Query: How do you do the Cast Off in your area?
I am surprised that the only variation mentioned so far is where the
pivot point is (and I would agree with Colin on that - it is always
intended to be between the two dancers, but anything can happen!).
Depending on the background and skills of the dancers I also see
variations such as:
- the gatepost faces in the opposite direction to the active dancer
instead of the same direction
- connection can be via hand-hold, elbow-hook hold or arm around the
back
- if connection is with the hand then it can follow the convention of
man offering from below, or gatepost offering from below
The face-opposite-directions and elbow-hook hold is great for doing an
extra half turn and switching partners if the dance allows for it :-)
There is also variation in naming - Cast Off, Hand Cast, Wheel Around,
Gate, etc.
I am not sure it is a regional thing - more a matter of where and how
you first learnt to do it.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events, Instructional DVDs and
Interactive Maps
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Contra Dancing in Kent
Hi:
Someone asked me how to go about starting new contra dance series. Rather
than start from scratch making a list of everything to consider when
starting out, I'm wondering if any of you have a list or if there is an online
resource for this. Perhaps CDSS has something?
Donna Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
I'll be touring in North America October next year. If your group
might be interested in booking me to run dances or workshops, please
see http://www.colinhume.com/tour.htm
Colin Hume
Jeff Kaufman asked where dancers dance the cast off with the twos
acting as the pivot point. One place for sure is the Washington DC
area (that's my original dance community). But I'm talking more
about the past when we did the older dances.
Some dancers responded to me directly. Two dancers from the same
dance community reported completely different answers. One caller
made the point that it's very rare for a caller to go over the fine
points of a cast off. I think this is a good point since there are
so many other things to teach, like safety (safe allemandes), timing,
how to do the more common moves well etc. The finer points of a cast
of are relatively speaking not that important.
Thanks to all of you for helping me out on this.
I wrote a couple dances to fill gaps in the program at this evening's
Pittsburgh dance, and they both went quite well. But since they were
inspired by a number of other dances there's a good chance they already
exist. Anybody recognize either of these?
Dance A
Becket (ccw)
A1:
(8) Long lines forward; on the way back, men roll partner away
(8) Pass through across. Each person turns 1/4 to their right and everyone
walk single file around the set to the next neighbors
A2:
(8) Right hand star once around with new neighbors (hands across)
(8) Gents drop out, Women allemande right 1 1/2
B1:
(16) Balance and swing neighbor
B2:
(8) Men allemande left 1 1/2
(8) Swing partner
Note: The single file promenade flows nicely into the hands across star if
the gents take right hand as they pass each other and the women fall in
behind them.
Dance B
Becket (cw)
A1:
(8) Long lines forward and back
(8) Right and left through
A2:
(8) Circle left 3/4
(8) Neighbor swing
B1:
(8) Ladies chain on the left diagonal (to shadow)
(8) Give right hands to the person across the set, balance, pull by right.
Pull by shadow left. [like a piece of an interrupted square through]
B2:
(16) Balance and swing partner
Thanks,
Bronwyn
I'm in the process of writing a book on the ins and outs of
choreography. The last chapter is a glossary of uncommon moves used
in contras. I remember, maybe 15 years ago, someone wrote a dance
that used a move called a hockey stick. Does anyone know the dance/
know the move? My memory is that dancers walk across the set single
file and then turn a quarter and move either up or down.
Also, I may have discovered some regional differences in the move
cast off. I realize that cast off isn't done as much as it was many
years ago, but I wanted to know how you do it in your area. Say the
ones go down the hall, return and cast off with the twos. Do the
twos act as a pivot point? Or do the twos back up while the ones
cast (the pivot is between the dancers).
Thanks for you help!!!!
Tom
It's also called "button-hook" by some dance writers. (Isn't that what Jim Kitch calls it in "Bees in the Shower?")
-----Original Message-----
>From: kheine(a)twcny.rr.com
>Sent: Feb 23, 2011 3:00 PM
>To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
>Cc: callers-request(a)sharedweight.net
>Subject: [Callers] uncommon moves--"hockey stick"/"fishhook"
>
>Here in Ithaca, the figure that you refer to as a "hockey stick" is called a "fishhook." --K
>
>>
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:57:33 -0500
>> From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
>> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> Subject: [Callers] cast off
>> Message-ID: <ADC6A104-0E5C-452A-B7F4-3B85B8BBA8D8(a)earthlink.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>>
>> I'm in the process of writing a book on the ins and outs of
>> choreography. The last chapter is a glossary of uncommon moves used
>> in contras. I remember, maybe 15 years ago, someone wrote a dance
>> that used a move called a hockey stick. Does anyone know the dance/
>> know the move? My memory is that dancers walk across the set single
>> file and then turn a quarter and move either up or down.
