Yes, this is a visiting big circle dance, as was done in the Southeast (I believe). There is an initial lead couple that starts the shoofly swing, which is the allemande turning figure that progresses from couple to couple. After the lead couple has passed about 3 or 4 couples, the next couple starts dancing the move and it travels around the circle. The man follows along the inside of the circle and turns his partner as she returns to him.
If I were to call this, I would start with a big circle, possible circle left and right, into the center and back, swing partner and promenade, grand right and left, and then when that's all done, get the lead couple started with the shoofly swing. At the end (when you have decided that it has gone on long enough), you can do a similar ending with the whole circle. I probably wouldn't do this at a "contra dance" but there are many one night stands, parties, and square dances where this would be totally appropriate and fun.
Suzanne
-----Original Message-----
>From: Jack Mitchell <jamitch3(a)mindspring.com>
>Sent: Apr 30, 2008 10:19 AM
>To: Suzanne Girardot <suzanneg(a)wolfenet.com>, Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>Subject: Re: [Callers] Shoofly Swing
>
>Ok. Having a little trouble picturing this.
>
>a) Is the whole dance the shoefly swing?
>b) If the women are visiting, does her partner
>just follow her along the circle on the inside of the circle?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jack
>
>
>At 01:02 PM 4/30/2008, you wrote:
>>Gretchen, I have seen this dance called by Phil
>>Jamison. In a big circle, this dance goes on
>>for a while, but many people can be dancing at
>>one time. Once the women have danced all the
>>way around, the women can turn the men and the
>>men can do the visiting. This would indeed be a
>>long dance, but back in the day, this would have
>>been extremely fun and not at all boring. What I
>>enjoy about this dance is the chance to turn
>>smoothly with your partner, and then turn the
>>next person in the circle with the left,
>>smoothly going around into the allemande with
>>your partner again. It can be really rhythmic
>>and did I mention smooth? You can get a nice
>>groove going with it. It would be a fun dance
>>for newer dancers, especially with a driving
>>old-time band. It sounds as though you have the
>>entire dance. Once you get the dancers going
>>("Turn your partner with a shoofly swing") there
>>is no more calling necessary until you want to
>>bring that part of the dance to a close and
>>perhaps finish with a big circle or grand right
>>and left. Suzanne Girardot Seattle, WA
>>-----Original Message----- >From: Gretchen
>>Caldwell <gretchendance(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Apr
>>29, 2008 12:12 PM >To:
>>callers(a)sharedweight.net >Subject: [Callers]
>>Shoofly Swing > >I'm looking for a circle dance
>>called, I believe, "Shoofly Swing". Cubby
>>Whitehead used to end every evening with it in
>>Bradenton Florida in the late 1980s. It
>>involves one couple starting with an allemande
>>right, lady then allemandes next gent by left,
>>then partner by right, next gent by left, and so
>>on. After the allemanding partners have passed
>>you by, you and your partner join until the
>>whole circle is peeling off in one amazing mass
>>of allemandes. >Anyone have it? >I've just
>>joined the list, have been calling for two
>>years, and appreciate the support of the
>>community. I plan to try Microchasmic soon for
>>our weekly Monday night dance, where the level
>>of dancing is, surprise surprise, improving as
>>we three local callers try more challenging
>>dances. Not a lot of contracorners going
>>on. This triplet might be just the
>>thing. >Gretchen Caldwell >Charlotte
>>NC >_____________________________________________
>>__ >Callers mailing
>>list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.shared
>>weight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>_______________________________________________
>>Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
One other note about calling medleys, a point well made by Cary Ravitz at
http://ravitz.us/dance/call.php#9
The band's tune shift is an energy lift. Switching dances shifts the
attention to the caller and the steps and away from the band, thus negating
that lift. He suggests getting into the new figure and THEN switching tunes,
rather than switching tunes and dances at the same time.
I recommend following the link above if you're not familiar with his advice
on dance calling. Even if you don't agree, it's well reasoned and organized
information.
