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Re: [Callers] Advice about "gypsy"

by Bree Kalb via Callers

9 years, 7 months

Musical styles for a Barn Dance question

by Leslie Gotfrit via Callers

I’ve been asked to call a one hour set in a rural heritage hall for a party for about 130 folks. There will be two sets at the end of the evening with a Blues Band. Yep, its a bit odd, but the organizer wants to bring all his various friends together and thought, rightly, that having someone organize some dancing would help that along. Has anyone ever called a community dance (circle mixers, scatter sets, longways, maybe a square) to a blues band? The band seems willing to work with me. Any suggestions about what to say to them so that I could call La Bastringue or Galopede, for example, and it would work? Any suggestions for youtube links for a caller calling to something other than the usual trad tune? I could bring in a fiddler and ask the band to back the fiddler up. Any advice on doing it that way? Is this so ridiculous that you’re all doubled over laughing? People will be there not because they are blues lovers so much as their buddy is throwing a party. In any case, I’d be grateful for advice Leslie Gotfrit

9 years, 7 months

Blues for contra dancing

by Richard via Callers

The structure of a classic blues song is 12 bars long (24 beats). Modern blues bands do play a lot of tunes that are not in this structure. In any case it might be interesting to think about contras that are or could be made to be 48 or 72 beats long, rather than 64. R Richard Hopkins 850-544-7614 Hopkinsrs(a)comcast.net Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 18, 2015, 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. Re: Dances For Short Line (Louie.cromartie via Callers) > 2. Re: Dances For Short Line (Linda Leslie via Callers) > 3. Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (Leslie Gotfrit via Callers) > 4. Re: Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (John Rogers via Callers) > 5. Re: Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (JD Erskine iDance via Callers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:32:15 -0400 > From: "Louie.cromartie via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net> > Cc: sharedweight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dances For Short Line > Message-ID: <C99FE837-4B91-4DDB-8469-645083D7DAB5(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Just curious. Robert doesn't recall writing (or calling) a dance called Saint Louis Cruise. Perhaps it was created by someone else. > -Louie (not a saint) > 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. Re: Dances For Short Line (Louie.cromartie via Callers) > 2. Re: Dances For Short Line (Linda Leslie via Callers) > 3. Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (Leslie Gotfrit via Callers) > 4. Re: Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (John Rogers via Callers) > 5. Re: Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > (JD Erskine iDance via Callers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:32:15 -0400 > From: "Louie.cromartie via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net> > Cc: sharedweight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dances For Short Line > Message-ID: <C99FE837-4B91-4DDB-8469-645083D7DAB5(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Just curious. Robert doesn't recall writing (or calling) a dance called Saint Louis Cruise. Perhaps it was created by someone else. > -Louie (not a saint) > >> On Oct 16, 2015, at 12:56 AM, Martha Wild via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> It's a good time to call dances that might need extra space along the line - for example, there are some dances with a ladies chain up and down as opposed to across the set such as Saint Louis Cruise by Robert Cromartie. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:12:51 -0400 > From: Linda Leslie via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: "Louie.cromartie" <louie.cromartie(a)gmail.com> > Cc: sharedweight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dances For Short Line > Message-ID: <F564544E-28C1-4939-8285-71308A7036B1(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > I believe it was written by Roger Diggle?. > Linda > >> On Oct 17, 2015, at 4:32 PM, Louie.cromartie via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Just curious. Robert doesn't recall writing (or calling) a dance called Saint Louis Cruise. Perhaps it was created by someone else. >> -Louie (not a saint) >> >>> On Oct 16, 2015, at 12:56 AM, Martha Wild via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>> It's a good time to call dances that might need extra space along the line - for example, there are some dances with a ladies chain up and down as opposed to across the set such as Saint Louis Cruise by Robert Cromartie. >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2015 21:02:33 -0600 > From: Leslie Gotfrit via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > Message-ID: <00563DE5-85B3-4272-810C-6A2CC08B86F8(a)me.