Contra Callers

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31 participants
4411 discussions

by The Witful Turnip

Hi all, I have a dance called "Venus & Mars" noted as written by a Martin Sirk. I believe that I've danced it a number of times but had never called it until a week ago. I can't remember how/where I got the calls. I've tried searching for it online but can't seem to find anything resembling what I have. So, I thought I'd consult my panel of experts. First question is, do I have this written correctly? A1: Neighbor balance & swing A2: Circle L 3/4 Partners rollaway w half sashay (up/down)* B1: Gents allemande L 1 1/2, while the ladies orbit CW 1/2 way Partner swing B2: Circle L 3/4 Balance ring, partners california twirl My second question is about the timing in the A2, which is why I keep wondering if I've transcribed this incorrectly. There seems to be leftover time. I think people are used to circling L 3/4 in 8 counts. * But I'd say that the rollaway w half sashay is only worth 4 counts maybe 6, but not 8, especially if people have good weight and really move the circle around. Is the timing really that mushy? I found that many of the gents started the allemande early. The ladies often took a split second to remember they were orbiting, but everyone had quite a bit longer than 8 counts for the partner swing. While I was watching the dancers, it seemed like every circle of 4 was in a slightly different place in the dance. As it happened, I was calling the dance with an old time band and the tune didn't have particularly distinct phrasing, so I didn't think it was particularly problematic. I just don't remember there being that much spare time when I've danced it. Anyone call this dance that can comment? Thanks, Bev

15 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Question about Venus & Mars timing...

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Hi Bev, You have the bare bones of the dance transcribed correclty, but not the timing. >From the 2004 Syllabus for the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend: A2- Circle left 3/4, with partner on the side rollaway with a half sashay Gents allemande left 1&1/2 while women orbit clockwise halfway round I'll just repeat a suggestion I've made before: The collection of syllabi from the RPDLW is a great place to look for dances, especially given the handy index that David Smukler updates each year: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/ralph-page-dance-legacy-weekend David's notes for this dance: ---quoted material follows: The author, an astronomer says, "The only thing I would add is that when the ladies orbit, they pass right shoulders with the lady in the next square [i.e., minor set], that is they go around each other. This really adds to the sensation of swirling planets." Note that, except for its title, this contra dance is entirely unrelated to the "Venus and Mars" square dance figure. ---end quoted material David Millstone Lebanon, NH

15 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin

by Jerome Grisanti

Rich Goss wrote: > That would be an interesting discussion topic.? Has anyone encountered a > mad robin that is reversed? > -- > In the English dance "Mad Robin," the ones do the mad robin figure following the path of the do-si-do, but when the twos do the figure they are following the path of a see-saw. Not sure about modern contras, but I expect at least some involve a see-saw-path mad robin. --Jerome 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

15 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin

by richgoss＠comcast.net

That would be an interesting discussion topic. Has anyone encountered a mad robin that is reversed? I can't recall one. I know sometimes it's the gents passing in front and sometimes it's the ladies, but that just depends on where you start from. I think a mad robin always follows the dosido path, just depends on if you start from the gent below, or gent above. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack Mitchell" <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 7:34:32 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [Callers] Teaching Mad Robin If you teach it that way, make sure that it is actually the path of a Do Si Do and not a See Saw....

15 years, 7 months

Teaching Mad Robin

by Rickey

Hi all, I am looking for suggestions on how best to teach a "Mad Robin" to contra dancers who have not encountered it before. It is in "Joyride" after a Gypsy and I have tried suggesting that they just let their feet take them around on the same path as the Gypsy did while turning to face their partner, and I have tried describing how the women start going up and inside and the men down and outside - but there is still a bit too much confusion out there. I am planning on doing this in a venue where it may not be feasible to do a demo. Any additional ideas? Rickey

15 years, 7 months

Callers' Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf in central NC

by Jack Mitchell

Callers' Workshop -- Beyond the basics An intensive three-day workshop with Lisa Greenleaf May 21-23 near Durham, NC In this three day workshop, intermediate callers will have a chance to further develop as a caller and dance leader. The workshop will include discussion of such things as the language of teaching, time to practice calling with feedback from Lisa and the other workshop participants, and an evening dance on Saturday night with participants doing the calling. This weekend will also be an opportunity for callers who are just getting established to network with other callers and establish ties in the community. I've attached the flyer and registration information. Please pass this on to others who you think might be interested. This is being sent out to a number of mailing lists, so I apologize to folks who receive it multiple times.

