At one nighters I start with non-contra dances and if there is time work up to Family Contra which is a good one for easy progression, and then to this one:
Ellen’s Green Jig by Roy Dommett (doesn’t matter if it’s proper or improper)
A1 Do-si-do neighbor
Ones do-si-do
A2 Ones balance (sometimes I have them do it twice) and swing (if they do it twice I have them 2 hand turn) and face down (and it doesn’t matter which side they end on, it can still work)
B1 Circle left with twos, circle right back to where you started the circle (important point, once a foursome ended up facing across instead of up and down and did the B2 part across the set - and that does not work)
B2 Keeping hands, Duck for the oyster figure (Ones duck under twos' arch, twos duck under ones' arch, ones pass through twos and face new neighbors
This was the dance I went to when I called for about 200 girls at a Catholic girl’s school and wanted dances where gender roles wouldn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter if people end up on the other side of the set after they swing, they’ll just eventually do-si-do whoever they come to so it works.
> On Mar 5, 2016, at 10:44 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
>
> Thanks, Rich
> Stafford, CT
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On 3/5/2016 10:44 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am
> asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire
> recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
Just getting to the duple minor progression can be quite a process. The
simplest duple minor I've got is not technically a contra (it's an
English ceilidh dance), but works well as a mine-sweeper to see whether
more complex duples will work. It's called the Itchington Long Dance
(Hugh Rippon, 1990). Star L/R; cnrs dosido; 1s down/bk/cast; 1s swing
and look down for new Ns. If your crowd is up for it and you've got
room, the B2 can be a general P swing, but I like to do it just for the
1s to make the progression clearer.
Washington Quickstep (a contra chestnut) is good too, and if the 1s lose
track of who needs to be on the right after the swing, nothing terrible
happens. Star R/L, 1s dn/bk/cast; R&L thru over/bk; LLFB, 1s sw.
Kalia
I would like to associate myself with Rich's sentiments here:
On 3/3/16 10:28 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> Although I have had many good nights as a square dance and/or contra
> dance caller, My best gigs are often one night stands/party dances.
> It is a thrill to see non dancers learn to move with the phtrase of
> music and see those great smiles when they succeed. 40-100 people are
> a good size for such a gig, and great music is always a plus. Success
> is much more important than challenge.
>
> Most of these parties are for a "community" that is already
> established, so the dancers are already among friends. I am simply
> bringing them a new, and joyful, way to interact.
>
> No matter what kind of venue I call, a good way for me to judge a good
> dance is to look at how many dancers stick around to the end.
>
> Rich Sbardella
> Stafford, CT
>
The kind of gig that makes me feel like I'm bringing new good into the
world is this kind of gig, which for me is usually more often people
with some kind of historical interest (Civil War, Regency, academics at
the Dickens Universe conference). Get people who think they can't dance
to try it and enjoy it - I feel like that's fulfilling my mission.
That's sometimes hard work - and in some ways easy, because you don't
have to make up a new program for every gig - and it requires close
engagement with the crowd and continual attention, but is' quite rewarding.
On an entirely different front, I've had some pretty great nights
leading English with great bands whose strengths I know when I make the
program / pick the tunes and when I know what level the dancers will be
at and push them just enough; there's a huge collective high and I've
also gotten to deploy all my artistic judgment and make an evening
that's just how I wanted it - I had the fun of planning a menu with an
intention to delight and watching the meal get eaten.
I've also really enjoyed leading contras for mixed crowds where the more
experienced dancers were good at sweeping in the newcomers. Doing that
kind of a night where the music's good and communication with the band
is easy and my read of the floor is really working - it kind of feels
like Mickey Mouse in "Sorceror's Apprentice" before he realizes he
doesn't know how to stop the brooms from carrying water, during the
early euphoria.
But those things - dances for dance hobbyists - while I think valuable,
are mostly helping people have a kind of fun they already know they want
to have. They're fun to do and fun to plan, but I don't think they're
as big a contribution to general happiness as the dances for non-dancers.
