Contra Callers

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25 participants
4364 discussions

Re: [Callers] new choreo list / traffic volume

by tavi merrill

Two lists! Digests can get overwhelming, and imho if a person is less interested in choreography discussions they're more likely to "tune out" the list when choreography discussions overtake other topics. "Signal to noise ratio" is a good way of putting it. I would subscribe to both but i think having topics separated would streamline discussion/catching up a bit. Is there a way of segregating choreo from more general topics when digests are generated without starting a separate list? Thanks for your work in connecting the community, Chris! Lurking - and about to pounce - tavi

13 years

Re: [Callers] New choreo list / traffic volume

by P. Campbell

Hi Chris, I would go with whatever is picked - either way would be of interest to me (either separate list or integrating it into this one). Thanks! Patricia Patricia Campbell Newtown, CT On May 9, 2012, at 2:23 PM, "Chris Weiler (home)" > <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> wrote: > > > Hello SW callers, > > > > I finally caught up on my e-mail and have read the discussion about > > starting a new choreography list. My thought is that most if not all > > callers would want to be on both lists, so why not have them be the > > same list? My only answer that I could think of why not is if the > > callers list volume is getting too heavy for some people. > > > > So I would like to know is if there are many people who would _not_ > > subscribe to a choreography list? > > > > Also, what do you think of the traffic volume lately? If you think > > that the volume is too heavy lately, would you rather have it divided > > into two lists to increase the signal to noise ratio? > > > > Thanks to everyone for your interest and participation, even if it's > > just lurking. > > > > Chris Weiler > > Your friendly neighborhood SharedWeight moderator. > > Craftsbury, VT > > > > > > __

13 years

Can someone recommend some Easy English Country Dances?

by Lindsay Morris

I'm starting a weekly community dance at the Unitarian church here in Charlotte. I Care Not for these Ladies was a hit: In a circle, there's slipping left and right, siding, and arming, interspersed with a set-and-turn-single, pull by two and turn the third chorus. So I said I'd find the crew more like that: not real complicated, more slow and stately. Any recommendations? (The name will do; I can find the instructions.) Thanks! -------------------- Lindsay Morris CEO, TSMworks Tel. 1-859-539-9900 lindsay(a)tsmworks.com

13 years

Re: [Callers] Can someone recommend some Easy English Country Dances?

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

One overall suggestion is to get a copy of "21 Easy English Country Dances," a booklet with accompanying CD, available from CDSS: http://www.cdss.org/product-details/product/id-21-easy-english-country-danc… It's a collection of classic dances with plenty of variety of formations and moods, and it will give you a lot of good material (plus music) from which to work. For example, it includes Upon a Summer's Day, which was the first dance in the first edition of Playford, a very accessible three-couple dance that introduces the USA figures-- up a double, siding, and arming. If you have live music, the tunes for these dances are easily available, and you can use the CD for your own practice beforehand. David Millstone

13 years

Re: [Callers] New choreo list / traffic volume

by Bree Kalb

I prefer one list that includes choreography. The list volume is not too heavy here for my taste; I start using delete when a discussion is going on and on..... Bree Kalb Carrboro, NC -----Original Message----- >From: "Chris Weiler (home)" <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> >Sent: May 9, 2012 3:23 PM >To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: [Callers] New choreo list / traffic volume > >Hello SW callers, > >I finally caught up on my e-mail and have read the discussion about >starting a new choreography list. My thought is that most if not all >callers would want to be on both lists, so why not have them be the same >list? My only answer that I could think of why not is if the callers >list volume is getting too heavy for some people. > >So I would like to know is if there are many people who would _not_ >subscribe to a choreography list? > >Also, what do you think of the traffic volume lately? If you think that >the volume is too heavy lately, would you rather have it divided into >two lists to increase the signal to noise ratio? > >Thanks to everyone for your interest and participation, even if it's >just lurking. > >Chris Weiler >Your friendly neighborhood SharedWeight moderator. >Craftsbury, VT > > >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers Bree Kalb, LCSW 301 W. Weaver St. Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-6262 ext 216 Regarding the Use of Email -- Please Note: Although I use a firewall and my computer is password protected, my emails are not encrypted. Therefore, I cannot guarantee confidentiality of email communication. If you choose to communicate confidential information with me via email, I will assume that you have made an informed decision and I will view it as your agreement to take the risk that email may be intercepted. Please be aware that email is never an appropriate vehicle for emergency communication. If you are canceling an appointment less than 48 hours in advance, please also leave me a voice mail message at my office. “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Carl Rogers

