*Short story: I wanna play fiddle with Laurie, not call. Want my gig? You
can use it to break in new material...*
Whole story:
The East Putney dance has been happening last-Saturday-of-the month for *
decades*, and by gum this Saturday will be no exception.
It's a great local dance - a real core following of warm, idiosyncratic
local people who will gladly dance any dance in any formation.
Plus there's the always popular outhouse.
This month I'm on the docket to cover calling; it's also an "All-Comers"
open band night, with Laurie Indenbaum on fiddle and Carol Compton on piano.
Usually that brings out a slew of local sit-in musicians, and all their
friends. Usually.
Here's the deal this month:
down in Greenfield they're having a big Extravadance so that's where the
hardcore supertwirlers are going to go.
in Brattleboro, it's the big Northern Roots festival weekend, so all of the
usual All-Comers will be at the culminating concert.
So it's my turn to be loyal and keep the home fires burning, and I'm happy
to do it.
It's going to be small but convivial and we'll probablyl have a short but
good time -- probably go straight through without a long break until
ten-ish and then head home.
Here's the rub, though - I loooove playing twin fiddle harmonies with
Laurie.
If I'm going to make lousy money having a good time, I'd rather have an
even better time and make REALLY lousy money.
So if you want to call the whole night while I play, great!
Want to pull out a bunch of French Canadian five-couple dances and use us
as guinea pigs? Sound's terrific!
Practice your Ted's triplets, or chestnuts like Moneymusk, or sing a
square? We like 'em all.
Want to call half the night, and do only squares, and dance with your
sweetie inbetween while I call the circles and contras? Sure!
email me back or call my cell phone 802-222-7598
*PRE-DANCE "potluck" at my house beforehand, let's pool our resources and
check out the TAKE-OUT CHINESE from the newly-revived General Store!*
Jim posted his dance here about a month ago, it was a subject of some
discussion for a while. The ending is as Richard Fischer had said.
Mark Widmer
Here is Jim's post:
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:31:08 -0600
From: Jim Hemphill<arcadian35(a)gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Groundhog Day
I'm fairly new to Calling and fascinated with Contra dance choreography.
Below is my attempt at a Groundhog day dance. The groundhog starts his
day by looking for his shadow and so does this dance.
Groundhog Daze Becket
A1 Gypsy your shadow
Partner swing
A2 Circle left 3 places
Balance the circle, 1's make an arch, 2's dive thru
B1 Next neighbor balance and swing
B2 Long lines forward and back
Ladies allemande right 1/2, partner allemande left 3/4
I know there are thousands of dances out there so if this is not an
original, please let me know the true name.
Thanks, Jim Hemphill
> From: Dave Colestock<contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
>
> Looks like the B2 is incomplete.? Do you have the last move of the dance, Bob?? It doesn't work as written, nor with a repeat of the long lines f&b.? Thanks,
> ?
> Dave Colestock
> Harrisburg, PA
> ?
> ?
> ?
> ?
> --- On Wed, 1/25/12, Bob Green<bobgreen(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>
>
> From: Bob Green<bobgreen(a)swbell.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
> To: "Caller's discussion list"<callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 12:39 PM
>
>
> Here's one that would be totally appropriate for the occasion
>
> *Groundhog Daze*???by jim Hemphill???Becket
> A1 Shadow Gypsy once around
> ? ???Partner Swing
> A2 Circle left 3 places
> ? ???Balance the circle, 1's arch, 2's dive thru
> B1 Next neighbor balance and swing
> B2 Long lines forward and back
>
> Bob
> :
>
>
>
Andrea, given that the ladies have to take a step to center before taking hands and turning, it seems to take 4 beats, then the 3/4 takes 4 more. But even if folks reach their shadow a beat or two early, there's no harm since it's a gypsy. It seemed to me like a minimum of teaching was adequate.
As we've discussed here, look at my video of it on YouTube (search for it by dance title or check out my channel, "Contra Dances with Brian Hamshar").
Brian
Hello all,
Ground Hog's Day is more than a month away, but I wanted to send the
question out now. What are your favorite dances with shadows (or trail
buddies)?
Thanks
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
www.lukedonev.com
Dave, the B2 for Groundhog Daze is:
Long lines
Ladies right allemande 1/2
Partners left allemande 3/4 to face shadow
I just called this last Wednesday in Baltimore, and it's a really nice dance.
