Well, I've danced to a caller who decided that the exact same program, with
the exact same memorized patter, would work in the same city if separated
by a week and in a different venue. Not so much.
-Amy
On Wed, Mar 7, 2018, 11:15 PM Yoyo Zhou via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 5:41 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Dance logs, a cumulative record for a series of which dances have been
>> called on any given evening, are very common in the English dance community
>> but vanishingly rare in the contra community. Why is that? They're really
>> helpful for incoming callers, and it's probably nice for the dancers not to
>> keep getting the same dances week after week.
>>
>
> Another factor is that English dances usually specify the tune that goes
> with them. Contra dances very rarely do. So if a dance series has a house
> band that plays most of the time, as some of the Bay Area English dances
> do, then a repeated English dance may be the same figures done to the same
> tune played by the same musicians. For a contra, even if the same band
> played the same set of tunes, it's typical to change tunes partway through
> the dance, anyway, so it's hard to achieve the same degree of repetition.
>
> Of course, repetition isn't always looked down upon. I've heard that the
> weekly dance in Nelson, NH always has Chorus Jig on the program, and other
> dances that repeat week to week. Some contra dancers do appreciate
> recognizing dances - ah, Poetry in Motion, I know how that one goes.
>
> As Mac says, the type of repetition that contra dancers really notice is
> within an evening - when four dances in a row have heys, or half of the
> dances have Petronella turns, and all start to feel the same... and that's
> a type of repetition that's less likely to appear in ECD, where dances that
> have similar figures could easily be done to different tempos or meters.
>
> Personally, I keep track of all the dances that I've actually called,
> because I don't want to call the same dances all the time; most of the time
> it's slightly different from what I programmed originally. I add notes to
> myself if something didn't go well. I can't remember if I've been asked by
> organizers for my program, but it may have happened once or twice.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Yoyo Zhou
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
I keep a log for my own records of my programs and observations (about the
evening, sequence of dances, my teaching, etc.) -- sure, it helps me not
repeat myself when I call two local dances in the same month, but mreh,
only other callers or a very small handful of dancers would notice me
repeating a dance or two in a situation like that. Mostly I use this record
to force myself to reflect on my calling, which is super value for finding
both things that are working well and things that I could improve on.
On Wed, Mar 7, 2018 at 1:02 PM, Donald Perley via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Our dance format features multiple callers in an evening. I recall
> one week we had 2 of the callers call the same dance (different names
> for the same
> dance) and very few of the dancers noticed. As mentioned, different
> music (especially tempo and time signature) can make it feel like a
> different dance.
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 10:28 PM, Mac Mckeever via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> > This seems to me to be a lot of effort with very little benefit. There
> are
> > thousands of dances and each caller has their own approach to
> programming.
> > It is rare for a dance to be called two nights in a row. When I do see
> that
> > happening I often ask other dancers around me if they remember it - and
> no
> > one ever has.
> >
> > How would the next caller get access to this info? The logistics would
> seem
> > difficult and unnecessary.
> >
> > I do not even keep track of what dances I have called. I start off fresh
> > when planning a program. If I called somewhere and they ask me back next
> > year - no one will notice if a couple dances are the same. It probably
> means
> > they were really good ones.
> >
> > I agree that a different band, etc can make the same dance feel very
> > different and that a lot of dances are very similar. It bothers me more
> > when a caller programs an evening with several dances that all feel the
> > same.
> >
> > Mac McKeever
> > St Louis
> >
> >
> > On Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 8:22:25 PM CST, Winston, Alan P. via Callers
> > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Oddly enough, I was just in Seattle at the end of February and had a
> > conversation about this with Lindsey Dono, who told me to my surprise
> that
> > dancers at Lake City, at least, will complain about getting the same
> dance
> > two weeks in a row, and said that there *was* a log kept of dances called
> > locally.
> >
> > So, Amy, I suggest checking with Lindsey and see if the effort is already
> > under way.
