Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

18 participants
4408 discussions

by John Sweeney

Anyone recognise this: Becket Formation A1: Circle Left 3/4; Pass Through New Ladies Allemande Left 1 1/2 to Partner and Ocean Wave A2: Balance R/L, Rory O'More Balance L/R, Rory O'More B1: Full Hey - Ladies start Left Shoulder B2: Partner Balance & Swing I noted it down at a dance but didn't get a chance to ask the name or the author. Can anyone help? 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

13 years, 7 months

A few dances needed that .....

by Rickey Holt

OK, I am looking for dances that are from "Easy" to "Intermediate" in difficulty that can be used in a mixed crowd that is not predominately beginners, but more likely predominately experienced dancers, AND that do not have a ladies chain or a circle in them. A few more Heys would be nice too. My collection and the old American Country Dances on line database do not seem to have any such dances. Any suggestions? I am trying to program an evening with a minimum of repeating figures. I realize that it may not matter. We have had this discussion earlier. But it would be nice anyway not to have too many dances with a ladies chain in it for instance. Thanks all. Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH

13 years, 7 months

Looking for a Dance

by Ryan Smith

I'm calling a dance tomorrow. Being so close to April Fools day, I'm planning just a tiny bit of foolishness. There's a dance, it may be called Trick Or Treat, where the hook is a 16-count segment where the dancers are encouraged to call some action of their own, so long as they end up back where they started at the end. If anyone has a copy of this and can send it my way, that would be great. Otherwise, I'll just put together my own. Thank you, --Ryan

13 years, 7 months

Low Numbers, Slow Starts

by JoLaine Jones-Pokorney

I am calling a dance this Friday night for a small town in Florida that is trying to start a contra dance series in their community hall. I have several ONS-type dances that I use for weddings, but what I don't have is very very easy dances for low numbers. This is their first event so we could see 5 or 6 people. I need to make sure they have fun or it will be the end of their dreams of a contra community! I've looked at Ted's Triplets, but they are too complex for a group that has never contra danced before. What are suggestions for ultra easy ONS-type dances that would also work for very low numbers? JoLaine -- JoLaine Jones-Pokorney "We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" - Stewart Brand

13 years, 7 months

easy dances, low numbers

by JoLaine Jones-Pokorney

In researching the dances some of you suggested, I found this website: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greenery/BarnDances/WholeSet.html Very helpful! JoLaine

13 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] What makes a program varied, how important is that

by Brian Hamshar

Me too! Wow, what a great tool to keep in mind while planning out my programs. Brian Hamshar -----Original Message----- Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:53:42 am To: "shared weight" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> From: "Chrissy Fowler" <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] What makes a program varied, how important is that wow, i love don's analogy! chrissy fowler belfast, me > ------------------------------ > > From: Donald Perley <donperley(a)gmail.com> > > I'll make an analogy between an evening of 12 dances and an essay of > 12 paragraphs. > > If a common word appears in every paragraph, I wouldn't notice. If > it's a less common word, or every paragraph begins with the same > word, or the same sentence appears in several paragraph, then I would. > > To me as a dancer, ladies chain or B&S I wouldn't notice as > repetitious. Something like rory o'more or mad robin I would. > > _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years, 7 months

What makes a program varied, how important is that

by Rickey Holt

Hi Callers, I have asked this question before and still I do not understand this. I suspect that it will take thinking about it several more times before I do. Here is my question. What makes a program varied and how important is that. Let me say that I am thinking of this in situations where most of the dancers are experienced. I have had programs like this before and someday mean to pay attention to this at dance evenings I have enjoyed. I have a program in mind which I list below, that I know has 7 dances with a ladies chains in it, six of them in a row. I know this because I am the proud and happy owner of Will Loving's program "The Caller's Companion". Yet the evening's program seems very varied to me. If the "hooks" or the mood of the dances, for instance, are sufficiently different is that what matters. In terms of variety versus too much repetition, how does this look to you. It does not strike me as a boring program at all. The proposed program is: Scout House Reel, Rod's Grits, MAD About Dancing, Ease About Mixer, A Question of Balance, Zombies of Sugar Hill, [BREAK], Roll Eleven, Laura's Zig Zag, Snowshoe, Shipping and Receiving, Fan in the Doorway, and Sleepwalking I am interested in your thoughts, Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

13 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] What makes a program varied, how important is that

by Chrissy Fowler

wow, i love don's analogy! chrissy fowler belfast, me > ------------------------------ > > From: Donald Perley <donperley(a)gmail.com> > > I'll make an analogy between an evening of 12 dances and an essay of > 12 paragraphs. > > If a common word appears in every paragraph, I wouldn't notice. If > it's a less common word, or every paragraph begins with the same > word, or the same sentence appears in several paragraph, then I would. > > To me as a dancer, ladies chain or B&S I wouldn't notice as > repetitious. Something like rory o'more or mad robin I would. > >

13 years, 7 months

Low numbers - slow starts

by Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing

Callers -- I called last weekend (St Patrick's Day, and a very rainy night) and the dance was very slow to get started. By about 10 minutes after the starting time we had something five or six couples, with two first-timers among them. I let the first two dances run normal length, consciously, because I wanted the first-timers to get the experience of getting the dance long enoug to get it and no longer need calling. I think I was successful in that goal, but I heard that the experienced dancers were pretty bored seeing the same faces over and over. (By the third dance more people had turned up and it wasn't so much of a problem.) How do y'all handle this kind of thing? -- Alan -- =============================================================================== Alan Winston --- WINSTON(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL Phone: 650/926-3056 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025 ==============================================================================

13 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Low numbers - slow starts

by John Sweeney

I see how many people are there when it is time to start and choose a dance with a contra feel that works for that number: A square like Kimmswick Express (by Gene Hubert) A four couple Becket dance like Still Waiting on the Corner (by Gary Roodman) A circle mixer like Avery One Dance (by William Watson/Tiffany Tabbert) A six-couple dance like Hexitation (by Tom Hinds) Any of Ted Sanella's Triplets With the right music these all have most of the elements of a contra dance. But definitely keep the number of repetitions low so that people don't get bored and so that you can start another dance quickly with all the new people that have turned up while you were doing the first dance. Circle Mixers are good because experienced late arrivals can join in. 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

13 years, 7 months

Jump to page:

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Contra Callers