Brian Hamshar
-----Original Message-----
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 3:39:32 pm
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
From: "Dave Colestock" <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
Looks like the B2 is incomplete. Do you have the last move of the dance, Bob? It doesn't work as written, nor with a repeat of the long lines f&b. Thanks,
Dave Colestock
Harrisburg, PA
--- On Wed, 1/25/12, Bob Green <bobgreen(a)swbell.net> wrote:
From: Bob Green <bobgreen(a)swbell.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 12:39 PM
Here's one that would be totally appropriate for the occasion
*Groundhog Daze* by jim Hemphill Becket
A1 Shadow Gypsy once around
Partner Swing
A2 Circle left 3 places
Balance the circle, 1's arch, 2's dive thru
B1 Next neighbor balance and swing
B2 Long lines forward and back
Bob
:
On Sun, Dec 25, 2011 at 8:22 AM, Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Ground Hog's Day is more than a month away, but I wanted to send the
> question out now. What are your favorite dances with shadows (or trail
> buddies)?
>
> 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
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
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http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Sorry that my response to the "B2" question just now duplicated someone else's.
If any of you want to see my video of Groundhog Daze, it's on my new YouTube channel "Contra Dancing with Brian Hamshar." Just search for Groundhog Daze.
Brian
Hi Dorcas! Yes, Susan once told me when she called in Dallas that was why
she named Trip to Phan (or however it's been handed around) what she did: a
pun involving the amino acid prevalent in turkey (which makes us sleepy) as
a nod to all the "Trip to" dances.
Ruth
Hanny, could. It be devil's dervish by Linda Leslie?
All best,
Kim
On Dec 26, 2011 12:00 PM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> callers(a)sharedweight.net
>
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Shadow Dances? (Greg McKenzie)
> 2. Report Back: Hello and a few questions... (Don Veino)
> 3. Re: Report Back: Hello and a few questions... (Colin Hume)
> 4. Groundhog day (Walter)
> 5. Re: Groundhog day (Luke Donforth)
> 6. Re: Shadow Dances? (Luke Donforth)
> 7. Double contra - whodunnit? (Hanny Budnick)
> 8. Easy and Fun (holt.e(a)comcast.net)
> 9. Re: Double contra - whodunnit? (Chris Page)
> 10. Re: Double contra - whodunnit? (Bree Kalb)
> 11. Re: Easy and Fun (Donald Primrose)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:30:36 -0800
> From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
> Message-ID:
> <CAFqkWLtxghWVYAcCVL-0WXDXmhL2Q_-R2f+g+EeqeCqsXhurYA(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Colin wrote:
>
> > Surely the objection to mixers (in The States) is that you don't get to
> > swing your original partner every time through the dance. In most mixers
> > you wouldn't swing the same shadow every time - if you did I'd change the
> > starting format so that the person you swing is actually the one you
> asked
> > to dance.
> >
>
> I suspect that the real objection to unannounced mixers is that they remove
> control of the partnering process from the dancers. With a shadow dance
> every dancer is assigned a second "partner" in the form of a shadow,
> someone they might not want to partner with. That's why some dislike
> shadow swings.
>
> I like mixers, in general. But I also think it is very important to
> empower the dancers to partner with whomever they wish. This is key to
> integrating first-timers as well. When you give control of the partnering
> process to the regulars you also give responsibility to the regulars for
> integrating newcomers. It is important to maintain the caller-dancer trust
> relationship.
>
> - Greg McKenzie
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:33:16 -0500
> From: Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Report Back: Hello and a few questions...
> Message-ID:
> <CAAJTtiLYnZCmpotK82LwJyQh1XNq_M83e4Grc5ZwhiAgjdcNZQ(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Hi, I realize I owed a report back on my first gig experience.
>
> In the simplest summary, it went great. I had planned a program of more
> basic, very connected dances based upon the crowd I was expecting. It
> turned out that we had zero newbies and kept most of the crowd from the
> start right through to the end, which made me want to stretch the material
> in the second half. I ended up pulling up a few cards I'd prepped for
> another venue, and modified a bit for better connection/orientation (eg: in
> *A Rare Bird* making the pass bys into pull bys, gypsy to allemande, etc.)
> and all went well.