> >
> > In the SF Bay Area, I think our dance populations kinda slop around, so
> that
> > while a core of people may go to the central Bay Area dances (SF,
> Berkeley,
> > Palo Alto), East Bay people may also go to North Bay dances (San Rafael,
> > Petaluma) and North Bay people may go to Berkeley or SF but not usually
> Palo
> > Alto, while Monterey Bay people (Monterey, Santa Cruz) go to those dances
> > and some come up to Palo Alto, and some South Bay people (Palo Alto, San
> > Jose, etc) go to Santa Cruz or Monterey. The result is that every dancer
> > does the dances that are called at the dances they happen to go to, it
> would
> > be a huge coordinating effort to keep all the dances at different dance
> > series with somewhat-overlapping attendance separate, and nobody but
> callers
> > seems to care anyway.
> >
> > For me personally, different band, different tune set pretty much equals
> > different dance even with the same figures - but also dances that are 3/4
> > the same figures as other dances feel like the same dances anyway.
> >
> > -- Alan
> >
> > On 3/6/2018 6:07 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers wrote:
> >
> > Huh! I never thought of that for the dance we run. I keep a file of each
> gig
> > and the dances I called at each. I also write on each dance card the date
> > and location of each time I've called it, so I don't repeat myself too
> > often.
> >
> > There's a record of contra dances called at Northwest Folklife Festival.
> I
> > don't know how far back it goes.
> >
> > I'll talk to my fellow organizers about starting this at Emerald City
> Contra
> > Dance.
> >
> > -Amy
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 6, 2018, 5:42 PM Kalia Kliban via Callers
> > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> > Dance logs, a cumulative record for a series of which dances have been
> > called on any given evening, are very common in the English dance
> > community but vanishingly rare in the contra community. Why is that?
> > They're really helpful for incoming callers, and it's probably nice for
> > the dancers not to keep getting the same dances week after week.
> >
> > I've only ever known of one contra series that kept a log, and it's
> > probably because I suggested it when they started out (the Queer Contra
> > series in Oakland, CA). Are there any contra organizers out there who
> > maintain a dance log? Those of you who do, how do you get the dance
> > lists from the callers? The Oakland series had a little book on the
> > stage and the callers would write their programs down as they went or at
> > the end of the night.
> >
> > Part of it comes down to record-keeping on the part of the callers. I
> > keep a personal log of all the dances I've called so I can avoid
> > repeating myself when I return to a given venue. That makes it easy for
> > me to produce a set list after the fact if an organizer wants to fill in
> > a gap in the log. Fellow contra callers, do you all keep records of
> > what you call, and if you don't, how do you avoid repeating yourself or
> > remember what worked well (or not) the last time you called at a
> > particular place?
> >
> > If you work with something like Caller's Companion, do you update the
> > program list with what you actually danced as opposed to what you
> > programmed?
> >
> > Just curious about other people's process on this.
> >
> > Kalia in Sebastopol, CA
> > _______________________________________________
> > List Name: Callers mailing list
> > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > List Name: Callers mailing list
> > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > List Name: Callers mailing list
> > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > List Name: Callers mailing list
> > List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
> >
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
As I sit out this Nor'easter, I am doing some house cleaning. I have
collected many dances without titles and perhaps someone can provide names.
Thanks in advance!
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
#1
Untitled Contra Star Thru
Inside Hands - Neighbor Balance
Star Thru
Ladies Chain
Ladies Allemande Right 1-1/2
Neighbor Swing
Gents Allemande Left 1-1/2
Partner Swing
Balance The Ring
Spin Right
Balance The Ring
California Twirl
Inside Hands - Neighbor Balance
#2
Newer Untitled Early Stars
Contra D/I
(Good for Pre-Dance Workshop?)
