Delia,
Cary Ravitz explains one way to diagram a dance on his web page:
http://ravitz.us/dance/chor.php#d
Tom Hinds includes diagrams in his book "Calling New England Squares."
There are other more graphical methods. In general, for each move in a dance
diagrams should indicate where dancers are, differentiate between men and
women, between ones and twos (or 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, heads and sides in a
square). It's also very helpful if the diagram indicates which direction the
dancers are facing. You'll very quickly realize which moves or series of
moves are "neutral," i.e., put everyone back where they just were, facing
the same direction.
If you know Flash or some programming language, you can get really fancy, as
did Martha Edwards:
http://www.westendweb.com/doublegrandsquare/
(Actually, Cary is a programmer, but he's very aware that not all of us are,
so he keeps his web page pretty accessible).
And of course, there's always salt and pepper shakers....
--Jerome
On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: which hand (Delia Clark)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:56:05 -0400
> From: Delia Clark <deliaclark8(a)gmail.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] which hand
> Message-ID: <A2FA13CD-B6E1-42E4-9BE6-6EA2E76D1845(a)gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes;
> format=flowed
>
> Not only can I not easily visualize flow, I can't easily visualize
> how you would diagram a dance!! Can anyone scan and post one they've
> done, or recommend a website that shows one?
>
>
> On Aug 26, 2009, at 12:02 AM, Dave Colestock wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > Great suggestion Tom. Diagramming dances is the best way to see
> > the flow, especially for those who cannot easily visualize the
> > flow. Thanks for pointing out the Allemande change in Luke's dance
> > - that makes it flow much nicer.
> >
> > Dave Colestock
> > Harrisburg, PA
> > www.davecolestock.com
> > www.frolicinthefall.freeservers.com
> > www.harrisburgcontra.org
> >
> >
> >
> > --- On Tue, 8/25/09, Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
> > Subject: [Callers] which hand
> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> > Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 10:14 PM
> >
> >
> > I'd suggest an allemande right in Luke's dance. The reason is that
> > an allemande left would tend to have the couples end their swing
> > slightly staggered. That is, they wouldn't be exactly across from
> > each other. If the women allemande right this isn't an issue. Draw
> > it out and see if that's correct.
> > Tom Hinds
> > On Aug 25, 2009, at 6:11 PM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Send Callers mailing list submissions to
> >> callers(a)sharedweight.net
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> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
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> >>
> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> >> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
> >>
> >>
> >> Today's Topics:
> >>
> >> 1. question about flow and feel (Luke Donev)
> >> 2. Re: question about flow and feel (Bronwyn Woods)
> >> 3. emerging artists (Bronwyn Woods)
> >> 4. Re: emerging artists (Martha Edwards)
> >> 5. Re: question about flow and feel
> >> (Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing)
> >> 6. Re: emerging artists (Jeff Kaufman)
> >> 7. Re: emerging artists (Dave Colestock)
> >> 8. Re: emerging artists (richgoss(a)comcast.net)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
> Delia Clark
> PO Box 45
> Taftsville, VT 05073
> 802-457-2075
> deliaclark8(a)gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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> End of Callers Digest, Vol 60, Issue 15
> ***************************************
>
--
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
Not sure exactly what a gender-swap workshop is-- are you sure that's a topic
for a dance e-mail list? ;-)
I've had fun at a workshop with skilled dancers teaching a reasonably normal
dance (e.g., not one with a lot of idiosyncratic moves), running it half a dozen
times so everyone learned the sequence, stopping the music, telling folks to
change sides and dance the opposite gender role, not giving them time to think
much about it, and then starting up the music again.
In the middle of some brain-busting dances, it was a pleasant and fun change of
pace.
David Millstone
OMG, Wendy, I *love* your hip-hop contra!! How fun is that? This new fusion of the old dances with new tunes & moves has a lot of juice, and potential to keep the dance alive by intriguing the young folks in particular.