I'll also weigh in my agreement that medleys, like squares, are best when
well prepared and matched to the crowd. I've got several medleys on deck
awaiting the right crowd (and some may wait for years).
--jerome
--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
660-528-0714
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
(I hope this didn't get posted twice)
I'll start out by saying that I am a big fan of unannounced medleys.
Especially at the end of the Dawn Dance or at other times when I'm tired and
don't want to think. I agree with Beth's points about "the non-thinking
groove" and the "spice of not knowing what is coming next". Also, there is
often a moment in "standard" contras after the caller has stopped calling
and my brain has turned off when all of a sudden my muscle memory gets
distracted and I have absolutely no idea where I am or what comes next.
That can be very jarring. In a medley that never happens. As an
experienced dancer, I often only need to pay peripheral attention to the
calls, and so can focus on the music and the people I'm dancing with even as
the caller is calling and the dance is changing. For me, it can be a much
richer experience. The thing that I like about squares is the variety. One
thing that I like about contras is being able to dance with the entire
longways set. Medleys combine the best of both worlds.
I never danced medleys as a novice dancer, so I can't speak to that from
personal experience, but I have seen beginning dancers absolutely thrilled
after doing an unannounced medley because they did something they didn't
think they could do. I might be in the minority, but I think that
unannounced medleys can be more beginner-friendly than planned medleys. You
don't get the NEFFA partner planning thing, and so beginning dancers are
more likely to be dancing with experienced dancers. Also, instead of being
scared away and feeling left out, beginning dancers are included and get a
sense of accomplishment at the end.
Anyway, I'm certainly not disputing that medleys need to be planned
carefully and done in situations where they will succeed. But I think that
(along with other out of the ordinary dances such as 4-face-4 and the like)
medleys can help make contra dancing more varied and exciting without making
it less inclusive and beginner-friendly.
Just my thoughts.
-Bronwyn
> On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 9:04 PM, Beth Parkes <ebay(a)hands4.com> wrote:
>
> > Ah, but there is another non-thinking groove zone that traditional
> > square
> > dancers understood and somehow modern contra dancers don't get: you
> > don't
> > have to think, just do what the darn caller tells you to do each time
> > around
> > and enjoy the variety and the spice of not knowing what is coming next.
> > I
> > find it better than the "do the same thing over and over and over and
> > over"
> > boredom of the (always soooo similar) modern contra scene. The fun is
> > the
> > three legged stool: the caller, the band, and the dancers. Modern contra
> > dancers only want the music. Their loss.
> >
> > IMVHO, of course.
> >
> > Beth
> >
> >
All-
Over the last few weeks I 've come across some questions related to calling and I though I'd combine a couple in one note rather than inflict two messages on everyone. Comments on either or both are appreciated.
1. I have run into the following mixer dance and I'm not sure how best to call it. I don't know the name and author or I'd ask him/her. The problem is that no beat counts or A1-A2-B1-B2 divisions were given.
The formation is a wavy circle with gents facing in, ladies facing out, partners by the right. The moves are:
Balance the wave R/L
Allemande R half way and reform the wavy circle
Balance the wave L/R
Allemande L half way and reform the wavy circle
Balance the wave R/L
Allemande R 1x
Allemande L 1 1/2 times
Partners balance and swing
Promenade around the circle
Partners drop R hands and reform the circle. Old partner is in left hand, new partner in right.
The problem is I can't make the timing look right. The first five moves look to all be four beat moves, but then there are 12 beats left for the allemande R 1x and allemande L 1 1/2. If not, moves are falling across the phrase.
Has anyone tried this dance or know anything about it? I'm thinking that drop the third balancing of the wave would work best, but that means a half allemande, full allemande, and 1 1/2 allemande consecutively.
2. I'm at the point where I want to try calling a dance medley. Any thoughts on good combinations to start with? What coordination do you do with the band ahead of time?
Thanks.
-Parker
Hi Friends, Dancers, Organizers, and previous Frolicers:
ANNOUNCING,
The Second Annual Frolic in the Fall. To be held Saturday, September 27, 2008 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 the Contra Rebels from York and Dancewiz from Philadelphia , calling by Tom Hinds, from Faber, VA, and Dave Colestock, from Harrisburg, PA.
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.
Dance at the Locust Lane Contra Dance on Friday 9/26/08 with Perry Shafran calling to All Hat, No Cattle, 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 $20 /person. Contact us at Fallfrolic(a)yahoo.com or visit the website at www.frolicinthefall.freeservers.com Register online or by snail mail by 9/13/08 , please. Feel free to forward this email, and tell all of your friends - spread the word!
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
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
Dave,
During Ralph Page Legacy Dance weekend I was introduced by the emcee as being from the western shores of NJ. Couldn't resist, and it must be in the advance geography class.
See ya,
Dan
----- Original Message ----
From: Dave Colestock <contradancerdave(a)yahoo.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2008 4:16:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] idea for a longer contra medley
Hey Dan -
When did NJ acquire a Western Shore??? I thought it only had an east coast ocean exposure!!! Or do I need to brush up on Geography 201?
Dave Colestock
Dan Black <blackjunier(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
One thing that has been helpful being involved in medeleys, is the chance to become familiar with calling a no walk through dance. Sometime I can include one quick dance at the end with a no walk thru. People seem to enjoy and this dance is usually has more dancers than the previous. Secondly it is better than a medley because you don't have to call as many times and keep track of how many times til the change.
Chris great comment about the band, just think playing the fiddle for 26 minutes straight. My shoulder gets sore thinking about it.
There was a time when I'd call a three dance medley and it seemed to go over well. Maybe it is time to do that again. Nice thread.
Dan Black
Western Shore of NJ
----- Original Message ----
From: Chris Weiler (home)
To: Caller's discussion list
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2008 2:49:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] idea for a longer contra medley
Speaking as a caller who made a mistake during his medley, it was
eternal. 8^)
Right now 6 dances repeated 6 times works out to roughly 19 minutes.
That's just enough time to get set up, form lines, recite the
warning/welcoming poem and be done in time to allow the bands to change
for the next set. 6 dances repeated 8 times is almost 26 minutes. That
doesn't leave any time for the band change.
Koren's idea of having two medleys in a session might be more practical,
but I have another concern: What about the musicians? It's a long time
to play and I've talked to some after playing for a medley and heard how
fatigued they are.
Happy Dancing!
Chris Weiler
Goffstown, NH
Janet Levatin wrote:
> I like some of those ideas. I would at least like to see the 6 dances
> each repeated 8 times, or 8 dances each repeated 6 times. Or maybe two
> 6 x 6 in a row. I just thought the whole thing was a bit too short.
> Janet
>
>
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Callers mailing list
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_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
____________________________________________________________________________________
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know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
One thing that has been helpful being involved in medeleys, is the chance to become familiar with calling a no walk through dance. Sometime I can include one quick dance at the end with a no walk thru. People seem to enjoy and this dance is usually has more dancers than the previous. Secondly it is better than a medley because you don't have to call as many times and keep track of how many times til the change.
Chris great comment about the band, just think playing the fiddle for 26 minutes straight. My shoulder gets sore thinking about it.
There was a time when I'd call a three dance medley and it seemed to go over well. Maybe it is time to do that again. Nice thread.
Dan Black
Western Shore of NJ
----- Original Message ----
From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2008 2:49:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] idea for a longer contra medley
Speaking as a caller who made a mistake during his medley, it was
eternal. 8^)
Right now 6 dances repeated 6 times works out to roughly 19 minutes.
That's just enough time to get set up, form lines, recite the
warning/welcoming poem and be done in time to allow the bands to change
for the next set. 6 dances repeated 8 times is almost 26 minutes. That
doesn't leave any time for the band change.
