Contra Callers September 2010

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

40 participants
35 discussions

by Tina Fields

On 9/20/2010 7:32 AM, Jeanette Mill wrote: > I have a question for everyone about medleys - where, when and how do you find > them most effective when incorporated in a program? Tips for teaching? Any >other > comments? Several tidbits I've learned from experience: * I think medleys are occasionally fine for a regular community contradance, if done toward the end of the evening when you know most of the beginners have left (or they're really into it and you've already danced each move that eve). * Before you begin, make sure everyone calling and in the band is really clear about how many times through each dance will go. If you have several callers in the lineup, it's a good idea to designate one to act as MC, reminding each person when her/his slot is coming up so the transitions go smoothly. Having two mics is great for this too - one calling and one on deck. * Michael Barraclough introduced me to the idea of planning a medley not by simple ends/beginnings of dances but by diversity and smoothness of transition between them. For my first medley at NBCDS Family Week this summer, I was choosing dances that all began w/ Neighbor Balance & Swing, but he pointed out that it's better to shake it up with radically different opening moves that also flow well from the last closing move - for example, Neighbor Allemande to open the second dance. Don't choose dances that are too similar, lest the dancers' body memories lead them to unconsciously try to do the series from the previous dance. * If one of the dances has a more complex bit in it and you have a mixed crowd, put that dance first and briefly walk it through before beginning the medley. Who says a medley has to be all no-walkthru? This can build confidence and momentum for the later switches. I'm glad you asked about this because I'm about to do a short medley this weekend too, and am always glad to 'hear' everyone's insights! Tina

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Medleys, PS

by Tina Fields

I really like Jo's insight from Nils about how simple alterations can open our repertoire. Thanks for that! Tina Jo Mortland said, <<<But Nils showed me how to change from improper to Becket so you can use both kinds of dances. Basically, it means looking at the beginning moves of each dance, and the end moves. With enough attention to those areas, it became easy to move from one formation to the other. For example, let's say you are dancing in Becket, and the last move is a partner balance and swing. If you can find an improper dance that begins with a circle left one time around and swing your neighbor (like Roll in the Hey), you could change that move, JUST THE FIRST TIME THROUGH THE DANCE, to a circle left three places and swing your neighbor. That way, from the partner balance and swing, you would move everyone to the same side of the set as their neighbor for a swing. Once I began looking at my dances with that goal in mind, I found many more possibilities. It takes some creativity on the part of the caller, but for me, that is one of the things I like about it.>>>

14 years, 11 months

Medleys

by Jeanette Mill

I have a question for everyone about medleys - where, when and how do you find them most effective when incorporated in a program? Tips for teaching? Any other comments? Jeanette "When we eat from the industrial-food system, we are eating oil and spewing greenhouse gases." - Michael Pollan

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Taking care of your Voice (was Medleys)

by Martha Edwards

Thank you Andrea! I've been wishing we could talk in general about our voices - how to make them stronger, yet more pleasant. Vocal health would be a good starting place. These are great ideas (and completely unknown to this non-singer!). Then there must be exercises - relaxation exercises, loudness exercises, stuff like that... Any ideas? M E On Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 3:56 PM, Andrea Nettleton <twirly-girl(a)bellsouth.net > wrote: > On the subject of vocal inflammation, which is the reason you lose your > voice, I have more experience as a singer than as a caller. If you are > truly very ill and the bug is in the tissues perpetually renewing the > inflammatory response, there isn't a whole lot you can do in the short term, > but I have had success with: ice (cold takes down the inflammation quickly, > but it doesn't last long, so count on keeping it up), cooled ginger tea, > cooled mint tea, ginger and mint both have antinflammatory properties, > honey, thai coconut soup, slippery elm lozenges, salt gargle, or if you are > out and can't do a home remedy eat salty food that is a little oily (like a > salad with fish or chicken and vinaigrette, or a good soup or stew), drink > icy drinks and get some halls or something to get you through till you can > really take care. It goes without saying, that rest is the preferred > remedy. > Yours, > Andrea > > > > On 9/20/2010 3:54 PM, Mortland, Jo wrote: > >> >> An experienced caller once told me that medleys are useful is when there >> aren't a lot of dancers, maybe towards the end of an evening. It helps >> keep a dance interesting, and you can run it longer. I've tried this >> and it works well. >> >> This past summer, I had the pleasure of sharing the bill at the dance >> festival with Nils Fredland. One of the workshops was an hour long >> medley, and I learned a lot about medleys from Nils. Before that, I had >> put dances together based on formation (becket or improper) and the >> first moves of the dances being similar. >> >> But Nils showed me how to change from improper to Becket so you can use >> both kinds of dances. Basically, it means looking at the beginning >> moves of each dance, and the end moves. With enough attention to those >> areas, it became easy to move from one formation to the other. >> >> For example, let's say you are dancing in Becket, and the last move is a >> partner balance and swing. If you can find an improper dance that >> begins with a circle left one time around and swing your neighbor (like >> Roll in the Hey), you could change that move, JUST THE FIRST TIME >> THROUGH THE DANCE, to a circle left three places and swing your >> neighbor. That way, from the partner balance and swing, you would move >> everyone to the same side of the set as their neighbor for a swing. >> >> Once I began looking at my dances with that goal in mind, I found many >> more possibilities. It takes some creativity on the part of the caller, >> but for me, that is one of the things I like about it. >> >> >> >> On another note, and while I have your "ears", I have a question. As >> callers, if you feel you are losing your voice, or you have a cold, is >> there anything you have found that can help clear your throat? >> >> Thanks. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >> >> _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > -- For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Medleys

