Just passing along another reminder that the website for the
Southeastern Dance Leadership Conference is up and running. Lots of
great topics and opportunities to learn, discuss, and network.
http://rivertone.org/index.php
Southeast Dance Leadership Conference
Organizing Tools for Vibrant Dance Communities
October 1-3, 2010
Haw River State Park, North Carolina
Joy Greenwolfe
Durham, NC
I just posted clips from the evening dance at the Montpelier SquareBall, with
Will Mentor and Nils Fredland calling:
http://vimeo.com/13388634
This is another sampler, with short clips showing figures from give dances:
First Night Quadrille
Just Because
Little Sisters
Take Three Swings
Virginia Reel Square
Enjoy.
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
David, thanks for sharing all of these, and the previous batch (and upcoming!)!
~ Becky Nankivell
Tucson, AZ & Long Beach, CA
On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 9:00 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. trad NH squares - videos (David Millstone)
>
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: 12 Jul 2010 09:55:30 -0400
> From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
> To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com, callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] trad NH squares - videos
> Message-ID: <132921109(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> Lester Bradley calls a very traditional square dance program in central New
> Hampshire. (Lester was one of the dance callers selected to represent New
> Hampshire at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC.)
>
> Here are five videos of traditional singing squares from Lester's monthly dance
> in Wentworth, NH. The files are lower-quality than some others I've posted; I
> tried out a different compression algorithm to speed up the process.
>
> My goal in posting all this material is to encourage callers to include more
> squares in their repertoire. The squares are part of our rich country dance
> heritage and they add variety to an evening's program. For callers unfamiliar
> with this material, seeing some of the dances may make it easier for you to
> think about calling them.
>
> David Millstone
> Lebanon, NH
>
> Here's the latest batch:
>
> Red River Valley
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhOllPhq5w
> This one also has shots of the various musicians playing with Lester; those
> shots come about halfway through the video.
>
> Forward Six and Back
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wPM7ncM4Yg
>
> Comin' Round the Mountain
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tyR3J-5ydM
>
> Oh Johnny (big circle mixer)
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWRGauYCPwY
>
> Listen to the Mockingbird
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsdiBIvRLVc
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 71, Issue 9
> **************************************
>
Lester Bradley calls a very traditional square dance program in central New
Hampshire. (Lester was one of the dance callers selected to represent New
Hampshire at the 1999 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC.)
Here are five videos of traditional singing squares from Lester's monthly dance
in Wentworth, NH. The files are lower-quality than some others I've posted; I
tried out a different compression algorithm to speed up the process.
My goal in posting all this material is to encourage callers to include more
squares in their repertoire. The squares are part of our rich country dance
heritage and they add variety to an evening's program. For callers unfamiliar
with this material, seeing some of the dances may make it easier for you to
think about calling them.
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
Here's the latest batch:
Red River Valley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhOllPhq5w
This one also has shots of the various musicians playing with Lester; those
shots come about halfway through the video.
Forward Six and Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wPM7ncM4Yg
Comin' Round the Mountain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tyR3J-5ydM
Oh Johnny (big circle mixer)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWRGauYCPwY
Listen to the Mockingbird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsdiBIvRLVc
Dear callers,
I've just uploaded nine square dance videos to YouTube. Unlike the ones I
mentioned earlier from the Montpelier Square Ball, these are complete dances.
The shortest is just over 4 minutes; the longest is nearly twice that length.
You'll find both patter squares and singing squares. Enjoy!
These were all recorded at the release party for Ralph Sweet's "On the Beat with
Ralph Sweet," which was edited by Nils Fredland and published by Country Dance
and Song Society. CDSS organized the afternoon dance party at the Greenfield,
MA, Grange Hall as a way to celebrate Ralph in particular and square dancing in
general; indeed, Nils Fredland now has a part-time position with CDSS in which
he'll be looking to expand that organization's publications and recordings of
traditional American dance.
The band playing is Elixir (also recently featured on the NPR contra dance
piece), joined by three other talented New England musicians. (Full personnel
listings are given in the notes for each piece of footage.)
Technical note: Viewers of some of my other videos will note that the audio here
isn't as crisp as usual. Unfortunately, that afternoon when I attempted to patch
into the hall's PA system, I kept picking up a signal from a nearby radio
station, so the audio here comes solely from an onboard shotgun microphone. So
it goes...
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
Here's the list of the new videos:
The Auctioneer
Ralph Sweet, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBCElrznG9M
Bachelor Mill
Nils Fredland, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79t2LHhmIsY
Do-si-do and Face the Sides
Tony Parkes, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZa59b-FWIk
Little Red Wagon
Nils Fredland, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWlHdVavwk0
Marianne
Tony Parkes, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quu7SyfavZc
Sally Goodin
Ralph Sweet, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldsl2mJRH28
Shindig in the Barn
Ralph Sweet, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOfPY85ttc4
Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Tony Parkes, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmcVQ08hdjs
Wagon Wheel
Ralph Sweet, caller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AiqS0EQT88
I've uploaded some video clips from the recent Montpelier, VT, SquareBall hosted
by Will Mentor and Nils Fredland with financial support from Country Dance and
Song Society.
http://www.vimeo.com/13213390
More footage from this event (and from the Ralph Sweet book release party)
coming in the next few weeks as I get around to compressing and uploading it.
This first batch is a series of short clips illustrating some of the various
figures (and some breaks) called by different folks throughout the day.
Not a large crowd-- the event that night pulled in more folks-- but those who
were there had a good time.
Enjoy!
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
Greetings,
I'm planning for a one night stand, or, more precisely, a one dance
stand, at my brother's wedding. I'm seeing all sorts of advice here
for the kind of dances to use in such a circumstance, so thank you
all.
But... he's asking what tunes the band should play, and I have no clue
as to the names of the best traditional tunes for contra. I only need
a couple.
Thank you in advance.
-Chris
Christopher Buck
In the New England style, I think you should look at squares by Tony
Parkes. Many of his squares keep the dancers moving and are fairly
accessible. My favorite, Festival Quadrille takes a bit more skill
but has incredible flow.
For patter squares one of my favorites is Arkansas Traveler. There
are many variations of this one that are fun as well. I also suggest
that you take a look at anything written by Ed Gilmore. My
understanding is that his two 33 1/3 records are now available on
CD. You must get them!
My notes tell me that Joe Tilmont wrote Tic Tac Toe.
Tom
Steve's Tempest, in honor of a Glen Echo dancer who just loves to swing.
A1. 1s down the hall, turn as couples (8); 1s up the hall, face the
nearest 2s (8).
A2 Circ L JUST halfway (2s are back to back in the middle, 1s on the
outside), Meanwhile figure: 2s arch, let the 1s pass under while the 2s walk
forward, back to their home side, Cal twrl to face in, ready to DSD the
other set of 1s who are fast approaching because -- (other half of the
meanwhile) the 1s: pass under the arch, then pass the other set of 1s in the center
(rt shoulder), arriving across the set just in time to DSD their
respective opposites (the set of 2s they did NOT circle with). There is JUST enough
time to do this. Really. I called it in Harrisburg, and it works.
B1 (Recovery mode) Double sets of long lines forward and back (8), swing
your opposite (the one you dosidid) (8)
B2 Circle left UNTIL the 2s are on the outside (home) and the 1s are on
the inside (6-8). Swing partner in triumph and relief. 1s end the swing in
time to go down the hall (1s will have traded sides with the other 1s).
Note that while the 1s head down the hall and back, the 2s, who started
swinging halfway through B2, may keep swinging for the entire next 16 counts
-- a perfectly legal 24-count swing.
I found it helped to remind the soon-to-be-1s who were out at the top to
form a crosswise line during the A1, and watch the 1s immediately below them
-- the dance feels VERY different from the "other side." That also makes
it easier for the 1s coming up the hall not to overshoot at the top of the
line.
I'd be reluctant to call this one in a VERY crowded hall, the double pass
thru in A2 needs some shoulder room.
April Blum
In a message dated 7/1/2010 12:00:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
callers-request(a)sharedweight.net writes:
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Anyone have a "tempest" formation dance ?? (David Millstone)
2. Re: Anyone have a "tempest" formation dance ?? (Amy Cann)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: 01 Jul 2010 10:19:22 -0400
From: David.Millstone(a)valley.net (David Millstone)
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Anyone have a "tempest" formation dance ??
Message-ID: <132629016(a)retriever.VALLEY.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain
Ted Sannella's dance, "Ted's Tempest" is lots of fun, though dancers need
to
keep sets compact. You'll find directions online in the syllabi for the
Ralph
Page Dance Legacy Weekend (always a good place to go when you're looking
for
dances... start with the index and sort from there)
And Bec, you'd be particularly interested in "Toronto Tempest" by David
Smukler:
http://www.davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/DSS.html#toronto
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:36:12 -0400
From: "Amy Cann" <ACann(a)putneyschool.org>
To: millstone(a)valley.net
Cc: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Anyone have a "tempest" formation dance ??
Message-ID:
<fc.0118c72d00c372363b9aca005c4c93e4.c3723f(a)putneyschool.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I wondered where you were, David !
Anytime anyone asks "anyone have a dance in X formation "
I expect you to be there with a "yes of course, here's three great ones " i
pretty much immediately...
Cheers,
Amy
(long live non-contra's !)
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End of Callers Digest, Vol 71, Issue 1
**************************************
Thanks everyone for the tempest formation suggestions! You folks are great!
And yes David, I was particularly interested in "Toronto Tempest" and am
going to go with that one!
Happy Canada Day to JD and any other Canadians lurking, and Happy 4th of
July to all you!
Bev