Neighbor Dosido
Neighbor Swing
Circle left 3/4
Partner Swing
Long Lines Forward & Back
Right Hand Star
Ladies Chain
Left Hand Star
New Neighbor Dosido
#3
Untitled 2 Half Heys
Neighbor Balance & Swing
- - - -
Circle Left 3/4
Gents Pass Left in Center to start Hey
Partner Rollaway to Half a Hey
Partner Balance & Swing
- - - -
Ladies Pass Right in Center to start Hey
Ladies Chain
Half Hey
New Neighbor Balance & Swing
#4
Untitled 2 Half Heys
Neighbor Balance & Swing
- - - -
Circle Left 3/4
Gents Pass Left in Center to start Hey
Partner Rollaway to Half a Hey
Partner Balance & Swing
- - - -
Ladies Pass Right in Center to start Hey
Ladies Chain
Half Hey
New Neighbor Balance & Swing
#5
Untitled PTO
BECKET
Pass Thru to a Wave
(Recommend L then R) Balance Wave
Ladies Alle L 1-1/2 - Gents Orbit
Partner Balance & Swing
- - - -
Gents Pass Left
Walk Around Neighbor
Neighbor Swing
Ladies Pass Right
LEFT Walkaround Partner
Promenade
Hook to the Left
Pass Thru to a Wave
#6
Untiltled w/ Gents Chain
Untitled
Balance the Ring
Spin to the Right
Balance the Ring
Spin to the Right
Hands Across - Left Hand Star
(to Partner) Gents Chain Across
Gents pull Left Hand and end up on left side after Chain.
Mad Robin
Face Partner & Partner Swing
Circle Left 3/4
Pass Thru - New Neighbor Swing
Form a Ring & Balance Now
Oddly enough, I was just in Seattle at the end of February and had a
conversation about this with Lindsey Dono, who told me to my surprise
that dancers at Lake City, at least, will complain about getting the
same dance two weeks in a row, and said that there *was* a log kept of
dances called locally.
So, Amy, I suggest checking with Lindsey and see if the effort is
already under way.
In the SF Bay Area, I think our dance populations kinda slop around, so
that while a core of people may go to the central Bay Area dances (SF,
Berkeley, Palo Alto), East Bay people may also go to North Bay dances
(San Rafael, Petaluma) and North Bay people may go to Berkeley or SF but
not usually Palo Alto, while Monterey Bay people (Monterey, Santa Cruz)
go to those dances and some come up to Palo Alto, and some South Bay
people (Palo Alto, San Jose, etc) go to Santa Cruz or Monterey. The
result is that every dancer does the dances that are called at the
dances they happen to go to, it would be a huge coordinating effort to
keep all the dances at different dance series with somewhat-overlapping
attendance separate, and nobody but callers seems to care anyway.
For me personally, different band, different tune set pretty much equals
different dance even with the same figures - but also dances that are
3/4 the same figures as other dances feel like the same dances anyway.
-- Alan
On 3/6/2018 6:07 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers wrote:
> Huh! I never thought of that for the dance we run. I keep a file of
> each gig and the dances I called at each. I also write on each dance
> card the date and location of each time I've called it, so I don't
> repeat myself too often.
>
> There's a record of contra dances called at Northwest Folklife
> Festival. I don't know how far back it goes.
>
> I'll talk to my fellow organizers about starting this at Emerald City
> Contra Dance.
>
> -Amy
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018, 5:42 PM Kalia Kliban via Callers
> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> Dance logs, a cumulative record for a series of which dances have been
> called on any given evening, are very common in the English dance
> community but vanishingly rare in the contra community. Why is that?
> They're really helpful for incoming callers, and it's probably
> nice for
> the dancers not to keep getting the same dances week after week.
>
> I've only ever known of one contra series that kept a log, and it's
> probably because I suggested it when they started out (the Queer
> Contra
> series in Oakland, CA). Are there any contra organizers out there who
> maintain a dance log? Those of you who do, how do you get the dance
> lists from the callers? The Oakland series had a little book on the
> stage and the callers would write their programs down as they went
> or at
> the end of the night.
>
> Part of it comes down to record-keeping on the part of the callers. I
> keep a personal log of all the dances I've called so I can avoid
> repeating myself when I return to a given venue. That makes it
> easy for
> me to produce a set list after the fact if an organizer wants to
> fill in
> a gap in the log. Fellow contra callers, do you all keep records of
> what you call, and if you don't, how do you avoid repeating
> yourself or
> remember what worked well (or not) the last time you called at a
> particular place?
>
> If you work with something like Caller's Companion, do you update the
> program list with what you actually danced as opposed to what you
> programmed?
>
> Just curious about other people's process on this.
>
> Kalia in Sebastopol, CA
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
I have had the same experience as Mac. The same dance can be different depending on the tune, the band, your partner...and even your own mood and abilities from 1 dance to the next.
