Contra Callers July 2017

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

1 participants
21 discussions

Looking for a particular sort of becket dance

by Kalia Kliban via Callers

Hi all, I'm re-vamping my list of simple contra dances for new callers, and am in search of a very particular sort of becket dance. The list is one of my hand-outs for callers' classes at camps, so the folks who'll be using it are likely to be nervous, brand-new callers. To that end, I'm looking for sturdy, hard-to-break, low-piece-count dances. In a perfect world they'd be composed of simpler glossary figures. I already have a fair collection of simple dances to choose from, but would like to include one more becket dance (I have Tica Tica Timing already on the list). This perfect becket that I'm looking for should _not_ start with circle L 3/4, and should not contain petronella twirls. Bonus points if it doesn't have a whole hey, since I've already got a couple of whole hey dances in the list. I look forward to hearing what you can recommend. Many thanks, Kalia Kliban

8 years, 1 month

Two new longways set dances

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello all, Lately, my choreography brain has been churning on community dances (longways, circles, etc). I've got two new ones that I haven't gotten to test out yet. I'd be curious to hear folks thoughts on them; both the dance moves and how to succinctly explain it to people not used to dancing (for instance, I use the phrase cross trail in this write-up, which I wouldn't use at a community dance) Each of them have (what I think is) a new figure for the progression; and then could be mixed with the staples of long lines, DSDs, etc. I'm not even pretending to break this up into A's and B's; because they're not that kind of dance ;-) *Long Corners * by Luke Donforth longways set top in left line trade with bottom in right line, giving a high five with the left hand in the middle then next trade and high five, and the next, until both lines have swapped and you're across from partner again the pair at the top of the line (was bottom couple) stays put and swings each other around, while two lines do a cross trail at the top; giving your partner a high five with your right when you pass head of each cross-trailing line leads back down to bottom of their original side of the set and stays there. Everyone else follows in their line long lines forward and back DSD partner straight across Progression 1 2 3 4 5 => 5 1 2 3 4 Here's a link to a series of photos, hopefully illustrating the beginning sequence: https://plus.google.com/u/3/104785381669836716439/posts/ZVTsdkH6fj7 (unmarked peg is the caller) *The Fountain* by Luke Donforth Longways sets Top couple makes an arch and goes over the other two lines The rest move up, and when the reach the top, they make an arch and go down over the rest of the line When the bottom couple reaches the top, the separate (peel the banana style) and lead their line down the outside (no hands). Everyone except the original top couple (now at the bottom) follows. The couple at the bottom swings, and as other folks get back to line; they can swing their partner. Long lines forward and back Allemande your partner Other hand Allemande your partner Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 2 3 4 5 1 Pictures at: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO8FvLShqqQllbGxe-IQ0fpvQiQhA1SNUiQ0S7…

8 years, 1 month

Fwd: Does This Sequence Exist?

by Rich Goss via Callers

> You could just as easily circle Left 1x in B2. > > >> On Jul 18, 2017, at 8:14 AM, Andrea Nettleton via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> I question the flow of a circle R into a swing. But I don't recognize the sequence. >> Cheers, >> Andrea >> >> Sent from my external brain >> >> On Jul 18, 2017, at 9:55 AM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>>>> >>> >>> I wonder if this sequence has already been written (and titled): >>> >>> Trip to Kentucky >>> Improper contra >>> Jerome Grisanti (unless prior claim exists) >>> >>> A1: Long lines go forward, roll away as you go back (women moving from left to right in front of their neighbors). >>> Men allemande left 1.5. >>> >>> A2: Partner B & S. >>> >>> B1: Right & Left Thru, Ladies chain. >>> >>> B2: Circle RIGHT 1x, Neighbors swing. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Jerome >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Jerome Grisanti >>> 660-528-0858 >>> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com >>> >>> "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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, 1 month

contras for modern square dancers

by Judy Greenhill via Callers

Hi everyone, I have undertaken to teach some modern square dancers how to contra dance, and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this and has any dances to recommend? I'm a square dancer myself but most of my contra repertoire is for modern contra dancers- 2 swings, lots of Balance and swing, etc. I'd like more dances with MWSD moves in them and possibly without any, or only 1, swing, and they don't need to have a partner swing. The dancers I am teaching are all either plus or advanced, so they will tire pretty quickly of the usual simple glossary contras I would normally do in a teaching situation. They can do the moves; it's the formation that is new to them. Thanks, Judy --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