Have you seen the video of Youth Dance Week's late night dancing to Tensta's My Cool? http://vimeo.com/groups/danceoncamera/videos/1786406 Also, once I danced contra to a medley of Beatles tunes at Folklife, which had everyone, of all ages, whooping it up.
Sometimes it seems there's quite a tension between the love of oldest traditions, a holding to familiar forms that are neither old nor new, and the desire to experiment with/create new fusion forms like this, gender-neutral calls, the inclusion of swing moves and tunes, etc. I'd love to help our dance communities foster and hold both poles. Have you folks struggled with this tension in your communities? How do you deal with it?
Tina
I hope it's "toot your own horn day" because i'm about to do so
(shamelessly)...
Please check out my original "paper plate" contras for the emerging artists
evening: http://www.folkmads.org/wendy_dances.html
They might be a fit (and a hit!) during an emerging artist-themed evening.
Note: At CDNY's Synergy dance weekend (http://www.cdny.org/Synergy.html) next
month, I'll be exploring these, and other playful dances, that are
influenced by non-"native" dance and music traditions, such as Disco, The
Rockettes, Johnny Cash, Latin, and more.(cross-over contras?)
Good luck with what sounds like a fun evening!
Sincerely,
Wendy Graham
970-903-9402
www.folkmads.org/wendy.htmlwww.facebook.com/perkypants
"feels like some kind of ride but it's turning out just to be life going
absolutely perfect." - StoryPeople
Hi Janet,
That's a neat dance that I'd like to try. I would think the way it's written
(swinging your *next* neighbor) works best since the CA Twirl makes you
change the direction your facing. But since dancers have turned to face back
in the opposite directiona fter the previous two CA Twirls, it may be tough
to "switch modes" and do a regular CA Twirl. I'd have to dance it to see
what that feels like...
Anyway, if you changed the dance to "swing your current neighbor", you'd
lose a progression. You could then swap in the "2x progression" B2 option
you suggested (no roll away) and it would make a regular single progression
dance. Hmm...now I want to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
-Sargon
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:24:31 -0400
From: Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] California Twirlin' author
Message-ID: <E5186D70-4924-49AC-85ED-757AE9A86AD5(a)massmed.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Bill,
Thanks for letting me know the square dancing terminology. When I
wrote the dance I was trying to think of a move (or a variation on a
move) that I didn't see used in contra dancing, at least not in dances
I had done.
I think the swing in A2 is fine as the dancers are facing a new
neighbor and have plenty of time for the swing. Someone, like Seth,
who has called the dance a lot may have more feedback on that. If I
remember correctly, I think when he first called it he had the dancers
swing their current neighbor instead of their new neighbors. I'm not
sure how that would work.
Janet
On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Liz and Bill wrote:
> Hi Janet,
>
> An interesting use of California twirl. Looks like a neat dance.
> I'm getting a lot of square dancers
> at my contra dances in New Zealand. In MWSD terminology "California
> twirl and face back in" is
> "California twirl and roll". How do women find the swing coming out
> of the California twirl in A2?
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
It's a great dance, and I've generally not seen problems with the "face
back in" and "face the next" california twirls (though I have a couple
of times had people try to balance before the swing, only to discover
that they didn't have time for the swing. The balance, roll away,
balance, california twirl sequence feels really good, so I would,
personally, hesitate to take it out. If you do try different versions,
though, let us know how it goes. Whenever I've called it, I've had
people come up and comment about what a great dance it is (and callers
asking for a copy).
Jack
At 12:19 PM 9/1/2009, you wrote:
Hi Janet,
That's a neat dance that I'd like to try. I would think the way it's
written
(swinging your *next* neighbor) works best since the CA Twirl makes
you
change the direction your facing. But since dancers have turned to
face back
in the opposite directiona fter the previous two CA Twirls, it may
be tough
to "switch modes" and do a regular CA Twirl. I'd have to dance it to
see
what that feels like...
