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NYE dances and ideas for the stroke of midnight....

by The Witful Turnip

Hi all, For the last 4-5 years I've called at contra dances on New Years Eve, and this year is no exception. My typical MO is to ask the organizer how they/their community would like to handle the stroke of midnight and what's been done in the past. I've done a couple of different things over the years, none of which really seemed great for everyone, for one reason or another. At a few dances, they wanted to stop right before and sing Auld Lang Syne. So, I had them contra dancing right up until about a minute to go and we made a big circle and sang. But then everyone wandered about to hug and smooch and it seemed to take a while to get everyone back to dancing. Not sure the dancer wanted to bother but the organizers wanted to keep dancing ! I've also been at dances where they move to a waltz right before midnight. But if you don't have a waltz partner (as I often do not) that's awkward and leaves people out, in my ever so humble opinion. I've been to dances where they do a waltz mixer instead, and at a minimum, that works better for the partner-less dancers like myself, and I've appreciated that. But for the people who do have a waltz partner, they then want a second waltz where they can *really* dance with the person, because they don't see that as enough. Personally, I'd like to contra dance right through the stroke of midnight with no preamble stop, but that's just me. So, I'm wondering about this idea... Three Couple Mixer is granted, a silly family dance style, but also very fun (again in my ever so humble opinion) mixer. You do need a partner, but it's never tied to the 3 couples, and the couples don't have to be mixed gender. In fact, it's *way* more fun if it's more couples. Here's the dance: a1. Circle Left Circle Right a2. Hands across R hand star (with someone other than your partner who's beside you) Hands across L hand star b1. Raise hands*, starting with the lowest hands, gents/leads pull new partner thru and swing b2. Promenade with new partner to find new couples * Everyone would shout Happy New Year when they raise their hands ! It's so simple that I could teach it a couple of minutes before midnight and then get into the dance myself, which would be fun for me. I'd ask the band to play their hottest tunes. It's a mixer so it "should" get everyone in and dancing thru the stroke of midnight. And that would leave the waltz for the folks who have specific partners and others, but not have it right at midnight, the "special meaning moment"..... I got this idea from some local callers who run a NYE dance in a relatively small and newbie dance community. I really like the idea, but I wonder if a more/very experienced dance community might find it so hokey that they would absolutely abhor it. Often, I think that the way something is raised sets the tone for how it's received. I'd be very enthusiastic. But I'm concerned that while the organizer might like the idea and may want to try something different, when it came to the time, the dancers would hate it. You folks are the best test audience I know. What do you think of this idea ? What idea have you tried at NYE dances ? What have you found to work ? Thanks in advance ! And all my best wishes to everyone for the holiday season. Be safe and healthy. Bev ***************************************** The Witful Turnip wturnip(a)sympatico.ca "I'm 40-fucking-5, and I've got nothing to hide !" - Samantha Jones (Sex in the City) *****************************************

18 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] NYE dances and ideas for the stroke of midnight....

by Dan Pearl

Well that brings me back... I was hired for a NYE dance at the Swingin Tern dance in Chatham NJ. They were paying me well, so I felt obligated to do something a little, um.., special. Before the big countdown, I stepped into the stage wing and ended the dance in progress. I donned an Old Man outfit and mask, and announced myself onto the stage. I made a few parting remarks, and then came the big countdown. At 5 seconds to midnight, I whipped off the old man outfit and mask, and at midnight I had transformed myself into Baby New Year, complete with big diaper and sash proclaiming the New Year. (This took practice.) We then launched into a waltz and then broke for a dessert buffet. Don't worry too much about the ritual. Work with the producers and just have a fun, safe, time.

18 years, 4 months

New Year's Eve

by J L Korr

>What idea have you tried at NYE dances ? What have you found to work ? Hi Bev, Here's what we did most recently for New Year's Eve in Pasadena (CA), which seemed to give everyone at least something. We had two callers on hand, but a similar plan would also work with one. The callers and band coordinated in advance to pull this off. To build up the energy approaching midnight, we began a four-dance contra medley soon after 11:40, alternating the callers with each dance. The band played six times through each of the first three dances. We then ran the final dance in the medley as long as we needed to fill up the remaining time until 11:58. At 11:58, we changed the B2 call to "everyone promenade up to the band and give them a hand." By the time the applause died down, it was 11:59. We (re-)introduced each member of the band, for more applause, and drew this out until it was ten seconds to midnight. At that point, everyone counted down together, cheered at midnight, and the band played "Auld Lang Syne." Not everyone participated in the waltz, as usual. But we felt like everyone got something out of this. Virtually everyone danced in the medley and ended up in a throng up toward the stage, so even those without a "special someone" were surrounded by friends for the cheers and the countdown. Good luck with your own program and let us know how it goes! Jeremy _________________________________________________________________ Your Hotmail address already works to sign into Windows Live Messenger! Get it now http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwme0020000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://ge…

18 years, 4 months

Streetsboro Reel by Becky Hill for Medley

by Karen Fontana

Hi Everyone, Does anyone have and is willing to post "Streetsboro Reel" Improper Contra by Becky Hill? It's in her book "Twirling Derbishes", p. 32. I only have the next book "Twirling Dervish Returns" and her following book "The Rosen Hill Collection". I am wanting to use "Streesboro Reel" in a medley (no, NOT for the last dance of the evening!). I haven't danced it before but I was looking up another dance: "Flying Flamingos" by Cary Ravitz which led me to "Streetsboro Daisies" by Cary Ravitz (the opposite hand version of the previous dance). "Streetsboro Reel" had a note by the author that it was designed to medley with "Streetsboro Daisies" by Becky Hill and "Delphiniums and Daisies" by Tanya Rotenberg. All these dances start and end the same........ So, now my curiosity is peaked!!! .... I have all the other dances mentioned above.... Have danced "Flying Flamingos" and "Delphiniums and Daises".... just looking for "Streetsboro Reel" by Becky Hill. I know it begins and ends like this: Streetsboro Reel by Becky Hill Improper Contra A1: N Al Left ~1.5x ? A2: ? ? B1: ? ? B2: probably: Cir L 3/4 N Al Rt ~1.5x Thanks much, and Happy Holidays! Karen Fontana <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> Karen Fontana www.karenscontracorner.com karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com (H) 650-691-9663 <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>