15 years, 7 months

[Fwd: Callers Insurance]

by Chris Weiler (home)

If you don't have it, get it. Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH -------- Original Message -------- Hello Callers, So in late breaking news, CDSS now has callers insurance again! it is a policy with Philadelphia, similar to what we had in past years. There was a slight increase in price this year, it will be $55 per year The year for this policy begins on April1 this year, so there will be no lapse in coverage! Information and applications can be found at http://www.cdss.org/caller-insurance.html Thanks, Jeff Martell

15 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Mystery Dance

by Tina Fields

This dance looks like a lot of fun, and I'm going to try it. At first glance (without working it through via Smurf toys), it looks to me like the first turn of the wave makes folks face the "wrong way" up or down the set, with the Ladies Al-L 1/2 in the A2 turning them back in the direction of progression again. Is this right? If so, I think it would be useful to say that sort of thing when teaching. Do you agree? Also, what other teaching tidbits have you found helpful? I'm really into working out the short-and-excellent walkthrough these days. Tina

15 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Mystery Dance

by Adina Gordon

Hi Jack, This is Wave Action #1, by Mike Richardson of Seattle, with two minor edits: Becket A1 Long lines pass to a wave, balance A2 Ladies allemande L 1/2 to a wave, balance walk forward to new wave, balance B1 Neighbor allemande R 3/4 Hey 3/4, Ladies pass left shoulder B2 Partner swing - Adina --------- Adina Gordon 828.230.9266 http://www.adinagordon.com/ Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:58:12 -0400 From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Mystery Dance Anyone recognize this dance? *Title Unknown* -- Author Unknown *Becket* *A1* LL F&B Pass the ocean pass thru, ladies catch LH, gents go all the way to the other side and take RH with partner *A2* Ladies Alle L .5, Wave Balance Walk Forward to a new wave Wave Balance *B1* N Alle R 1x .75 of a Hey ladies pass R Sh (ladies go over and back, gents just go over) End up on home side of the set *B2* P Sw

15 years, 7 months

hosting guest callers/bands

by jean francis

Here is a minor episode for the "gigs from hell "annals. Imagine someone asks you to dinner. They ask you to bring the food. However, they won’t tell you where they live or what time dinner starts or what sort of food the guests might enjoy. When you try to contact them, they are out of town. I was invited to call in a neighboring state with a fine band from my state. The drive would take the better part of a day and we knew that we wouldn’t come anywhere near making gas money. However, many callers and bands are willing to do ‘charity’ work for new contra communities. Generally when callers/musicians travel, they like to maximize what they offer and will do afternoon music/dance workshops, often for free. When we were first booked, we offered a variety of free workshops. After a month of receiving no response, we brought this offer up again with the caller/organizer who invited us. After three more months, another prompting email query brought a response that the caller/organizer basically didn’t have time to bother. Twenty four hours before the dance, we had still not been informed of where the dance was or what time it started. The last email (2 months previous) from the "host" said they were looking for a new hall. Lack of information on where we might stay and the fact there was a potluck before the dance had us spending money on a pricey meal and motel in the tourist town. The caller/organizer would not be around due to another gig. An enterprising band member finally called a local musician and got a rough idea of where the dance was to be held. What fun….5 generous and experienced folks, willing to lose money, driving a 2 day round trip to help a new caller/series. Nothing about the word "host" applies in this case. So, in order to turn a rant into something constructive, I have composed a bare bones "invitee" form to be sent to guest bands/callers shortly after the invitation is accepted so that new callers/organizers who care about their dance communities might meet the basic requirements of a host: Dear _________(caller,band) Thank you for agreeing to be part of our contra experience. Our dance starts at __, with the pre-teaching starting at ____. The hall is located at___(map link) and will be open by_____. Your sound person will be_____. Usually we have about _____(number of dancers), with about ___% being experienced; of course we may have an influx of newcomers. Our dancers are generally (comfortable/not comfortable) with a hey/contra corners in the first half. Generally, we dance until____PM, then have a break and resume dancing until____PM. Our dancers enjoy a (waltz, polka, hambo, swing) (before, after) break and at the end of the dance. We have arranged for you to stay with ______. Their phone/email/address is_______ Or Below is the contact information for reasonably priced motels near the dance hall We will be able to pay you_$_______. For more information about dance logistics, you may contact me (or ___) at _____. Please let us know in advance what you will need in terms of microphones, etc. Thank you for bringing your expertise to our dancers. For additional goodwill, we suggest that the "host" get the following things right in communication/publicity: Spelling of the caller’s name and the band’s name, where they are from, the date for the gig (these things slipped by in our case). A thank you email would be frosting on the cake. Hope this helps!

15 years, 7 months

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Contra Callers