24 Jul
2018
24 Jul
'18
11 a.m.
Hi Lorraine,
As has been said, if you really want to do contras the you need to have a
program which teaches basic concepts and builds on them.
Family Contra is a great dance for teaching the concept of progression:
https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-contra-usa.html
Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the man
on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who get
in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer
like:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html
or
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html
You can have lots of fun without swings:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/CheekboneCity.html
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/Duck.html
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GrapevineJig.html
Here’s an easy one with a swing:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/GirlsofOakhill.html
East Litchfield Volunteers is a great dance for beginners:
http://www.biteyourownelbow.com/conndanc.htm
I would agree that Right & Left Through is to be avoided. It is the most
non-intuitive move in contra dancing. If you really want to use it in some of your dances
then I would use something like this to help teach it:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/ToMoveorNottoMove.html
Flirtation Reel is great and I use this a lot with beginners as well – the Chris Page
version:
= = = = = = = = =
Ellen's Green Jig (by Roy Dommett)
Contra; Improper
A1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido
A2: #1s Balance & Swing (Step, Kick) – finish facing down
B1: Circle Left; Circle Right – keep holding hands in the Circle
B2: Duck for Oysters: #2s Arch - #1s Peek; #1s Arch - #2s Peek
#2s Arch over #1s who pass through to New Neighbours
"Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in the old tin
can."
Alt (Chris Page):
A1: Dosido Neighbour; Men Dosido
A2: Ladies Dosido; #1s Swing, end facing down
= = = = = = = = =
I hope that helps.
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
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Lorraine Sutton
via Callers
Sent: 24 July 2018 15:49
To: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
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> )
...
25 Jul
25 Jul
10:13 a.m.
New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
On Tue, Jul 24, 2018 at 9:00 AM, John Sweeney via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Lorraine,
As a clarification, this is not my version of Ellen's Green Jig.
It was developed by another San Diego caller, Graham Hempel, by taking
the A1/A2 of Broken Sixpence
and putting it in Ellen's Green Jig.
Cheers,
-Chris Page
San Diego
Flirtation Reel is great and I use this a lot with beginners as well – the
Chris Page version:
= = = = = = = = =
Ellen's Green Jig (by Roy Dommett)
Contra; Improper
A1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido
A2: #1s Balance & Swing (Step, Kick) – finish facing down
B1: Circle Left; Circle Right – keep holding hands in the Circle
B2: Duck for Oysters: #2s Arch - #1s Peek; #1s Arch - #2s Peek
#2s Arch over #1s who pass through to New Neighbours
"Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in the old
tin can."
Alt (Chris Page):
A1: Dosido Neighbour; Men Dosido
A2: Ladies Dosido; #1s Swing, end facing down
= = = = = = = = =
I hope that helps.
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
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Lorraine
Sutton via Callers
Sent: 24 July 2018 15:49
To: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
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 )
...
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
5:47 p.m.
New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Or don’t have them do a buzzstep—swings work just fine with a walking step. (If you’ve got
moderately experienced folks mixed in, though, you may need to teach the buzzstep, since
few moderately experienced dancers will do a walking swing even if asked to.)
If you do teach buzzstep, I’ve had the most success teaching it as a gallop
https://youtu.be/5GmQ868ArAw?t=12 ; I’ll take a group of 8 or so, holding hands, and have
everyone gallop (clockwise, right/inner foot in front), then break it into two circles
without stopping, then into pairs; then stop and show ballroom position.
Getting them into ballroom position for the swing and then teaching them to let go of the
pointy hands works much better than “gents on the left, ladies on the right” for ending
correctly.
Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Jul 24, 2018, at 12:00 PM, John Sweeney via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the
man on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who
get in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer
like:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html>
or
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html>
26 Jul
26 Jul
4:24 a.m.
New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Hi Read,
Sorry, I’m not convinced by the idea of galloping, especially as in the
video you cite, where the feet are too far apart, the trailing foot isn’t tucked in and
the demonstrator is bouncing up and down. I have seen people who learnt that way develop
bad habits in their swing.
I much prefer to get them to turn individually on the spot with the left leg
tucked in behind and close, and with relaxed knees. I want them to learn what it really
feels like and to develop their own sense of balance. This seems to develop a much
smoother swing.
Lots more details about how I teach a swing at
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging
Of course if it is a one night stand and I am doing dances where the dancers
spring apart at the end into their own line, then I don’t teach a buzz-step at all. I
teach: join right forearms, gently hook you left hand just above your partner’s elbow,
join left hands (again, a nice hook) underneath, then skip, walk, buzz or anything you
like.
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
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Read Weaver via
Callers
Sent: 25 July 2018 23:47
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Or don’t have them do a buzzstep—swings work just fine with a walking step. (If you’ve got
moderately experienced folks mixed in, though, you may need to teach the buzzstep, since
few moderately experienced dancers will do a walking swing even if asked to.)