13 years

New Dance: The Raeden Reel

by Don Veino

Hi Folks, passing along a new dance I'm partial to (not the least reason being that it's named after our baby daughter). The dance is by Bob Isaacs and the composition was won as an auction item at a recent Concord Scout House fundraiser by a friend of ours, whom named it after our young maiden. It was first called at the Thursday 4/19/12 dance before NEFFA, to our total surprise (and with Raeden dancing with us!). There's a video of it being called by me this past Saturday (not my best go of the evening :) to music by the new band Firefly at http://youtu.be/tDtih1tgdVs . -Don The Raeden Reel – DI – Bob Isaacs A1 (4,4) Bal., box the gnat (8) Mad Robin A2 (6) Cir. Lt. 3/4 (10) p swing B1 (8) G allem. Lt. 1+1/2 (8) n swing B2 (8) Rt. & Lt. Thru (8) star Lt. *Bob says: “In the Mad Robin, gents pass in front to start. All push off from the box the gnat and can confidently look at their partner because they know where their neighbor is.”* *Sponsored by Robin Humes for Don and Sage Veino's daughter Raeden. Robin won it at the Concord Scout House auction 11/12/11. Composed 4/12/12, called first at the Scout House on 4/19/12.*

13 years

Re: [Callers] Mentorship for Choreographers

by Perry Shafran

Agree with Brian - sharing dances here would be a most useful resource for increasing one's repertoire! Perry Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

13 years

Re: [Callers] Mentorship for Choreographers

by Brian Hamshar

I love the idea, and I would utilize it as a very useful resource. I'm not so concerned about deeing possibly inferior material ... I'd be interested in the exchange of ideas. Bring it on! Brian Hamshar Virginia Alan Winston <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu> wrote: >On 5/8/2012 6:35 PM, Mark Hillegonds wrote: > > > It's been my experience that unless one is a well-known choreographer >(Ravitz, >Hume, Ormand, Sanella, Olsen, and any number of others) it can >be difficult get >new dances into the light of day and, in the theme of >mentorship, get feedback on >them. There are certainly a number of >dances posted to this list and feedback is >readily and warmly given. I >have gleaned a number of dances from this list and am >glad to see them, >both as a caller and choreographer. > > >Three of questions for you: > > >1. Do you see this [Caller] list an appropriate place to publish new >dances? Too >many postings of new dances could dilute the [Caller] >aspect of the list. > >I do see it as an appropriate place. It seems mutually beneficial to me >for choreographers to put new dances under caller's noses, and the >volume of new dances posted so far isn't very high. > >There are three types of postings that, for me as a caller (acting like >a filter feeder who snags things as they come by) have almost the same >effect: > > - I wrote down this dance - anybody know what it is? > > - I think I made up this dance - does it exist already? > >- Here's my cool new dance - I hope you'll like it. > >I don't see much point in segregating the third type of post to another >list. > > > > > 2. Do you feel there would be interest in a separate [Choreographer] >list? I can >see this list really focusing on creating new dances, >getting feedback, and >getting the word out about new dances. It could >be a nice venue for >choreographic student/mentorship stuff to happen. > >If there were one, I would probably sign up so that I didn't miss >anything. That's different from thinking there's actual demand for it. > > >3. What would you think about a monthly dances-of-the-month email to > >consolidate new dances into a single or some moderated number of emails > >The devil is in the details there. From what pool are the new dances >drawn? Who's doing the moderating? What makes the cut? > >-- Alan > > >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years

