Contra Callers

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15 participants
4372 discussions

by April Blum via Callers

I was given this dance years ago, but failed to note who wrote it. A1. DSD 1.25 to a short wave (women in the middle) (8), balance the wave TWICE (8) A2. With Crnt Nbr Allm Rt 0.75. With Nxt Nbr (along the line) Allm Lft 1.0. With Crnt Nbr Allm Rt 0.75. Men pull by Lft B1. B&S P B2. R&L thru, Circ Lft 0.75, ready to pass thru and DSD April Blum

8 years, 2 months

Poise points (WAS: Does this dance already exist?)

by Ric Goldman - Letsdance via Callers

Hi Martha, Interesting idea about transitions and poise points. I’m working on a dance with transitions I think are interesting, but worry they could be too jarring (have not tried it on human salt shakers yet). Here’s the first part: Start: improper A1 1-4 Ladies chain up and down set to neighbor, courtesy turn (at end releasing right hand, hold on to the left, facing each other across the set) 5-8 Swat the flea A2 1-8 (turn up/down the set to) Balance and swing partner One possible way to “smooth” the transition from the courtesy turn might be to release the right hand early and use left hands to turn the lady under (clockwise, lady turn right) before going into the balance for the swat, but I resist having it be a forced twirl. Perhaps folks would “discover” that on their own. What other transistions or poise points do folks find interesting? Thanx, Ric Goldman letsdance(a)rgoldman.org From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Martha Wild via Callers Sent: Monday, April 10, 2017 11:39 PM To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Does this dance already exist? Hi, all. Actually, I think the transition from the petronella to the ladies chain is a good one. There are certain moves in dancing, that I’ve heard called “poise points,” where one purposefully switches direction, and it can be very satisfying. For me, the spin to the right feels like the winding up of a spring that you then unleash in the other direction. Some dances that look as if they have good flow end up having so much clockwise spin that it tires people. On Apr 10, 2017, at 5:48 PM, Andrea Nettleton via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hi Esther, If anyone has not mentioned it, I feel there is a kink in the flow trying to go from a petronella to a chain. As you spin R, it is the left hand which feels available as you face the set because your body has been rotating clockwise, even as it move CCW around the minor set. So there will be this washing machine action to get into the chain. You might be counting on the claps to arrest that movement, but I still feel it's not an especially satisfying entry into the chain. A gents chain, otoh, would be peachy. What, to you, is the hook in this dance? What were you going for? Best, Andrea Sent from my external brain On Apr 10, 2017, at 5:24 PM, Esther Fraser via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hey folks, Has anyone seen this dance already? A1: Balance the ring & petronella Ladies Chain A2: Full Hey, Ladies pass R (16) B1: Ladies Chain P Allemande L B2: Balance the ring & Petronella Balance the ring & California twirl Also interested in other dances that have a Ladies' Chain to into Allemande Left (with the one you chain to) combo. I think I might have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember where. Thanks, Esther Fraser _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 2 months

Rapid City Reel?

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for a dance titled either Rapid City Reel, or Rocket City Reel. The dance has back to back interrupted square thru two hands. Can anyone help me with this one? Rich Stafford, CT

8 years, 2 months

How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

by Cheryl Joyal via Callers

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, 2 months

Does this dance already exist?

by Esther Fraser via Callers

Hey folks, Has anyone seen this dance already? A1: Balance the ring & petronella Ladies Chain A2: Full Hey, Ladies pass R (16) B1: Ladies Chain P Allemande L B2: Balance the ring & Petronella Balance the ring & California twirl Also interested in other dances that have a Ladies' Chain to into Allemande Left (with the one you chain to) combo. I think I might have seen it somewhere, but I can't remember where. Thanks, Esther Fraser

8 years, 2 months

If You Can Walk...

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for a contra dance titled, "If You Can Walk, You can Dance", or maybe, "If you Can Dance, You Can Walk". Would someone please share it, or a link. Thanks, Rich

8 years, 2 months

I think this might work....

by Kelsey Hartman via Callers

Hi! Had an idea and wanted to share it with y'all! Venturing Vortices Improper by Kelsey Hartman 3.18.2017 {Started out as a dance written for the Ides of March (called Berkeley dance 3.15.2017) called "Take a Stab at It," (Sharon Gavin suggested the title) but the B1's timing didn't quite work. Loved the flow of the A1 and A2 so re-wrote the ending and renamed it.} A1: (16) Balance the ring and jersey twirl to swing neighbor A2: (16) Gents start 1/2 hey and ladies ricochet back to partner SWING B1: (16) (eFace away from partner) pass Shadow #1 by left, Shadow #2 by right, LEFT shoulder round Shadow #3, RETURN pass #2 by right, #1 by left B2: (8) Circle Left with partner and current neighbors 3/4, CA twirl and (8) Circle Right 1x around (move it!) Would love comments...thanks, Dan Veino for sharing the jersey twirl... Sent from my iPhone _______________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

8 years, 2 months

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, 2 months

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, 2 months

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, 2 months

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Contra Callers