Hey,
A band I'm working with would like to play their favorite 40 bar jig
(AA=8+8 plus BB=12+12) at a dance sometime. I was wondering if anyone
had dances for this format and what their experience was calling them.
Thanks,
Chris Weiler
Goffstown, NH
I goofed. The Cherokee Shuffle tune in the B part is 10 bars long, as several
have noted, not the 12 bars that Chris was looking for.
David "wiping the egg off my face" Millstone
A band asked me to call Sasha as we prepared for their monthly barn dance. Seems it was a favorite of that dance community. So I learned it for them and indeed, everyone was laughing and whooping it up. But warning: I then thought, how fun! Let's bring this dance into my home contra community too, as a spice between the line dances -- and was met with the hairy eyeball like you would not believe. :-p It was very interesting to discover the delicate nature of dance choice for different crowds. I still want to expand the variety at regular dances, though - albeit somehow more tactfully in future. Yeah, call Sasha for that ONS for sure!
Tina
Oh dear... can't say that I'm surprised, though. Some dancers have a VERY set
idea of what they want to encounter on the dance floor.
At my home dance, where I'm basically on every month, folks coming know that
there may be an occasional oddball dance of that sort. We always do Sweets of
May in May, and Northern Lights in February, and Dudley's ribbon dance at the
December dance, and a few others like that. And I've been known to throw in a
dance for five people, or six couples, or seven dancers, but ever so
judiciously.
For what it's worth, at a Pourparler gathering a few years ago-- PP is a loose
association of folks who do dance work (Anglo-American and/or international
folk) in schools or community settings, and includes folks who do a lot of one
night stands-- we each made a list of our ten favorite, never-fail dances,
guaranteed to please a crowd. There were maybe 40 of us involved in this
activity, and Sasha was the only dance that appeared on every single list.
David
Tina,
Don't forget that in the A1, to the music, it is "Sasha, Sasha, Ras Dvi Tre". I think you forgot to mention the words Sasha in your transcription of the dance. I use this one a lot at ONS events, and also the Heel and Toe Polka (in a circle). But never at a contra dance evening.
Dave Colestock
Harrisburg, PA
--- On Mon, 7/6/09, Tina Fields <tfields8(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Tina Fields <tfields8(a)yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Sasha
To: "Ric Goldman" <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org>
Cc: Callers(a)sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 5:45 PM
Hi Ric -
I think Sasha didn't go over with the whole crowd in Sebastopol, CA because it is goofy
fun, and mainly because some folks have very definitive ideas about what is
acceptable at a "contradance" evening. This is particularly ironic
because in earlier days, according to several historians, such an eve would mean both lines and squares. (The name 'contra' apparently caught on in the 1960s when hippies were turned off by the idea of 'squares' but 'contra' sounded groovy.) And a 'square dance' eve, according to
my dad who called in rural California, Oregon, & Nevada in the 1950s, included many round dances. Interesting, no?
Tina
Here's the dance. (It comes with its own tune, which can be found on the 'net.)
Sasha! Community dance, wild mixer
Dancers find a partner and scatter around the dance floor.
pre) (4) Point to your P as you say “Ras, Dva, Tri”
(means “One, Two, Three” or “Ready, set, go.”)
A1) (8+8) Clapping hands with P: “R,R,R, L,L,L, both, both, both, (own knees) knee, knee, knee.”
A2) (8) R elbow turn w/P-- 8 beats, singing “La, la la, etc.” When you say “Hey!” you say it with an upraised fist with your LH
(8) L elbow turn P, “Hey!” raising R fist.
B1/B2 (32) Then you leave your P behind (“Dasvadanya,” Russian for “Goodbye”) and walk randomly around the dance floor.
At the end of the B music, you face a new partner.
--- On Mon, 7/6/09, Ric Goldman <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org> wrote:
From: Ric Goldman <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org>
Subject: RE: [Callers] Sasha
To: "'Tina Fields'" <tfields8(a)yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 1:23 PM
Hi Tina,
I'm late coming into this thread after a disc crash (catch-up, catch-up, catch-up). Could you describe Sasha, and a bit of detail
why it didn't go over at your home dance (which is where)? You've definitely caught my interest on both.
