Hi Liz,
I would start with something like:
In a big circle teach: 8-count moves; hand-holds and connection; how to swing
Family Contra so they learn to progress. No swings so that they can’t end on the wrong side and mess things up. Tell them not to switch lines when they get to the top or bottom!
https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-contra-usa.html
East Litchfield Volunteers - use wrist-lock stars instead of circles as they did circles in the previous dance
http://biteyourownelbow.com/conndanc.htm
Or I would do a completely different repertoire of easy dances since trying to do actual modern American contras with beginners can be a disaster :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Liz Burkhart via Callers
Sent: 29 March 2019 12:53
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
I have a gig coming up at a library wherein I have one hour to teach and call contra dances. It's a mixed crowd, and I heard there may be a lot of tweens present. I think I'd like to focus on bigger picture things - moving up and down the line, swinging, interacting with their set. I imagine I may even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice?
Thanks,
Liz Burkhart
I have a gig coming up at a library wherein I have one hour to teach and
call contra dances. It's a mixed crowd, and I heard there may be a lot of
tweens present. I think I'd like to focus on bigger picture things - moving
up and down the line, swinging, interacting with their set. I imagine I may
even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the
lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I
usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get
bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice?
Thanks,
Liz Burkhart
I wanted a closer with a Rory O'Moore and a partner balance and swing. This
is what I came up with. Does this (or a variant thereof) already exist?
*Wave Goodbye* (becket L)
A1: (on the L diagonal) give and take N (to lark's side)
N swing
A2: ravens chain (to P)
ravens alle. R 1 1/2 to short waves (LH to N, ravens by R)
B1: bal. L and R, slide L (short waves, RH to N, larks by L)
bal. R and L, slide R, ravens sliding extra to pass each other
B2: P b&s
Ah, more specific questions!
- have you found on-the-floor demos doable at techno, or should I not even
try?
- techno no-walk-through's: do they work?
On Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 5:13 PM Maia McCormick <maiamcc(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey folks,
>
> I haven't called all that many techno contras, and I'm slated to do so
> this weekend. Any tips or things to keep in mind about how techno differs
> from your standard contra evening? (Particularly curious about anything
> relating to dance choice and dance length.)
>
> Cheers,
> Maia
>
Hey folks,
I haven't called all that many techno contras, and I'm slated to do so this
weekend. Any tips or things to keep in mind about how techno differs from
your standard contra evening? (Particularly curious about anything relating
to dance choice and dance length.)
Cheers,
Maia
The winner of the Neffa 75th Contra Choreography Contest is Diamonds Are For Neffa, written by Chris Page. The judges feel that his dance has good flow, is suitable for the NEFFA audience, and includes very NEFFA-appropriate inter-set allemandes and a celebratory diamond. Even the title is clever. We honor Chris for this wonderful contribution to the NEFFA tradition. Congratulations!
Thanks to the many people who submitted dances. There were 21 entries, with only one repetition of title (Diamond Jubilee). Bob Isaacs and I had fun trying out the dances in various parts of the country. Choreography for all of the submissions will be posted after the Festival.
Bob will call the winning dance at the Festival’s 75th Dance Bash on Saturday, April 13. We hope that many of you will be there to help us celebrate.
Many thanks,
Lisa Greenleaf
On Mar 24, 2019, at 9:51 PM, Don Veino via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I think I've actually heard Arizona Twirl from somewhere as well.
>
> In the interest of keeping the lexicon as small as possible, why not just say "with inside hands, twirl to swap" or similar?
From the position of facing couples, if the caller says "with inside hands, twirl to swap," would that mean that you're supposed to do the "twirl to swap" with the dancer beside you, or would it mean that you're supposed to do it with the dancer facing you? I thing that without additional words (and without the benefit of a previous walk-through), the meaning isn't obvious. Adn if dancers think the meaning *is* obvious, they might not all come up with the same "obvious" meaning that the caller intended.
--Jim
I think I've actually heard Arizona Twirl from somewhere as well.
In the interest of keeping the lexicon as small as possible, why not just
say "with inside hands, twirl to swap" or similar?
-Don
On Sun, Mar 24, 2019 at 9:03 PM Tepfer, Seth via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I believe Rick Mohr called it a Nevada twirl in one of his dances.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Andy Shore <square.a.shore(a)gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 24, 2019 6:53:43 PM
> *To:* Tepfer, Seth
> *Cc:* callers
> *Subject:* [External] Re: [Callers] Opposite StarThru and functional
> difference in LD v Slide
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 9:57 AM Tepfer, Seth via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Two questions:
>
> 1) We have box the gnat (right hand to right hand), swat the flea (left
> hand to left hand), and star thru (Lark/Gent right hand to Lady/Raven left
> hand). What is the name of the opposite of a star thru (Lark/Gent left
> hand to Lady/Raven right hand)?