Paula McFarlingColumbia, Mo
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: John W Gintell via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Date: 3/7/18 9:13 AM (GMT-06:00) To: Kalia Kliban <kalia.kliban(a)gmail.com> Cc: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance logs and record-keeping
> On Mar 6, 2018, at 11:23 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> On 3/6/2018 7:28 PM, Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote:
>> This seems to me to be a lot of effort with very little benefit. There are thousands of dances and each caller has their own approach to programming. It is rare for a dance to be called two nights in a row. When I do see that happening I often ask other dancers around me if they remember it - and no one ever has.
>> How would the next caller get access to this info? The logistics would seem difficult and unnecessary.
>
> The way our local English dances do this is that the series programmer sends the current log to the next caller on deck, who can then consider the log or not, as they choose. It's not a big deal. I run the Sebastopol dance, and I either write down the programs myself if I'm at the dance or contact the caller afterward to get their list. Simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track. Easy.
>
> If I'm coming to call for a community I've never worked with before, seeing a list of the dances they've done gives me a good idea of the general level of the group. It's a useful tool.
>
> Kalia in Sebastopol
For our English dance in Jamaica Plain, the caller writes the dance name on a whiteboard in front of the hall after each dance. At the end of the dance we transcribe it into book, I take a photo of the board and enter it in a database at home - and then post on our web page two lists, one sorted by night, and one sorted by dance name. (If I am not there someone else sends me the info).I sometimes have to adjust the spellings - or deal with the “the” in the name so the sorting by dance name is OK. This record goes back to January 2010.
http://lcfd.org/bgfe/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
> see my comments sprinkled.......
> On Mar 6, 2018, at 12:21 AM, Jeanette Mill via Callers wrote:
>
>> Hello
>>
>> I am devising a workshop for a festival here in Australia, and
>> have long been of the opinion that there are no "leaders" in
>> contra dance couples.
>
>
> That's a great issue to discuss. My thought is that having a
> really fun time requires someone to take the initiative. Of course
> it's quite possible that dancing in Australia is different than
> dancing here in the states.
>
>
>> Moves should be executed with mutual consent, especially
>> embellishments such as turning under out of a ladies' chain.
>> Conventions such as waltz hold swings are really useful here. In
>> Australia, other related dance forms use a variety of swing holds,
>> which lead to confusion and interruption of flow. I plan to place
>> some emphasis on conventions of holds, such as allemande and star
>> holds.
> Would it depend on the situation? If there are new dancers would
> you expect or appreciate leading from a more experienced dancer? I
> would say skill level would play a part in this issue even between
> people who are not beginners.
>>
>> I would value people's opinions on this, as it may ruffle some
>> long-held conventions. Any words of wisdom from the gender free
>> dance community would be especially welcome.
>>
>>
>> Also, I believe that if dancers are to enjoy embellishments, they
>> must be by mutual consent. This is so difficult to establish in a
>> microsecond. I would value any thoughts on how to advise reaching
>> this consent in the context of a contra dance.
> I know in my small town everyone knows everyone and it's easy to
> adjust your style when it comes to embellishments. When you meet
> someone in line you know what to expect unless it's a new face.
>
> Would that be very different at a large dance or say at a festival
> where people from other areas attend?
>>
>> Looking forward to your thoughts
> My limited personal experience is that I'm the leader because I'm
> the stronger dancer.
>
> If I verbally suggest that my partner "twirl me" they will, but
> it's usually in the wrong direction or at the wrong time. There
> are good female leaders out there, but not here in my town. So how
> about a workshop where people are allowed or encouraged to try the
> role they may not be the most comfortable with?
>>
>> cheers
>> Jeanette
>>
>> __________
>>
>> List Name: Callers mailing list
>> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net/
>
Halogen bulbs also put out a good amount of UV, sometimes a problem for museums
On Mon, Mar 5, 2018 at 4:22 PM, Anne Lutun via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> When was the last time you got a tan at an indoor contradance?
>
> No, this is not a joke. I got sunburned while calling this past Saturday
> (March 3rd, in Pennsylvania).