If you do teach buzzstep, I’ve had the most success teaching it as a gallop
https://youtu.be/5GmQ868ArAw?t=12 ; I’ll take a group of 8 or so, holding hands, and have
everyone gallop (clockwise, right/inner foot in front), then break it into two circles
without stopping, then into pairs; then stop and show ballroom position.
Getting them into ballroom position for the swing and then teaching them to let go of the
pointy hands works much better than “gents on the left, ladies on the right” for ending
correctly.
Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Jul 24, 2018, at 12:00 PM, John Sweeney via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote:
Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the man
on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who get
in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer
like:
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html>
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html
or
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html>
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html
8:06 p.m.
New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Yeah, don’t show them the video, I was just using it to show what I meant by “gallop.”
It’s the method I’ve used in beginners’ sessions for many years. The footwork problem can
happen in the big circle, but I’ve never seen it after people are in pairs. (Certainly say
something about it not being bouncy.) It makes for a very quick learn, and it ties to
something people already know, speeding learning and decreasing anxiety.
Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Jul 26, 2018, at 5:24 AM, John Sweeney via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Read,
Sorry, I’m not convinced by the idea of galloping, especially as in the
video you cite, where the feet are too far apart, the trailing foot isn’t tucked in and
the demonstrator is bouncing up and down. I have seen people who learnt that way develop
bad habits in their swing.
I much prefer to get them to turn individually on the spot with the left
leg tucked in behind and close, and with relaxed knees. I want them to learn what it
really feels like and to develop their own sense of balance. This seems to develop a much
smoother swing.
Lots more details about how I teach a swing at
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging>
Of course if it is a one night stand and I am doing dances where the
dancers spring apart at the end into their own line, then I don’t teach a buzz-step at
all. I teach: join right forearms, gently hook you left hand just above your partner’s
elbow, join left hands (again, a nice hook) underneath, then skip, walk, buzz or anything
you like.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com <mailto:john@modernjive.com>
01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.modernjive.com <http://www.modernjive.com/> for Modern Jive Events &
DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk <http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/> for Dancing in Kent
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net>> On Behalf Of Read Weaver via
Callers
Sent: 25 July 2018 23:47
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers@sharedweight.net>>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Or don’t have them do a buzzstep—swings work just fine with a walking step. (If you’ve
got moderately experienced folks mixed in, though, you may need to teach the buzzstep,
since few moderately experienced dancers will do a walking swing even if asked to.)
If you do teach buzzstep, I’ve had the most success teaching it as a gallop
https://youtu.be/5GmQ868ArAw?t=12 <https://youtu.be/5GmQ868ArAw?t=12> ; I’ll take a
group of 8 or so, holding hands, and have everyone gallop (clockwise, right/inner foot in
front), then break it into two circles without stopping, then into pairs; then stop and
show ballroom position.
Getting them into ballroom position for the swing and then teaching them to let go of the
pointy hands works much better than “gents on the left, ladies on the right” for ending
correctly.
Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org <http://lcfd.org/>
On Jul 24, 2018, at 12:00 PM, John Sweeney via
Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the
man on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who
get in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer
like:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html>
or
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html
<http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html>
_______________________________________________
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/
<https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/> 
27 Jul
27 Jul
9:15 a.m.
New subject: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Read:
I also like teaching the Buzz step as a "gallop" (although not like that video
he looks very awkward). I find that a demo and then telling new dancers to think of
galloping with their right foot in front and even give them the "Lone Ranger"
tune for accompaniment helps them to get the rhythm. Most dancers get it right away. The
others I try a one-on-one tutorial and if still not successful let everyone know that they
can do a walking swing (which I previously taught them) and then demonstrate a walking
swing AND buzz step being done together successfully.
Donna Hunt
-----Original Message-----
From: Read Weaver via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wed, Jul 25, 2018 6:47 pm
Subject: Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners
Or don’t have them do a buzzstep—swings work just fine with a walking step. (If you’ve got
moderately experienced folks mixed in, though, you may need to teach the buzzstep, since
few moderately experienced dancers will do a walking swing even if asked to.)
If you do teach buzzstep, I’ve had the most success teaching it as a gallop
https://youtu.be/5GmQ868ArAw?t=12 ; I’ll take a group of 8 or so, holding hands, and have
everyone gallop (clockwise, right/inner foot in front), then break it into two circles
without stopping, then into pairs; then stop and show ballroom position.
Getting them into ballroom position for the swing and then teaching them to let go of the
pointy hands works much better than “gents on the left, ladies on the right” for ending
correctly.
Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Jul 24, 2018, at 12:00 PM, John Sweeney via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Your next big problem is getting them to do a good buzz-step swing and finish with the man
on the left, lady on the right. With large numbers of beginners there will some who get
in wrong every time and break down the dance. I would practice that in a circle mixer
like:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheExchangeSwing.html
or
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/VirginiaReelCircleMixer24.html
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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5 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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Chris Page -
Donna Hunt -
John Sweeney -
Read Weaver