Anyway, if you changed the dance to "swing your current neighbor",
you'd
lose a progression. You could then swap in the "2x progression" B2
option
you suggested (no roll away) and it would make a regular single
progression
dance. Hmm...now I want to try it!
Thanks for sharing!
-Sargon
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:24:31 -0400
From: Janet Levatin <jlevatin(a)massmed.org>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] California Twirlin' author
Message-ID: <E5186D70-4924-49AC-85ED-757AE9A86AD5(a)massmed.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
Bill,
Thanks for letting me know the square dancing terminology. When I
wrote the dance I was trying to think of a move (or a variation on a
move) that I didn't see used in contra dancing, at least not in
dances
I had done.
I think the swing in A2 is fine as the dancers are facing a new
neighbor and have plenty of time for the swing. Someone, like Seth,
who has called the dance a lot may have more feedback on that. If I
remember correctly, I think when he first called it he had the
dancers
swing their current neighbor instead of their new neighbors. I'm not
sure how that would work.
Janet
On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:06 AM, Liz and Bill wrote:
> Hi Janet,
>
> An interesting use of California twirl. Looks like a neat
dance.
> I'm getting a lot of square dancers
> at my contra dances in New Zealand. In MWSD terminology
"California
> twirl and face back in" is
> "California twirl and roll". How do women find the swing coming
out
> of the California twirl in A2?
>
> Cheers, Bill
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> [1]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
[2]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
References
1. http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
2. http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
The dance "California Twirlin'" has been travelling all over the country. I've seen multiple versions of the B2, and I've seen the author's name spelled multiple ways. It's something like Janet Leviton or Levinson. Does anyone know Janet? I'd love to get the correct spelling of her name, and her version of the dance.
Thanks,
Lynn
Hi all -- been lurking for awhile, but posting for the first time now. Sorry for any formatting issues I create.
Jo, I like this new dance. I'd been toying with the idea of a reverse-progression improper dance, but never quite got around to implementing it. Your dance seems different, but still accessible. I'm writing it down.
Laila Lewis
>This is a fairly new dance, just written in June. I've called it twice,
and people like it very much. Callers ask me for it afterwards.
It has two quirks, which need to be explained at the beginning. One is
that it is a reverse progression dance. The ones progress up the hall,
the twos progress down.
The other is that when you and your partner progress out of the line,
during A2, you will naturally swing each other at the end of the line.
After you swing, while you are waiting to get back into the dance, the
lady needs to be on the gent's LEFT.
Galena
Duple Improper
Jo Mortland, 2009
Begin in wavy lines of four, ones facing down, twos facing up,
women holding left hands, everyone's neighbor is in their right hand
A1 Balance right and left, slide right
Balance left and right, slide left (as in Rory O'Moore)
A2 with neighbor, allemande right half way and walk forward to the
next neighbor (progression is here)
Swing
B1 Circle left 3 places
Partner swing on the side of the set
B2 Circle left 3 places
With neighbor (the one you swung) do si do to wavy lines of four
________________________________
From: "callers-request(a)sharedweight.net" <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 9:00:28 AM
Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 60, Issue 17
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: which hand (Tina Fields)
2. Re: emerging artists (Mortland, Jo)
3. Re: Help with a contra for newbies (Gillian Carney)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:01:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tina Fields <tfields8(a)yahoo.com>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] which hand
Message-ID: <215767.71503.qm(a)web180107.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Re: diagramming dances, Jerome suggested some terrific web flash, then wrote,
> And of course, there's always salt and pepper shakers....
then Alan responded,
> I like coins.? (Different denominations for different numbers - pennies,
nickels, dimes, quarters tells you who's who in a square, face-up or face-down
for? gender, and you can have them face one way or the other.)
