[Callers] Chinese Fan from Square dance

Mon May 4 10:07:54 PDT 2015

I think Neal makes very good points about the wisdom of transferring
square-dance moves to contras. I think such transfers can be fun if done
well, but the teach must be very efficient or else will be likely to
frustrate dancers. The challenge grows steeper for a newish caller.
Consider whether such a transfer is justified.

--Jerome

Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

“Dance like no one is watching...
Because they are not...
They are checking their phone.

On Mon, May 4, 2015 at 11:46 AM, Neal Schlein via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi Claire,
>
> I can help, but am not certain you asked for what you truly want.  Are you
> really looking for a set of calls for the square, or do you need directions
> for the floor pattern, teaching instructions, a working timing for the
> square-style calls, or the timing of the figure for a contra setting?
>
> I'm asking because I suspect your friend doesn't actually need the calls.
> This is going to open a can of worms on the list, but contras and
> mescalonzas (aka 4x4 dances) are prompted, not called.  Although most
> dancers and many callers don't make a distinction, the mechanics and timing
> of the two techniques are different.  If you move Chinese Fan into a
> contra-type setting, the calls (as a square dance caller would see them)
> are technically irrelevant because you wouldn't want to use them.  (And,
> with many figures, you can't use them without either changing the wording,
> changing the timing, or stepping outside of the contra-prompting
> technique.)  What I am betting he actually needs to know is the full floor
> pattern and the timing of that sequence.
>
> *The Call*
> For someone who knows the Chinese Fan figure is coming and how to do it,
> the only necessary words for prompting are some variation on:
> *Head (side) ladies turn back (lead, roll back, open out...) for a Chinese
> fan.*  (After completion, repeat for either same ladies or other pair of
> ladies)
>
> That would suffice for a New England style square or a quadrille, as
> everything else in the call is just filler.  A longer call with patter
> would be personalized to the caller and the region; in my calling
> tradition, there would be near-constant running patter throughout.  Both
> the phrasing and the timing of the above would port over to contras and
> your 4x4, although you wouldn't need to identify the leading parties
> because their identity would be pre-defined.
>
> *Floor pattern/teaching*
> Start in a Star Promenade; men keep the star and continue turning it
> moving throughout.  Identified ladies will turn out and away from their
> partner to face the other direction, and then hook free elbows with the
> lady behind them.  Ladies turn 1/2 while men turn the star 1/4; lead lady
> rejoins the star promenade with next man to arrive (original opposite).
> Star turns another 1/4 and the following ladies rejoin star promenade with
> the next man behind (original opposite).  Repeat with either lady to return
> to partner.
>
> *Timing*
> If done precisely, each piece can be accomplished in 2 counts and it takes
> 6 counts to complete the figure:
> 1-2 Lead lady turns away from partner to face reverse direction; star
> moves forward 1/4.  (ending position: Ladies have met to hook elbows in the
> position the lead ladies were in.)
> 3-4 Men rotate star one position while ladies turn 1/2.  (Ending position:
> Lead lady has rejoined star with opposite man and released following lady.)
> 5-6 Star rotates 1/4; following ladies ladies loop toward center and
> rejoin star. (Ending formation: Star Promenade.  Ending location: All with
> opposite person from start.  Men have moved forward 3/4 around circle, and
> ladies have moved forward 1/4 from beginning position.)
>
> That is a tight, performance-style timing.  In reality, it takes between 2
> and 4 beats per part and a total of 8 to 12 counts to complete; also, if
> called square to the walls the action will actually happen on the corner
> diagonals and the set will have turned somewhat less than the full men 3/4
> ladies 1/4.
>
>
> Also...and this is an entirely personal opinion and something of a
> soapbox... I would caution against moving this figure out of its
> traditional environment, especially if you really love it.  I know lots of
> people on here will disagree with me, but figures that are lively,
> expansive, and joyously free in their original square-dance context (such
> as basket swings, the docey-do, Harlem Rosettes, or Texas Stars and the
> related figures) tend to be greatly diminished when shoehorned into the
> rigid 8 count phrase and linear, mechanical, progressive format of contra
> dancing.  Sometimes it is done successfully, but not very often.  (End of
> soap box.)
>
>
> Good luck; if your friend does want a set of calls for the square dance
> version, I can write something up.
> Neal Schlein
>
> Neal Schlein
> Youth Services Librarian, Mahomet Public Library
>
>
> Currently reading: *The Different Girl* by Gordon Dahlquist
> Currently learning: How to set up an automated email system.
>
> On Sat, May 2, 2015 at 3:58 PM, Claire Takemori via Callers <
> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi.
>> I'm new to the list, not a caller yet, but wanting to learn more about
>> Contra dance and maybe calling.
>>
>> I've got a friend who is writing a 4x4 contra for me with a Chinese Fan
>> in it.  He needs to know how to call the Fan as he can't figure it out from
>> the one video I've found on youtube that has it in it (Three Arches)
>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8c6Xzn3AyE
>>
>> Can you tell me how to call a Chinese Fan?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> claire
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>
>
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