Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

18 participants
4408 discussions

by Chris Weiler (home)

I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate with the band on music for specific dances. What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. Thanks! Chris

13 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Family dances

by JohnFreem＠aol.com

Chris, There is not "correct" answer for this. This is "folk dance". That said, do you know your audience? I've been leading a family dance series for 21 years now. We've learned to plan a wide variety of dances because we never know who is going to show up. I am a huge fan of play party singing games and very simple dances for a younger set. We usually have a group of high school foreign exchange students show up for either our January or February dance. I've warned the band and the other leaders to be prepared! Many simple play party games can be done to almost any reel or jig if YOU make it okay. If this is an ONS, then make it fun and don't worry too much about form or what is "correct". Keep it simple and keep it fun. You should be able to find a ton of play party games and simple dances online. Good luck! John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ

13 years, 10 months

Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend 2012

by Chris Weiler (SW)

Hello everyone! Once again, this weekend is the Ralph Page event at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. Once again, many of us will be there. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this year, as I have for the past several years. I sincerely hope that all of you that are attending will continue the SharedWeight lunches on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. Would someone like to step up and volunteer to push tables together for everyone? Maybe this year someone would like to coordinate a potluck? I'll miss seeing everyone and all of the wonderful dancing and conversations that happen every year. Have a blast! Thanks, everyone, for your participation on these lists in 2011. You make these lists the valuable resources that they are. Looking forward to an even better 2012! Happy dancing! Chris Weiler Craftsbury, VT

13 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Changing on the last round for a partner swing

by John W Gintell

> > From: Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing > Subject: [Callers] Changing on the last round for a partner swing > > Callers -- > > > > So what do y'all think? What do you do? How you do think people like it? There are some dances where you are placed far from your partner at the end which I think should always be altered for a partner swing. Otherwise, I'd say just sometimes is appropriate.

13 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Changing on the last round for a partner swing

by tavi merrill

I also speak from limited calling experience (4 years, in Maine and more recently Boston). I do give more programmatic weight to becket dances towards the end of the halves, and occasionally i'll modify a B part that already circles left to end with a partner swing. (I take a fairly conservative approach based on my own experience as a dancer. I may be atypical but i rarely find partners i'm so into that i want every dance to end with a swing. IMO, if this were all about partners, people would be dancing salsa or swing; i prefer the more communally-oriented tradition of contra. No doubt there are also a variety of opinions among the dancers.) I'd say there are two basic approaches a caller can take to this question: develop a style that is authentically your own (if you love to end with a swing, do it; if not, why bother?) or consult people in the dance communities you're visiting as a caller and modify your approach to suit local tastes. There is however a technique no one has brought up so far, one used by several callers i know. I don't think it at all awkward to acknowledge a new neighbor and then acknowledge my partner, and to that end some callers simply say "and bow to your partner" as the music finishes, always careful to ensure it dovetails with what the band is doing. Will however agree with Chris, the most disappointing of common B2 options to end with is ladies chain to a left hand star, though i do not think disappointment is intrinsic to the moves. Perhaps it is because we have failed to cultivate the basic sense of dancing 'with' the others on all moves, even the most mundane connective tissue of the dance. The great strength of this tradition is its plurality.

13 years, 10 months

Caller's (and Musicians) Workshops in Deerfield, NH Feb and March

by Rickey Holt

contra dance music and calling workshops deerfield, nh Feb. 4 - Carol Compton, "Play in the Band": Feb. 4 - David Millstone, "Call Chestnuts" March 3 - Chris Ricciotti, "CALLER'S WORKSHOP - A SOLID FOUNDATION" Sylvia Miskoe "Play Your Accordion for Dancing". *** RSVP, ASAP to reserve a space. Info and reservations: <mailto:holt.e@comcast.net> holt.e(a)comcast.net, (603) 679-1915 *** *** PRICE: $25.00, includes admission to the evening dance where workshop leaders will be calling and playing. *** (Contact us at the above address to explore the possibility of a few limited scholarships if needed). *** Additional details will be sent to workshop participants. *** Additional info: contact holt.e(a)comcast.net and I will send you a copy of the flyer.