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > I?ve been asked to call a one hour set in a rural heritage hall for a party for about 130 folks. There will be two sets at the end of the evening with a Blues Band. Yep, its a bit odd, but the organizer wants to bring all his various friends together and thought, rightly, that having someone organize some dancing would help that along. Has anyone ever called a community dance (circle mixers, scatter sets, longways, maybe a square) to a blues band? The band seems willing to work with me. Any suggestions about what to say to them so that I could call La Bastringue or Galopede, for example, and it would work? > > Any suggestions for youtube links for a caller calling to something other than the usual trad tune? I could bring in a fiddler and ask the band to back the fiddler up. Any advice on doing it that way? > > Is this so ridiculous that you?re all doubled over laughing? People will be there not because they are blues lovers so much as their buddy is throwing a party. > > In any case, I?d be grateful for advice > Leslie Gotfrit > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:24:52 -0700 > From: John Rogers via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Leslie Gotfrit <lgotfrit(a)me.com> > Cc: "callers(a)sharedweight.net" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > Message-ID: <65CF175B-3ADF-4823-9D15-A42D75F21167(a)icloud.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > With the right cooperation from the band it could work out just fine. I've called contras to all sorts of music, including Romanian folksongs. But, you do need to talk with them about the fact that every tune needs to be 32 bars and of uniform tempo. (And the tempo should be an appropriate one.) The AABB structure that we are used to is nice, but you can probably cope with ABCD if that is what they will play. It will help if you can get a recording of them playing, so you can get used to timing your calls. > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Oct 17, 2015, at 8:02 PM, Leslie Gotfrit via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> I?ve been asked to call a one hour set in a rural heritage hall for a party for about 130 folks. There will be two sets at the end of the evening with a Blues Band. Yep, its a bit odd, but the organizer wants to bring all his various friends together and thought, rightly, that having someone organize some dancing would help that along. Has anyone ever called a community dance (circle mixers, scatter sets, longways, maybe a square) to a blues band? The band seems willing to work with me. Any suggestions about what to say to them so that I could call La Bastringue or Galopede, for example, and it would work? >> >> Any suggestions for youtube links for a caller calling to something other than the usual trad tune? I could bring in a fiddler and ask the band to back the fiddler up. Any advice on doing it that way? >> >> Is this so ridiculous that you?re all doubled over laughing? People will be there not because they are blues lovers so much as their buddy is throwing a party. >> >> In any case, I?d be grateful for advice >> Leslie Gotfrit >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2015 01:12:55 -0700 > From: JD Erskine iDance via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Subject: Re: [Callers] Musical styles for a Barn Dance question > Message-ID: <56235487.2060704(a)shaw.ca> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > On 2015-10-17 2002, Leslie Gotfrit via Callers wrote: > snip > >> In any case, I?d be grateful for advice >> Leslie Gotfrit > > Try it. Maybe. <grin> > > I worked a Contra series dance with my first (advertised as such) old > time band tonight. The No Jigs thing initially felt a bit unsettling, > however the musicianship and music was great. No medleys, which I'm fine > with, and a bit of joint effort looking for variety had it work out > well. I'd mentioned all the basic parameters and communications points > prior to the event and tonight we went over them before the intro > session this series hosts. > > This past summer I worked with my first Bluegrass band. I'd been > concerned a bit with that as well. A "Contra", really a barn dance/ONS > on "grass" (beaten down by the sheep for a few years), worked out well. > > I covered off the points John Rogers made about tempo, length with both > of them. Also starts and endings, who to talk to about what, how to > speed up/slow down (if possible.) All the usual things. > > A few weeks ago I attended a free, intro night of MWSD. The point I took > away from that was that someone could really use any music if it met the > basic criteria. There were Beatles tunes/songs, pop "standards" and > such. Not much in the way of tune as many of us might generally expect > or appreciate. > > A number of callers I've experienced have offered the old saw that a > dancers need for rhythm might just as easily be met by a drum stick > attached to a car wiper as a band. > > If the band is not an established one, or don't have a recording, some > practises/time with several of them playing prior to the event might > prove useful. It might also be a chance to introduce some of the key points. > > A friend was working with a "Celtic" band a winter ago and had to work > mostly on -- endurance, even tempo, how to start and end. Doing so > seemed to suck up quite a bit of energy and take several sessions. > > So, it appears it is also good to know when to bail on an idea in some > fashion if it appears bleak. For any of these one may require more lead > time/contact time that might be expected. > > Cheers, John > -- > J.D. Erskine > Victoria, BC > > Island Dance - Folk & Country > Vancouver Island & BC islands > dance info - site & mail list > http://members.shaw.ca/island.dance/ > > > ------------------------------ > > 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 18, Issue 11 > ***************************************