>
>
>
> MWSD offers one option, probably not a term to use in a contra setting.
>
> *Arky Star Thru* is a position dependent (rather than dance role
> dependent version):
>
> From Facing Couples.
> Beaus do the Boys part, and Belles do the Girls part of a Star Thru.
> (Everybody uses the inside hand)
> Ends in Facing Couples.
> https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=155
>
>
> This is not exactly what you asked for, which is to use the OTHER HAND
> than typical of your role, but independent of your position.
>
> *Left Star Thru (edited slightly)*
> From a boy facing a girl: boy holds left hand up and girl places her right
> palm against it. boy steps forward and does a quarter left as the girl
> passes the boy left shoulders under the raised arms and does a quarter
> right. Finishes as a couple.
> https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=3616
>
>
> Note that Bob Isaacs uses "Jersey Twirl" for a wrong-side California Twirl
> with the Lark going under.
>
> Note that California Twirl (and Jersey Twirl) are 180˚ turns, while Star
> Thru and Arky Star Thru are 90˚ turns.
>
> /Andy Shore
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of
> the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
> information. If the reader of this message is not the intended
> recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution
> or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly
> prohibited.
>
> If you have received this message in error, please contact
> the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the
> original message (including attachments).
> _______________________________________________
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>
I believe Rick Mohr called it a Nevada twirl in one of his dances.
________________________________
From: Andy Shore <square.a.shore(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2019 6:53:43 PM
To: Tepfer, Seth
Cc: callers
Subject: [External] Re: [Callers] Opposite StarThru and functional difference in LD v Slide
On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 9:57 AM Tepfer, Seth via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
Two questions:
1) We have box the gnat (right hand to right hand), swat the flea (left hand to left hand), and star thru (Lark/Gent right hand to Lady/Raven left hand). What is the name of the opposite of a star thru (Lark/Gent left hand to Lady/Raven right hand)?
MWSD offers one option, probably not a term to use in a contra setting.
Arky Star Thru is a position dependent (rather than dance role dependent version):
From Facing Couples.
Beaus do the Boys part, and Belles do the Girls part of a Star Thru.
(Everybody uses the inside hand)
Ends in Facing Couples. https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=155
This is not exactly what you asked for, which is to use the OTHER HAND than typical of your role, but independent of your position.
Left Star Thru (edited slightly)
From a boy facing a girl: boy holds left hand up and girl places her right palm against it. boy steps forward and does a quarter left as the girl passes the boy left shoulders under the raised arms and does a quarter right. Finishes as a couple.
https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=3616
Note that Bob Isaacs uses "Jersey Twirl" for a wrong-side California Twirl with the Lark going under.
Note that California Twirl (and Jersey Twirl) are 180˚ turns, while Star Thru and Arky Star Thru are 90˚ turns.
/Andy Shore
________________________________
This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of
the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
information. If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution
or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly
prohibited.
If you have received this message in error, please contact
the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the
original message (including attachments).
On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 9:57 AM Tepfer, Seth via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Two questions:
>
> 1) We have box the gnat (right hand to right hand), swat the flea (left
> hand to left hand), and star thru (Lark/Gent right hand to Lady/Raven left
> hand). What is the name of the opposite of a star thru (Lark/Gent left
> hand to Lady/Raven right hand)?
>
>
>
MWSD offers one option, probably not a term to use in a contra setting.
*Arky Star Thru* is a position dependent (rather than dance role dependent
version):
>From Facing Couples.
Beaus do the Boys part, and Belles do the Girls part of a Star Thru.
(Everybody uses the inside hand)
Ends in Facing Couples.
https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=155
This is not exactly what you asked for, which is to use the OTHER HAND than
typical of your role, but independent of your position.
*Left Star Thru (edited slightly)*
>From a boy facing a girl: boy holds left hand up and girl places her right
palm against it. boy steps forward and does a quarter left as the girl
passes the boy left shoulders under the raised arms and does a quarter
right. Finishes as a couple.
https://www.ceder.net/oldcalls/viewsingle.php?RecordId=3616
Note that Bob Isaacs uses "Jersey Twirl" for a wrong-side California Twirl
with the Lark going under.
Note that California Twirl (and Jersey Twirl) are 180˚ turns, while Star
Thru and Arky Star Thru are 90˚ turns.
/Andy Shore