Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

45 participants
4388 discussions

Re: [Callers] tips for teaching dancing the "other" role?

by Mark Pigman via Callers

I frequently roll swap with my partners on Californiatwirls and Petronella twirls as well. However, when I have had neighbors do a longlines partner swap, I have felt abandoned as they discard my hand in the middleof the move. Is there a way execute thisswap without interfering with whole-set connection of long lines? Date:Tue, 5 Jul 2016 18:57:33 -0400 From: Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers >Also, if you find you are teaching to peoplewho are doing well with both >roles,and want to learn when they can switch within a dance other than in >aswing, the easiest places are in Long lines if one is across from your >partner,(do like a hole-in-the wall gypsy), in Long lines, if one is next >toyour partner (add a roll away) and then adding or subtracting a 1/2 turn >in anallemande or do si do w/ partner. Mark PigmanTacoma, WA

9 years, 1 month

Grand Square in a contra?

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hi Folks, Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal. But that's about all I remember about it. Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or such? I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one way, then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the dance... Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and still following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions: A1 Lines of 4 go forward and back Corner Swing A2 Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split B1 Reverse: sides start forward, heads split B2 - Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through; find partner - Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner - Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go ~1/2, turn back to partner partner swing, face line of direction I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't remember what it was. Any help would be appreciated. If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be further ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just grand square and two swings... Thanks. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] tips for teaching dancing the "other" role?

by Mark Pigman via Callers

Ilove using role-neutral swings, and as Maia suggested, I think they are afabulous teaching tool to correct awkward swings during a lesson. However, I have observed stress indicatorsfrom some dancers newish to role swapping when I have tried using a neutralswing. It seems as though having an asymmetricalswing hold indicates that both parties are in agreement as to who will end upwhere at the end of a swing. Even forregular role swappers, using a neutral swing delays the role decisionconcurrence from the beginning of the swing to the end, possibly making peoplelate to the next move. Mark Pigman Tacoma,WA > Maia McCormick via Callers callers at lists.sharedweight.net >Tue Jul 5 14:06:36 PDT 2016>But, I emphasize that you're both walking (orbuzz-stepping) *forward*, >roughlyaiming at a point over your partner's shoulder. In fact, *the >footworkfor a swing for both roles is exactly the same!!!* A good way to >emphasizethis might be to have participants do a gender-neutral swing >(e.g.right hand on shoulder blade, left hand clasped with partner above >theheads) and then change the hand position into your classic ballroom >swing(perhaps even trying out ballroom position with person A leading, >thenwith person B leading) and noting how the footwork stays the same.

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] tips for teaching dancing the "other" role?

by tavi merrill via Callers

Regarding swing position: With good frame, differences between the roles in giving weight are slight. But not all dancers are accustomed to good frame. I find a mirrored ballroom hold (both dancers have right hand on the other's shoulder blade, left hand on the other's shoulder) offers several advantages: - In general, it's a good hold for dancers to know as it saves space in crowded halls. - It facilitates spinning out from a swing, useful when dancers encounter "string of swings" choreography - It allows both dancers to experience both sides of good frame The one challenge is that dancers need to remember which side they are ending the swing on, as it removes "pointer hands" from the equation. This a bit of a tangent, but related to the chain: If we just called gents chains (by either hand! the courtesy turn for a left-hand chain isn't REALLY that complicated, folks) more often, role differences WRT chain would be a moot issue, and both roles would be better equipped to understand/offer/ask/decline flourishes. All for the effort of teaching one move well, one move that's out there in good choreography waiting to be used. Susan, I'm assuming this workshop is at a gender-free series, but geared to encourage attendance by dancers who aren't yet accustomed to gender-free dance? Having danced both roles widely and called a bit of gender-free, I'd be happy to chat by phone or IM. Feel free to ping me on facebook - Tavi Merrill On 7/5/2016 11:32 AM, Susan Pleck via Callers wrote: > > Hi folks, > > > > I'm to lead a workshop/extended intro lesson at a local dance this > > Saturday on gender-free dancing/dancing the "other" role/switching > > roles. Not having done this before, I'd appreciate any thoughts or > > advice about what this should include. For the gender-free aspect, > > I'm not sure there's much to discuss, really; ir'd be more just giving > > dancers a chance to practice responding to different terms. For > > dancing the other role, though, what points of emphasis do you think > > would be most useful? Two that come to mind are swing > > positioning/giving weight, and figures such as a chain where the > > actions of the two roles are different. > >

9 years, 1 month

tips for teaching dancing the "other" role?

by Susan Pleck via Callers

Hi folks, I'm to lead a workshop/extended intro lesson at a local dance this Saturday on gender-free dancing/dancing the "other" role/switching roles. Not having done this before, I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice about what this should include. For the gender-free aspect, I'm not sure there's much to discuss, really; ir'd be more just giving dancers a chance to practice responding to different terms. For dancing the other role, though, what points of emphasis do you think would be most useful? Two that come to mind are swing positioning/giving weight, and figures such as a chain where the actions of the two roles are different. thank you!Susan PleckOakland, CA

9 years, 1 month

Come to Pinewoods

by sue rosen via Callers

American Dance and Music Week at Pinewoods still has space to you to join us. It's a wonderful program in the most beautiful setting. Larry Edelman, caller, musician and teacher extraordinaire, will be teaching his very popular Square Dance Callers class. If you are a caller who has ever considered adding squares to your repertoire, you don't want to miss the opportunity to learn from Larry. Even callers with years of experience will benefit from Larry's wisdom. The rest of the program is packed with great calling and teaching. Check it all out at http://www.cdss.org/programs/dance-music-song-camps/camp-weeks/american Hope to see you there! Sue

9 years, 1 month

Meetup/BBQ after Colin Hume/Tony Parkes doubleheader in Dummerston tomorrow?

by Amy Cann via Callers

If you're planning on coming to the Caller's Delight English/American mix in VT tomorrow, you are MORE than welcome to stay after and eat/ talk shop. If the weather is good, the Top Of The Hill Grill on the north end of Brattlebore is the most likely candidate; if it's raining (please no..) then Chinese might work better - we can decide just after the last waltz. (Details are on the Dance Gypsy/Monadnock Folklore sites) Cheers, Amy 802-222-7598

9 years, 1 month

Toronto meetup?

by Aahz via Callers

I know at least three of us will be there next weekend, any interest in a group meal or something? Or just crash into each other on the dance floor? ;-> -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

9 years, 2 months

24th of June

by Richard Hopkins via Callers

FWIW: June 24 is the feast day of St John the Baptist, patron saint of Quebec. So June 24 is Quebec's national holiday, bigger there than Canada Day a week later. (Camped last night in a state park in the Adirondacks, full of Québécois enjoying a long weekend....). Richard Hopkins Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 25, 2016, at 4:01 PM, via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > callers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > callers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. 24th of June (Amy Wimmer via Callers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:56:18 -0700 > From: Amy Wimmer via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] 24th of June > Message-ID: <-8010775640843658219@unknownmsgid> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Anybody know the origins of Steve Schnur's dance "Twenty Fourth of > June"? I plan to call it tonight, because.... > > -Amy > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 14 > ***************************************

9 years, 2 months

24th of June

by Amy Wimmer via Callers

Anybody know the origins of Steve Schnur's dance "Twenty Fourth of June"? I plan to call it tonight, because.... -Amy

9 years, 2 months

Jump to page:

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Contra Callers