Designating who does what in the figure: "????? Chain" ...
This is a subject that probably deserves its own thread - so
I'll start it.
The immediate spur to discuss this arises from the message
quoted farther below.
But I've been ruminating about the issue for 30+ years ...
30+ years ago, in Chicago, the figure "people's chain" was used
occasionally. It was accepted as dancing the same action as
"ladies chain", but from a proper set (all the gents on one
side, all the ladies on the other). It was used [blasphemously,
thought some] with some of the Chestnuts in place of "proper-set
R&L thru," to add a bit of spice.
About 30 years ago, I attended a dance weekend - in Kentucky, I
think, (maybe Camp Levi Jackson?) - at which we had the unusual
(for dance camps) situation of more men than women on the dance
floor. (In fact, having an all-guy square evened things up
pretty nicely.)
It's safe to say that among all the above dancers, "gents chain"
was already accepted as the gents doing a mirror image of the
"ladies chain," starting from the lady's left.
At the dance camp, Gene Hubert test-drove a new contra (can't
remember the name, unfortunately - sorry) in which the gents
were to the right of their partners on the sides of the set -
and Gene wanted the gents to chain across. In the walk-through,
Gene explained that he would call, "gents do a ladies chain." A
perfectly good solution for the moment. But to me, it seemed a
bit lacking for the long-haul.
Gene and I had a discussion that evening about how this
situation might be handled more generally. I suggested that we
might, in this situation, say, "gents do a right-hand chain."
Or, even better, just say, "chain by the right" or "right-hand
chain" ... when it occurred to me that, if it weren't for the
'pesky problem' of tradition, "right-hand chain" and "left-hand
chain" could handle all circumstances. And I opined that, just
perhaps, we might even consider changing the traditional names
of the figures this way to accommodate any other situations that
might (and probably would) arise in the future. Gene took the
side of the traditional skeptic in the discussion, incompletely
convinced of the idea's usefulness.
So - I'm here to pose the same question again: Might we,
perhaps, consider changing the names of these figures to
"right-hand chain" and "left-hand chain? Or at least, begin
using these names side-by-side with the traditional names?
Among other things, it accommodates something that never crossed
my mind until a few years ago: gender neutrality.
It would also make for a very interesting, entangling addition
to the old square, "The Route".
Roger Diggle
On 3/20/17 at 10:27 PM, trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com
(Michael Barraclough michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com
[trad-dance-callers]) wrote:
>On Monday, March 20, 2017 9:46:43 PM MST Dale wrote:
>>The move at the beginning of B2 is usually called a "men's
>>chain" -- at least here in Saint Louis. It's not a common
>>move, but it's not unheard of.
>
>I deliberately didn't call it a "men's chain", which it of
>course is :) because I see that term used ambiguously as to
>whether the chainee starts on the left or on the right of the
>chainer; which hands the chainees take to start the chain; and
>also who backs up in the courtesy turn.
>
>Michael Barraclough
>www.michaelbarraclough.com
>
>
>
I first discussed it about 30 years ago with Gene Hubert -
From 2011 to 2014 I worked on a dance project for the University of
Illinois Kinesiology Department. This was a comparison of different
types of exercise and their effects on the brain. A publication on the
project came out earlier this month.
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00059/full
It was mentioned in an article in the NY Times yesterday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/well/walk-stretch-or-dance-dancing-may-b…
I'm glad to see that my initial assumptions that dance was a good
exercise for both the body and mind proved to be correct. I got that
impression from observing the people in the class, but that was very
subjective.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
The Triangle Country Dancers in Central North Carolina would like to share the very sad news of Louie Cromartie’s passing. Louie was a well-loved and admired local dancer, caller, and mentor. We will miss her terribly.
Memorial Events:
There will be two memorial dances in her honor next weekend, both Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st, coinciding with scheduled dances.
Both dances will be at the Carrboro Century Center in Carrboro, NC. More info about dance times, location, and caller/musicians on the TCD website: http://www.tcdancers.org <http://www.tcdancers.org/>
There will also be a memorial service for Louie, that same Saturday, April 1st at 11 am.
