Contra Callers

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20 participants
4362 discussions

by Rickey

Hi all, I have been hired to lead some dancing for a recreation of the Mormon Trek that took place from 1840 to 1860. Apparently they believed in dancing and danced during the trek itself. It would be fun to include any historically accurate (or roughly historically accurate) material that I can. There will be close to 100 dancers mostly teenagers I believe, most or all with no prior experience with traditional dance. Any suggestions for easy dances - circles, sets or maybe contras (although I know better than to expect them to do contras unless we turn the contras into Sicilian circles) would be very welcome. I might even take on a square or two. The dance will take place outside, perhaps under a tent, but I believe without a wooden floor. Your suggestions will be happily danced. Thanks, Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH

16 years, 11 months

August 13, International Lefthanders Day

by hgrastorf＠aol.com

I'm a novice caller, and will be taking the Callers Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf at Pinewoods this August.? Wednesday, August 13th will be the 36th International Lefthanders Day, and I've written the following dance which I hope to call there that evening, since its Campers Night?-- it?dances okay in my head.? Any input? Name of Dance:? August 13 Duple Improper, double progression. A1? LEFT hand star (8) morphing into LEFT hand Allm w/neighbor (8)?(like Al's Safeway Produce) A2? Ladies pass LEFT shoulders across the set to B/S partner (16)? Face LEFT diagonal B1? On the LEFT diagonal, half a hey, ladies leading.? Ladies turn back over their LEFT shoulders to LEFT gypsy partner (16).? Face across. B2? Circle LEFT --? (One and 1/8 places?)?(8 counts) Far enough to balance the ring (4) and then pass LEFT shoulders (4) into a new LH star with the next.?? April Blum

16 years, 11 months

Looking for a dance name, author and other data...

by Richie Katz

Hi.... I've posted 4 videos of Lisa Greenleaf, Ron Buchanon, and Becky Hill calling, A Pirates Life for Me, The 24th of June, Are you 'most done, and one unknown dance. All this is on the caller's corner page of contrausa.com. Can anyone look at these and let me know some of the dance names, the author's data and any other comments on the calling and dances? By the way, the dancing and music is great also... and you may see your friends in there :) best wishes ... Richie Katz Tampa

16 years, 11 months

International Lefthanders Day

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

--- April wrote: Does anyone have a suggestion for a tune that has a different B2???? --- end of quote --- I think what you mght be looking for is a three-part tune. Instead of playing AABBCC, the band might play, for example, AABC, giving you that different sound for the B2 part of your dance. Possibly the best-known tune that has three parts (aside from Chorus Jig, which won't work because it's more like ABCB and because for some dancers that tune is linked with the dance) is Ragtime Annie. Most fiddlers know the A and B parts and many will also know the C part. Other three-part possibilities that quickly come to mind are Reel Beatrice (French-Canadian), Quadrille Jos Bouchard (ditto) and Merrily Kissed the Quaker's Wife (Irish). Of course, in keeping with your theme of "LEFT," you might want to consider using "The Girl I Left Behind Me" as your tune. ;-) David Millstone

16 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2

by hgrastorf＠aol.com

April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > I've often threatened to knit myself some lacy fingerless gloves, one of which will have a large "L" on the back... ... and the other of which will have a large "OL" (for my Other Left).? Does anyone have a suggestion for a tune that has a different B2????I think with the right tune providing an audio cue, the direction change (from gypsy left to circle left) would be less?apt to go "right."? Or do I mean more apt to go left?? April -----Original Message----- From: callers-request(a)sharedweight.net To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Sent: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 12:00 pm Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2 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: August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin) (Jerome Grisanti) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:00:27 -0500 From: "Jerome Grisanti" <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin) To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Message-ID: <78dbc7c60806031000i49afaa0h31665f49ebc58f62(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > > > I'm not very experienced at writing dances or critiquing them. I think > it looks good. The only part the seems awkward to me is transitioning > from a left shoulder gypsy to a circle left. It seems like circling > right would flow more easily. Or else gypsying right and transitioning > into the circle left. > Janet Levatin > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 2 **************************************

16 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] August 13, International Lefthanders Day (Janet Levatin)

by Jerome Grisanti

April, If you decide to do any choreographic adjustments but want to stick to the "left" theme, don't forget the option of using your "other" left foot or hand. --jerome > > > I'm not very experienced at writing dances or critiquing them. I think > it looks good. The only part the seems awkward to me is transitioning > from a left shoulder gypsy to a circle left. It seems like circling > right would flow more easily. Or else gypsying right and transitioning > into the circle left. > Janet Levatin > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

16 years, 11 months

Gentlemanly hand contact

by Lark-Aeryn Speyer

Hi all, I'd like to suggest a style point for consideration. This is standard in some communities, not in others, but it makes a (almost oddly) big difference to my comfort as a dancer. >From when I was originally taught the courtesy turn, "the ladies make a little teapot" part (right arm the handle, left hand the very bent spout, you all get the picture), and that that right hand on a lady's hip is there "so that the gentlemen can BE gentlemen and take the ladies by the hand, not the waist." This second part is very important to me personally as a matter of dance etiquette. I have no trouble with an arm around my waist for swings, star promenade/butterfly whirls, any number of other moves most likely, but for some reason the gentlemen being gentlemanly really stuck with me and--for me--makes a full arm around the waist during a courtesy turn feel literally too close for comfort. Kindly consider this point in future dances, teaching sessions, &c., for what it's worth. My suggestion for dancing would be, ladies, make your right hand an easy target, and, gents, be sensitive to such a target when reaching for a lady on a courtesy turn. And thank you for your consideration. Lark Speyer Boston area -- Try being a warrior for freedom and go be who you really want to be, and keep doing it. --"Civil War: 2061" Game Rules

16 years, 11 months

Re: [Callers] Community Dance Leaders Course this July!

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

I'd like to second Rebecca's invitation for callers to consider this particular course: http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-community-leaders.html True, the focus isn't on calling for hard-core contra dancers; rather, it's aimed at building the skills you'll need to work with less-experience folks at community dances, one-night stands, PTO events, weddings, and the like. Many of the calling skills, of course, are easily transferred to the contemporary contra mainstream, but there's a different mindset (and a different repertoire) that you need when approaching these other events. For example, I called ten days ago for three hours of dancing with a large group celebrating a family reunion, and didn't call a single honest-to-goodness contra all evening. Never needed a ladies chain or a hey-for-four on the left diagonal or a right and left through. Folks had a great time and this morning's e-mail brought an invitation to call for a wedding, someone who had attended this event and is completely changing her wedding reception plans to include a dance. I guarantee you that wouldn't have happened if I'd called an evening of contras! Andy's class at Pinewoods will be an excellent way to develop that way of thinking. Need I point out that weddings and such events also pay MUCH better than your average contra dance? ;-) Indeed, being able to call for these events is a way of earning cash to purchase CDs and attend camps on your own! Andy literally wrote the book-- well, he's one of the co-authors, and it's many books, not just one-- on the subject of community dancing. David Millstone

16 years, 11 months

Community Dance Leaders Course this July!

by Rebecca Lay

Hello Callers, I wanted to make sure you're all aware of a wonderful Community Dance Leaders Course, taught by Andy Davis, that's happening this July during Folk Music Week at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA. Pinewoods is a beautiful place, and the course is sure to be inspiring. There are still some scholarships available for the few remaining spots, so don't hesitate to apply! Here are the details: Community Dance Leaders Course at Pinewoods Camp, July 19-26, 2008. This course is designed for anyone with an interest in leading, organizing, calling for and playing for community dances. Participants will spend part of the day in the Community Dance Leaders Course and part of the day, and the evenings, as full participants in the classes, dances and other activities of Folk Music Week. At this week you will have the opportunity to: Meet other leaders, callers and musicians. Share materials and collect new dances. Play for dancing, call dances and dance, dance, dance! Be restored in a beautiful natural environment. Take classes in a variety of vocal, instrumental and dance traditions. You will return home with: Inspiration to promote traditional dance in your community. New friends, colleagues and powerful connections in the community dance world. Pinewoods Camp is a beautiful place, nestled between two ponds, where music and dance have been nurtured for many years. Good food, friends, fresh air, wooden dance floors and a deep tradition of promoting music and dance make Pinewoods a place of inspiration and magic. This program, held concurrently with Folk Music Week<http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-folk-music.html>, is designed and led by Andy Davis who plays accordion and calls dances as well as playing banjo and piano. He teaches in the public schools of Dover and Brattleboro, VT, and as a visiting artist-in-residence. He specializes in teaching traditional dance and music. His work with young people led to his participation on two trips to Novosibirsk, Russia in 1988 and 1989. Andy has appeared as a dance musician, teacher and song leader at many well-known traditional music and dance camps throughout the U.S. Andy's calling of square and contra dances is often for the benefit of small community dances where dancers of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to join in. His commitment to promoting traditional dance in schools and communities led him to start New England Dancing Masters (publishers of books, recordings and a video for teachers and recreation leaders) with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Mary Cay Brass. Each December since 1987 Andy performs throughout new England with Nowell Sing We Clear, a concert of mid-winter carols, with Tony Barrand, John Roberts and Fred Breunig. The group specializes in traditional songs, shape-note hymns and instrumental dance music and customs from Christian and pagan traditions. More info about the course is here: http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-community-leaders.html Happy calling! ~Rebecca

16 years, 11 months

Dance Without Title

by Jane Ewing

Must have left my brain somewhere while cleaning!! Let's try again.....here is the dance that I need a title & author for! Duple Improper A1 Star Left Gents Almd Left A2 Pick up Neighbor in Star Promenade 1X round (back to original side), Butterfly Whirl B1 Ladies Chain Over & Back B2 Hey for 4 Jane Ewing Huntsville, AL

16 years, 11 months

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