Contra Callers

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43 participants
4388 discussions

by Amy Cann

You may reply to the whole list or to me personally: acann(a)putneyschool.org I will compile all lists and, when the project's done, post the compilation and their paper/presentation so all the rest of us theory wonks can read it too! 1a - Can you list your three favorite transitions (sequence of two figures) in terms of flow, how they connect? 1b - What about your three least favorite? 2a - What is the dance that embodies the words flowing, elegant, smooth the most to you? 2b - What is the dance that embodies them the least? 3a - Are there any dances you know and love, that are wonderfully satisfying, but are not necessarily smooth or flowing? 3a - Why do these dances work, if it's not the flow? Note: the students will not see your answers to Question 3a at first. We're going to let them discover the other "satisfyers" on their own -- good story line, social tension and reward, the "oh cool, that's so ingenious!" factor.

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Style/safety/etiquette tips from the microphone

by Greg McKenzie

Here is one I have used: "Ladies and Gentlemen: After this dance we will be taking a short break. If you have any concerns about anything happening in the dance hall please let me know during the break." I feel it is important for the caller to take responsibility for receiving the feedback directly. - Greg McKenzie -----Original Message----- >From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org> >Sent: May 14, 2008 6:02 PM >To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: Re: [Callers] Style/safety/etiquette tips from the microphone > >Thank you everyone for your contributions. I would like to compile more >suggestions, however. I'll take a stab at remembering a few I've heard >from the floor. (apologies to Lisa Greenleaf and other callers if I >misremember some of them) > >- The hall is crowded tonight, take care of each other >- Allemande: curl your fingers around the base of your partner's thumb >and gently pull straight back; the wrist does not bend. >- During the swing, each person's back is vertical and is supporting >their own weight. Ladies can help by putting their left hand behind the >gent's shoulder to support themselves. >- Leading a twirl is a suggestion, not a command >- Talk to each other - let your partner know if what they're doing is >uncomfortable or painful and what they can do to make dancing with them >more pleasurable. >- Everyone has the right to say "no thank you" when asked to dance and >then dance with someone else >- Ladies, if you are being held too close in the swing, put your palm >against the front of his shoulder and push > >Maybe some things that should be said from the microphone occasionally: >- If you're having an unpleasant dance experience with your partner, you >can drop out at either the top or bottom of the set before the dance is over >- Feel free to talk to one of the organizers or the person minding the >cash box if you have a problem with another dancer > >I look forward to your feedback. > >Chris Weiler >Goffstown, NH

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] The rest of the story

by troll.wright＠verizon.net

Hi Amy - My favorite moments: In 333 when the women get to dosido to their next neighbor and he/she is waiting, or, even better, doing a wind up turn to greeet me. Ramsay Chase, the whole thing, especially the gypsy and deciding who will lead to the other side in the hey. I love when the women are courtesy-turned by the old neighbor into a balance and swing with a new neighbor at the top of the A. (When the music is changing it's even better). I detest ending a swing and starring left (right works well for women) or circling or anything that requires getting hands sorted out. I don't like too much in one direction, that is, circling left three quarters, sliding along the set and circling again with the next neighbors. I hate doing anything too much - balancing twice, petronella more than twice; dances with three or more balances get automatic Cs. I also like the give and take if you do it with your partner. With the neighbor you never get an agreed on number of beats for giving and taking. Once you reach the agreement, you can flirt a lot. Nell >From: Amy Cann <ACann(a)putneyschool.org> >Date: 2008/05/14 Wed PM 09:00:49 CDT >To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> >Subject: [Callers] The rest of the story >I teach at The Putney School, an academically >intense/progressive/nerdy-hippy prep school with a working farm and a >bunch of contradance-loving students who are also math geeks. > >Next week they're starting a ten-day intensive on the interrelation of >traditional dance and math. >Maypoles + Mathematical theory of braids and cyclic symmetries. >Contradancing + Geometric transformations/Rotational motion/angular >momentum. > >They're going to go to the Dawn Dance in Brattleboro, sit around and mess >with LOTS of theory, write a dance, and present the whole thing to the >school at the end. > >Cool project, huh? > >They need YOUR answers so that they can analyze the math/physics behind >the moves. > >The next and final email will be the official reply form. PLEASE consider >taking a few moments to fill it out and send it in - you will be much >appreciated by a very cool group of kids -- one that probably contains at >least one future caller! > >cheers again, >Amy > >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