>
> To the best of my recollection, my program was:
>
> Alamo Intro - Circle - Al Green
> Get Me Going - DI - Lisa Greenleaf
> Broken Transcription - DI - Don Veino (yet another variant on Broken
> Sixpence)
> Polymorphous' Reel - DI - Christine Hale (dance written in honor of the
> prior incarnation of the band, request by organizer)
> You're Among Friends - DI - Bob Isaacs
> Butter - Becket - Gene Hubert (my video of this night's walk-through and
> dance at http://youtu.be/pqSoOvu2wI0 )
> ---
> Nail That Catfish To The Tree - DI - Walter Davies [+Bob Dalsemer]
> (unfortunately, tune was not in the band's portfolio)
> Special Delivery - Becket - Nell Wright
> Redbeard Reel - Becket - Bob Isaacs (written for dancers that were present)
> A Rare Bird - DI - Bob Isaacs, var: Lisa Greenleaf, plus mods on the fly by
> me
> The Big Easy - DI - Becky Hill
>
> I had two points of trickiness in my teaching. In Special Delivery, my prep
> notes were unclear about whether the B2 L Chain was across or on diagonal
> so I taught it straight across then figured it out in the walkthrough it
> was diagonal. In Rare Bird, I had not refined my language enough in prep to
> clearly describe the current N pull by coming out of the LH Star at the
> bottom of the B2, resulting in me having to talk more than I planned and
> run through a second time to get it across. I now have better card notes
> for both.
>
> Thanks for the tips and info from this list! I put a bunch of it to good
> use and hope to apply more soon. I got good feedback from several dancers,
> had fun with the band, and the organizer was very happy (and has invited me
> back).
>
> -Don
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:40:43 +0000
> From: Colin Hume <colin(a)colinhume.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Report Back: Hello and a few questions...
> Message-ID: <4EF824FB.4030404(a)colinhume.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Don -
>
> Sounds as if you did a great job - congratulations!
>
> On 26/12/2011 07:33, Don Veino wrote:
> > I now have better card notes for both.
>
> That's so important - there are callers who always cause confusion at
> some point in some dance but never change their card!
>
> Colin Hume
>
> E-mail: colin(a)colinhume.com Website: http://www.colinhume.com
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4702 - Release Date: 12/25/11
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:13:20 -0500
> From: Walter <walterdaves(a)windstream.net>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Groundhog day
> Message-ID: <4EF872F0.9050405(a)windstream.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> The applicability of shadow dances notwithstanding, I have also used
> tunnel dances and dances with a dip and dive progression in honor of the
> other piece of the tradition, namely, coming out of the hole to greet
> the whatever.
> Walter
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:24:30 -0500
> From: Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Groundhog day
> Message-ID:
> <CAFrKOZa-pqugrQsgdoA8KwYCW2AaGu8=+22EK6ObhT20SF-Vng(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> The applicability of shadow dances notwithstanding, I have also used tunnel
> > dances and dances with a dip and dive progression in honor of the other
> > piece of the tradition, namely, coming out of the hole to greet the
> > whatever.
> > Walter
> >
>
> A nice additional twist, Walter. Do you have favorites for that? I wonder
> if there are any dip & dives that also have shadows...? And now I'm
> contemplating a double-length (128 bar) dance where you meet your shadow
> only every other time... such ways lie madness and sleepless night
> choreographing dances that never get called...
>
> Thanks though, I like the dip and dive idea.
>
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
> www.lukedonev.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:26:14 -0500
> From: Luke Donforth <luke.donev(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow Dances?
> Message-ID:
> <CAFrKOZb=bt+jusuQd-Ma_TYqj4xnTXtg1ybVzaMkSDOmH8CPWw(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> > Perhaps with that in mind Luke, if you are going to have a number of
> > shadow dances, let the interaction with the shadow be different in each
> > dance: one a swing, the next allemandes, the next a gypsy, a do si do,
> what
> > have you. Sounds fun. Wish I could be there. :)
> > Andrea
> >
> >
> A good idea Andrea. I hadn't planned on putting in more than two shadow
> dances in an evening anyway, but even at two I think varying the shadow
> interaction is the way to do it.
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
> www.lukedonev.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:01:53 -0500
> From: Hanny Budnick <kyrmyt(a)cavtel.net>
> To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Double contra - whodunnit?
> Message-ID: <4EF89A71.7020407(a)cavtel.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I failed to note it down immediately after dancing it... Maybe one of you
> can
> fill in the considerable gaps, please:
> 1) The choreography stems from 'someone in California'.
