Contra Callers

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4369 discussions

by Jacob & Nancy Bloom

Hi Kalia, I do the hand turns and dosido still in the line of six, so the dancers are in line for the hey at the end of the dosido. When I looked for the dance on youtube, I found that the versions I found all had the hey before the turns, but I call it the way I learned it. That was in 1981, at a late night dance at the All Folk Around The Wrekin festival, with music by the Oyster Ceilidh band, and calling by someone who was wearing a pencil skirt and high spike heels. (I think that's the only time I've danced to a caller who couldn't have done the dances they were calling in the outfit they were wearing.) It was educational looking at the youtube versions. I found both one done by a Cornish performing group (they moved out into two facing lines for the hand turns, and left out the swing entirely), and one recorded at a ceilidh dance, in which the balances had morphed into "kick-jumps". Jacob At 12:00 PM 2/3/2013, you wrote: >Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:52:04 -0800 >From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net> >To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: Re: [Callers] Dances for Smaller groups > >On 2/2/2013 2:25 PM, Jacob & Nancy Bloom wrote: > > For 6: Cornish Six Hand Reel, or any triplet that's suitable for your group > > (See Zesty Contras for the triplets Ted's Triplet #3 and > > Housewarming.) > > > > Cornish Six Hand Reel - 64 bar dance - Starting formation: > > three couples in a line of six facing down the hall > > Line of six go down the hall, balance twice 8 bars > > Turn alone, come up the hall, balance twice 8 bars > > With partner RH turn, LH turn 8 bars > > Two hand turn, Dosido 8 bars > > Hey for six 16 bars > > Take partner in promenade position, face RH wall, > > couple at RH end of set leads promenade to LH end of set and > > makes an arch, > > other couples come under arch, all swing partner in new > > position 16 bars > >I love this dance, but learned it (and teach it) with the hey >immediately after the lines of 6 up the hall. At that point they're >still conveniently in the line for the hey and simply have to face their >partners. At the end of the hey, just turn your partner enough to end >with the men facing down the hall and the ladies facing up. > >Actually it has just occurred to me to ask, do you do the hand turns and >the dosido all still in the lines of 6?

12 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Dances for Smaller groups

by Jacob & Nancy Bloom

Dear Cheryl, Here are some dances I've found useful for smaller groups of dancers. Jacob For 4: Billingsdale Pattern by Chip Hendrickson or O'Donnell Anew by Tony Saletan (Both in Zesty Contras) For 5: General Dummer's Reel (http://www.library.unh.edu/special/forms/rpdlw/syllabus2006.pdf page 38) For 6: Cornish Six Hand Reel, or any triplet that's suitable for your group (See Zesty Contras for the triplets Ted's Triplet #3 and Housewarming.) Cornish Six Hand Reel - 64 bar dance - Starting formation: three couples in a line of six facing down the hall Line of six go down the hall, balance twice 8 bars Turn alone, come up the hall, balance twice 8 bars With partner RH turn, LH turn 8 bars Two hand turn, Dosido 8 bars Hey for six 16 bars Take partner in promenade position, face RH wall, couple at RH end of set leads promenade to LH end of set and makes an arch, other couples come under arch, all swing partner in new position 16 bars (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKYLDM1w6NE for a fascinating variant) For 7: Shira's Seven Shira's Seven Jacob Bloom Starting formation: Longways for 3 couples plus extra dancer at top of set, in Ocean Wave with RH to partner, LH to next Suggested music: Westfork Gals All Balance, those who can Allemande R 4 bars All Balance, those who can Allemande L 4 bars Balance & swing partner, while extra dancer dances to foot of set 8 bars Extra dancer B&S their choice of the dancers in couple #3, The dancer left out B&S their choice of the dancers in couple #2 The dancer left out B&S their choice of the dancers in couple #1 8 bars All three new couples F&B to new extra dancer at top of set 4 bars Dosido partner to an ocean wave 4 bars For 9: Stars In The Triangle Stars In The Triangle Jacob Bloom Starting formation: Triangle of threesomes Middles swing RH person, LH people Star R, return 8 bars Middles swing LH person, RH people Star R, return 8 bars Middles Star R, Star L and go on to new threesome 8 bars Heys for three with new people 8 bars For 10: Texas Star (it may have been written as a square, but I think I've called it for five couple sets at least as often as I've called it for four couple sets) (http://www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/dances/texassta.htm) Also, there are many whole-set-longways dances which work for sets of four to six couples. (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/ToC.html) At 12:00 PM 2/2/2013, you wrote: >Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2013 22:10:37 -0600 >From: Cheryl Joyal <clmjoyal(a)aol.com> >To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 102, Issue 1 - Dances for > Smaller groups > >THANKS SO MUCH for the spreadsheet - I am a relatively new caller >and appreciate the resource! > >I am also looking for dances for a smaller number of dancers which >often "shrinks" to only about 6 - 12 people for second half of the >dance?. Anyone have some easy dances for 4, 5 ,6 people that they like ? > >(yes I know I also need to start working on calling squares ! Open >to some easier ones of those as well, and especially breaks to mix things ups!) > >THANKS !

