend? I plan on using "Family
Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln".
Thanls,
Rich
What is it with people and every dance having to have a neighbor swing? I personally dislike dance programs where every dance has a neighbor swing. Sometimes I’d like to pay attention to the partner I’m dancing with and not everyone else. Sometimes interesting choreography is available when you don’t have to squeeze two swings into everything. It adds variety to a program when there some dances without neighbor swings.
When I first started dancing many years ago, lots of dances didn’t have a partner swing and only had a neighbor swing. Mother-in-law dances, we called them. And sometimes, when I had a partner who was really bad at swinging, I was happy to do them!
So I don’t think your first dance is fatally flawed, or even should be considered as having a bug - it’s just what it is, a dance with a partner swing, and as you said, on a hot night in a crowded hall without air-conditioning, one swing, or even dances where only actives swing, can suddenly be desirable.
Martha
> On Jul 26, 2016, at 6:39 PM, Don Veino via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Given the simplicity of the following, I expect to confirm they already exist... but thought I'd check in with the knowledgeable horde here on SW.
>
> This is something I apparently "wrote" over a year ago but found again during a files dive today. :) I expect I may have put it aside due to no Neighbor swing in the first pass. Spun off w/another A2 to address that just now, below.
>
> Revisiting them in light of the great heat we've had locally, they might be sweet lower exertion dances with the right tunes. And lack of a second swing can be a "feature" vs. "bug" in such conditions.
>
> Please let me know the real author(s), should it not be me. :)
>
> Thanks,
> Don
>
> Don Veino DRAFT 20150117 - Becket Left/CW
>
> A1
> LT Diag R&L Thru
> Ladies Chain Straight Across
> A2
> Star Left
> Star Right
> B1
> Big Oval Left and Right (until opposite P)
> B2
> Gents Allemande Left 1/2x
> Partner Glance Around* Right, Swing
>
> Don Veino DRAFT 20160726 - Becket Left/CW
>
> A1
> LT Diag R&L Thru
> Ladies Chain Straight Across
> A2
> Ladies Glance Around* Right 1x
> Neighbor Swing
> B1
> Big Oval Left and Right (until opposite P)
> B2
> Gents Allemande Left 1/2x
> Partner Glance Around* Right, Swing
>
> *Glance Around is just a placeholder for that other call, you know the one...
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I suspect that many callers have what Bob Dalsemer labeled
"danceritis". The term he should have used is dancerphopia i.e. fear
of dancers or more specifically of what dancers might think of the
caller.
I often see new callers who are afraid of calling programs that will
bore the experienced dancers. I'm sure having two swings in every
dance is a result of trying to please the dancers as well.
Please don't be afraid to call some dances in your program that don't
have two swings. They won't hate you!!!!!!!!
A program that consists of all contras with two swings is VERY
predictable and predictable programs can lead to boredom.
Surprise them!
Tom
I completely agree with the others who have responded. The world needs more
dances with fewer swings. I love swinging but I love other moves as well.
If a dance has something like "Partner Balance & Swing, Circle Left 3/4,
Neighbour Swing" then my immediate reaction is that that is half the dance
gone already and it has nothing interesting in it. We've all done that a
thousand times. Let's have some variety!
Once you break out of the need for two swings in a dance you can use the
space to create much more interesting choreography.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Hi all,
I know that ONS dances are not always the preferred topic with this list, but I have a particular challenge that I need help with and I am hoping some of you might have inspired thoughts.
I will, for the second time, be calling a dance at a senior residential community that will bring together a range of seniors in wheelchairs, seniors with a range of mobility issues, and able seniors eager to dance, combined with children from the daycare that serves staff of this community, meaning 2-3 year old youngsters and a few of their parents and staff. I understand that these events are really popular as the seniors very much enjoy watching and interacting with the small children of their caregivers.
The last time I did this I cobbled together a combination of simple dances like Chimes of Dunkirk and Low Backed Car. A few eager folks (mostly staff) danced and most of the senior citizens sat around the outside in a circle, sometimes shaking tambourines and waving scarves. The toddlers joined in the dancing a bit, but also did a lot of running around the edges. At one point we made a parade with all the instruments, which was quite successful.
I would welcome any insights you might have about how to nurture a fun and successful event in this situation. I call a lot of children and family dances - it’s really my favorite thing to call - but I found this particular combination quite challenging last time.
A few details: I don’t know how many people will be there - it’s drop-in. It will be outside on the grass under a tent. The wee ones will be getting picked up by their parents intermittently throughout the event.
I’ll take whatever you’ve got!!
Thanks,
Delia Clark
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Delia Clark
PO Box 45
Taftsville, VT 05073
Office/mobile: +1-802-457-2075
deliaclark8(a)gmail.com <mailto:deliaclark8@gmail.com>
www.deliaclarkconfluence.com <http://www.deliaclarkconfluence.com/>
Agreed. Somehow this bit of the note I wrote in response to Greg's digest
reply was left out of what I sent (surely operator error, as I simply had
to hit paste here below to get it back from the clipboard):
"I'll wait a bit more to hear if these are new/unique before working up
name(s).
BTW, they're double progression. Believe the end effects work out to: never
really out; if nobody is there on the left diagonal stay put to rejoin
immediately at the chain."
Thanks,
-Don
On Wed, Jul 27, 2016 at 8:20 PM, Yoyo Zhou via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Also, Don, you might want to note these are double progression (the
> result of left diagonal right and left thru).
>
On Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:57:30 -0700, Martha Wild via Callers wrote:
> What is it with people and every dance having to have a neighbor swing? I
personally dislike dance programs where
> every dance has a neighbor swing. Sometimes Id like to pay attention to
the partner Im dancing with and not
> everyone else. Sometimes interesting choreography is available when you
dont have to squeeze two swings into
> everything.
That's exactly what I think, and I'm so pleased to hear an American say the
same thing!
Colin Hume (currently in Ann Arbor, MI where I'm calling a workshop of
Advanced Contras & Squares on Saturday)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web.com ? Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on Microsoft?
Exchange - https://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail
