Contra Callers April 2017

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

1 participants
28 discussions

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by April Blum via Callers

As you know, contra dancers on this side of the pond have little or no patience for dances without at least a partner swing. In fact I hear complaints if there are too many dances in an evening that don't also include a neighbor swing. Dances like Illegal in Most States, with a neighbor, shadow, and partner swing, are much more popular and well received. A dance with no swings, or with a neighbor only swing, would prompt immediate unhappy feedback from the floor. Just a different set of expectations. Chorus Jig is the only familiar dance I can think of that doesn't leave you next to your partner on the side of the set at any point. Many younger dancers I know don't consider it a "real" contra, and find its lack of swings frustrating. (When it's called at Glen Echo [rarely], many 2s add a swing in the middle of the set while the 1s go down the outside, and often a second swing while the 1s swing in B2.) On Apr 10, 2017 4:25 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hi all, > My categories are a little different: > Dances I want to try once I am calling for a group that can handle them > Dances for beginners > My current set of favourite dances which I will use for most gigs > Dances to fall back on when something doesn't work > Chestnuts and other traditional dances > Contra style dances in other formations (Triple Minor, Double Contra, Hex, > etc.) > Everything else is in alphabetical order - otherwise how can you find them? > - I work out which ones I want from my database > Then there are lots more categories for all the other genres I call > > The stuff in alphabetical order doesn't get used as much. I would rather > use great dances. Most dancers are very happy to dance the favourites > regularly. > > I get very bored with dances which go "swing, circle 3/4, swing" or "swing, > someone Allemande 1 & 1/2, swing" and very rarely use them now unless the > other half of the dance is stunning. > > April said, "I believe that at some point in every dance, you and your > partner are on the same side, usually swinging, so from that perspective all > dances can start in Becket". > > But dances can be: > Partner Swing only > Neighbour Swing only > Partner & Neighbour Swing > No Swing > > And the Partner Swing doesn't have to be on the side - it could be #1s > swinging in the middle (or in an old dance everyone swinging in the middle) > > So, no, they are not all Becket! > > I use quite a few No Swing dances and everyone seems happy to do them - > though attitudes are somewhat different on this side of the pond. > > Does anyone use No Swing contras at American contra dances? > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by April Blum via Callers

Tom's classic The Tease. Anything with a dolphin hey. Many chestnuts. On Apr 10, 2017 9:29 AM, Harold Watson via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Interesting. Would you please define unequal dances, maybe give an example? > > Harold Watson > Fayetteville Traditional Dance Society > > -----Original Message----- > From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of > Tom Hinds via Callers > Sent: Monday, April 10, 2017 5:58 AM > To: April Blum <hgrastorf(a)aol.com> > Cc: Cheryl Joyal via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? > Categories or Other Suggestions ? > > > On Apr 9, 2017, at 1:32 PM, April Blum via Callers wrote: > > > I believe that at some point in every dance, you and your partner are > > on the same side, usually swinging, so from that perspective all > > dances can start in Becket, just depends on where you decide A1 is. So > > I would not find dances that begin in Becket a useful category. > > > > Actually not all can start in Becket. > > How about a category for unequal dances? They can serve a purpose from time > to time. > > _______________________________________________ > 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

8 years

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by April Blum via Callers

I believe that at some point in every dance, you and your partner are on the same side, usually swinging, so from that perspective all dances can start in Becket, just depends on where you decide A1 is. So I would not find dances that begin in Becket a useful category. I do collect dances that start in Becket and DO NOT begin circle three places and ________ (swing, pass, etc) your neighbor. It's a small percentage. April Blum On Apr 7, 2017 9:20 PM, Cheryl Joyal via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better program an evening. I plan to go to “categories of dance features”, and have listed what I am thinking for possible categories below. > > I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you include ? Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from “dance categories”, or just note on card ? > > Or do you have another suggestion ? > > Possible Categories: > > Easy and ONS Contras > California Twirl > Full Hey > 1/2 Hey > Down the Hall > Petronella > Mad Robin > Short Wavy Lines > Long Wavy Lines > Zig Zag > Balance the Ring > Box The Gnat > ? Four Facing Four > ? Becket > ? Double Progression > ? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk) > > Appreciate your suggestions !! Thanks - Cheryl > > Cheryl Joyal > clmjoyal(a)gmail.com > clmjoyal(a)aol.com > 630-667-3284 (cell) > > > >