The service will be at:
Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist
106 Purefoy Rd
Chapel Hill NC 27514
Google map <https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/community+church+of+chapel+hill/@35.8985362,-79.1220615,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89acc2f0a47d37d5:0x40a4301d3e78db53!2m2!1d-79.0520214!2d35.8985565> link https://goo.gl/maps/wTzAdsgMLv32 <https://goo.gl/maps/wTzAdsgMLv32>
There may be some home hospitality for dancers coming from out of town as well.
Whether or not you can make it to NC, please keep Louie’s family, especially Robert and Thankful, in your thoughts.
Joy Greenwolfe
Durham, NC
re:
Sun Feb 5, 2017 3:45 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Dale Wilson" bird_weaver
<mailto:dale.wilson@gmail.com?subject=Re%3A%20Open%20Calling%20at%20Chance%20Dance%202017>
<<You lose the well crafted programming that you can get when one caller
does the whole evening or the whole event, but you get a lot of fun
dances and occasional awkwardness ...>>
Our (Asheville's) annual dance weekend, SplashDance, has always had open
calling all weekend long, but dancers complained on the evaluations
about the qualities described above, which often result from an open
calling format. So for several years I've been facilitating the
open-calling: callers sign-up with me ahead of time via email to get on
the list to call. There's a deadline a few days before the weekend
starts. On that day, I take the whole list and figure out how many
dance slots each caller can have, based on how many want to call, and I
do a line-up. (When they sign up, they let me know if they aren't
available any particular times during the weekend -- e.g., not arriving
til Sat.) Then, we have a programming meeting prior to each dance
session (one for Friday night, one for Sat. night, one for Sunday
afternoon). These take place at Fri & Sat dinners, and Sun. brunch --
required attendance for those on the line-up for that session, although
anyone else can sit in if they want. We all eat together and get out
our cards and put together the program. This creates a much better flow
for the dance session. It's better for the dancers, and it also takes
the pressure off all the callers from having to really attend to what
was called before their turn. The programming meetings have taken the
place of having a caller's workshop at the weekend -- basically, it's a
hands-on workshop on the art of programming. There's a lot of good
discussion about how dances do or don't fit well together, and it's a
chance to discuss ideas about mood and flow and other programming
considerations beyond the basics of not repeating signature moves too
many times, and having a good balance of smooth vs. bouncy. A few folks
have actually opted to sit in on the programming meeting just to listen,
even though they don't want to call.
It's an evolving process, and I keep tweaking it every year, but I think
it's generally worked well the last few times. It IS a lot more work
for me, but it's my contribution to the weekend, to try to help make the
calling as good as possible while still providing an open format to give
lots of participants a chance to call.
Maybe this model will be useful to others with an open-calling format
for a whole dance weekend.
Diane Silver
Asheville, NC
I attempted to call modern western at Pinewoods and then latter Buff.
Gap (in the early 90s). Unfortunately there was always one person
that wasn't up for it. One person in each class had a very hard time
learning the new moves while the rest of the class had no difficulty
at all.
So I had to drastically change my plan and expectations.
Tom
Jeremy,
I would not even attempt that. I might look at 10 popular calls that are
unique to MWSD and attempt to cover those. Serving a good appetizers is
better than serving a terrible buffet.
Rich
On Sun, Mar 19, 2017 at 4:36 AM, Jeremy Child via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Fascinating. I'm doing something similar at Eastbourne International Folk
> Festival (http://eiff.org.uk/new-for-2017/149-jeremytea.html).
>
> I,however, only have 2 1/2 hours in which to take them through the gamut
> of the Basic 1, 2 and Mainstream programmes.
>
> Wish me luck!
>
> Jeremy
> www.barndancecaller.net
>
> On 18 March 2017 at 19:59, Andy Shore via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I realize this post qualifies as both shameless self-promotion, as well
>> as possible improper use of this list for (somewhat) commercial purposes,
>> but I do think this topic may be of particular interest to contra and trad
>> callers and choreographers. Scold me if you must.
>>
>> I'll be teaching a special weeklong workshop at CDSS American Dance and
>> Music Week at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA) August 8-15, 2017 titled "Modern
>> Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers".