12 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 102, Issue 1 - Dances for Smaller groups

by Cheryl Joyal

THANKS SO MUCH for the spreadsheet - I am a relatively new caller and appreciate the resource! I am also looking for dances for a smaller number of dancers which often "shrinks" to only about 6 - 12 people for second half of the dance…. Anyone have some easy dances for 4, 5 ,6 people that they like ? (yes I know I also need to start working on calling squares ! Open to some easier ones of those as well, and especially breaks to mix things ups!) THANKS ! On Feb 1, 2013, at 11:00 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > callers(a)sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > callers-request(a)sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > callers-owner(a)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: Adult ONS - first dance (Michael Clark) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:12:01 -0500 > From: Michael Clark <michael.clark(a)wmich.edu> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Adult ONS - first dance > Message-ID: <0MHI00MKCARDIP00(a)mta01.service.private> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed > > Thanks for the link to your ONS spreadsheet, JoLaine. That's a nice resource. > > I was curious about the title "Coray's Silver Jubilee," since I know > another dance with the same name, a four-face-four by Carol Ormand. > See http://carolormand.com/dances.html#corays. Carol's notes give > 2003 as the year of composition. > > Do you have any update on the attribution (date, author) of the > whole-set longways dance in your spreadsheet? Does it possibly have a > different title? > > Thanks, > Mike > > At 01:21 PM 1/30/2013, you wrote: >> ........ >> >> I am the regular caller at a tiny community dance here that will always be >> a ONS dance every month ;-). I have gathered a good collection of super >> easy dances. Here is a link to them if you can use any of them, you're >> welcome to them: >> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnrSNRQDems3dEQwNXJ6djRGd21vdE… >> >> -- >> JoLaine Jones-Pokorney >> >> "We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" >> - Stewart Brand >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 102, Issue 1 > ***************************************

12 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Adult ONS - first dance

by Michael Clark

Thanks for the link to your ONS spreadsheet, JoLaine. That's a nice resource. I was curious about the title "Coray's Silver Jubilee," since I know another dance with the same name, a four-face-four by Carol Ormand. See http://carolormand.com/dances.html#corays. Carol's notes give 2003 as the year of composition. Do you have any update on the attribution (date, author) of the whole-set longways dance in your spreadsheet? Does it possibly have a different title? Thanks, Mike At 01:21 PM 1/30/2013, you wrote: >........ > >I am the regular caller at a tiny community dance here that will always be >a ONS dance every month ;-). I have gathered a good collection of super >easy dances. Here is a link to them if you can use any of them, you're >welcome to them: >https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnrSNRQDems3dEQwNXJ6djRGd21vdE… > >-- >JoLaine Jones-Pokorney > >"We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" >- Stewart Brand >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

12 years, 4 months

community dance

by Tom Hinds

Sue, Good luck with your community dance series. You might enjoy Catch: Two dancers are chosen to make a two-handed arch. The other dancers promenade single file around the hall, going under the arch one by one. When the caller says the word catch, the arch is dropped. Anyone caught goes to the center and waits. If no one is caught then the arch goes back up and the dancers start moving again. When two people are in the center, they pair up and make a second arch. Basically this continues until all have a partner. The most frustrating part of this game/dance is when the arches are left down too long and everyone has to sit in rush hour traffic. Although I tell them to bring their arches up right away there are always some who ignore me on this point. Catch leaves the dancers in the perfect formation to do the Paddy Cake Polka if you want to do another dance right away. I think Catch is only fun with a large number of people like 20 or more. Warn them about eye glasses!!!!!!! Tom

12 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] First Dance - Adult ONS

