New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

24 Jul 2018

John already mentioned Family Contra, which is my favorite because the progression happens
so easily, and it is so obvious that you are facing new people. In addition, it has no
obvious differences in gender role - doesn’t matter who dances on which side, so great
with piles of kids and parents dancing together, yet it teaches the progression concept.

Next after that I like Ellen’s Green Jig by Roy Dommett. Though it has a swing for the 1s,
it really doesn’t matter if people open up on the “wrong” side, as long as they face their
neighbors, all is well. 
A1) Do-si-do neighbor
Ones do-si-do
A2) Ones balance and swing (sometimes I have them balance twice because swinging is not
very comfortable for new people, and sometimes I just have them two hand turn after the
balance(s).
B1) Circle left with neighbors
Circle right back to place (the only time I’ve seen this go wrong was when people circled
so they ended up doing the next move sideways to the set)
B2) Duck for the oyster/dig/Dive on through (all keep hands after circle - 1s take a
little peek under an arch formed by 2s, then back up, 2s do the same through 1s, finally
1s pop through to a new couple)

If a whole pile of new people show up at the start of a dance, having missed the
walkthrough, this is my go to dance to get things started and then into the regular
program.

Martha

...
  On Jul 24, 2018, at 7:48 AM, Lorraine Sutton via
Callers &lt;callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

 Hello All,

 I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance ....at an Ontario Canada Festival. ( more a
music focus than a dance focus, at this festival)

 I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper & Improper) that
you have found successful with very novice dancers and why you think those dances work for
beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition of easy vs complicated )

 I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and a Sicilian 
circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression.

 Thanks so much.

 Lorraine Sutton  ( lorrainesutton7(a)gmail.com <mailto:lorrainesutton7@gmail.com> )

 ...

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Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners