Anyone have experience with tapping into non-contra talent? (Especially with regard to a new series.)
For example, if there was plenty of Scottish/ECD/Old time music talent in an area, but no current tradition of contra dancing, how could one develop those musicians' interest and skills in playing for contra dances?
- 2014 NEFFA session
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Hi,
We've made sets of most of the tunes we play but have some orphans. If you play any of these tunes and have recommendations for pairings that you (and the dancers) like, I'd appreciate hearing of them. Thanks! Sue Robishaw
Seneca Square Dance
Off to California
Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine
Redwing
Hey all,
This is a little bit of an unusual request and I hope
it's w/in bounds.
If you are not headed to The Dance in memory of Nat Hewitt in Falmouth
ME , June 1 and are free & willing, please consider:
Sat, June 1, 7:30-10:30 pm: a benefit contra dance for CDSS &
NEFFA at Christ Episcopal Church, 14 School St, Medway MA. Paul
Wilde, Bob Golder, & members of the PJammers invite ALL dancers, including
musicians and callers (who are welcome to dance as well as call or play).
Contact Paul at zenyente(a)gmail.com for further info. Please
come and make the final spin around this beautiful floor a success.
warmest regards,
Paul
Hi Musicians,
A question for those who also play for social dances
(waltz/schottische/polka/two-step). I've started a new trad dance
series in our area with a monthly adult oriented Community dance and a
kid oriented Family dance and my new band has been great gearing up for
that. But there is interest in having a "social" dance (rare in our
area). The band plays mainly old-time jam tunes and with two members
new to it all I don't want to add a lot of new ones right now. We're OK
with waltzes, have a few schottisches, and polkas are easy to come by
out of our current set list (Girl I Left Behind Me, Golden Slipper,
Jamey Allen, Jenny Lind). But I'm not sure about two-steps as I've not
danced two-steps much. Any ideas? Are there contra/old-time dance tunes
that can be adapted? What typical strongly two-step tunes would you
recommend listening to to get a good idea feel of the genre? And if we
do add a "real" two-step tune do you have one or two you'd recommend?
Easy would be appreciated at this point.
Thanks!
Sue Robishaw, Still Snowy U.P. of Michigan
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