17 years, 3 months

The rest of the story

by Amy Cann

I teach at The Putney School, an academically intense/progressive/nerdy-hippy prep school with a working farm and a bunch of contradance-loving students who are also math geeks. Next week they're starting a ten-day intensive on the interrelation of traditional dance and math. Maypoles + Mathematical theory of braids and cyclic symmetries. Contradancing + Geometric transformations/Rotational motion/angular momentum. They're going to go to the Dawn Dance in Brattleboro, sit around and mess with LOTS of theory, write a dance, and present the whole thing to the school at the end. Cool project, huh? They need YOUR answers so that they can analyze the math/physics behind the moves. The next and final email will be the official reply form. PLEASE consider taking a few moments to fill it out and send it in - you will be much appreciated by a very cool group of kids -- one that probably contains at least one future caller! cheers again, Amy

17 years, 3 months

What makes for good flow? Your opinion sought.

by Amy Cann

I have a ...project... for all of you who delight in discussing what makes a good dance work. I'm going to ask three questions without telling you why first. It would be a marvelous thing if each of you on this list thought about YOUR answers to these questions, and held those answers in your head, before reading anyone else's replies, or sneaking a peek at the next email to see why I'm asking. Ready? First, think about all of your favorite dances, or your favorite moments in certain dances. Just sift through them, mentally. Now think of the dances, or moments, you DON't like. Now: * * * * * Can you list your three favorite transitions (sequence of two figures) in terms of flow, how they connect? What about your three least favorite? What is the dance that embodies the words flowing, elegant, smooth the most to you? What is the dance that embodies them the least? Got your answers? NOW look at the next email... Cheers, Amy

17 years, 3 months

Style/safety/etiquette tips from the microphone

by Chris Weiler

Hello everyone, We've been having a lively discussion in the Boston area about several topics ranging from men behaving badly to poor style to dancers who are too rough. My question is, what tips or information do you like to give from the microphone to help people deal with these issues? How do you give them? It would help if you could share your wording because I'm sure that brevity and humor play a big part in how effective they are. Do you give demonstrations? Role play a situation on the floor? My goal is to compile these into a list that we can reference, or that organizers can give to visiting callers to encourage the atmosphere they would like at their dances. Thanks! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 45, Issue 16

by Chrissy Fowler

Rich, How nicely put! I was recently involved in conversations that brought up this same thing -- that our particular form of social activity can be a place where you can hang out and interact in a generally positive manner with people with whom you might not otherwise choose to spend social time and who aren't necessarily like you! (different background, education, profession, class, gender, age, politics, religion, sexual orientation, marital/family status, tax bracket, cognitive ability, social skills, etc.) Great reminder that you gave us. Chrissy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org > ------------------------------ > Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 10:51:34 -0400 > From: Richard Hart <rich(a)harts.mv.com> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers & Dancers With Various Degrees > .... > I know of no other place where people with so many > different backgrounds get together so often to share something that they > all enjoy. > > Rich. > > _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refres…

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 45, Issue 15

by Chrissy Fowler

nicely put, tina! i couldn't agree more. for my part, on the "isn't that interesting" front, i've noticed that there are many callers in my circle who are (or have been) various sorts of educator/teachers and/or are first-born children. both of these loose associations seem pretty logical -- as has been pointed out, good calling involves good teaching while managing groups of people, often of varying skill levels, effectively enough to ensure a positive experience for the greatest number. and eldest children often have spent years practicing orchestrating & leading, and are "quite-comfortable-telling-others-what-to-do-next". as tina points out, it's just an observation, sort of like observing that there are lots of math/engineering professionals attending modern urban contradances. ah, which brings me to another association - many callers are prone to observing, noticing patterns and making guesses about why those patterns might be occurring. hah! :-) chrissy fowler ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org home 207-338-0979 cell 603-498-3506> > > Message: 2> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:26:22 -0700 (PDT)> From: Tina Fields <tfields8(a)yahoo.com>> Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees> > Greg makes a very important point here. The 'elitism'> factor really never occurred to me when asking this> question; it really came out of surprised curiosity. Like> many of us, I'm just interested in weird phenomena. There> aren't that many Ph.Ds/MDs/JDs etc. in the country, and> it's wild to see how many wind up calling too. > > My dad was a brilliant square dance caller, and he had a> junior-high education. I'm the first one in my family to> even get through high school; the relatives were worried> that "that much education might ruin yer girl." And I> could not agree with Greg more. As a college teacher,> artist-in-residence with kids, and outdoor leader alike,> I've noticed that the best teaching is really a form of> servant leadership or midwife education rather than egoic> performance; that is, the 'guide on the side', not the> 'sage on the stage.' This is, of course, exactly Greg's> point about good calling. > > One of the reasons I find calling so compelling is the> challenge of making sure everyone - band, dancers, sound> person, dance manager - all are having a good time, feeling> confident, appreciated, and in sync; all the while not> screwing any of it up myself. (As a newish caller, that> last bit is the tricky part.) Callers have to focus> effectively on many parts at the same time to create one> cohesive, joyful whole -- talk about a humbling meditation> practice! > > If I offended anyone inadvertently, please take this as a> sincere apology. The question comes out of curiosity, not> snobbishness.> > Tina> > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends. http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh…

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees

by gtwood＠worldpath.net

Hi Tina, I took an informal survay, years back, of the contra dance community in general. I found that for the most part dancers, musicians, and I assume callers are very well educated/ professionals.... but are quite modest on such subjects. Original Message: ----------------- From: Tina Fields tfields8(a)yahoo.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:26:22 -0700 (PDT) To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees Greg makes a very important point here. The 'elitism' factor really never occurred to me when asking this question; it really came out of surprised curiosity. Like many of us, I'm just interested in weird phenomena. There aren't that many Ph.Ds/MDs/JDs etc. in the country, and it's wild to see how many wind up calling too. My dad was a brilliant square dance caller, and he had a junior-high education. I'm the first one in my family to even get through high school; the relatives were worried that "that much education might ruin yer girl." And I could not agree with Greg more. As a college teacher, artist-in-residence with kids, and outdoor leader alike, I've noticed that the best teaching is really a form of servant leadership or midwife education rather than egoic performance; that is, the 'guide on the side', not the 'sage on the stage.' This is, of course, exactly Greg's point about good calling. One of the reasons I find calling so compelling is the challenge of making sure everyone - band, dancers, sound person, dance manager - all are having a good time, feeling confident, appreciated, and in sync; all the while not screwing any of it up myself. (As a newish caller, that last bit is the tricky part.) Callers have to focus effectively on many parts at the same time to create one cohesive, joyful whole -- talk about a humbling meditation practice! If I offended anyone inadvertently, please take this as a sincere apology. The question comes out of curiosity, not snobbishness. Tina Message: 3 Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 23:46:18 -0700 From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <7.0.0.16.1.20080510112220.01130c20(a)earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed I think we are skating close to the point of some sort of caller elitism here. I want to point out that anyone, regardless of his or her background, can both benefit from the discipline and experience of calling and also make a significant contribution to the tradition of contra dance calling as a whole. Obviously, those with higher degrees--because of their training, knowledge, and background--have significant obstacles to overcome in order to become an effective contra dance caller. But that is true of all of us. I encourage anyone, even those with higher degrees, to give contra dance calling a try. Contra dance calling is, and should be, a humbling experience. It challenges each of us to be a leader in the community and to empower all of those in the hall. A true leader understands that their job is to build the confidence of everyone, not merely their own. The caller's effectiveness comes not from any confidence the caller has in herself, but from the confidence the dancers have in themselves. We should be cautious about assuming that those with higher degrees of academic training cannot overcome their background and go on to become expert callers. In fact contra dance calling, when approached without hubris, can be a marvelous tool for self-examination and for overcoming whatever disadvantage a prospective caller might be burdened with. I encourage all of you with higher degrees to persist in your pursuit of this marvelous tradition. Just a thought, Greg McKenzie ******** At 10:04 AM 5/9/2008, Tina Fields wrote: >Hi everyone - > >In a conversation with Lynn Ackerson a couple of weeks ago, >it came out that both of us have Ph.Ds. Now I'm very >curious about how many of us have higher degrees, and what >fields they're in. (Maybe calling really IS rocket science! ><g>) > >If you have a terminal degree or know of a caller who does, >would you be willing to e-mail that info to me? I'll >collate the info and share it back with you as one letter. >Thanks!! > >Tina Fields >tfields8 at yahoo dot com > >Tina R. Fields, Ph.D. >(707) 824-9318 > >"Hindsight Now!" Tina R. Fields, Ph.D. (707) 824-9318 "Hindsight Now!" _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web LIVE Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE

17 years, 3 months

Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees

by Tina Fields

Greg makes a very important point here. The 'elitism' factor really never occurred to me when asking this question; it really came out of surprised curiosity. Like many of us, I'm just interested in weird phenomena. There aren't that many Ph.Ds/MDs/JDs etc. in the country, and it's wild to see how many wind up calling too. My dad was a brilliant square dance caller, and he had a junior-high education. I'm the first one in my family to even get through high school; the relatives were worried that "that much education might ruin yer girl." And I could not agree with Greg more. As a college teacher, artist-in-residence with kids, and outdoor leader alike, I've noticed that the best teaching is really a form of servant leadership or midwife education rather than egoic performance; that is, the 'guide on the side', not the 'sage on the stage.' This is, of course, exactly Greg's point about good calling. One of the reasons I find calling so compelling is the challenge of making sure everyone - band, dancers, sound person, dance manager - all are having a good time, feeling confident, appreciated, and in sync; all the while not screwing any of it up myself. (As a newish caller, that last bit is the tricky part.) Callers have to focus effectively on many parts at the same time to create one cohesive, joyful whole -- talk about a humbling meditation practice! If I offended anyone inadvertently, please take this as a sincere apology. The question comes out of curiosity, not snobbishness. Tina Message: 3 Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 23:46:18 -0700 From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck(a)earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers with higher degrees To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Message-ID: <7.0.0.16.1.20080510112220.01130c20(a)earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed I think we are skating close to the point of some sort of caller elitism here. I want to point out that anyone, regardless of his or her background, can both benefit from the discipline and experience of calling and also make a significant contribution to the tradition of contra dance calling as a whole. Obviously, those with higher degrees--because of their training, knowledge, and background--have significant obstacles to overcome in order to become an effective contra dance caller. But that is true of all of us. I encourage anyone, even those with higher degrees, to give contra dance calling a try. Contra dance calling is, and should be, a humbling experience. It challenges each of us to be a leader in the community and to empower all of those in the hall. A true leader understands that their job is to build the confidence of everyone, not merely their own. The caller's effectiveness comes not from any confidence the caller has in herself, but from the confidence the dancers have in themselves. We should be cautious about assuming that those with higher degrees of academic training cannot overcome their background and go on to become expert callers. In fact contra dance calling, when approached without hubris, can be a marvelous tool for self-examination and for overcoming whatever disadvantage a prospective caller might be burdened with. I encourage all of you with higher degrees to persist in your pursuit of this marvelous tradition. Just a thought, Greg McKenzie ******** At 10:04 AM 5/9/2008, Tina Fields wrote: >Hi everyone - > >In a conversation with Lynn Ackerson a couple of weeks ago, >it came out that both of us have Ph.Ds. Now I'm very >curious about how many of us have higher degrees, and what >fields they're in. (Maybe calling really IS rocket science! ><g>) > >If you have a terminal degree or know of a caller who does, >would you be willing to e-mail that info to me? I'll >collate the info and share it back with you as one letter. >Thanks!! > >Tina Fields >tfields8 at yahoo dot com > >Tina R. Fields, Ph.D. >(707) 824-9318 > >"Hindsight Now!" Tina R. Fields, Ph.D. (707) 824-9318 "Hindsight Now!"

17 years, 3 months

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Contra Callers