8 years

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi all, My categories are a little different: Dances I want to try once I am calling for a group that can handle them Dances for beginners My current set of favourite dances which I will use for most gigs Dances to fall back on when something doesn't work Chestnuts and other traditional dances Contra style dances in other formations (Triple Minor, Double Contra, Hex, etc.) Everything else is in alphabetical order - otherwise how can you find them? - I work out which ones I want from my database Then there are lots more categories for all the other genres I call The stuff in alphabetical order doesn't get used as much. I would rather use great dances. Most dancers are very happy to dance the favourites regularly. I get very bored with dances which go "swing, circle 3/4, swing" or "swing, someone Allemande 1 & 1/2, swing" and very rarely use them now unless the other half of the dance is stunning. April said, "I believe that at some point in every dance, you and your partner are on the same side, usually swinging, so from that perspective all dances can start in Becket". But dances can be: Partner Swing only Neighbour Swing only Partner & Neighbour Swing No Swing And the Partner Swing doesn't have to be on the side - it could be #1s swinging in the middle (or in an old dance everyone swinging in the middle) So, no, they are not all Becket! I use quite a few No Swing dances and everyone seems happy to do them - though attitudes are somewhat different on this side of the pond. Does anyone use No Swing contras at American contra dances? Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

8 years

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by Dugan Murphy via Callers

Hi, Cheryl, I've reorganized my cards a few times and each time I add new categories. The guiding question for deciding whether or not to create a category, which also helps me decide which category to assign a card that could fit into two or more sections, is this: What about this dance would cause me to include or avoid it at a particular point in my program? For glossary dances, I might be looking for a dance that progresses with a California twirl because the last dance I called progressed with a star. I like to include Petronella- and Rory O'More-inspired dances in most of my programs, so I go looking for dances with those, regardless of how they progress. I recommend asking this question of your own programming choices and let that inform your card organization system. Dugan Murphy Portland, Maine dugan at duganmurphy.com www.DuganMurphy.com www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com www.NufSed.consulting Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2017 20:20:13 -0500 From: Cheryl Joyal via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ? I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better program an evening. I plan to go to ?categories of dance features?, and have listed what I am thinking for possible categories below. I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you include ? Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from ?dance categories?, or just note on card ? Or do you have another suggestion ? Possible Categories: Easy and ONS Contras California Twirl Full Hey 1/2 Hey Down the Hall Petronella Mad Robin Short Wavy Lines Long Wavy Lines Zig Zag Balance the Ring Box The Gnat ? Four Facing Four ? Becket ? Double Progression ? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk) Appreciate your suggestions !! Thanks - Cheryl Cheryl Joyal clmjoyal(a)gmail.com clmjoyal(a)aol.com 630-667-3284 (cell)

8 years, 1 month

Lindy move in a Contra Dance

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello folks, There was a recent call for new dances, but I can't find the thread, so here's a fresh post. Continuing what I think of as a long-standing tradition of contra dance choreography stealing moves from other dances; I've written a few with the mini-dip, a move from swing dancing. (Despite the name, it's not really a dip) I was recently on a small tour with Chimney Swift, and premiered one at the BIDA dance in Boston. You can check out a video of it here: https://goo.gl/photos/qaeUuuSKt9PKBY3v8 For an explanation of what swing dancers consider a mini dip: https://youtu.be/nGI9IfhSCQE?t=6 https://youtu.be/LiElJr7YSQA?t=99 There's different opinions in swing if it's a 6 count or 8 count move, but I put it in 8 counts. The break down: 1-2: moving forward on balance 3-4: moving backwards on balance 5: pull past each other 6: clap (while low and moving) 7: catch hands 8: style pause Functionally, it's like a box the gnat; but folks let go and have an opportunity to clap and add style. The entire dance in that video is ~75% Bob Isaacs' "United We Dance"; replacing long wavy Rory O'More's in the A1 with the mini-dip sequence, so it's called "United We Mini-Dip". Improper A1 (8) Right hand to neighbor, balance, and mini-dip; catch right hands (2) Pull by right with current neighbor to previous neighbor (6) Previous neighbor allemande Left 1x, back to current neighbor A2 (16) Current neighbor balance and swing B1 (6) Circle left 3/4 (10) Partner swing B2 (8) Ladies Chain to neighbor (8) Left Hand Star 1x I know NB&S, CL PSwg, Chain Star, overlaps other dances as well. You could do the whole thing with a box the gnat instead of a mini dip in the A1 (that may already exist as a choreographed and called dance); but I like the clap opportunity the mini-dip provides, especially if the band matches it well to a tune (as Chimney Swift did). Enjoy if you're so inclined. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

8 years, 1 month

Callers workshops

by Jeanette Mill via Callers

I am based in Australia and hoping to travel to the US and attend some contra dance calling workshops in 2018. I would be grateful for any information about upcoming workshops, including workhshops at festivals, to assist with an itinerary. Many thanks in advance for your suggestions Jeanette "We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right" Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013)

8 years, 1 month

In search of un-premiered contras!

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Hi choreographer folks, I'm leading a session at NEFFA called "Cutting-Edge Contras", consisting of un-premiered (or very sparsely called) contras. If anyone has any dances they'd like to throw my way for consideration, please do so! Cheers, Maia

8 years, 1 month

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Contra Callers April 2017