8 years, 1 month

contras for square dancers

by Judy Greenhill via Callers

Hi everyone, Thank you for all your suggestions and helpful tips. Just to emphasize-I am BOTH a square dancer AND a contra dancer, but so far only a contra caller. I love both! For different reasons. I've undertaken to call some contras for a local group. Our caller, who has been calling for over 50 years-he started when he was 9 years old-has never called contras and I have challenged him to start. He's accepted that challenge but says he's never called a program he hasn't danced. Since contra dance around here-southern Ontario-pretty much shuts down for the summer I'm filling a gap until the fall. I don't expect to make contra dancers of them, although if some of them get bitten by the bug. Judy --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

8 years, 1 month

Does This Sequence Exist?

by Jerome Grisanti via Callers

> > >> I wonder if this sequence has already been written (and titled): Trip to Kentucky Improper contra Jerome Grisanti (unless prior claim exists) A1: Long lines go forward, roll away as you go back (women moving from left to right in front of their neighbors). Men allemande left 1.5. A2: Partner B & S. B1: Right & Left Thru, Ladies chain. B2: Circle RIGHT 1x, Neighbors swing. Thanks, Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

8 years, 1 month

has this dance been written?

by Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers

Hi All! I am working on a dance to call for a special occasion. It needs to be “play friendly” - that is, a dance where the figures facilitate partner swapping. Figures I was given to work with are allemandes in the center (either gender role), heys, shadows, petronellas and LLFB next to your partner (not necessarily including all of those figures, of course). I am wondering if this dance has already been written by someone else? Also, those of you who like to play, would this dance work well? Is it too weird to have the full hey cross the phrase? Is it awkward to get into Long Lines from the Hey? I am not sure I love the B1 part. Thanks for your feedback in advance! Jean Gorrindo (as yet untitled) - Becket A1 (8) Ladies allemande R 1 1/2 (8) Neighbor swing A2 (8) Left diagonal chain to Shadow (8) Begin a full hey, Ladies passing R B1 (8) Finish the hey (8) LLFB - on the way back Gent’s role Shadow away with a half-sashay to face Partner B2 (16) Partner B&S - slide left to new Neighbors

8 years, 1 month

Prior? Trip to Santa Fe

by Don Veino via Callers

I came up with this one for a particular gig. Given the simplicity it was probably already written - if so I'd like to give proper credit. Please let me know. Thanks, Don Shortly before calling the Santa Fe NM dance last month I was informed that a group of 20+ international students who’d never done contra were planning on attending (turned out to be ~60% of the attendees at the start). In planning my program I realized the existing mixers in my deck were either too risky for those folks or too simple for the regulars. I wanted something that would build on the sequence of moves introduced in my teaching plan (which factored in language challenge) so I came up with the following. It worked out well with that group. Trip to Santa Fe – Circle Mixer – Don Veino 20170622 *A1* Into the Center and Back Circle Left *A2* Circle Right Partner Dosido (and turn away from P) [so Gents look CW, Ladies CCW] *B1* Neighbor Balance and Swing *B2* (new) Partner Promenade http://veino.com/blog/?p=1722

8 years, 1 month

Positional Calling

by Jeremy Child via Callers

Hi Everyone In the past there has been a lot of discussion on this group about gender free calling, and in particular about the terms used for the two roles. This got me thinking as to whether it would be possible to eliminate the use of role names and call using just positional references. Some significant thought later, I came up with a system that I believe could, in theory, work. This is largely an intellectual exercise rather than a serious suggestion, but I would appreciate any comments / feedback / thoughts / ideas you have. The details are at: http://barndancecaller.net/PositionalCalling.html (There is a link to another document I have written about gender free calling - this is primarily aimed at English Barn Dance / Ceilidh calling.) Jeremy

8 years, 1 month

Traditional Dance and Music Retirement Community in NC

by Bree Kalb via Callers

Hello Everyone, A group of dancers/callers/musicians in the Triangle area of North Carolina are in the midst of exciting plans to create a continuing care retirement community centered around music and dance. We have been meeting with groups of interested people, conducted a market study (with an excellent outcome), started working with a group of consultants who design innovative retirement communities, and have begun fundraising to pay for the design process. So far, we have focused on reaching out to local folks; now we are spreading the word more widely. If you are curious, please visit our website. http://dancingintoretirementnc.org/ Right now, the website is the way we communicate with people out of town, but I'll soon create a Facebook page and then an electronic newsletter. If you are close enough to Durham, NC to attend a 1/2 day informational session, let me know if you would like to be invited. We offer one every few months--the next is August 26. You can write to me directly or leave a message at the website if you want more information or have comments/reactions. Bree Kalb Carrboro, NC

8 years, 1 month

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Contra Callers July 2017