Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

24 participants
4363 discussions

by Luke Donev

Hello all, I'm sitting at home writing a contra (they get in my head and won't leave me alone till I write them down). I unfortunately don't have a closet full of dancers to pull out and test things on, but I've got a question about flow. When the ladies are standing to the right of their neighbor on the side of the set, facing their partner, and are going to allemande over to their partner for a balance and swing, should it be an allemande Right or Left? I feel like the R is more traditional for ladies, but an allemande L would leave their R hand free for a smoother transition to a balance and swing (I feel lead's L, follow's R is a better 1 hand balance to go into a swing with than lead's R, follow's L). To put it in context, consider the following dance: Sample dance 1, Improper A1: N bal & swg A2: long lines, fwd & back Ladies Allmnd L 1+ to partner B1: ptr bal & swg B2: ladies 1/2 chain star L 1x, on to next I think the ladies should allemande L there, but I'd be curious what other people think of the flow. If it was something like going to a R hand R hand balance for a box the gnat, it would seem to force the issue, but it seems more open when it's just going into a swing. Preferences? Thoughts? -- Luke Donev http://www.lukedonev.com Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com

15 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] emerging artists

by richgoss＠comcast.net

This one is hot off the presses. Would appreciate feedback. Plan to debut this Saturday in Portland. Loose Marbles by Rich Goss improper contra double progression A1: Pass current N by right, next N by left, swing N #3 A2: Ladies alle right 1 1/2 (to face partner), 1/2 hey (pass ptr left sh) B1: Partner Bal and Sw B2: Ladies chain, Bal ring, roll away partner across set (to trade places) Need to swap quickly on the ends to come back in (unless the lines are uneven) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bronwyn Woods" <woods.bronwyn(a)googlemail.com> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 2:20:49 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [Callers] emerging artists Hi all, In January, the NYC contra is holding a dance themed around "emerging artists". I will be calling to Stunt Double (Laurie Tupper, Christopher Jacoby, Dave Casserly, Julie Vallimont). It should be a great dance. Anyway, in keeping with the theme, I would like to call some dances by "emerging" choreographers. I'm currently looking for dances that fit this loose description - "emerging" can really be defined however you want. So, if you know of dances that you like that you think fit the bill, let me know! Also let me know if the dances have been called before or still need to be given a trial run. Thanks, Bronwyn _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

15 years, 8 months

Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls

by Cynthia Phinney

Hello all, I've noticed on more than one occasion when Sheandoah Falls has turned up in a medley that the B-part of the dance falls apart (as in things not happening in the right rhythm) and I have to call constantly until the tune changes. I've seen this with more than one dance. The phrasing in the B-part of that tune is a bit different from standard. Does anyone have a suggestion of a dance that might fit well with that tune? (and/or can you think of other tunes with similar phrasing in the B-part? Could be it's just not a good standard medley tune for dancing..) What do you think? -cynthia

15 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 60, Issue 8

by Martha Wild

Re: Shenandoah Falls We play that tune a lot for dances, and I've never noticed any problem with it. As a caller/musician, I usually choose a smooth flowing A part dance to match the tune to. Similar to Richard below, at least the way we do the B part, I often choose it to go with a petronella dance like Citronella Morning or Salmonella. Martha Wild On Aug 21, 2009, 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. Chicago Contra Dance Leadership Weekend with Lisa Greenleaf! > (Rachel Shapiro) > 2. The Frolic in the Fall - 9/26/09 in Harrisburg, PA > (Dave Colestock) > 3. Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls (Cynthia Phinney) > 4. Re: Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls (Richard Allen Fischer) > 5. Re: Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls (Jeff Kaufman) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:37:43 -0500 > From: Rachel Shapiro <rachel.shapiro05(a)gmail.com> > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Cc: Edward Wallace <ewallace(a)uchicago.edu> > Subject: [Callers] Chicago Contra Dance Leadership Weekend with Lisa > Greenleaf! > Message-ID: > <dba043650908201837g136a4dbbyecf995db7b11f744(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > The University of Chicago, with support from the CDSS Outreach > Fund, is > sponsoring a contra dance leadership weekend with an intensive callers > workshop led by Boston caller Lisa Greenleaf the weekend of October > 16th. > > *"Lisa *leads an intensive workshop > > designed for advanced-beginner through > > intermediate contra dance callers. It will focus > > on stage presence and teaching skills. The > > workshop runs Friday Night through Sunday > > Morning, and includes calling opportunities at > > the Saturday dance" > > callers must submit an application for this weekend in Chicago. > There are > only 10 slots available. the applications are due August 31 and > can be > found, along with the flyer, at: http://fac.uchicago.edu/ > leadership.html > > There will also be master musician classes with Pete Sutherland, Mark > Roberts, and Jeremiah McLane (Three of the five members of Clayfoot > Strutters!). > > There will be two dances this weekend, so even if you cant make the > whole > workshop, join us for a dance led by the callers on Saturday, and an > Advanced Dance led by Lisa on Sunday. > > This is not to be missed. Please email with any questions (off list, > please). > > See you there! > Rachel > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:23:23 -0700 (PDT) > From: Dave Colestock <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com> > To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Callers] The Frolic in the Fall - 9/26/09 in Harrisburg, PA > Message-ID: <821682.14187.qm(a)web52606.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > > > > > > The Third Annual Frolic in the Fall.? To be held Saturday, > September 26, 2009 from 11am-11pm .? Location is the YWCA Camp > Reily, just outside of Harrisburg , PA , a 5-acre camp where we > dance in a rustic lodge with a wood floor, surrounded by Nature in > the Appalachian Mountains of PA. ??Music from?CONTRANELLA from New > York and Maryland, and THE AVANT GARDENERS from Virginia, calling > by SUSAN PETRICK, from California, and DAVE COLESTOCK, from > Pennsylvania.? > ? > The Frolic starts with an hour of Waltzing from 11-12, then Contra > Dancing from Noon-11.? There will be an HOUR LONG Dance Medley, at > about 4:30 , followed by a Pot Luck Dinner (last name A-M, dessert > or side dish; N-Z main dish, please).? Cost is $25/person, limited > to 100 dancers, advance registration highly encouraged, but walk- > ins are welcome if space is available. > ? > Dance at the Locust Lane Contra Dance on Friday 9/25/09 with GREG > FROCK calling to THE AVANT GARDENERS, then stay over at a local > motel, b&b,?or camp with us on-site.? Tent camping for Fri and Sat > nights is available for additional $15 /person.? Contact us at > Fallfrolic@yahoo. com or visit the website at > www.frolicinthefall .freeservers. com?? Download the registration > form and send?snail mail by 9/13/09 , please.? Print out the flyer > and take copies?to your local dance.? Feel free to forward this > email, and?tell all of your friends - spread the word about the > Frolic! > > ? > Thank you, and hope to see YOU at the Frolic.? > ? > Can you DANCE for an HOUR???? Come to the FROLIC and find out!!! > ? > Thanks for your interest, > Dave Colestock > ? > ? > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:40:36 -0400 > From: "Cynthia Phinney" <cynth(a)gwi.net> > To: "'Shared Weight'" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Callers] Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls > Message-ID: <000001ca2264$f7588cd0$e609a670$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hello all, > > > > I've noticed on more than one occasion when Sheandoah Falls has > turned up in > a medley that the B-part of the dance falls apart (as in things not > happening in the right rhythm) and I have to call constantly until > the tune > changes. I've seen this with more than one dance. The phrasing in > the B-part > of that tune is a bit different from standard. Does anyone have a > suggestion > of a dance that might fit well with that tune? (and/or can you > think of > other tunes with similar phrasing in the B-part? Could be it's just > not a > good standard medley tune for dancing..) > > > > What do you think? > > > > -cynthia > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:46:45 -0400 > From: Richard Allen Fischer <richardallenfischer(a)verizon.net> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls > Message-ID: <EA96F8F8-30B6-444C-BC3D-ED4F93936B76(a)verizon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > I've never noticed that--as a dancer, musician or caller. Shenandoah > Falls seems to work well with dances that have Petronella balances > and spins in the B part. (E.g., Tica Tica Timing or Balance to My > Lou.) > > RAF > On Aug 21, 2009, at 9:40 AM, Cynthia Phinney wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> >> >> I've noticed on more than one occasion when Sheandoah Falls has >> turned up in >> a medley that the B-part of the dance falls apart (as in things not >> happening in the right rhythm) and I have to call constantly until >> the tune >> changes. I've seen this with more than one dance. The phrasing in >> the B-part >> of that tune is a bit different from standard. Does anyone have a >> suggestion >> of a dance that might fit well with that tune? (and/or can you >> think of >> other tunes with similar phrasing in the B-part? Could be it's just >> not a >> good standard medley tune for dancing..) >> >> >> >> What do you think? >> >> >> >> -cynthia >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)sharedweight.net >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:02:29 -0400 > From: Jeff Kaufman <cbr(a)sccs.swarthmore.edu> > To: 'Shared Weight' <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance for Tune? Shenandoah Falls > Message-ID: <20090821150229.GA5919(a)melfpelt.swarpa.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Cynthia Phinney wrote: >> >> I've noticed on more than one occasion when Sheandoah Falls has >> turned up in a medley that the B-part of the dance falls apart (as >> in things not happening in the right rhythm) and I have to call >> constantly until the tune changes. I've seen this with more than one >> dance. The phrasing in the B-part of that tune is a bit different >> from standard. >> > > Shenandoah Falls is unusual in that some of the B-part is quite > synchopated. The phrasing is still very regular, with well defined > four beat chunks, but within the chunks the beat might be difficult to > detect for some. > > So if you have a band that really wants to play shenandoah falls but > you think that the group might not be able to take it in stride, you > could call something that matches the phrasing well and lets the > dancers reenforce each other's sense of the beat. Richard's > suggestion of petronellas is good, as would any "balance for four, > move for four" sort of repetition. Balance and swing would also work > ok, as the synchopated hard to think about part comes in the middle of > the swing. > > The bigger problem is that the caller generally doesn't know what > tunes the band intends to play until the band switches tunes. So you > generally never have an oppertunity to go "oh? You'd like to play > shenandoah falls? Let me choose a dance that fits." Instead the best > you can do is probably tell the band after observing the hall that you > think it would be best if they avoided synchopated tunes like > shenandoah falls tonight. > > Jeff >