Koren's idea of having two medleys in a session might be more practical,
but I have another concern: What about the musicians? It's a long time
to play and I've talked to some after playing for a medley and heard how
fatigued they are.
Happy Dancing!
Chris Weiler
Goffstown, NH
Janet Levatin wrote:
> I like some of those ideas. I would at least like to see the 6 dances
> each repeated 8 times, or 8 dances each repeated 6 times. Or maybe two
> 6 x 6 in a row. I just thought the whole thing was a bit too short.
> Janet
>
>
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Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
____________________________________________________________________________________
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know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
Hi All,
The dance in question is Sunday on the Green, written by Jim Kitch. I've
called it lots of times and it's a great dance. I agree with Alan's notation
of the timing below, and his comment to NOT drop the balances. They make the
dance. I've added some comments that help me teach and call it as well as a
bit about the B2, that might help the rest of you. So here's my take on it:
(starts in an Alamo ring, ladies face out/gents in)
A1 1-2 Balance the wave R/L
3-4 Partners allemande R half way and reform the wavy circle
5-6 Balance the wave L/R
7-8 With #1, allemande L half way and reform the wavy circle
A2 1-2 Balance the wave R/L
3-4 With #2, allemande R 1x
5-8 With #1, allemande L 1 1/2 times
B1 1-8 Partners balance and swing
B2 1-6 Promenade around the circle
7-8 Partners drop R hands, keep holding L hand, ladies loop L to the
inside of the circle and around current partner, and gives R to new partner
to reform the wavy circle.
(Old partner is in left hand, new partner in right)
I typically tell dancers that they'll move away from their partner by 2
people and then come back to balance and swing them. I think it helps to
give them the markers. Also, I particularly like the transition from the
promenade back to the wavy circle because you keep the connection with the
partner the whole time.
Hope that helps,
Bev
>Message: 7
>Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:59:16 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing
> <winston(a)slac.stanford.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Callers] 2 questions
>To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
>Message-ID: <01MU8J6EYIMM8XO7P3(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=us-ascii
>
>Parker wrote:
>
>> 1. I have run into the following mixer dance and I'm not sure how best to
>>call it. I don't know the name and author or I'd ask him/her. The
>>problem is
>>that no beat counts or A1-A2-B1-B2 divisions were given.
>
>> The formation is a wavy circle with gents facing in, ladies facing out,
>>partners by the right. The moves are:
>
>(I have modified this with measure counts, assuming 2 beats to a measure)
>
>A1 1-2 Balance the wave R/L
> 3-4 Allemande R half way and reform the wavy circle
> 5-6 Balance the wave L/R
> 7-8 Allemande L half way and reform the wavy circle
>
>A2 1-2 Balance the wave R/L
> 3-4 Allemande R 1x
> 5-8 Allemande L 1 1/2 times
>B1 1-8 Partners balance and swing
>B2 1-6 Promenade around the circle
> 7-8 Partners drop R hands and reform the circle.
> Old partner is in left hand, new partner in right.
>
>> The problem is I can't make the timing look right. The first five moves
>>look
>>to all be four beat moves, but then there are 12 beats left for the
>>allemande R
>>1x and allemande L 1 1/2. If not, moves are falling across the phrase.
>
>I don't actually know this dance either, but can see this working. The
>allemande R 1x works up some momentum which you don't have to damp to get
>into
>the allemande L, and you _can_ get all the way around an allemande in four
>steps. If you like you can encourage the dancers to try to do that. (What
>will really happen is that the two allemandes will blur into one figure
>(which
>will feel a little bit like a do pas o), and the timing will vary a bit
>from
>person to person. But everybody's motivated to be on time for the balance
>(which is definitely at the top of B1), so it will work, and if anybody's
>late
>they can just get a shorter swing with their partner, so it won't break
>down.
>
>> Has anyone tried this dance or know anything about it? I'm thinking that
>>drop the third balancing of the wave would work best, but that means a
>>half
>>allemande, full allemande, and 1 1/2 allemande consecutively.