-- Alan
On 3/5/2016 1:02 PM, Tepfer, Seth via Callers wrote:
> Hard to beat Sherry Nevin's fabulous
>
> Family Contra
>
> A1: Bal ring 2x (8); Circle Left (8)
>
> A2: Bal ring 2x (8); Circle Right (8)
>
> B1: Neighbor DSD (8); Partner DSD (8)
>
> B2: As couples, DSD 1.5 to progress (16)
I enjoyed watching a group of extremely mixed ages doing this in Berea
this winter. One of many great things about this dance is that an
"individual dancer" can be a parent with a child or two attached, or a
couple of kids dancing close together as a team, and it all still works
really well.
Kalia
On 3/5/2016 1:01 PM, Rich Sbardella wrote:
> Kalia,
> You make a good point. My most successful contra for such applications
> has been Haste to the Wedding in a proper line.
> I have had trouble with the cast at Party Dances. Do you demonstrate
> it? How do you describe it?
A demonstration is the easiest, and I'll often demo it more than once to
be really clear. Do it with the music, too, so folks get an idea of
when everything happens and when they need to be done.
> I like your suggestion of Washington Quickstep. I might try it with 1.s
> DSD, then 2s DSD instead of R&L Thrus.
Super smart. R&L through is a tough move for a ONS situation. Anything
you can do to simplify it is a good idea.
Kalia
> On Sat, Mar 5, 2016 at 3:54 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
> wrote:
>
> On 3/5/2016 10:44 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
>
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but
> occasionally I am
> asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some
> sure fire
> recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
>
>
> Just getting to the duple minor progression can be quite a process.
> The simplest duple minor I've got is not technically a contra (it's
> an English ceilidh dance), but works well as a mine-sweeper to see
> whether more complex duples will work. It's called the Itchington
> Long Dance (Hugh Rippon, 1990). Star L/R; cnrs dosido; 1s
> down/bk/cast; 1s swing and look down for new Ns. If your crowd is
> up for it and you've got room, the B2 can be a general P swing, but
> I like to do it just for the 1s to make the progression clearer.
>
> Washington Quickstep (a contra chestnut) is good too, and if the 1s
> lose track of who needs to be on the right after the swing, nothing
> terrible happens. Star R/L, 1s dn/bk/cast; R&L thru over/bk; LLFB,
> 1s sw.
>
> Kalia
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>
>
For me the absolute, guaranteed never to fail contra (as opposed to a longways dance such as Gallopede), is Jefferson and Liberty. I assume it's derived from a traditional dance of the same name created in Colonial times.
Jefferson and Liberty (duple,no need to worry about who's on which side)
A.1. Circle 4 left and right ("It doesn't matter if you get all the way to the left as long as you finish where you started.")A 2. Star right and left (Same instruction.)B. 1. Ones down the outside and back.B.2. Down the center, 4 in line, ones in the middle. Ones make an arch, twos duck under ("Twos take hands with your partner so you don't lose each other!") Everybody comes back up the set, everybody look to the nexy couple..
If they're able, you can suggest that the ones not turn around to come back up the set, but come backwards so they can get acquainted with their new neighboring couple.
Susan ElbergerLowell, MA
From: Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com; Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 5, 2016 1:44 PM
Subject: [Callers] Contras for One Nighters
I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire recommendations.
Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
Thanks, RichStafford, CT
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Add the Clap and Rich's House Dance Special turns into the simple
version of Haste to the Wedding (for which that tune works great:
A1 Circle left, then right
A2 Star right, then left
B1 Partner DSD; Clap, Partner two hand turn once
B2 Neighbor DSD; Clap, Neighbor two hand turn one-and-a-half
Or, as below:
B2 Neighbor DSD; Clap, Pass Neighbor, bow to next
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 3/5/2016 11:00 AM, Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers wrote:
> Hi Rich,
>
> On such occasions, I use what I think of as my House Dance Special,
> which is just a Sicilian Circle straightened out.
>
> Duple, and don't say a word about who is supposed to be on which side
> of the set
>
> Circle left, circle right
> Right hand star, left hand star
> Dosido partner, two hand turn
> Dosido neighbor, pass through and bow to new neighbor
>
>
> Jacob
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 5, 2016 at 1:44 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but
> occasionally I am asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can
> anyone make some sure fire recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
>
> Thanks, Rich
> Stafford, CT
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
>
>
> --
> jandnbloom(a)gmail.com <mailto:jandnbloom@gmail.com>
> http://jacobbloom.net/
>
>
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Hi Rich,
On such occasions, I use what I think of as my House Dance Special, which
is just a Sicilian Circle straightened out.
