Contra Callers

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14 participants
4360 discussions

by Julian Blechner

Sometimes a dance looks good on paper, and it's difficult to know dance's issues until you dance it. I wonder if anyone has variations to Bob Isaacs' "Hinge Binge"? I really like the hinging part of the dance, but ... in lark/gent/lefthand role, I find my right arm is strained from having it up so much. Here's the original: Becket A1: Larks Give and Take, Neighbor Swing A2: Circle L 3/4, Partner Dosido to short wavy line, P in RH, larks in ctr with LH B1: Bal Wave, Hinge + Circulate (Partner Alle R 1/4, then box circulate with Robins crossing set to new wave, larks, looping right to face back in and join wave on the same side) Bal Wave, Hinge + Advance (N1 Alle R 1/4, then walk forward to new neighbors, make another wave) B2: Bal Wave, Hinge + Circulate (N2 Alle R 1/4, Robins cross, larks loop right) Partner Swing So the Lark role is holding their arm up and providing weight: A1: 8 beats for swing A2: 6 beats during circle, continued from the swing B1a: 4 beats for the balance, 2-3 beats for the allemande, and you don't really have any time to move your arms down and let them rest before you have to take hands in the next wave B1b: 4 beats for the balance , another 2-3 beats for the allemande, again, no real time to put your arms down. B2a: 4 beats for the balance , another 2-3 beats for the allemande, and, again, no real time to put your arms down before the swing. B2b: 8 beats for swing So the dance for the larks/gents is an 8 beat break, 14-16 beats of swing -> circle, a 8 beat dosido where the last beat or two to raise your arms for the wave, and then 32 beats continuously keeping right arms up. Could give a longer rest in the A: A1: Robins G+T, NS A2: Robins Chain, Pass Thru to an Ocean wave w/P in right, robins in ctr. This keeps the dance nearly intact, a bit harder since Pass-the-Ocean isn't a glossary move, but affords 6-8 more beats of rest. Roles are swapped in the waves, but it doesn't matter since you progress the same and wind up with your partner. We could lose the neighbor swing in the A1 and make it something like: A1. LLFB Larks Alle L 1.5x A2. 3/4 Hey (NR, Robins L, PR, Larks L, NR, Robins L) Partner Alle R 1/4 to short waves ... which preserves the B1-B2 of Hinge Binge more closely without the role swap. There's probably a way to move the partner swing to the A1 and remove the neighbor swing. Anyway. Curious if there's already dances out there. In dance, Julian Blechner

1 year, 6 months

Most difficult contras

by Michael Fuerst

What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or becket) that you have danced, have called, and remain afraid to call?

1 year, 6 months

Re: Larks, Robins, Gents, Ladies and "X, formerly known as Twitter"

by John W Gintell

> Which do you speculate will come first? > a) The press will regularly refer to "X" rather than "X, formerly known as Twitter" > OR > b) The contra dance world will agree to one of larks/robins or gents/ladies > I like to point out two important factors that should influence the transition to larks/robins. 1. To some LGBTQ+ people being called a Lady or Gent is mentally harmful because gender ID is a very important matter and sometimes has a long and often uncomfortable personal history. 2. It helps encourage people to dance both roles. a) I’ve been at dances where there are more people of one gender than the other and as a result some dancers sit out a dance because they feel uncomfortable about asking someone of the same gender to dance. And there are some people who think that Ladies shouldn’t ask Gents to dance. b) I think dancing both roles makes you a better dancer because you get to appreciate the affect of some moves on the other person.

1 year, 7 months

Introducing new dances to gender free dancing

by Michael Fuerst

Several months ago someone posted on a thread here her/his excellent approach to this. Does anyone know in which thread this was?

1 year, 7 months

Larks, Robins, Gents, Ladies and "X, formerly known as Twitter"

by Michael Fuerst

Which do you speculate will come first? a) The press will regularly refer to "X" rather than "X, formerly known as Twitter" OR b) The contra dance world will agree to one of larks/robins or gents/ladies

1 year, 7 months

Teaching 'contra' to adults with various developmental disabilities

by Bree Kalb

I've been asked if I will teach/lead a one hour long 'contra dance' at a day program for young adults with a variety of physical and cognitive disabilities. (The staff probably would be happy for me to do more than one session, but I'm not willing to commit to that. At Least not now.) My usual repertoire for a wedding or party of non-dancers seems tricky for many of the clients--especially those who are uncomfortable being touched. I did a similar event about 10 years ago--at a different program-- and it didn't seem many of them had a good time. I'd like to figure out a way to make it fun for this group. I have a couple of ideas and am looking for more. Have you ever led a dance/music event with a similar population? I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions. Bree Kalb Carrboro NC

1 year, 7 months

When Was the 12-Beat Swing Introduced?

by John Sweeney

Hi all, Does anyone know when the Balance & Swing as we know it today become popular with a 12-beat Swing instead of the more standard 8-beat or 16-beat Swing? Thanks. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

1 year, 7 months

Ear protection that works for callers?

by Emily Addison

Hi Folks :) This summer, I called for a week long event. Near the end of the week, I found my ears were really tired and the level of sound coming from the speakers was hurting my ears. I did talk to the sound person a bit but they needed to accommodate the dancers of course and so turning down the main speakers was not an option. While I call from the stage some of the time, it often worked better if I was calling from the floor. Has anyone had similar experiences? Have you found solutions? Thanks! :) Emily in Ottawa

1 year, 7 months

Signed calls?

by Allison and Hunt Smith

I recently had a conversation with a dear friend in NH, a long-time contra dancer, who has an adult daughter who is deaf (who lives in SF, CA if that helps). Daughter doesn't dance, because she can't hear the calls and gets confused on the dance floor. She wishes that, during walk-throughs, the calls could be signed as well as spoken. I'm writing to ask if any of you have encountered this request? AFAIK there are no deaf dancers in my community in the Maine highlands, but I'd be willing to learn some basic signs to go along with my teaching. I think it would be challenging to sign as I call once the dance gets started, though. Thoughts? Allison Aldrich Smith -- www.huntandallison.net www.info@thsmaritime.com www.centralhallcommons.org

1 year, 7 months

Difficult Contras

by barrie bullimore

Seth Tepfer asked me what Contras I considered to be difficult. Two immediately sprang to mind:- Double Back by Mark Elvins (a double progression backwards) Henry and Jacqui by Scott Higgs There are several others including Irish Stars. Barrie Bullimore Gosport, UK

1 year, 7 months

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Contra Callers