> 2) Formation: two improper contra lines, close together for a double dance
> across the whole set
> 3) there's a hey for all eight in it
> Your turn....
> Thanks, Hanny
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:03:07 -0500
> From: "holt.e(a)comcast.net" <holt.e(a)comcast.net>
> To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Easy and Fun
> Message-ID: <380-22011121261637881(a)M2W108.mail2web.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi all,
> I am about to call a dance the character of which has changed from what I
> expected and I need some easy dances. I had harder material planned and
> while I do have some material that is probably easy enough, I am not sure
> that it is. The dance is at a college. It is for college students only,
> pssibly only students from that college, and we are now hoping for a large
> contingent of beginers; perhaps mostly beginners. Have you any expereince
> with a similar situation? I am thinking along the lines of ONS dances,
> although if we made a few into regulars for the regular dance there that
> would be great. So: "no-partner" dances, mixers (I have January Mixer - a
> great one), Set dances ("Once and to the bottoms") .......
> We intend to have a blast!
> Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:14:33 -0500
> From: Chris Page <chriscpage(a)gmail.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Double contra - whodunnit?
> Message-ID:
> <CAObbV+NTLi-=tZ0YyZ+YKeENoue-Zjwh-g9VO9PagvTtn-tQ0w(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 11:01 AM, Hanny Budnick <kyrmyt(a)cavtel.net> wrote:
> > I failed to note it down immediately after dancing it... Maybe one of you
> > can fill in the considerable gaps, please:
> > 1) The choreography stems from 'someone in California'.
> > 2) Formation: two improper contra lines, close together for a double
> dance
> > ? across the whole set
> > 3) there's a hey for all eight in it
> > Your turn....
> > Thanks, Hanny
>
>
> "Major Hey" by Erik Hoffman? It also has Rory o' More slides in it,
> and is 40 bars. Though I think it's a Becket 4-face-4.
>
>
> -Chris Page
> San Diego
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:17:05 -0500
> From: "Bree Kalb" <bree(a)mindspring.com>
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Double contra - whodunnit?
> Message-ID: <ECD7604DAEE1417395377A682DA8CDD2@BreeHomeLaptop>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=response
>
> Might be Major Hey by Erik Hoffman. Here's a link to a previous discussion
> and description on this list.
>
> http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2007-December/001112.html
>
> Bree Kalb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hanny Budnick
> Sent: Monday, December 26, 2011 11:01 AM
> To: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Double contra - whodunnit?
>
> I failed to note it down immediately after dancing it... Maybe one of you
> can
> fill in the considerable gaps, please:
> 1) The choreography stems from 'someone in California'.
> 2) Formation: two improper contra lines, close together for a double dance
> across the whole set
> 3) there's a hey for all eight in it
> Your turn....
> Thanks, Hanny
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:59:51 -0500
> From: Donald Primrose <limerickfarm(a)gmail.com>
> To: holt.e(a)comcast.net, "Caller's discussion list"
> <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Easy and Fun
> Message-ID:
> <CAD4tQvbCdVuNcm6MOgGECg79kYQDwtm_WK_P5bhqrr77YB8QgQ(a)mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Something to check on.. depends on the day of the week, and is there a
> potential that students have been drinking. Changes the dance.
>
>
> & go with the normal stuff.. no need to dumb it down, after all they
> asked you to call a contra.. I assume,
>
> -don
>
> On 12/26/11, holt.e(a)comcast.net <holt.e(a)comcast.net> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > I am about to call a dance the character of which has changed from what I
> > expected and I need some easy dances. I had harder material planned and
> > while I do have some material that is probably easy enough, I am not sure
> > that it is. The dance is at a college. It is for college students only,
> > pssibly only students from that college, and we are now hoping for a
> large
> > contingent of beginers; perhaps mostly beginners. Have you any
> expereince
> > with a similar situation? I am thinking along the lines of ONS dances,
> > although if we made a few into regulars for the regular dance there that
> > would be great. So: "no-partner" dances, mixers (I have January Mixer -
> a
> > great one), Set dances ("Once and to the bottoms") .......
> > We intend to have a blast!
> > Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> > http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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 88, Issue 28
> ***************************************
>
Sue Rosen's "Handsome Young Maids" and Rick Mohr's "Connectrix" both have a
"cloverleaf" figure, in both cases tied to a down-the-hall. Does anyone
know of dances where the cloverleaf occurs without a down-the-hall?
tavi