Re: [Callers] Mentorship for Choreographers

by Brian Hamshar

This sounds great! A centralized resource for sharing dances -- new or not -- is something I would consult and post to often. Brian Hamshar Virginia Mark Hillegonds <mhillegonds(a)comcast.net> wrote: >Hi all, > >I've been following with interest the discussion on calling and mentorships. >Ron Blechner mentioned choreographers in his recent post and I'd like to >expand on that a bit, so starting a new thread. > >It's been my experience that unless one is a well-known choreographer >(Ravitz, Hume, Ormand, Sanella, Olsen, and any number of others) it can be >difficult get new dances into the light of day and, in the theme of >mentorship, get feedback on them. > >There are certainly a number of dances posted to this list and feedback is >readily and warmly given. I have gleaned a number of dances from this list >and am glad to see them, both as a caller and choreographer. > >Three of questions for you: >1. Do you see this [Caller] list an appropriate place to publish new >dances? Too many postings of new dances could dilute the [Caller] aspect of >the list. >2. Do you feel there would be interest in a separate [Choreographer] list? >I can see this list really focusing on creating new dances, getting >feedback, and getting the word out about new dances. It could be a nice >venue for choreographic student/mentorship stuff to happen. >3. What would you think about a monthly dances-of-the-month email to >consolidate new dances into a single or some moderated number of emails. > >Mark Hillegonds > >cell: 734-756-8441 >email: mhillegonds(a)comcast.net >blog: www.defriction.com > > >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years

Re: [Callers] Don't teach proper formation unless you need it

by Brian Hamshar

Very well put, Greg. Thank you! Brian Hamshar Virginia Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com> wrote: >David wrote: > >> As as a long-time New England caller, I admit to a special fondness for >> the so-called chestnuts, most of which are in proper formation; I think >> that dancers can appreciate having these in their repertoire as a >> connection to the long traditions of music and dance we inherit, and a >> community does well to foster those connections. >> > >I think fostering "...connections to the long traditions of music an dance >we inherit,..." is a good and important goal. The question is one of venue >for this purpose. > >If we are talking about open, public contra dances (as opposed to a >gathering of social dance enthusiasts) then I would urge callers to be >mindful of the central, social purpose of these events. > >I see the regular open, public contra dances as social events and as public >outreach events. In essence the dance community is offering a social >event--with live music and called dances--to the general community. Our >flyers say "No experience needed." and "No need to bring a partner." That >implies an open social event. > >Personally, I do not attend these social events to be connected with an >historic tradition, to learn the history of that tradition, or to re-enact >some of the historic dances done in generations past. My own research >suggests that most of those in the hall at these events do not come for >those reasons either. People attend open, public dances primarily for the >social experience. > >While there is certainly a place for some "cultural enrichment" at open, >public social dance events we need to keep focused on the purpose of the >venue. There are camps, festivals, workshops, and special events that may >be more appropriate for this kind of diversified cultural enrichment--and I >hope dance communities continue to offer such events, which are targeted >specifically for social dance enthusiasts. > >But I do not attend the open, public contra dances to stand and listen to >lectures, or to learn complex dance figures and to hear about the history >of the name of each dance, who wrote the dance, or what that person said >once at a dance festival. No offense intended. I can tolerate only a >limited amount of cultural enrichment at social events I attend. > >As a caller at open, public contra dances I see my role differently. I >want people to experience the excitement and joy of dancing to live >music--without having to attend separate classes. I want the regulars to >experience the excitement and joy of sharing their passion for social >dancing with newcomers who are discovering this tradition for the first >time. > >We should talk more about our purpose, the purpose of the event, and the >purposes of those who attend. There is certainly room for those who seek a >deep understanding of the cultural roots of the dance. We should discuss >how that goal can best be achieved. > >Soapbox is now available. > >- Greg McKenzie >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years

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