9 years, 7 months

Dances For Short Line

by Laur via Callers

Fellow callers, what are things to look for in dances for a short line. I'm afraid that a limited number of dancers will be at an upcoming gig and I want to be prepared in the best possible way, and so am looking for input and for confirmation of my thoughts. They are intermediate/ experienced dancers. Laurie PWest MI ~ When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance. ~Hans Bos~ ~

9 years, 7 months

Rolling Starts?

by Maia McCormick via Callers

I think that rolling starts (seamless transition from walkthrough into the dance, as the band just starts playing music during the walkthrough) are super neat if done properly! But I'm still not quite sure how to do them properly. So I ask you all: 1) tips on how to execute a rolling start well, making sure all the dancers are on board etc.? 2) thoughts on what dances/tunes will/won't work well with a rolling start? Cheers, Maia

9 years, 8 months

Seeking contras for a crowded hall

by James Saxe via Callers

In a couple weeks, I'm scheduled to call at a contra dance series whose usual hall is unavailable for that evening. The alternative hall where I'll be calling is smaller than the usual one, so may be rather crowded. I'd like to have anyone's suggestions of contras suitable for a crowded hall. Being more crowded than usual might also mean that it will be hotter than usual, especially in the later part of the evening, when we'll need to close windows on account of noise restrictions. So I'd like to the program to include some dances that give people a chance to relax a little, and that can be done at moderate tempo without feeling draggy. The series is well established series of the "modern urban contra" sort. While I don't want to have people crashing into each other if it's crowded, and I don't want to wear them out if it's hot, I also don't want to stray too far from dancers' expectations of most dances having both partner and neighbor swings, etc. [In case anyone's wondering, I do have a copy of the CDSS booklet "Dances for a Crowded Hall"m which talks about stuff like avoiding expansive figures. The specific dances listed in that book, however, are English Country Dances.] Thanks in advance for any ideas. --Jim

9 years, 8 months

Shadow Swing Disclaimers?

by Maia McCormick via Callers

Hey all, First, a disclaimer: Some people on this listserv thing shadow swings are problematic. Some don't see any issue with them. This is NOT the conversation I want to have in this thread; *I ask that you respond to the question I'm asking and do not debate my premise--at least not in this particular thread. *This should help keep this thread on track and hopefully reduce excess noise and go-nowhere discussions on this listserv. Thanks! Anyway, the actual question I wanted to ask (whew!)-- There do exist some really fabulous shadow-swing dances that I would love to be able to call, as long as I could do so without putting anyone in an uncomfortable position. Do folks have ideas for ways to mitigate the potential harms of shadow swing dances? I was considering, at the beginning of the dance, having dancers identify their shadow and mentioning, "this will be a shadow swing dance, so if you need to make any changes, do so now" (or something like that)--haven't gotten the wording down-pat, but the idea is giving dancers advance warning of a shadow swing so they can move (thereby changing their shadow) if they need to. Any thoughts on this method? Suggestions of others? Cheers. Maia

