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2524 discussions

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Dear Weight-Sharers, I came up with dance looking for flirty eye-contact dances, hey-like figures up and down the set, and satisfying promenade -> circle R transitions. Does it exist? (If it's original enough for me to claim as my own... whelp, I don't have a title yet.) ???, improper A1: neighbor gypsy (r sh.) and swing A2: gents alle. L 1 1/2 half hey (pass partner by R sh.) B1: partner gypsy (r sh.) and swing B2: promenade across circle R 3/4 and pass thru by L sh.

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

by Tony Parkes via Callers

John Sweeney wrote (back in June): Hi Linda, Re your Box ‘n’ Swat: I have a somewhat similar dance in my files: Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes) A1) Into the Middle & Back x 2 A2) Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido B1) Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw (Left Shoulder Dosido) 1 & 1/2 to meet your New Partner B2) New Partner Balance (OR Gypsy) & Swing Note that your sequence of Swat the Flea into Dosido involves passing by the right when you are holding left hands. Tony’s sequences above allow much easier flow and connection as you can pull past with the connected hand. And Linda Mrosko wrote: > …thanks for sharing Tony’s dance. I don’t remember ever seeing it before. The right name of that sequence is “May Day Mixer”; I wrote it in April 1990, presumably for a May Day event. It appears in my collection _Son of Shadrack and other dances_, available at www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com>. Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon)

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New Dance?

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

Hi John, My dictionary describes "A chevron is an inverted V-shaped mark. The word is usually used in reference to a kind of fret in architecture, or to a badge or insignia...". I think of it as an upside down V movement (^). (All examples here for a longways duple.) I assume you're referring to the use in English Country Dance, such as for Companions (see http://archives.mvfolkdancers.com/2013-11-23%20MVFD%20English%20Country%20D…). In this case it's only the 1st corner (1M & 2W) people doing the chevron movement, and in fact they actually only turn left 1/8 because they are backing up "straight across the set" instead of at the angle in the beginning of the movement. Often this "half chevron" uses 8 counts. 4 on the diagonal, 4 backing up. As I read it, the 2nd corners are not doing a chevon, just a wait-and-cast. I've also seen the term "full chevron" used when *all* dancers come forward toward opposite corner (end almost nose-to-nose) then *all* turn 1/4 (90 degrees) left and back up along the other diagonal (also used in ECD, also usually an 8-count movement). In another case, the movement of the a circle set balancing-in-and-out while rotating CW (left), was described by the caller teaching it as a "ring chevon". I'll admit that that case didn't make much sense to me, but that's just me. The "chevron" movement in this dance is closer to the full chevron, but only has 4 counts, with everyone holding hands, using balance steps, and rotating the entire time. To me, the phrase "Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring" sounds like the rotate doesn't happen until beat 3, but I think it would work as a call if the dancers know what's expected of them. Here's sort've the stop-motion in Fried Rice (all begin on their opposite side than their initial duple improper position): M2 W2 W1 M1 After the 2-count balance in (women face up/dn the set, men face across): W2 M2 M1 W1 After the 2-count balance out (every has rotated one place CCW around the set): W2 M1 M2 W1 After the 4-count petronella (all are progressed, but now facing new/next neighbors): M1 W1 W2 M2 On a personal note, once the dancers associate the movement with the term "chevron", it makes it easy for me to call the last sequence as "Chevron, Petronella 1-1/2", or perhaps "Ring Chevron Right, Petronella". I suppose we could call it a Foobar or anything else and demo it. Whatever gets the idea across. When I've used the "chevron" term, dancers seem to get it faster. Go figure. 😊 Your mileage may vary, but the fun should be constant, Ric Goldman -----Original Message----- From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of via Callers Sent: Friday, August 04, 2017 2:44 PM To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] New Dance? Hi Ric, A Chevron is already defined as: First Corners cross diagonally by the right shoulder, turn left 1/4 to face out, then back up across the set to the opposite place WHILE Second Corners wait, then cast into their neighbour's place Is your Chevron something that has been used before to mean what you mean? I call your move, "balance the ring in-and-out while rotating the ring 1 place CCW (i.e. to the R)", Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring. 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

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New Dance?

by via Callers

Hi Ric, A Chevron is already defined as: First Corners cross diagonally by the right shoulder, turn left 1/4 to face out, then back up across the set to the opposite place WHILE Second Corners wait, then cast into their neighbour's place Is your Chevron something that has been used before to mean what you mean? I call your move, "balance the ring in-and-out while rotating the ring 1 place CCW (i.e. to the R)", Balance the Ring, Spin the Ring. 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

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] New Dance?