by Jacob & Nancy Bloom

Hi Sue, Here's something I might use to start off an event like you described: Start the music going, take someone by the hand, lead them through the crowd urging people to join onto the end of the line as it snakes through the room Lead the line into a circle, and do a few rounds of a Paul Jones to get people coupled up (Ladies forward and back, gents forward and back, ladies in and circle left while gents go to the right around the outside, ladies turn around and swing someone near your, all promenade) Have everyone promenade into a Grand March, lead the march up the center of the hall, stop the music and invite the people who have come in during the above to find a partner and join in at the bottom of the longways set which has just been created, before doing a dance in longways formation. I've had good experiences doing the above, but here are some things to consider: If the group were entirely teenagers then I wouldn't do a snake line, since that age group tends to turn it into Crack-The-Whip. If the group had more men than women at the start of the dance, then I might hesitate to use a Paul Jones to get people into couples, since the men might be hesitant to dance with each other. It doesn't matter if the number of gents going forward and back is very different from the number of ladies going forward and back, as long as everyone finds someone to swing and promenade with. However, if there were many more women than men, I might call for the gents going forward and back first, then the gents circling on the inside while the ladies go around the outside. In some groups, people might be more comfortable doing the first dance with the partner they brought with them. When that's the case, I might start by asking people to line up in couples for a Grand March. However, the advantages to getting people moving without going through the anxiety of choosing a partner, and of getting them used to changing partners at the beginning of the dance, are obvious. I hope that's of use to you. Jacob Bloom >Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:27:05 -0500 >From: Sue Robishaw <sue(a)manytracks.com> >To: Shared Weight Callers <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: [Callers] First Dance - Adult ONS >Message-ID: <510876E9.7050507(a)manytracks.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >Hi, > I'm starting a new Community Dance series in our area with no > recent history of any trad dance. It will likely be nearly all > beginners and geared toward adults/teens. Thanks to this List I > have a good collection of ONS dances to choose from, but I'm having > trouble deciding on the First Dance. > I'm thinking a non-partner dance that folks can be encouraged > to join as they arrive (before they sit down) with very little or > no teaching. I've considered Circles/F&Bs with variety of who goes > in, probably with claps. Or CL, F&B 2x, CR, start a promenade wave > at a random spot, people coupling up one after another till all are > promenading (I'll be on the floor with them). I'm concerned with > the usual -- looking easy enough, looking interesting, not > embarrassing, getting them involved before they have a chance to > think much about it. I have no idea how many dancers I'll have. > Any suggestions or recommendations would be much appreciated. > Thanks, Sue >Sue Robishaw, U.P. of Michigan

12 years, 4 months

Adult ONS - first dance

by JoLaine Jones-Pokorney

I use Glowworm Mixer for the first dance at almost any new ONS event. It is super easy and people who are hesitant jump right in when they see how easy it is. One does need a partner, but as it is a mixer, it doesn't really matter who it is and people don't hesitate to just grab someone and jump in. It is only a 16 beat dance so you repeat the dance four time for every one time through the tune. Here it is: With your partner, promenade CCW in a big circle four steps. Face your partner and back up four steps. Face the person to the left of your partner and walk towards that person 4 steps. Allemande L or Right Elbow Turn with this person once around and end in promenade position face CCW and the dance begins again from here. I am the regular caller at a tiny community dance here that will always be a ONS dance every month ;-). I have gathered a good collection of super easy dances. Here is a link to them if you can use any of them, you're welcome to them: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnrSNRQDems3dEQwNXJ6djRGd21vdE… -- JoLaine Jones-Pokorney "We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" - Stewart Brand

12 years, 4 months

First Dance - Adult ONS

by Sue Robishaw

Hi, I'm starting a new Community Dance series in our area with no recent history of any trad dance. It will likely be nearly all beginners and geared toward adults/teens. Thanks to this List I have a good collection of ONS dances to choose from, but I'm having trouble deciding on the First Dance. I'm thinking a non-partner dance that folks can be encouraged to join as they arrive (before they sit down) with very little or no teaching. I've considered Circles/F&Bs with variety of who goes in, probably with claps. Or CL, F&B 2x, CR, start a promenade wave at a random spot, people coupling up one after another till all are promenading (I'll be on the floor with them). I'm concerned with the usual -- looking easy enough, looking interesting, not embarrassing, getting them involved before they have a chance to think much about it. I have no idea how many dancers I'll have. Any suggestions or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thanks, Sue Sue Robishaw, U.P. of Michigan

12 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Waltz contras - does anyone have any in their box?

by John Sweeney

Someone mentioned The Spanish Waltz - lovely dance. But I am often working with groups who can't waltz, so it all breaks down in B2. So I change the waltz in B2 to: Take Promenade Hold, Men put Left Shoulders together to make a line of four: Promenade 1 & 1/2 times forwards in a circle to meet a new couple I tell them to keep up their waltz steps during the promenade. Once they get the idea I call "Ooze into a line" - it flows nicely out of the star. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

12 years, 4 months

Tom's question "Is this a new Dance"

by Jane Ewing

Sorry folks for leaving that detail out in "Mad Masquerade" - Becket position, as stated, but you circle left 3 with the next couple The dance was written in a choreography workshop at Nashville's Mad Masquerade Dance on Nov 1, 2008. Class also noted that it works great with a flowing Middle Eastern type of tune. Jane Ewing Grant, AL

12 years, 4 months

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Contra Callers