by Dan Pearl

> Where, when and how do you find them most effective when incorporated in a >program? > The Medley is a special case of the "no walk-through" slot which incorporates more than one dance. For my money, a nice mini-medley is three dances coordinated with the three tunes that the band plays. By "coordinated" I only mean that when the tune changes, the dance sequence changes, too. When do you program them? During an "Experienced Only" evening, anytime (except maybe the first slot, when the sound system is still being balanced). During a community dance (lot of beginners -- mixed/low level of dancing), never. The general rule is that you want to ADD fun, excitement, spontaneity and energy to the event. If you wind up adding frustration, panic, anxiety and failure to the event, then you have chosen the slot poorly. > Tips for teaching? Since they are no-walk-thru, you don't teach them, per se. However, excellent and special calling is required of no-walk-thru dances. I have led a workshop at NEFFA describing how you do this, and here are some highlight recommendations: 1. Get the call out early, and fill in with patter to preserve the timing. Usual prompt: ___ ___ ___ ___ THOSE two LAdies CHAIN acROSS No walk-thru: ___ ___ ___ ___ LAdies CHAIN acROSS the SET 2. Put recovery information in between calls: PARTner SWING [ on the men's home side ] 3. Keep the calls up, especially for similar sequences. > Any other comments? Make sure you select material that is achievable by you (as a caller) and the dancers without a walk-thru. Keep it straightforward (embracing contra tropes) and fun. Dan

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Bees in the Shower

by Tina Fields

Thanks, folks. This list is SUCH a fantastic resource! I'm very grateful to Chris & co. for creating it. Tina

14 years, 11 months

Bees in the Shower

by Tina Fields

Hi folks - No, I'm not yowling for help. :-) I've been doing reciprocal dance trades with an English caller. She wants to call the contradance "Bees in the Shower." A search shows its author as Jim Kitch. Do any of you know how it goes? Thanks! Tina ******************************* Tina R. Fields, Ph.D. Sebastopol, CA (707) 824-9318 indigenize.wordpress.com "Hindsight Now!"

14 years, 11 months

Callers in Polk Co. WI? or How to learn calling?

by Jonathan Wilson

Thank you all for your info and leads. You gave me a lot of good stuff to look through, and so far it has been very helpful.

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] How to Learn Calling

by Sue Robishaw

Hi Jonathan, Not being near any contra scene I learned a great deal from Seth Tepfer's wonderfully generous online handouts on his website [1]www.dancerhapsody.com -- go to Calling, then Handouts. Also if you have a chance to head east to the Door County Folk Fest in July, dancing in the morning with various callers with a contra dance party Saturday night. I gleaned as much from what didn't work as what I did (there and elsewhere). I've considered doing the same here in the southern U.P. so would be very interested in hearing how you do over there. Dancing cheers! Sue R. -- * * * * * * * * * * Sue Robishaw ~ [2]sue(a)manytracks.com 906-644-2598 ~ 770N Fox Rd, Cooks (Upper Peninsula) MI 49817 [3]www.ManyTracks.com ~ Gardening / Homesteading / Artwork / Books / and more * * * * * * * * * * References 1. http://www.dancerhapsody.com/ 2. mailto:sue@manytracks.com 3. http://www.ManyTracks.com/

14 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] New Dance? (Waiting for the Other Foot to Fall)

by John Sweeney

Hi Bob, It is almost identical to THE DOUBLE RAINBOW written by Jacob Bloom - see http://www.gis.net/~bloom/dances.htm He repeats your A1 for the other couple which gives a pleasing symmetry and a chance for everyone to swing. Then it continues as yours does, but with a slightly different progression since he used up A2. Lovely dance :-) 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, Instructional DVDs and Interactive Maps http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Contra Dancing in Kent

14 years, 11 months

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Contra Callers September 2010