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

HI Luke, You didn’t understand it cuz I miscopied it. 😊 The B2 is actually B2 1-4 Neighbors allemande R 1-1/2 (W end turning R to face into the set) 5-6 Chevron: balance the ring in-and-out while rotating the ring 1 place CCW (i.e. to the R) 7-8 Petronella with an extra half-turn to face new neighbors I called it again last night and it went quite well. A few folk said they really liked the “petronella one-and-a-half” at the end. Who knew? 😉 Thanx, Ric From: Luke Donforth [mailto:luke.donev@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2017 7:42 AM To: Ric Goldman - Letsdance <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org> Cc: Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com>; Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] New Dance? Bob, did you put a name on your version? Ric, I admit to being confused by your dance. Are you putting an allemande once and a half AND two full petronella in the B2? Normally I'd give 8 counts to each petronella balance and move; so two fill out one B. Does your dance Fried Rice perhaps not have the long lines? (yes, I know this was a while ago; digging through a back-log) On Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 2:11 AM, Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hi Bob, It’s almost the same as my dance Fried Rice, written in 2012 in a Chinese restaurant while waiting for dinner. The only difference is the B2 5-8: Fried Rice, duple improper A1 1-8 Neighbors balance + swing A2 1-4 Gents allemande L 1-1/2 5-8 Partners swing B1 1-4 Long lines fwd & back 5-8 Circle L 3/4 B2 1-4 Neighbors allemande R 1-1/2 5-6 Balance the ring, petronella 7-8 Balance the ring, petronella with an extra half-turn to face new neighbors Hope this helps. Thanx, Ric Goldman From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net> ] On Behalf Of Bob Isaacs via Callers Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 7:12 PM To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Callers] New Dance? Hive Mind: I wrote the following solid little contra on a recent flight when I had too much time on my hands, and it went well on its initial test. It didn't show up in my database, but do you know if it has been written previously? Improper A1. Neighbor balance, swing A2. Gents allemande L 1 1/2, partner swing B1. Long lines, circle L ¾ B2. Neighbor allemande R 1 1/2, 1/2 hey (GL, PR, LL, -) Bob Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <mailto:Luke.Donev@gmail.com>

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Amy Wimmer

by Vicki Morrison via Callers

Thanks Amy. Family Contra is my favorite go-to "real" contra dance for novices. I recently tried following it with Broken Sixpence but it fell apart. Good plan to lead everyone into a circle. I've also found leading people into a snake works well too. Cheers! Vicki Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 2, 2017, at 12:25 AM, Amy Wimmer via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > HA! My set list was "Family Contra" by Sherry Nevins, followed by an attempt at "Reel Easy" by Cary Ravitz. That one fell apart and I turned it into a barn dance: circle left, circle right, in to the center, back out, swing your partner, repeat. Then it was quiet hour and we had to stop. We had very little time to begin with, but it ended up being just enough. That was also good because my voice was giving out, shouting over the chatter. > > -Amy > >> On Aug 1, 2017 5:17 PM, "Claire Takemori via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> Hi Amy, >> Would you be willing to share your program set list for the Cows/Chickens dance? >> I’m curious what kind of dances went so well. >> >> Thanks ! >> Claire Takemori (Campbell CA) >> >>> On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers >>> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>>> Hi All, >>>> >>>> I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank >>> beginners >>>> in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without >>>> amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a >>>> dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes, >>> who >>>> had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party >>> with a >>>> barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to >>>> being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a >>>> liberal, accepting group. >>>> >>>> The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of >>> any >>>> other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person >>>> chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know >>> it, >>>> but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily >>> chose >>>> to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." >>> (I >>>> keep chickens, and they ARE always right) >>>> >>>> There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much >>> easier >>>> if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about >>>> everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped up >>> to >>>> try another dance evening later in the week, though that never >>> materialized. >>>> >>>> I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not matter. >>>> They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't >>>> experts or even very good. >>>> >>>> I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps >>>> with more widely used dancer terms. >>>> >>>> -Amy >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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

7 years, 5 months

[Callers] Amy Wimmer

by Claire Takemori via Callers

Hi Amy, Would you be willing to share your program set list for the Cows/Chickens dance? I’m curious what kind of dances went so well. Thanks ! Claire Takemori (Campbell CA) > On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers > <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank > beginners >> in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without >> amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a >> dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes, > who >> had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party > with a >> barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to >> being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a >> liberal, accepting group. >> >> The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of > any >> other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person >> chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know > it, >> but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily > chose >> to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." > (I >> keep chickens, and they ARE always right) >> >> There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much > easier >> if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about >> everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped up > to >> try another dance evening later in the week, though that never > materialized. >> >> I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not matter. >> They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't >> experts or even very good. >> >> I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps >> with more widely used dancer terms. >> >> -Amy