18 years, 4 months

48 BAR dance - Beatrice

by mavis mcgaugh

Last night I called Beatrice -I had discussed this dance with the band several weeks ago - they played two 3-part jigs - [forgot the names already <sigh>] but they were a great match to the dance - it went really well. I wish I could have been dancing -as the dance contains three of my favorite figures. I will use it again. I had a large group of beginners on the floor so I taught the Full Hey figure and then immediately taught the dance. It flows so well all the beginners did fine. I called it as the first dance after the break. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Anyone recognize this dance or know a good source to sea rch for author?

by crunchymama＠juno.com

Becky Hill published a dance in "The Rosenhill Collection" called "Sadie, Sadie" -on page 38 of that collection. It is not the dance you are talking about- but it does have the "slice" move and in the comments it says: The "slice" move is adapted from Paul Balliet's "Hey Man" published in "Twirling Dervish Returns" (1997). Google reveals "Hey Man" here, but there is no gypsy. http://arcserv.astro.washington.edu/dances/FMPro?-db=acdol.db&- format=danceformat.html&-sortfield=Name&-recid=67&-find So either it's not your dance, or the caller subbed a gypsy meltdown in for the balance and swing? <shrugs> HTH Alison Murphy in Memphis TN -- mavis mcgaugh <yankeecalls(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I checked Michael Dyck's website but didn't find anything on this dance. I think the name is Hey Gorgeous it had a Full Hey for 4 a Partner Gypsy & Swing I think the ending was ---- Circle Left 1x left Diag forward & Back out [slice] and don't know author. I didn't get to dance but watched folks dancing and scribbled this much down before it ended. Mavis L McGaugh 510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now. _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

18 years, 5 months

Roll in the Hey

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

Rich asked about the author of this dance. It's by Roger Diggle, a fine caller, whistler, and guitarist from Madison, Wisconsin. David Millstone

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Bluemont Reel

by Jerome Grisanti

One of the questions Rickey asked was whether dancers would have trouble with the sequence of circle, swing, circle a different amount, swing. I don't think this is particularly confusing sequence, but there may be other issues worth considering. Cary Ravitz (http://ravitz.cnc.net/dance/call.shtml) suggests that dances with more than 32 counts of consecutive clockwise rotation should be examined closely. This dance has exactly but not more than 32 counts of same-direction movement. I would avoid doing more than one or two such dances in an evening's program because of potential dizziness and the wear on one's legs and arms of so much motion in the same direction. Given that, I can see this particular dance as a good "cruiser" requiring only a minimal (or no) walkthrough. Jerome > 1. Bluemont Reel (Rickey) > 2. Re: Bluemont Reel (David Millstone) > 3. Re: [trad-dance-callers] Bluemont Reel (Goodwin Family) > > > > The Bluemont Reel (Warren Hofstra) duple improper > possibly the first contra with circle 3/4 in it (rather than 1x or 1/2) > > A1 Circle left; Swing neighbor on the side of the set > A2 Circle left 3/4; Swing partner on the side of the set, > end the swing facing down > B1 Down four in line, turn as couples; Up four in line > B2 Ladies chain across; Long lines forward and back > > and yes, the version published in Zesty Contras was a little different: > > A1 Circle L 1/2, Sw Nbr > A2 Circle L 3/4; Sw Pt > B1 DH4inL, Turn as a Cple, bend the line > B2 Wm Chain; R&L Thru > >

18 years, 5 months

Bluemont Reel

by Rickey

Hi Listers, I have two versions of Bluemont Reel (one by Warren Hofstra), but it does not seem possible that both can work. Do I have either version right? There are some other questions peppered throughout. Thanks. Version 1 (Warren Hofstra) (A1) Circle left ½ (4 counts ?) Neighbor Swing (must be 12 counts?) (A2) Circle left ¾ (do dancers have any problems going from the circle ½ to the circle ¾?) Partner Swing (end facing down) (B1) Down-thehall 4-in-line (Ones in the center???) Turn as couples (Who???, ones only or split in the center into two couples) Back (Hand cast?) (B2) Ladys Chain (over but not back) Long Lines Forward and Back Version 2 (from Larry Jennings, Zesty Contras) The only difference seems to be in B2. My version 2 reads Ladys Chain (over but not back) Right and left 4 (over but not back) As I have them, both versions cannot work. Thanks, Rickey Holt

18 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Bluemont Reel

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

There was quite a bit of discussion a while back about this dance on the trad-dance-caller list. Here's what emerged: The Bluemont Reel (Warren Hofstra) duple improper possibly the first contra with circle 3/4 in it (rather than 1x or 1/2) A1 Circle left; Swing neighbor on the side of the set A2 Circle left 3/4; Swing partner on the side of the set, end the swing facing down B1 Down four in line, turn as couples; Up four in line B2 Ladies chain across; Long lines forward and back and yes, the version published in Zesty Contras was a little different: A1 Circle L 1/2, Sw Nbr A2 Circle L 3/4; Sw Pt B1 DH4inL, Turn as a Cple, bend the line B2 Wm Chain; R&L Thru Just as a minor note to others on this list, please avoid using special characters for fractions-- they don't translate equally to all machines. Thanks! David Millstone

18 years, 5 months

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