Contra Callers

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4417 discussions

by Chris Weiler

Hello everyone, I have a session at the Down East Festival later this month. The name of my session is "Neighborly Contras". I was wondering if anyone has mixers that are in contra formation that they could share. I think that a mixer would be a fun and unexpected. I would also welcome any suggestions of dances that you think are particularly Neighborly! 8^) Thanks! Chris Weiler

18 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Contra mixers

by Jerome Grisanti

Chris, The following suggestion is not a dance, but rather something that two couples can do during many contra dances. Two couples who know each other can line up near each other both heading the same way (so both can be actives, for example, in an improper contra). Then, in parts of the dance that allow it, the men or women from these couples can trade places. For example, during a ladies allemande in the middle of the set, the men could switch places and end with the "other" partner. The next time through the sequence, they can shuffle again and end up with their original partner again. Effects include running into the same neighbor twice ("hey, didn't we just swing?"), missing other neighbors, and irritating the occasional neighbor or even the caller. This shuffling is not appropriate for every dance, or with every crowd, but done properly is does not interrupt the flow of the dance and offers lots of fun and flirty opportunities for play within the larger play of the dance. Jerome P.S. Your query brought to mind the phrase sometimes used when dancers get mixed up: "This dance wasn't written as a mixer, but if it becomes one just go with it." > Hello everyone, > > I have a session at the Down East Festival later this month. The name of > my session is "Neighborly Contras". I was wondering if anyone has mixers > that are in contra formation that they could share. I think that a mixer > would be a fun and unexpected. > > I would also welcome any suggestions of dances that you think are > particularly Neighborly! 8^) > > Thanks! > > Chris Weiler > > -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

18 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Contra mixers

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

Buffalo Reunion (David Millstone) Becket formation, mixer smooth jigs A1. Women allemande right once around; swing partner A2. Men pass left shoulders to start hey for four B1. Men lead into circle left 3/4, pass through up and down With next couple, circle right 3/4 B2. On left diagonal, ladies chain Straight across, ladies chain to new partner Notes: When a couple reaches the top, they swing for A1 then face the set in duple improper formation, ready for the circle right in B1. Background: The B figures come straight from "The Reunion." The dance was written in response to a challenge (write a contra mixer) posed during Penn Fix's dance composition class at Buffalo Gap camp, July, 1991.

18 years, 9 months

Joyride

by David.Millstone＠valley.net

I danced this at Ralph Page weekend this year and really enjoyed it. Rickey, you have the choreography correct except for the hey, which is five changes, rather than three: A1- Gypsy with neighbor, then shift eyes to partner "Mad Robin" chase A2- Half poussette (women forward first) Five changes of a hey-for-4 (start and end with men passing left shoulders) B1- Swing partner B2- Ladies chain across Left-hand star > DANCERS FINISHED EARLY. THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO DO I'd say the fault here lies not in the dance itself but in the dancers. The distinctive figure in the dance (the pousette into the left shoulder hey) was lifted from an English country dance, Victor Skowronski's "Companions." And yes, dancers accustomed to doing tight, contra-style gypsies could get through the A1 more quickly than is intended. Either with appropriate wording or with a quick demonstration, the caller might encourage folks to make wider loops in this part. When I wrote Erik Weberg after the RPDLW to clarify my recollection about how the dance works, he mentioned in his reply, "I initially intended the timing to bring four changes of the hey to the end of the A2 and the B1 begins with the men passing left and swing partners. But dancers seem more comfortable arriving for the swing at the top of the B1. It's easy for dancers to rush through the figures and I try to encourage folks to relax and enjoy the ride." > SOME FELT THAT THE HEY STARTED AWKWARDLY, A LITTLE AT AN ANGLE As Carol Ormand said on several occasions at the weekend, though not necessarily in connection with this dance, "That's a feature, not a bug." Both in Companions and in this dance, I find the transition to be very smooth. Others might not agree. De gustibus non est disputandum. Hope this helps. David Millstone

18 years, 9 months

Questions about Joy Ride by Erik Weberg

by Rickey

Hi All, We tried Joy Ride by Erik Weberg. My questions are in all caps. Rickey Holt The dance as I have it is: A1 Gypsy Neighbor (for 8 counts) DANCERS FINISHED EARLY. THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO DO Mad Robin (for 8 counts) Women (ones and twos ??? ) on the inside first. A2 ½ Poussette (for 8 counts) couples change places by going clockwise around each other; gents pull to start DANCERS TENDED TO START THIS EARLY. THEY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE THEY FINISHED THE GYPSY IN A1 EARLY, THEN DID THE MAD ROBIN EARLY TOO. 3 changes of a hey (for 8 counts) men passing left shoulders to start DANCERS FOUND THAT THEY WERE DOING ONE ENTIRE HEY, NOT ¾ OF A HEY. SOME FELT THAT THE HEY STARTED AWKWARDLY, A LITTLE AT AN ANGLE; OTHERS FELT THAT THIS WAS TRUE BUT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ADJUST. B1 All Swing Partner (for 16 counts) B2 Ladys Chain over (for 8 counts) Star Left (for 8 counts)

18 years, 9 months

Seeking a contra dance with an smooth and slow flow

by Nancy Turner

Hi All, I am calling a dance this coming weekend for a 40th birthday party. Since the group is mostly non-dancers, I have prepped a number of simple dances. I am looking for an easy contra that has a smooth and slow flow... almost English Country dance in the pace/tone. Any ideas for me? It would also help if you could suggest how you might describe this dance to the musicians so that they could play tunes to match. Thanks very much, Nancy Turner Waitsfield VT

18 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Any Good Contra Videos on the Internet?

by Jerome Grisanti

Thank you to everyone who wrote with suggestions about good contra videos. Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

18 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Any Good Contra Videos on the Internet?

by David.Millstone＠VALLEY.NET

[Not on the internet and apologies for a semi-commercial plug] I'll put in a word (thanks, Karen) for my 20-minute video, "What's Not To Like? A Community Contra Dance." It's a portrait of my home dance, includes some dance footage, plus interviews with musicians and dancers about why they love this particular kind of activity. Lots of toe-tapping music, and a nice picture of different ages and abilities dancing together. "Together in Time" and my own "Paid To Eat Ice Cream" both are somewhat more specialized, in my opinion, offering more historical background than the casual non-dancer might want. TiT attempts to explain the history of the last 350 years of country dancing in its 30 minutes, plus giving a picture of the current dance scene. "Ice Cream" is 70 minutes long and looks at the last 60 years of contra dancing, with a focus on Bob McQuillen. My newest video-- The Other Way Back / Dancing with Dudley-- is also more historical in nature, again something aimed more at folks currently involved in the dance community. I'll write up a short blurb about it and will post that soon, though some on this list already saw it at the premiere at the Ralph Page weekend and they may wish to chime in. David Millstone P.S. For folks wanting to order Contra Connections, which contains "What's Not To Like? and "Ice Cream," in addition to Great Meadow Music, Contracopia, and CDSS, you could order it directly from the author, in which case I make a little more money to finance future projects. Cost is $25 plus $3 S&H. Send a check to David Millstone 176 Farnum Hill Lebanon, NH 03766

18 years, 10 months

Any Good Contra Videos on the Internet?

by Jerome Grisanti

Hello All, I'm trying to start a contra dance series 90 miles from the nearest regular contra dances. When someone asks me what contra dance looks I know that verbal descriptions can only go so far, and even snapshots don't really tell the story. One person has trusted me enough to make the 90-mile drive, but I know most folks aren't willing to do that. What I'd really like is to point them to a contra video that is simple and clean, showing one line from a caller's perspective. A contra with good lighting, good music and simple calling. And I'd love for that video to be freely available on the Internet. I've found a few contra videos on YouTube, but most are shot from the floor and so it's very hard to get a feel for the set. The few I've seen shot from a balcony have a very jerky, hand-held feel. I know I may be asking for something that does not exist, in which case perhaps a contest could be held for a video that "captures" contra for a person who has never seen or danced contra. Any suggestions? -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 660-528-0714 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

18 years, 10 months

Planning for Medleys

by Lisa Sieverts

Hi gang, So we're planning for a medley and I had a concern that perhaps people were aiming too high. So I wrote: > As you're thinking about dances for a medley, keep in mind that > there will be no walk-through so you have to plan for the > excellent words you will use (taking up no more than 8 beats of > music) for the more complex calls. We shouldn't be late with a > single call during a medley, since (IMHO) that takes all the fun > out of dancing the medley. In response, I heard back that I'd only succeeded in frightening callers out of their wits (an exaggeration, but you get the point). My response: > there's an easy answer: call dances that you know inside out, > forwards and backwards. The medley is not a time to show off fancy > dances. All we need are good dances that flow. > > You can also practice by trying out your selected dances over the > next couple of months. If appropriate for your dancers, try calling > it no walk-through. If you can't do that, then try to use all the > words you'd need during the first time or two through the dance. > > I'm not saying it's impossible to call hard dances, but iit takes a > lot of preparation to be able to call dances with non-standard > moves and we do the dancers a huge disservice if we screw up. > > So pick dances that you love and that you feel comfortable about > calling, and then practice practice practice. Am I being too judgmental? BTW, it's not NEFFA that we're planning for, so we can't assume that every dancer knows every possible move. And please share any other tips you have for planning medleys. Thanks, Lisa

18 years, 10 months

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