>>
>> This course is an intensive “blitz” exposure to Modern Western Square
>> Dancing (MWSD) for experienced contra dancers, traditional square dancers,
>> and contra or trad callers. If you enjoy learning new choreography and the
>> unexpected delights of no-walk-thru contra medleys, this is for you.
>> Starting with the 25 or so contra calls that are shared with Modern Western
>> squares, we will explore much of the CALLERLAB Basic, Mainstream, and Plus
>> lists. New calls will be taught and workshopped, but you’ll get plenty of
>> time to “just dance” and enjoy what you have already learned in both patter
>> and singing call contexts. The pace of the course will be determined by the
>> students’ ability to assimilate the material, but the goal will be that you
>> can dance most Mainstream calls smoothly at speed. We will cover several of
>> the more popular Plus calls as well. Expect to be challenged and have lots
>> of fun!
>>
>> Modern Western uses recorded music of various genres; the patter music is
>> designed to get you moving at a continuous flow and the singing call music
>> allows for a change of pace. The class time will be divided into an all
>> morning workshop session where we will learn new figures, then a late
>> afternoon practice and review session. You will have the middle of the day
>> to relax or enjoy other workshops at American Week.
>>
>>
>> More details at the CDSS site: http://www.cdss.org/programs/d
>> ance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/mwsd
>>
>> This class may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and
>> choreographers. Many MWSD moves have been "borrowed" into contra and
>> several contra choreographers who have had experience with MWSD have
>> written dances that have components inspired by MWSD moves. (Carol Ormand,
>> Bob Isaacs, and Chris Page to name a few.) Some of the moves that come from
>> MWSD are: box circulate, pass the ocean, square thru, star thru, California
>> twirl, hinge... If you'd like to stir your creative juices, or just learn a
>> bit more about some of the calls and their applications, this is a great
>> way to do so. Learning about the added rigor of MWSD may improve your own
>> teaching and presentation skills, as well as give you new insights into
>> contra and trad choreography.
>>
>> Space in this class is limited. Registration is currently open.
>>
>> my site: http://site.andyshore.com/
>>
>> I taught a similar weekend workshop in Durham NC in 2011 with many contra
>> & trad callers in attendance. Here is my "trip report" (on facebook) from
>> that weekend
>> https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-shore/trip-report-mwsd-
>> for-contra-folks-blitz-or-how-i-spent-last-weekend/10150112721414483
>>
>> Questions or comments - my best contact email is andyshore(a)gmail.com
>>
>> Thanks,
>> /Andy Shore
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
Andy is a skilled caller and effective communicator. I am personally
pleased to see this communication between the modern and traditional parts of
our wonderful activity.
Jim Mayo
In a message dated 3/18/2017 4:07:23 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com writes:
I realize this post qualifies as both shameless self-promotion, as well as
possible improper use of this list for (somewhat) commercial purposes, but
I do think this topic may be of particular interest to contra and trad
callers and choreographers. Scold me if you must.
I'll be teaching a special weeklong workshop at CDSS American Dance and
Music Week at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA) August 8-15, 2017 titled "Modern
Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers".
This course is an intensive “blitz” exposure to Modern Western Square
Dancing (MWSD) for experienced contra dancers, traditional square dancers, and
contra or trad callers. If you enjoy learning new choreography and the
unexpected delights of no-walk-thru contra medleys, this is for you. Starting
with the 25 or so contra calls that are shared with Modern Western squares,
we will explore much of the CALLERLAB Basic, Mainstream, and Plus lists.
New calls will be taught and workshopped, but you’ll get plenty of time to “
just dance” and enjoy what you have already learned in both patter and
singing call contexts. The pace of the course will be determined by the
students’ ability to assimilate the material, but the goal will be that you can
dance most Mainstream calls smoothly at speed. We will cover several of the
more popular Plus calls as well. Expect to be challenged and have lots of
fun!
Modern Western uses recorded music of various genres; the patter music is
designed to get you moving at a continuous flow and the singing call music
allows for a change of pace. The class time will be divided into an all
morning workshop session where we will learn new figures, then a late
afternoon practice and review session. You will have the middle of the day to relax
or enjoy other workshops at American Week.