15 years, 9 months

Gorham, NH - September 12

by Jeffrey Petrovitch

Hey Everyone: I was wondering if anyone would be interested in calling the Gorham contra dance on Saturday, September 12. There was a miscommunication and I am trying to find a replacement for myself. I have called for the dance the last three years and have had a great time. It is a small community of people. They are open to having new callers as well. If there is anyone interested, please contact me. I am trying to find a replacement ASAP. Thanks, Jeff

15 years, 9 months

The Frolic in the Fall - 9/26/09 in Harrisburg, PA

by Dave Colestock

The Third Annual Frolic in the Fall. To be held Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 11am-11pm . Location is the YWCA Camp Reily, just outside of Harrisburg , PA , a 5-acre camp where we dance in a rustic lodge with a wood floor, surrounded by Nature in the Appalachian Mountains of PA. Music from CONTRANELLA from New York and Maryland, and THE AVANT GARDENERS from Virginia, calling by SUSAN PETRICK, from California, and DAVE COLESTOCK, from Pennsylvania. The Frolic starts with an hour of Waltzing from 11-12, then Contra Dancing from Noon-11. There will be an HOUR LONG Dance Medley, at about 4:30 , followed by a Pot Luck Dinner (last name A-M, dessert or side dish; N-Z main dish, please). Cost is $25/person, limited to 100 dancers, advance registration highly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Dance at the Locust Lane Contra Dance on Friday 9/25/09 with GREG FROCK calling to THE AVANT GARDENERS, then stay over at a local motel, b&b, or camp with us on-site. Tent camping for Fri and Sat nights is available for additional $15 /person. Contact us at Fallfrolic@yahoo. com or visit the website at www.frolicinthefall .freeservers. com Download the registration form and send snail mail by 9/13/09 , please. Print out the flyer and take copies to your local dance. Feel free to forward this email, and tell all of your friends - spread the word about the Frolic! Thank you, and hope to see YOU at the Frolic. Can you DANCE for an HOUR??? Come to the FROLIC and find out!!! Thanks for your interest, Dave Colestock

15 years, 9 months

Chicago Contra Dance Leadership Weekend with Lisa Greenleaf!

by Rachel Shapiro

The University of Chicago, with support from the CDSS Outreach Fund, is sponsoring a contra dance leadership weekend with an intensive callers workshop led by Boston caller Lisa Greenleaf the weekend of October 16th. *"Lisa *leads an intensive workshop designed for advanced-beginner through intermediate contra dance callers. It will focus on stage presence and teaching skills. The workshop runs Friday Night through Sunday Morning, and includes calling opportunities at the Saturday dance" callers must submit an application for this weekend in Chicago. There are only 10 slots available. the applications are due August 31 and can be found, along with the flyer, at: http://fac.uchicago.edu/leadership.html There will also be master musician classes with Pete Sutherland, Mark Roberts, and Jeremiah McLane (Three of the five members of Clayfoot Strutters!). There will be two dances this weekend, so even if you cant make the whole workshop, join us for a dance led by the callers on Saturday, and an Advanced Dance led by Lisa on Sunday. This is not to be missed. Please email with any questions (off list, please). See you there! Rachel

15 years, 9 months

more wedding dances

by Marguerite Durant

'Tis the season, isn't it? Linda Mrosko mentioned Newlywed Lane and Fancy Free Flirting circle waltz. Can someone please pass on the choreography to me? I'm also looking for a dance called at Princeton Country Dancers' anniversary dance this year, a longways set dance having to do with a wolf in a barn snatching piglets...? Thank you! Marguerite Durant

15 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Mystery Dance

by Liz and Bill

Hi Jack, My suggested fix is no good :-( I think this would fix it B2: Balance the Ring, Petronella Turn Balance the Ring, Petronella Turn and a 1/2 more but with this suggestion, I think it's too clockwise. B2: LLFB, right hand balance, and square thru 2 would be nicer Cheers, Bill

15 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Mystery Dance

by Liz and Bill

Hi Jack, Salmonella Evening by Steve Zakon-Anderson has the same A1, A2 and B2 but B1: Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl Balance the Ring, Petronella Twirl Your mystery dance doesn't progress. It would work if B2 was Balance Ring, Petronella Twirl Balance Ring, California Twirl Cheers, Bill

15 years, 9 months

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Contra Callers