>
>Don't drop the balance. You'll only confuse their muscle memory. And 12
>beats
>is enough time to do the allemande figures.
>
>-- Alan
Thanks to both Amy and Will for your comments.
Amy asked:
>****Do I sense a certain amount of subtext here?***
Subtext? I'm only trying to help.
We all have different goals at a dance. The
caller, I believe, takes responsibility for
knowing the common goals of the entire hall and
working toward that end. This is a big
challenge, and few of us will ever excel at
it. It requires leadership and an understanding
of the subtle influence a caller can have on both
the evening's event, and on the tradition of
contras over time. That is the real challenge of
calling and I hope that I will someday be good at it.
I understand that there are some dancers, and
many callers, who enjoy the challenge of
medleys. A caller should also know that even a
flawlessly executed medley will not be enjoyed by
some people and that those people are likely to
include new dancers and those who enjoy dancing with newcomers.
When I attended NEFFA some years ago I was one of
those who, during the medley, took the time to get my dinner.
Will spoke of, " novice dancers who know the
basics." I think this is a self-canceling
phrase. Clearly there is a role for contra
medleys in the current culture of dance camps and
festivals. (This may partly explain why you
don't see me at such events designed exclusively
for dance enthusiasts.) The question here is
whether medleys have a role at regular community
dances that are open to the public. The caller,
in that context, plays a different role than at
an event intended only for dance enthusiasts.
The real question is: What is the purpose of the
dance evening, and what is the role of the caller
in achieving that purpose? Answering that
question is the ultimate challenge of contra dance calling.
Just a thought,
Greg McKenzie
Ok. Having a little trouble picturing this.
a) Is the whole dance the shoefly swing?
b) If the women are visiting, does her partner
just follow her along the circle on the inside of the circle?
Thanks,
Jack
At 01:02 PM 4/30/2008, you wrote:
>Gretchen, I have seen this dance called by Phil
>Jamison. In a big circle, this dance goes on
>for a while, but many people can be dancing at
>one time. Once the women have danced all the
>way around, the women can turn the men and the
>men can do the visiting. This would indeed be a
>long dance, but back in the day, this would have
>been extremely fun and not at all boring. What I
>enjoy about this dance is the chance to turn
>smoothly with your partner, and then turn the
>next person in the circle with the left,
>smoothly going around into the allemande with
>your partner again. It can be really rhythmic
>and did I mention smooth? You can get a nice
>groove going with it. It would be a fun dance
>for newer dancers, especially with a driving
>old-time band. It sounds as though you have the
>entire dance. Once you get the dancers going
>("Turn your partner with a shoofly swing") there
>is no more calling necessary until you want to
>bring that part of the dance to a close and
>perhaps finish with a big circle or grand right
>and left. Suzanne Girardot Seattle, WA
>-----Original Message----- >From: Gretchen
>Caldwell <gretchendance(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Apr
>29, 2008 12:12 PM >To:
>callers(a)sharedweight.net >Subject: [Callers]
>Shoofly Swing > >I'm looking for a circle dance
>called, I believe, "Shoofly Swing". Cubby
>Whitehead used to end every evening with it in
>Bradenton Florida in the late 1980s. It
>involves one couple starting with an allemande
>right, lady then allemandes next gent by left,
>then partner by right, next gent by left, and so
>on. After the allemanding partners have passed
>you by, you and your partner join until the
>whole circle is peeling off in one amazing mass
>of allemandes. >Anyone have it? >I've just
>joined the list, have been calling for two
>years, and appreciate the support of the
>community. I plan to try Microchasmic soon for
>our weekly Monday night dance, where the level
>of dancing is, surprise surprise, improving as
>we three local callers try more challenging
>dances. Not a lot of contracorners going
>on. This triplet might be just the
>thing. >Gretchen Caldwell >Charlotte
>NC >_____________________________________________
>__ >Callers mailing
>list >Callers(a)sharedweight.net >http://www.shared
>weight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>_______________________________________________
>Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