9 years, 8 months

One caller slot remaining for 2016 New Zealand tour

by Vicki Morrison via Callers

Hello! The Allemande Joy Contra Dance Tour is a group of 32 dancers, musicians, and callers from the US who spend a month every other year touring New Zealand, mostly the south island. We stop in cities along the way to conduct and/or participate in local contra dances. The trip also includes a dance weekend. The next trip is January 29-February 29, 2016. The 2016 trip is sold out except we are saving a slot for one more caller. Price is $4,050 for a single, which includes round trip air fare from LAX, lodging, meals, tour bus, and dances. If you or a caller you may know is interested in joining us, please contact Julie, 2016NZContra(a)gmail.com. You can also find more information on our Facebook page. Search for Allemande Joy 2016 New Zealand Contra Dance Tour. Please feel free to share this information. Thanks! Vicki MorrisonTallahassee, FLtallygal007(a)yahoo.com

9 years, 8 months

Dick Henschel

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am relaying this information to any concerned. Dick Henschel was the voice of Hilton Sound Equipment, and was always a helpful voice to callers. He will be missed. It is with the greatest of sadness, to inform you of the sudden passing of Dick Henschel on Saturday evening. > > Eight months ago, Dick discovered that he had cancer...specifically Mantle Cell Lymphoma, which originates in the lymphatic system. This particular form is a very rare form of non-Hodgkinâ€™s lymphoma. There are only 11,000 cases of this in the US. > > Dick entered treatment at Walnut Creek Hospital six months ago and recently symptoms showed up which led to the suspension of that treatment and the investigation of other therapies. Saturday he became very ill and he was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered he had a massive abdominal infection resulting in sepsis, a life-threatening response which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Sadly he passed very quickly and peacefully with Vicky holding his hand. > > Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized, but will be shared as soon as they are available. > > Sympathies my be extended to Vicky by emailing her at RHandVH24 at gmail.com or by mail at: > 1631 Rio Blanco Drive > Concord, CA 94521 > > In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CALLERLAB Foundation for the Preservation of Square Dancing at: > CALLERLAB Foundation > Dana Schirmer, Executive Director > 200 SW 30th Street, Suite 104 > Topeka, KS 66611 > > Phone: (785) 783-3665 > Email: info at callerlab.org > > Please share this sad news with your square dance friends. > > > Bill Heyman > P.O. Box 550 > Marlborough, NH 03455-0550 >

9 years, 8 months

Who're all the whos?

by Don Veino via Callers

Back in 2008 I wrote a dance to celebrate my first year of contra dancing and Chris Weiler was kind enough to go through it with me. In doing so I heard my first mention of the Who-What-How Much format for dance description. I'm working on a personal project where I'd like to be sure I've identified all the "Who" roles in that model. For my purposes, I'm doing this in the context of contras, traditional squares, triplets, family dances, etc. (but not necessarily English, Ceilidh, Scottish, etc. - though I'm not closed to gathering any that may exist uniquely therein). I've listed below what I've collected so far from my personal cards deck review & research through several published works. Are there any Whos I've missed? Please note: I've deliberately left the primary role designation for last as I wish to avoid rehashing that topic once more. Let's please just accept there's a designation for the primary roles and agree they'll be determined by circumstance and conscience, as fits a given dance community. Thanks! Don ROLE DESIGNATORS - "WHO" Partner Neighbor Corner Opposite Everyone (All) Center/End Shadow/Trail Buddy Couple Top/Middle/Bottom; Ones/Twos, etc.; Heads/Sides; First/Second, etc. (var. of Couple or Primary Role) Travel Buddy (4F4) Active/Inactive (is this distinctly required, or is it always an alternate name for another role var., e.g.: 1s?) Neutrals/Ends (var. of Couple or Primary Role) Ring of N (4,8, etc.) And of course... Primary Role (Lark/Raven, Righty/Lefty, Lady/Gent, Talls/Smalls, etc.), in plural or specific variation (e.g.: Talls, Raven 2, End Lady)

9 years, 8 months

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