Duple, and don't say a word about who is supposed to be on which side of
the set
Circle left, circle right
Right hand star, left hand star
Dosido partner, two hand turn
Dosido neighbor, pass through and bow to new neighbor
Jacob
On Sat, Mar 5, 2016 at 1:44 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am
> asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire
> recommendations.
>
> Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
>
> Thanks, Rich
> Stafford, CT
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
--
jandnbloom(a)gmail.com
http://jacobbloom.net/
I rarely call a contra at a One Night Party Dance, but occasionally I am
asked to. I have a few in my cards, but can anyone make some sure fire
recommendations.
Assume 95%-100% non dancers.
Thanks, Rich
Stafford, CT
So, which flows more smoothly onto the swing? Ladies by the left as
Roger describes or ladies by the right as Frannie describes?
-Dave Harding
On 3/2/2016 2:17 PM, Roger Hayes via Callers wrote:
> Hmm, with enough space a figure like this might be fun:
>
> Pass through to a Swing
> (like pass-though-to-a-wave mixed with revolving-door)
>
> pass through across the set, except
> ladies commence an allemand left rather than passing each other
> ladies allemand back round to the other gent & swing him
> (gents will, of course, turn right after crossing the set, if they
> want to swing)
>
> The leaves ladies' right hand free for a spacious and gentle entry to
> the swing.
>
> - Roger Hayes
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:13 AM, frannie via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> Ron Buchanan's "Revolving Door" figure is described well by Rick
> Mohr. In "Revolving Door", couples start a "wrong side" half
> promenade where women pass right instead of men passing left. As
> the women meet they catch right hands and allemande right once
> around. The men drop out after crossing the set, and partners
> swing as the women come around. It flows easily and feels good. I
> often do a floor demo, both because it's unfamiliar and because
> it's pretty cool to watch. Since the promenade only lasts for a
> beat or two I think the easiest hold is for neighbors to join left
> hands, with the man's right arm briefly behind the woman's back.
>
> Dances that include that figure are
> Puttin' Cheese on the Ritz by Ron Buchanan
> Glenside Promenade by Ron Buchanan
> Gaye's Groove by Rick Mohr
> Cup of Joe by Rick Mohr
> Better Late than Never by Steve Z-A
> Not a Trip to Vegas by Chris Page
>
> Rick Mohr is also credited with varying this dance to include a
> Revolving Door. It's the easiest of the dances.
>
> *The Missing Piece*
>
> Bronwyn Woods
>
> Type: Contra
>
> Formation: Duple-Improper
>
>
> A1 -----------
>
> (16) Neighbor balance and swing
>
> A2 -----------
>
> (8) Revolving door (W take N across set drop them off and return
> home to P)
>
> (8) Partner swing
>
> B1 -----------
>
> (8) Long lines, forward and back
>
> (8) Women Chain
>
> B2 -----------
>
> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
>
> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) turn away
> from these N to new N
>
>
> Notes: Original A2 Men allemande L 1.5 to P swing
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 8:56 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> Hmm. Alex, correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that
> "revolving doors" was the reverse of a half promenade and
> butterfly whirl...?
>
> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:53 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> I interpreted that as a move that goes from one circle
> with neighbors to another circle with other neighbors,
> such as David Kaynor's "Open Doors"
>
> (Sourced from: http://www.davidkaynor.com/Compositions.html )
>
> *Open Doors*
>
> Duple Improper
>
> A1 Circle Left 3/4; Swing Partner
> A2 Down Hall 4 - in - line; Wheel around as couples;
> return; bend line into long line
> B1 Long lines forward; Ladies pull neighbors out; swing
> neighbors; end progressed
> B2 Long Lines forward & back; Circle Right; turn alone to
> face new neighbors
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 2, 2016 at 11:34 AM, Aahz Maruch via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> On Sun, Feb 28, 2016, Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers
> wrote:
> >
> > Anyone have any beginner or intermediate revolving
> door dances?
>
> What's a revolving door dance? (Yes, I did try
> searching.)
> --
> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
> <*> <*> <*>
> Help a hearing-impaired person:
> http://rule6.info/hearing.html
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>
>
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <mailto:Luke.Donev@gmail.com>
>
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>
>
>
> --
> twirls,
> Frannie
>
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