>>
>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 9
>> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:26:41 EST
>> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
>> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> Subject: Re: [Callers] cast off
>> Message-ID: <847d4.3874e54d.3a968f41(a)aol.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
>>
>> Bumbling in the Shower Erik Smith Becket-L
>> A1. 8 Long lines forward and back
>> 8 Gents allem L 1?
>> A2. 4,12 Neighbor balance, & swing
>> B1. 8 Ladies chain to partner
>> 8 Pass thru across and turn R ? and single file promenade to next
>> couple
>> B2. 8 Circle L
>> 8 Partner swing
>>
>> I collected this in the late 80's/early 90's and it has the "hockey stick"
>> you're talking about.
>>
>
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Bree Kalb, LCSW
301 W. Weaver St.
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919-932-6262 ext 216
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Here in Ithaca, the figure that you refer to as a "hockey stick" is called a "fishhook." --K
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:57:33 -0500
> From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] cast off
> Message-ID: <ADC6A104-0E5C-452A-B7F4-3B85B8BBA8D8(a)earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> I'm in the process of writing a book on the ins and outs of
> choreography. The last chapter is a glossary of uncommon moves used
> in contras. I remember, maybe 15 years ago, someone wrote a dance
> that used a move called a hockey stick. Does anyone know the dance/
> know the move? My memory is that dancers walk across the set single
> file and then turn a quarter and move either up or down.
>
> Tom
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:26:41 EST
> From: Dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] cast off
> Message-ID: <847d4.3874e54d.3a968f41(a)aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> Bumbling in the Shower Erik Smith Becket-L
> A1. 8 Long lines forward and back
> 8 Gents allem L 1?
> A2. 4,12 Neighbor balance, & swing
> B1. 8 Ladies chain to partner
> 8 Pass thru across and turn R ? and single file promenade to next
> couple
> B2. 8 Circle L
> 8 Partner swing
>
> I collected this in the late 80's/early 90's and it has the "hockey stick"
> you're talking about.
>
Bumbling in the Shower Erik Smith Becket-L
A1. 8 Long lines forward and back
8 Gents allem L 1½
A2. 4,12 Neighbor balance, & swing
B1. 8 Ladies chain to partner
8 Pass thru across and turn R ¼ and single file promenade to next
couple
B2. 8 Circle L
8 Partner swing
I collected this in the late 80's/early 90's and it has the "hockey stick"
you're talking about.
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
In a message dated 2/23/2011 8:57:09 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
twhinds(a)earthlink.net writes:
I'm in the process of writing a book on the ins and outs of
choreography. The last chapter is a glossary of uncommon moves used
in contras. I remember, maybe 15 years ago, someone wrote a dance
that used a move called a hockey stick. Does anyone know the dance/
know the move? My memory is that dancers walk across the set single
file and then turn a quarter and move either up or down.
Also, I may have discovered some regional differences in the move
cast off. I realize that cast off isn't done as much as it was many
years ago, but I wanted to know how you do it in your area. Say the
ones go down the hall, return and cast off with the twos. Do the
twos act as a pivot point? Or do the twos back up while the ones
cast (the pivot is between the dancers).
Thanks for you help!!!!
Tom
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
We had a discussion the other night - not about how many walkthroughs, but
about how many times the caller should call before dropping out.
Obviously, it depends.
So, for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume a new-dancer to
intermediate dancer to experienced dancer ratio of 1:2:1. If everyone were
evenly scattered by dance level, each group of four would have two
intermediate dancers, one beginner and one very experienced dancer. Let's
not assume that the dancers are evenly scattered, but are slightly clumped,
so that beginners do encounter each other occasionally, sometimes with only
a couple of intermediate dancers to help them.
Let's further assume that the dance is in the part of the country where two
walkthroughs is considered appropriate - where, even if the first
walkthrough goes just fine, the second one cements the learning and leaves
you in a position to "dance it from here." Let's further assume that the
dance lasts about nine minutes (17 times through).
Here's the question: If you have taught an easy dance clearly, *and the
dance appears to be going well*, how many times through the dance should you
call? Once or twice with full calls ("join hands and circle to the left"),
once or twice with shortened calls ("circle left") and then nothing? Or five
times through with full calls, three times with shortened calls, then
nothing?
How much is too much? How little is too little?
M
E
--
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
