Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

12 participants
4406 discussions

by Gary Shapiro via Callers

One of our pickier contra dancers *loves* this dance: I call it Calvin Country, because it's based on David Smukler's dance, Country Dance Romance, which is a modification of Don Armstrong's Calvin Crest. *A1* Neighbor sliding door (aka sideways do-si-do, Mad Robin, double Mad Robin, shuttle) Partner poussette 3/4 (Women advance) until Men are back to back in center *A2* Hey for 4 (pass Partner by R sh, with a little assist) *B1* Partner gypsy, swing *B2* All 4 balance, circle L 1/2; shift L up/down set, circle L 3/4 with new neighbors

10 years, 4 months

24 bar Contras

by Keith Wood via Callers

I was inspired by the Blues Brothers version of Sweet Home Chicago to write a 24 bar Contra recently: Short But Sweet Becket A1 Circle left 3/4 Swing neighbour A2 Balance the ring Nevada twirl with partner (California twirl with other hands) With next couple, balance the ring Petronella turn one place anti-clockwise B Half hey, starting with women passing left shoulders Swing partner There's an animation of the dance at http://www.dancekaleidoscope.org.au/dance.html#ShortButSweet. Are there many other 24 bar Contras? Cheers Keith

10 years, 4 months

Pousettes

by George Mercer via Callers

Hi: One of the newer additions to the contra dance repertory, and one that I like, is the pousette -- in all its variations. I'm interested in gathering dances with pousettes in them and would like to receive suggestions/recommendations. Thanks, George Mercer

10 years, 4 months

Name this dance?

by Jeff Kaufman via Callers

Does this dance have a name? (16) neighbor balance and swing (16) circle left, partner swing (16) ladies chain, star left Yes, it's a 24 bar dance. It's an attempt at being the most predictable dance at every point except for the length.

10 years, 4 months

You have a new notification from thomasjsenior@gmail.com. View??

by via Callers

Hi, thomasjsenior(a)gmail.com wants to follow you. ****** Is thomasjsenior(a)gmail.com you friend? ****** If Yes please follow the link below: http://invites.flipmailer.com/signup_e.html?fullname=Caller's+Discussion+List&email=callers@sharedweight.net&invitername=Marble&inviterid=36644577&userid=0&token=0&emailmasterid=73fcc322-e24f-4c57-8940-77e0354c7211&from=thomasjsenior@yahoo.com&template=invite_reminder_b&test=AA&src=txt_yes If No please follow the link below: http://invites.flipmailer.com/signup_e.html?fullname=Caller's+Discussion+List&email=callers@sharedweight.net&invitername=Marble&inviterid=36644577&userid=0&token=0&emailmasterid=73fcc322-e24f-4c57-8940-77e0354c7211&from=thomasjsenior@yahoo.com&template=invite_reminder_b&test=AA&src=txt_no Follow the link below to remove yourself from all such emails http://invites.flipmailer.com/uns_inviter.jsp?email=callers@sharedweight.ne…

10 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 14, Issue 10

by Tina Fields via Callers

Oo! That sounds neat. Do you, or anyone here, have the card to share? Tina > On Jun 11, 2015, at 2:05 PM, via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > From: Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers > > If you get mostly advanced square dancers, Bill Olson called a great contra > at Brattleboro that had a mini-grand square on the diagonal. It was cool! > You sacrifice the neighbor swing I think, but it was a cool figure.

10 years, 4 months

Suggestions welcome

by Michael Barraclough via Callers

I have an interesting dance coming up this Saturday! The regular Phoenix 2nd Saturday Contra is having a contra dance with the Desert Valley Squares Club (an LGBT MWSD group). In addition, the Desert Valley Squares have been advertising this dance heavily in the local LGBT community as part of their recruitment drive. Any suggestions as to how best to handle this mix (regular contra dancers, MSWD dancers and non-dancers) would be most welcome. -- Michael Barraclough michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com www.michaelbarraclough.com

10 years, 4 months

caller needed

by Bill Olson via Callers

Hi all, Anybody going to be in mid-coast Maine on July 18 and want to call the 3rd Saturday dance at Bowdoinham Town Hall?? We'd love to have a new face there! Let me know, thanks!! bill

10 years, 5 months

Another approach to Gender Free calling

by Jim Hemphill via Callers

The recent discussions on this topic inspired me to try an experiment in gender free calling. Last night I called the contra dance in St. Louis using gender free calling without telling anyone. The experiment was a great success. I received lots of positive feedback on the evenings dance. At the break and after the dance I made a point to ask several dancers, some were callers as well, if they noticed anything different or unusual about the dances or how I taught them. One person noticed that there were more dances that included a swing in the center for couple 2 than usual. No one I talked to noticed that the calls and teaching were gender free. It took some extra time to construct a fun, diverse 3 hour program, but it is certainly possible. Re-labeling the dancers is not the only way to call gender free. If you are interested in the program I used or the larger collection of gender free dances I chose the program from, send me an email, arcadian35(a)gmail.com. Thanks, Jim Hemphill

10 years, 5 months

What Dancers Need to Know and Gender Free Calling

by Michael Fuerst via Callers

So, what do dancers need to know in order to progress through a duple contra dance? (1) At the end of a swing, who finishes on which side. Thus we need some words and concept of these two roles, whether men and women, larks and ravens, or P's and Q's. (This seems really important when neighbors swing, and less important in ECD.) (2) The identity of their current and future neighbors. (Tells dancers which way they are progressing.) (3) A consistent way to designate positions within a group of four. For the moment consider "first corners" to be the positions of woman 1 and man 2 at the start of the a duple improper dance. Prudent use of all of these seems important over the various contra formations: improper, proper, becket (progressing left or right), indescent (2's crossed), and dances where the "1's" (those moving away from the music) start below the "2's." For beginning and intermediate dancers, callers' use of (1) is often easier than (3). In dances with unusual end effects, caller's use of (3) can be difficult. In general using (1) is clearer, because (a) it is easier to find a person, and (b) one's position changes throughout the 32 seconds or so of a contra. I can think of quite a few dances which become much more difficult to convey to the dancers when (1) is avoided. For example: (a) "Second corners chain on the left diagonal" will always seem obscure.(b) Who rolls in front during a roll away, or moves in front during a Mad Robin(c) dances with partial heys (d) Many proper dances Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217 239 5844

10 years, 5 months

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Contra Callers