More details at the CDSS site:
http://www.cdss.org/programs/dance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/mwsd
This class may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and
choreographers. Many MWSD moves have been "borrowed" into contra and several
contra choreographers who have had experience with MWSD have written dances
that have components inspired by MWSD moves. (Carol Ormand, Bob Isaacs,
and Chris Page to name a few.) Some of the moves that come from MWSD are: box
circulate, pass the ocean, square thru, star thru, California twirl,
hinge... If you'd like to stir your creative juices, or just learn a bit more
about some of the calls and their applications, this is a great way to do so.
Learning about the added rigor of MWSD may improve your own teaching and
presentation skills, as well as give you new insights into contra and trad
choreography.
Space in this class is limited. Registration is currently open.
my site: http://site.andyshore.com/
I taught a similar weekend workshop in Durham NC in 2011 with many contra
& trad callers in attendance. Here is my "trip report" (on facebook) from
that weekend
https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-shore/trip-report-mwsd-for-contra-folks-
blitz-or-how-i-spent-last-weekend/10150112721414483
Questions or comments - my best contact email is andyshore(a)gmail.com
Thanks,
/Andy Shore
I realize this post qualifies as both shameless self-promotion, as well as
possible improper use of this list for (somewhat) commercial purposes, but
I do think this topic may be of particular interest to contra and trad
callers and choreographers. Scold me if you must.
I'll be teaching a special weeklong workshop at CDSS American Dance and
Music Week at Pinewoods (Plymouth, MA) August 8-15, 2017 titled "Modern
Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers".
This course is an intensive “blitz” exposure to Modern Western Square
Dancing (MWSD) for experienced contra dancers, traditional square dancers,
and contra or trad callers. If you enjoy learning new choreography and the
unexpected delights of no-walk-thru contra medleys, this is for you.
Starting with the 25 or so contra calls that are shared with Modern Western
squares, we will explore much of the CALLERLAB Basic, Mainstream, and Plus
lists. New calls will be taught and workshopped, but you’ll get plenty of
time to “just dance” and enjoy what you have already learned in both patter
and singing call contexts. The pace of the course will be determined by the
students’ ability to assimilate the material, but the goal will be that you
can dance most Mainstream calls smoothly at speed. We will cover several of
the more popular Plus calls as well. Expect to be challenged and have lots
of fun!
Modern Western uses recorded music of various genres; the patter music is
designed to get you moving at a continuous flow and the singing call music
allows for a change of pace. The class time will be divided into an all
morning workshop session where we will learn new figures, then a late
afternoon practice and review session. You will have the middle of the day
to relax or enjoy other workshops at American Week.
More details at the CDSS site:
http://www.cdss.org/programs/dance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/mwsd
This class may be of particular interest to contra and trad callers and
choreographers. Many MWSD moves have been "borrowed" into contra and
several contra choreographers who have had experience with MWSD have
written dances that have components inspired by MWSD moves. (Carol Ormand,
Bob Isaacs, and Chris Page to name a few.) Some of the moves that come from
MWSD are: box circulate, pass the ocean, square thru, star thru, California
twirl, hinge... If you'd like to stir your creative juices, or just learn a
bit more about some of the calls and their applications, this is a great
way to do so. Learning about the added rigor of MWSD may improve your own
teaching and presentation skills, as well as give you new insights into
contra and trad choreography.
Space in this class is limited. Registration is currently open.
my site: http://site.andyshore.com/
I taught a similar weekend workshop in Durham NC in 2011 with many contra &
trad callers in attendance. Here is my "trip report" (on facebook) from
that weekend
https://www.facebook.com/notes/andy-shore/trip-report-mwsd-for-contra-folks…
Questions or comments - my best contact email is andyshore(a)gmail.com
Thanks,
/Andy Shore
I've been looking at some nineteenth-century quadrilles and am curious about one of the more common moves I see: "all chassee across."
In your opinion or experience, how exactly would this work? If four couples are moving at once, "across" is nearly impossible. Do you think they're doing a sashay around, like a promenade? Or alternating heads & sides? Something else?
Regards,Deborah HylandSt. Louis
