For many years, musician Bill Tomczak maintained a website with a collection of
essays he had collected and thought worth sharing. Some of these date back to
the heyday of rec.folk-dancing, an internet discussion group that had a lot of
traffic much like that on this list.
After some years, with a move to a different part of the country and a change
in his focus, Bill let the site die
But now, it's back!
www.musaique.com
You'll find some thought-provoking essays that talk about broader issues facing
today's dancers, callers, and musicians. Enjoy!
And thank you, Bill!
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
--- Dorcas wrote: I'm calling a dance on March 17 - does anyone have a few - even
one - dance that would work to pick up the theme?
In The Country Dance Book, by Beth Tolman and Ralph Page, you'll find a chapter
entitled "Thanks to the Irish." It includes St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (a
48 bar dance), Larry O'Gaff, and, of course, Rory O'More.
Do you want to include a singing square? The Lloyd Shaw Foundation has complete
instructions for Four Leaf Clover on its website:
http://lloydshaw.org/Catalogue/CueSheets/Square/FourLeafClover.htm
It's a simple dance that could be used in lots of settings, and I bet you'll get
dancers joining in on the refrain.
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
> Bill Baritompa wrote:
>
> Hi David,
>
> Yes it's not fair, females get all the fun :-)
> Here's a dance for you (maybe it already exists)
>
> Let's Be Fair
>
> A1: N Bal & Sw
> A2: Gents Left Allemand 1 1/2; P Sw (ladies must wait 8 beats doing
> nothing)
> B1: Ladies chain over and back
> (so now the gents have to wait 4+4, but optionally may twirl or
> jig
> on the spot)
> B2: Bal the ring, Petronella roll; Bal the ring, California Twirl
> note: during the first 12 beats of B2 dancers can discuss whether 4+4 = 8
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
>
For what it's worth, I've been calling a very similar dance for a couple of
years now. I don't know if it's original but I finally gave it a name last
month to keep it out of my "unknown or untitled" section. Of course, here
is no ladies-only move to balance the men's allemande, so it doesn't
address the fairness issue for Bill or David.
--Jerome
PetroCaliTwirlification By Jerome Grisanti
Duple Improper Contra
A1
Circle L 1X,
Neighbor Swing
A2
Long Lines Forward & Back,
Men allemande Left 1 1/2
B1
Partner Balance & Swing
B2
Ring Balance, Petronella Twirl,
Ring Balance, California Twirl.
--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
For the good are always the merry,
Save by an evil chance,
And the merry love the fiddle
And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats
I asked Rick Mohr (who is not on this list) and this is his reply.
I'm not too particular about "formation" because it seems funny to
categorize an entire dance by where you happen to be at one certain point. These
days most dancers automatically line up improper, so when possible I save
words/time by starting there and making slight adjustments to the walkthrough.
For example, in "Becket" dances that start with circle left 3/4 and swing
neighbor I usually start improper and circle left all the way.
-Rick
Donna
In a message dated 2/28/2012 10:35:05 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
melodiouswoodchuck(a)gmail.com writes:
So i feel a bit silly walking into this discussion with such a simplistic
answer, but - to me it only merits referring to a dance by an alternate
formation if there's absolutely no way to set the dance up as a standard
formation (eg, a becket-indecent). Unlike a dance which starts with a wave
balance, "Chuck the Budgie" simply starts with a gents allemande L. I've
had no trouble calling it from a standard improper starting point; it just
makes the first allemande a little less than once.
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:28:54 +1300
> From: Bill Baritompa <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] What formation is this improper dance?
> Message-ID: <4F4C5806.2040404(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi,
>
> This may seem like a silly question. It concerns Rick Mohr's
> improper dance
> "Chuck the Budgie" (on his webpage and shown on a youtube video there).
>
> I thought an improper dance has the #1's facing down the hall, facing
their
> #2's who are facing up the hall. All gents have their partners on their
> right side.
>
> Although the dance description says it's improper, it actually starts in
a
> short
> wave which you get into by Nbr Right Allemand 3/4 to have gents in the
> center
> with left hands joined. (the last 4 beats of B2, (next nbr) Right
Allemand
> 3/4
> forms the next short wave).
>
> So this dances has a formation (consisting of short waves) with the #1's
> facing up
> the hall facing their #2's who are facing down the hall. Gents have their
> partners
> on their left. Does this have a name? Are there any other dances in this
> formation?
>
> Questioningly yours,
> Bill
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 90, Issue 40
> ***************************************
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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Just wanted to mention for people whose name is not included in their
email address, it would be nice if you could identify yourself by
including your name in your post. Likewise if your email has only your
first or last name.
That being said, if I am missing that there is some other way to
identify people on this group then I am all ears.
Thanks,
Mark Widmer
I determine "overused" when I scan my program for the evening and 3-4
dances in a row has a certain figure (allemande 1 1/2, circle, balance and
swing, Ladies chain, etc). And when I look at my dance cards I see a lot of
Heys, circle 3/4 and allemande 1 1/2 alot.
When I balance my program for an evening I not only look for diversity in
the individual figures, I also look at the overall direction of each dance's
choreography. For example, are all the figures across the dance ie, hey
or forward and back or chain, R&L through or allemande across? Then my
next dance may be stars, circles, and allemandes on side or something up and
down the set (to a shadow) or down the hall or an oval.