Me, I like Extreme Visual, No-Tech style. My dirty secret is this: Smurfs. I borrowed a bunch of figurines from a friend, each of which sports a different-colored hat. I have male and female red, blue, and yellow hat couples. The fourth couple is a pair of green toy soldiers, with the one holding his gun up higher in the air designated as male. I walk them around through the dance, noting when each is facing her/his neighbor, etc., when the progression happens, and potential weird effects. It's goofy but it really works.
Tina
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:07:35 -0500
From: "Mortland, Jo" <j-mortland(a)neiu.edu>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] emerging artists
Message-ID:
<9B0B0B8FF2328E48930D4B6273C1B261132CEBC6(a)EXNODE2.univ.neiu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
This is a fairly new dance, just written in June. I've called it twice,
and people like it very much. Callers ask me for it afterwards.
It has two quirks, which need to be explained at the beginning. One is
that it is a reverse progression dance. The ones progress up the hall,
the twos progress down.
The other is that when you and your partner progress out of the line,
during A2, you will naturally swing each other at the end of the line.
After you swing, while you are waiting to get back into the dance, the
lady needs to be on the gent's LEFT.
Galena
Duple Improper
Jo Mortland, 2009
Begin in wavy lines of four, ones facing down, twos facing up,
women holding left hands, everyone's neighbor is in their right hand
A1 Balance right and left, slide right
Balance left and right, slide left (as in Rory O'Moore)
A2 with neighbor, allemande right half way and walk forward to the
next neighbor (progression is here)
Swing
B1 Circle left 3 places
Partner swing on the side of the set
B2 Circle left 3 places
With neighbor (the one you swung) do si do to wavy lines of four
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:08:32 -0400
From: Gillian Carney <gillcarney(a)hotmail.com>
To: <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Help with a contra for newbies
Message-ID: <COL114-W9CBB61C48C46ECBB239B5C3F50(a)phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Thanks Alan and Lark for the wonderful and positive feedback.
Incidentally, amused to see Cary Ravitz's name in the message following mine - his mother is one of my infrequent dancers who provided me with the loveliest quote. To paraphrase; three hours after the dance I was aching, but found it was my face that was aching because I was still smiling. This is the experience I am used to with my dance group, and the experience I want to bring to the estates contra.
In refering to "real contra", I meant keeping away from set dance or ceili/ceilidh type barn dances which I also call. Nothing against them, but want to emphasize contra. I will be repeating the first session as the second session, and think I can build up to a (one) longways duple improper. But, Alan, thank you so very much for the dances you included.You gave me a lot to consider.
A band member gave me a copy of Good Morning last night, and the estates are working on getting me copies of programmes from dances Ford would have attended. But, I didn't like feeling pushed for time in getting a programme like this together, which is why I asked for help from the list - and I'm glad I did. Thanks, and wish me luck!
Gillian Carney
fortmyersdancers(a)hotmail.com
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End of Callers Digest, Vol 60, Issue 17
***************************************
Re: diagramming dances, Jerome suggested some terrific web flash, then wrote,
> And of course, there's always salt and pepper shakers....
then Alan responded,
> I like coins. (Different denominations for different numbers - pennies,
nickels, dimes, quarters tells you who's who in a square, face-up or face-down
for gender, and you can have them face one way or the other.)
Me, I like Extreme Visual, No-Tech style. My dirty secret is this: Smurfs. I borrowed a bunch of figurines from a friend, each of which sports a different-colored hat. I have male and female red, blue, and yellow hat couples. The fourth couple is a pair of green toy soldiers, with the one holding his gun up higher in the air designated as male. I walk them around through the dance, noting when each is facing her/his neighbor, etc., when the progression happens, and potential weird effects. It's goofy but it really works.
Tina
Lisa Greenleaf is going to give a fantastic callers workshop in Chicago in
October! It's cheap, there are still spaces available!
The music is going to be amazing!
Email me with questions, and let me know to expect your mail! (applications
due soon, but we can be flexible)
Website at: http://fac.uchicago.edu/leadership.html<http://fac.uchicago.edu/leadership.html>