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Genderless calling

by Tony Parkes via Callers

Amy Wimmer wrote: << I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank beginners in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes, who had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. >> Congratulations on getting through an event with *multiple* challenges and achieving a result that was heartening and encouraging. << The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of any other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know it, but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily chose to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." (I keep chickens, and they ARE always right) >> I’ve used “farmers” and “cowhands” in similar situations; the faRmeRs are on the Right. But I like your chicken mnemonic. << There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much easier if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. >> Lesson? I never use a lesson with non-dancers. Each dance is complete in itself. But then I never use duple contras at a gig like this. Is that what you used? (Depending on the group, it’s perfectly possible to teach a duple. But almost always, the teach ends up being longer than the dance. I prefer dances I can teach in 60 to 90 seconds.) Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (to be published real soon)

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Genderless calling

by Jerome Grisanti via Callers

Amy, Nice work. This sort of occasion is why I have some dances in my repertoire that don't have roles of any type, but the cows/chickens approach is clever and creative. Jerome On Monday, July 31, 2017, Cara Sawyer via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > This is THE BEST email strain ever. > > On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 6:25 PM, Donald Perley via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net');>> wrote: > >> I think the tags were key. My worst experiences were when gender is >> not mentioned, and people have >> no reminder of which role they are dancing. >> >> On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers >> <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net');>> wrote: >> > Hi All, >> > >> > I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank >> beginners >> > in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without >> > amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a >> > dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle >> tunes, who >> > had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party >> with a >> > barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to >> > being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a >> > liberal, accepting group. >> > >> > The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of >> any >> > other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each >> person >> > chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know >> it, >> > but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily >> chose >> > to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right." >> (I >> > keep chickens, and they ARE always right) >> > >> > There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much >> easier >> > if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about >> > everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped >> up to >> > try another dance evening later in the week, though that never >> materialized. >> > >> > I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not >> matter. >> > They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't >> > experts or even very good. >> > >> > I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps >> > with more widely used dancer terms. >> > >> > -Amy >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Callers mailing list >> > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net');> >> > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net');> >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > > > > -- > Cara V. Sawyer > M.M. French Horn > ~~ > -- 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

7 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Seeking *lists* of tunes for patter squares

by jim saxe via Callers

Folks, When I sent out my request back in May soliciting lists of recommended tunes for patter squares, I wrote: > ... If you got this query via a mailing list, please send > tune lists directly to me and *not* to the entire mailing list. > .., I'm trying to see which tunes get mentioned > *independently* by many recommenders, so I don't want the lists > anyone sends me to be influenced one way or another by whatever > suggestions other people have already sent. ... > > I plan to gather recommendations for the next couple months and > to post a summary some time in July. Now it's the end of July, and I find myself in a bit of a quandary, since I haven't gathered nearly as much data as I'd hoped, and I'd prefer not to have my results so far circulating around and possibly biasing anyone else who might yet supply input. On the other hand, I don't want to renege on providing a summary. So what I'm going to do is take some more time (possibly several months, at the rate things are going). But meanwhile if anyone's impatient for a summary, you can contact me off-list (Jim dot Saxe at-sign gmail dot com), and I'll send a brief synopsis of what I've gathered as of today, July 31. (Note: This will only include information from recent informants and a few other recent sources, not all the stuff I'm still working on from old books, articles, record catalogs, etc.) Meanwhile thanks to the following persons who have supplied tune lists in response either to my queries on trad-dance-callers and the SharedWeight or (more commonly) to other requests either by email or in person: T-Claw supplied a list of tunes that he and other participants shared at a session called "List of Favorite Square Dance Tunes" at the 2015 Dare To Be Square Weekend in Nashville. Bob Dalsemer supplied a short list of tunes that he had gathered from three Brasstown area fiddlers. He also supplied a tune list from an unpublished manuscript by the late D. B. Hendrix with more tunes than the ones listed in his book _Smoky Mountain Square Dances_ (but I'm not including that list in my "recent sources" category). I also got tune lists from Erik Hoffman, Bill Litchman, Tony Mates, Jim McKinney, David Millstone, Tony Parkes, Jordan Ruyle, Don Stratton, and Vivian Williams. Thanks, all. I also got at least one well-intentioned reply that seemed so far off target from what I requested that I couldn't use it (thanks all the same if you know who you are). --Jim

7 years, 5 months

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