Donna Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 2/27/2012 5:51:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
grekenzie(a)gmail.com writes:
What is so great about the "ProgramPlanning Matrix" is that it seems to be
based upon input from a number of experienced, key people. Nevertheless,
the matrix does place a significant burden on programmers. If you add in
local preferences and personal preferences the task of programming becomes
much more of a challenge. In general this is probably a good thing.
I agree that it is the variation in the transitions, the music, the
dancers, and the calling styles that adds excitement to contras. I'm not
too concerned, personally, with "overused" figures. For me it is the
non-basic figures that seem to be "overused." Keeping it simple and
accessible allows greater participation which is what insures lots of
variation in the people you interact with at each dance, and this--in my
opinion--is the real draw of contras.
If you think a figure is "overused," what is the basis of your opinion? is
it:
- comments from dancers
- comments from programmers
- personal preference
- or something else?
Just wondering.
- Greg McKenzie
*****************
On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 10:53 AM, <Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com> wrote:
> I agree.
> Does anyone else think that Men allemande Left 1 1/2 is overused?
> How about Circle Left 3/4? Lately, I've been programming specifically
to
> avoid having a circle in each dance. It's surprisingly difficult to
find
> dances that don't have circles.
>
> Donna Hunt
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
So i feel a bit silly walking into this discussion with such a simplistic
answer, but - to me it only merits referring to a dance by an alternate
formation if there's absolutely no way to set the dance up as a standard
formation (eg, a becket-indecent). Unlike a dance which starts with a wave
balance, "Chuck the Budgie" simply starts with a gents allemande L. I've
had no trouble calling it from a standard improper starting point; it just
makes the first allemande a little less than once.
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:28:54 +1300
> From: Bill Baritompa <staf186(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] What formation is this improper dance?
> Message-ID: <4F4C5806.2040404(a)ext.canterbury.ac.nz>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi,
>
> This may seem like a silly question. It concerns Rick Mohr's
> improper dance
> "Chuck the Budgie" (on his webpage and shown on a youtube video there).
>
> I thought an improper dance has the #1's facing down the hall, facing their
> #2's who are facing up the hall. All gents have their partners on their
> right side.
>
> Although the dance description says it's improper, it actually starts in a
> short
> wave which you get into by Nbr Right Allemand 3/4 to have gents in the
> center
> with left hands joined. (the last 4 beats of B2, (next nbr) Right Allemand
> 3/4
> forms the next short wave).
>
> So this dances has a formation (consisting of short waves) with the #1's
> facing up
> the hall facing their #2's who are facing down the hall. Gents have their
> partners
> on their left. Does this have a name? Are there any other dances in this
> formation?
>
> Questioningly yours,
> Bill
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 90, Issue 40
> ***************************************
>
I can't tell if I'm remembering or writing a dance. Anyone recognize this?
Becket, ccw
A1
Men allemande Left 1.5x
Neighbor swing, end facing cw in big oval (women inside)
A2
Promenade with neighbor
Women turn back and swing new neighbor
B1
Promenade back until across from partner
Men allemande Left 1.5x
B2
Partner gypsy (R) and swing
Thanks.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
www.lukedonev.com
Linda:
Do you have a electronic copy of Larry's grid?
If so would you please share?
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 2/27/2012 2:08:23 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
laleslierjg(a)comcast.net writes:
I agree that men allemande left is found in many good dances and can
be overused in a program; circles and long lines forward and back are
other moves that can fit this category. One of the many advantages to
Caller's Companion, or the use of the grid developed by Larry
Jennings, is to help avoid repetitious moves. Using this feature has
helped in my program planning!
Linda
On Feb 27, 2012, at 1:53 PM, Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com wrote:
> I agree.
> Does anyone else think that Men allemande Left 1 1/2 is overused?
> How about Circle Left 3/4? Lately, I've been programming
> specifically to
> avoid having a circle in each dance. It's surprisingly difficult
> to find
> dances that don't have circles.
>
> Donna Hunt
> "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we
> should
> dance." -unknown
>
>
> In a message dated 2/27/2012 12:18:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> 95sg23(a)comcast.net writes:
>
> I like the "Gang of Four" much better, as IMHO men AL 1 1/2 is the
> most
> over-used figure in contradancing, and the other dance has (yikes!)
> two of
> them.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joy Greenwolfe" <joy2the(a)mindspring.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 12:46:36 AM
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Does this exist?
>
> Hi Luke and all,
>
> This is strongly reminiscent of Gene Hubert's Gang of Four, but I
> think yours is distinct.
>
> Joy Greenwolfe
> Durham, NC
>
> For comparison:
> Gang of Four by Gene Hubert, Jan '92
> duple contra Becket
>
> A1
> Circle L 3/4
> N swing, end facing in promenade position in large oval (gents L
> shoulder to the inside)
> A2
> Promenade around the oval CCW, going around the ends like a bicycle
> chain (about 6 steps)
> Ladies turn back to swing the new gent behind
> B1
> All circle L in large oval
> Forward and back (make sure you're across from P by the end)
> B2
> (new) Ladies allemande R 1+1/2
> P swing
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2012, at 11:00 PM, Luke Donforth wrote:
>
>> I can't tell if I'm remembering or writing a dance. Anyone recognize
>> this?
>>
>> Becket, ccw
>> A1
>> Men allemande Left 1.5x
>> Neighbor swing, end facing cw in big oval (women inside)
>> A2
>> Promenade with neighbor
>> Women turn back and swing new neighbor
>> B1
>> Promenade back until across from partner
>> Men allemande Left 1.5x
>> B2
>> Partner gypsy (R) and swing
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --
>> Luke Donforth
>> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
>> www.lukedonev.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
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