Thanx, Ric Goldman
Palo Alto, Ca
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
> [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Tina Fields
> Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 12:21 PM
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Sasha
>
> A band asked me to call Sasha as we prepared for their
> monthly barn dance. Seems it was a favorite of that dance
> community. So I learned it for them and indeed, everyone was
> laughing and whooping it up. But warning: I then thought, how
> fun! Let's bring this dance into my home contra community
> too, as a spice between the line dances -- and was met with
> the hairy eyeball like you would not believe. :-p It was
> very interesting to discover the delicate nature of dance
> choice for different crowds. I still want to expand the
> variety at regular dances, though - albeit somehow more
> tactfully in future. Yeah, call Sasha for that ONS for sure!
>
> Tina
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Hi Ric -
I think Sasha didn't go over with the whole crowd in Sebastopol, CA because it is goofy
fun, and mainly because some folks have very definitive ideas about what is
acceptable at a "contradance" evening. This is particularly ironic
because in earlier days, according to several historians, such an eve would mean both lines and squares. (The name 'contra' apparently caught on in the 1960s when hippies were turned off by the idea of 'squares' but 'contra' sounded groovy.) And a 'square dance' eve, according to
my dad who called in rural California, Oregon, & Nevada in the 1950s, included many round dances. Interesting, no?
Tina
Here's the dance. (It comes with its own tune, which can be found on the 'net.)
Sasha! Community dance, wild mixer
Dancers find a partner and scatter around the dance floor.
pre) (4) Point to your P as you say “Ras, Dva, Tri”
(means “One, Two, Three” or “Ready, set, go.”)
A1) (8+8) Clapping hands with P: “R,R,R, L,L,L, both, both, both, (own knees) knee, knee, knee.”
A2) (8) R elbow turn w/P-- 8 beats, singing “La, la la, etc.” When you say “Hey!” you say it with an upraised fist with your LH
(8) L elbow turn P, “Hey!” raising R fist.
B1/B2 (32) Then you leave your P behind (“Dasvadanya,” Russian for “Goodbye”) and walk randomly around the dance floor.
At the end of the B music, you face a new partner.
--- On Mon, 7/6/09, Ric Goldman <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org> wrote:
From: Ric Goldman <letsdance(a)rgoldman.org>
Subject: RE: [Callers] Sasha
To: "'Tina Fields'" <tfields8(a)yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 1:23 PM
Hi Tina,
I'm late coming into this thread after a disc crash (catch-up, catch-up, catch-up). Could you describe Sasha, and a bit of detail
why it didn't go over at your home dance (which is where)? You've definitely caught my interest on both.
Thanx, Ric Goldman
Palo Alto, Ca
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net
> [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Tina Fields
> Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 12:21 PM
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Sasha
>
> A band asked me to call Sasha as we prepared for their
> monthly barn dance. Seems it was a favorite of that dance
> community. So I learned it for them and indeed, everyone was
> laughing and whooping it up. But warning: I then thought, how
> fun! Let's bring this dance into my home contra community
> too, as a spice between the line dances -- and was met with
> the hairy eyeball like you would not believe. :-p It was
> very interesting to discover the delicate nature of dance
> choice for different crowds. I still want to expand the
> variety at regular dances, though - albeit somehow more
> tactfully in future. Yeah, call Sasha for that ONS for sure!
>
> Tina
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
I use Sasha at weddings/ONS - adults seem to have as much fun with it as the kids (sometimes they have more)
I use one that goes:
gent #1 turn the Right Hand lady with a right hand round - then back to your partner with a left around
turn Opposite lady with a right hand round - then back to your partner with a left around
turn Left hand lady with a right hand round - then back to your partner with a left around
then Gent #1 Cheats or Swings his own
then gent 1 runs back home and ALL the gents swing your own
goes in turn Gents 2 ,3 & 4
then gents 1 & 3 and Gents 2 & 4
then Lady 1, 2, 3 4 turn the gents
then Lady 1 & 3 and then Lady 2 & 4
then ALL 4 gents then ALL 4 ladies
----- with a break thrown in every so often
Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)
--- On Tue, 6/30/09, Rickey <holt.e(a)comcast.net> wrote:
> From: Rickey <holt.e(a)comcast.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Sasha and Cheat or Swing
> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
> Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 7:33 PM
> Hi all,
>
> I am still planning an ONS (One Night Stand - aka a dance
> for a private
> party of mostly non dancers) - for mostly adults (with some
> kids over 10
> years old). From your experience would Sasha be appropriate
> for such a
> crowd? Also, I would like to do the square dance
> "Cheat or Swing". I
> learned it in Vermont, but no longer remember it and cannot
> seem to find it.
> Does anyone know it?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Rickey Holt,
>
> Fremont, NH
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
Hi all,
I am still planning an ONS (One Night Stand - aka a dance for a private
party of mostly non dancers) - for mostly adults (with some kids over 10
years old). From your experience would Sasha be appropriate for such a
crowd? Also, I would like to do the square dance "Cheat or Swing". I
learned it in Vermont, but no longer remember it and cannot seem to find it.
Does anyone know it?
Thank you,
Rickey Holt,
Fremont, NH
Some version of Crooked Stovepipe (Le Pipe Accroché)
Square:
Head ladies forward & back
Forward again & there they swing
Circle six hands around them while they swing
Allemande left your corner, do-si-do your partner
Allemande left our corner again, promenade your own.
Repeat for side ladies, head gents, side gents.
(Can also be done instead as Head lady and the opposite gent go forward &
back, etc.)
Has its own tune.
Beth
> -----Original Message-----
> From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-
> bounces(a)sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Jack Mitchell
> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:04 PM
> To: Caller's discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Especially Irish and French ONS dances
>
> ONS = One Night Stand. Easy dances for crowds with almost no
> experienced dancers.
> At 01:58 PM 6/22/2009, you wrote:
>
> I can forward this to our Irish dance group and see if they can
> help
> you
> out. What is ONS ? I'm not familiar with that abbreviation. If
> you are
> talking about ceili dancing for beginners there are some simple
> ones
> but
> there is also specific music that goes with them. Good luck.
> Mary Collins
> On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 9:49 AM, Rickey <holt.e(a)comcast.net>
> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I am planning an ONS for about 100, mostly adults. The husband
> of
> the
> > organizer is Irish, from Ireland, and her dad, I think, is
> either
> French or
> > French-Canadian.
> >
> > Do you have any suggestions for Irish, French, or French
> Canadian
> dances
> > that might have been popular where these folks grew up, and
> which
> would be
> > appropriate for this crowd. The organizer mentioned
> specifically
> that her
> > dad especially liked French Quadrilles. Do you have any that
> these
> folks
> > might enjoy? Any and all suggestions are, of course, more than
> welcome.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Rickey Holt,
> >
> > Fremont, NH
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Hi,
The French, or French Canadian, quadrille "The Carding" is easy and
fun if the band will play a reel with a good strong beat (but not too
fast) on the end of the phrase (4 1/2 x through). I got it from Dudley
Laufman's book "Sweets of May". It's nice because you don't have to
fuss trying to get an even four couples per square. An individual with
a ghost partner can even fit in fine.
The simple version Sweets of May (not the quadrille which is fun
but too complicated) goes well to a jig if the crowd can move
reasonably well.
The Irish Bridge of Athlone simplified (forward and back and cross
over instead of the 7s & 3s) is one of my favorites.
I agree with Martha that the simplified LaBastringue is always an
upper if the band knows the music, and the original version is fun for
more experienced dancers too (as a dancer)
The Irish Haymaker's Jig is fun but having danced it with a friend
calling the more Irish version I'd suggest simplifying the first part
to just forward and back. The rest is do-able and fun with a lively
crowd.
Summer Cheers, Sue Robishaw
P.S. Let me know if you need the steps to any.