13 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 88, Issue 36

by Martha Wild

FYI Choreography, choreographer. Martha Wild On Dec 31, 2011, at 9:00 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: Do you share - or don't you? (Greg McKenzie) > 2. Re: Do you share - or don't you? (Ron Nelson) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:17:20 -0800 > From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com> > To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you? > Message-ID: > <CAFqkWLvY-vB7_bpbn2YMTgHV5-jn_RtDEKaynAT15u4uORf2QA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Hanny wrote: > >> Valid reasons indeed, Colin. But what about dances that are NOT >> your own >> and that you call? Does anybody ever announce 'please don't call >> this dance >> without speaking to me first' or somesuch? >> > > I can see why some coriographers may want to insulate a new dance > from the > folk process...for a time. Eventually, however, the folks will get > a hold > of it and you will lose control. I don't know of many dances that are > being hoarded by callers. It seems like a doomed effort in any > case. If > someone doesn't want their dance called I will remove it from my > database > and allow it to spiral into the oblivion of "protected works" where it > belongs. The musicians play public domain music and I feel that we > should > call dances that are also available for free use. There are plenty of > great dances available without restriction and more being written > all the > time. I always give credit to the alleged coriographer on my cards > and > when I pass a dance on. If you want to become immortalized by your > work it > is best not to keep it in a lockbox. > > - Greg > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:24:21 +0000 > From: Ron Nelson <callerman(a)hotmail.com> > To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you? > Message-ID: <BAY171-W136DA2E1056637AF29B2850B8920(a)phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > When I first started calling square dances, some 50 years ago, I > would attend other callers' dances to research my own presentation. > i would carry a little notebook in my pocket to make notes. The > point is, once you have presented the figure in public, it is no > longer within your control. You can only control its being > reprinted without proper recognition and permission. > > Ron Nelson > Chula Vista, CA > > > > >> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:17:20 -0800 >> From: grekenzie(a)gmail.com >> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Do you share - or don't you? >> >> Hanny wrote: >> >>> Valid reasons indeed, Colin. But what about dances that are NOT >>> your own >>> and that you call? Does anybody ever announce 'please don't call >>> this dance >>> without speaking to me first' or somesuch? >>> >> >> I can see why some coriographers may want to insulate a new dance >> from the >> folk process...for a time. Eventually, however, the folks will get >> a hold >> of it and you will lose control. I don't know of many dances that are >> being hoarded by callers. It seems like a doomed effort in any >> case. If >> someone doesn't want their dance called I will remove it from my >> database >> and allow it to spiral into the oblivion of "protected works" >> where it >> belongs. The musicians play public domain music and I feel that we >> should >> call dances that are also available for free use. There are plenty of >> great dances available without restriction and more being written >> all the >> time. I always give credit to the alleged coriographer on my cards >> and >> when I pass a dance on. If you want to become immortalized by your >> work it >> is best not to keep it in a lockbox. >> >> - Greg >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 36 > ***************************************

13 years, 10 months

Do you share - or don't you?

by Hanny Budnick

I wrote two emails to the person who definitely knew a dance (the caller) asking the relevant questions about author, correct name and choreography. When no answer came, I turned to this list, successfully. Now I wonder about folks' attitude about sharing the materials they carry in their collection, and about which they are being asked. Once a dance has been presented on a public dance floor, do you elect NOT to share? And what might be your reasons? Hanny

13 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Groundhog Daze

by Jim Hemphill

I had the opportunity to try out the dance last night on live dancers and it went very well, got lots of positive feedback from the dancers. Jim Hemphill

13 years, 10 months

Double contra - whodunnit?

by Hanny Budnick

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

13 years, 10 months

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Contra Callers