>
> How is this possible? Probably a damaged metal halide bulb in the community
> center gym where the dance was held. Apparently this is a problem that
> occurs sporadically in gyms all over the country, as I found out after a
> google search:
>
> https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2004/05/19/damaged-metal-halide-lamps-can-cause…
>
> https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafety/AlertsandNot…
>
> I'm very fair-skinned and burn easily, but I'm not the only one who was
> affected — the musicians got sunburns as well, and two of them have (mild)
> eye irritation symptoms. It's only when we compared notes yesterday that we
> realized what had happened.
>
> We will all be ok, and thankfully there haven't been any reports of dancers
> being affected — it was a large and lively crowd, and we kept them moving!
> Other than the burns, it was an absolutely wonderful dance.
>
> The problem had not occurred before at this monthly event because the bank
> of lights that we now think the culprit bulb is a part of is not usually on.
> It was needed that night because some of the other lights had burned out.
>
> I would like to commend the dance organizers for taking the problem very
> seriously. Once informed, they immediately contacted the community center
> management, who in turn promised to address the issue right away.
>
> I don't mean to alarm anyone, but next time you call in a gym, you may want
> to wear sunscreen!
>
> Anne Lutun
> Philadelphia, PA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
When was the last time you got a tan at an *indoor* contradance?
No, this is not a joke. I got sunburned while calling this past Saturday
(March 3rd, in Pennsylvania).
How is this possible? Probably a damaged metal halide bulb in the community
center gym where the dance was held. Apparently this is a problem that
occurs sporadically in gyms all over the country, as I found out after a
google search:
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2004/05/19/damaged-metal-halide-
lamps-can-cause-indoor-sunburns-56964/
https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafe
ty/AlertsandNotices/ucm116540.htm
I'm very fair-skinned and burn easily, but I'm not the only one who was
affected — the musicians got sunburns as well, and two of them have (mild)
eye irritation symptoms. It's only when we compared notes yesterday that we
realized what had happened.
We will all be ok, and thankfully there haven't been any reports of dancers
being affected — it was a large and lively crowd, and we kept them moving!
Other than the burns, it was an absolutely wonderful dance.
The problem had not occurred before at this monthly event because the bank
of lights that we now think the culprit bulb is a part of is not usually
on. It was needed that night because some of the other lights had burned
out.
I would like to commend the dance organizers for taking the problem very
seriously. Once informed, they immediately contacted the community center
management, who in turn promised to address the issue right away.
I don't mean to alarm anyone, but next time you call in a gym, you may want
to wear sunscreen!
Anne Lutun
Philadelphia, PA
Linda Leslie Celebration of Life
Sunday, May 20
1:30-4:30 PM
at The Concord Scout House
Sharing of memories followed by a community dance.
The sharing is for us to remember Linda and her wonderful energy, generous spirit and warm love. The dance is for Linda—this is what she wanted us to do!
—Lisa Greenleaf
When was the last time you got a tan at an *indoor* contradance?
No, this is not a joke. I got sunburned while calling this past Saturday
(March 3rd, in Pennsylvania).
How is this possible? Probably a damaged metal halide bulb in the community
center gym where the dance was held. Apparently this is a problem that
occurs sporadically in gyms all over the country, as I found out after a
google search:
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2004/05/19/damaged-metal-halide-
lamps-can-cause-indoor-sunburns-56964/
https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafe
ty/AlertsandNotices/ucm116540.htm
I'm very fair-skinned and burn easily, but I'm not the only one who was
affected — the musicians got sunburns as well, and two of them have (mild)
eye irritation symptoms. It's only when we compared notes yesterday that we
realized what had happened.
We will all be ok, and thankfully there haven't been any reports of dancers
being affected — it was a large and lively crowd, and we kept them moving!
Other than the burns, it was an absolutely wonderful dance.
The problem had not occurred before at this monthly event because the bank
of lights that we now think the culprit bulb is a part of is not usually
on. It was needed that night because some of the other lights had burned
out.
I would like to commend the dance organizers who, once informed, took the
problem very seriously and immediately contacted the community center
management, who in turn promised to address the issue right away.
I don't mean to alarm anyone, but next time you call in a gym, you may want
to wear sunscreen!
Anne Lutun
Philadelphia, PA
