Greetings Callers,
Esp those who are relatively new to calling and those who have never
been to the
Ralph Page Weekend in Durham NH. If you have a chance in the future,
jump at it!
As I found out, once I stepped out of the role of dancer, and really
watched and listened... the weekend is geared to callers. Not only do
they bring in the best callers (Tod Whittemore, Lisa Greenleaf, Linda
Leslie, David Millstone and others), the weekend offers very informative
caller wkshps and the chance to take the stage and do some calling in
front of a friendly crowed.
If you wish your calling can be critiqued by fellow callers (a great way
to hone your skills!)
This is something I have not found at other festivals in my area.
Watching Tod and Lisa do their stuff is a thrill! They both are so easy
on stage (lots of playing with the crowed)
But they are true professionals that just don't miss a beat.
All in all a great time! Give it a try
Hope to hear you soon,
Gale Wood
Hello everyone!
I guess I should have done this earlier, but I'd be interested in
hearing how many people are planning on attending the Ralph Page weekend?
If people are interested, I would love to have a SharedWeight
get-together. I was too late to sign up for the meals, so I can't really
set up a lunch gathering. Maybe people would be interested in gathering
at the dining tables downstairs (where people stash their things) during
the afternoon session on Saturday (3:30-5:00). This is just after Tod's
caller's workshop.
For those of you who haven't met me before, there's a picture on my
website. You can also spot me because I always wear a tie-dye bandanna
as a headband when I'm dancing. 8^)
http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
Hope to see everyone there!
Chris
Hi folks,
A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow during the walk thru!
I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments appreciated.
Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the dance right!
Thanks,
Karen Fontana
*****************
Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
Becket Contra
A1 - Slide Left
Cir Left 3/4
N Swg
A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
W Chain
B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
Shadow Swing
B2 - LL F&B
Gents roll shadow away
P Swg
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen Fontana
www.karenscontracorner.com
karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
(H) 650-691-9663
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen:
One of my favorite winter dances in "20 Below" by Bill Olson
Becket Formation
A1:
(8) Circle left 3/4 to a wave across
(ladies take left in the center, neighbors take right)
(4) Balance the wave
(4) Pass through to a new wave
A2:
(4) Balance the wave
(12) Neighbors swing
B1:
(8) Gents allemande left 1 1/2
(8) Half a hey
(Partners pass right on the outside)
B2:
(16) Partners balance and swing
Nothing like being in warm dance hall dancing the night away, when it is 20
below out side...
Jeff Petrovitch
Hey Everyone!
There are few dances I am in love as I am in love with this dance. I remember
the first time I danced this, and remember exactly how Nils told the story on
how it was written. That the dance had come to him a dream... What a great
story...
Anyway, I would completely agree with the introduction of the shadow right at
the beginning of the dance. The "bow to your partner next to you, bow to your
neighbor across from you, and bow to your shadow next to you on the other
side. It is a lot easier making this introduction, when everyone is sure of
where they are suppose to be, in this case in Becket formation.
Sometime when you call this sequence it helps to have a leading call to the
shadows swing. I always use something like this: "half a hey, now turn away
and shadows swing. I like the "turn away", because you are turning away from
your partner, to your shadow, it makes a really easy reference point, instead
says gents look up or ladies look down or look right or look left.
Thanks,
Jeff Petrovitch
Dear Karen,
I always try to have dancers identify their shadows before I begin actually teaching
the dance. For this particular dance, I believe that your shadow is actually
right next to you once the dancers are lined up in Becket formation (this is the
only way that the roll away with your shadow and swing your partner can work).
So once the dancers are in Becket formation, I would say something like this:
"Your partner is next to you on one side; turn away from your partner and find
your shadow next to you in line." This helps folks with orientation in the
dance once there is the need to find the shadow. Plus, it helps out those who
have never been introduced to the term. I have also found that it helps me out a
lot, too! I make sure that I understand the dance well before I am ready to call
it, and know exactly where to locate shadows. I can also then verify that
dancers are "getting" the dance during the walk through.
Have fun on Friday! Cheers, Linda Leslie> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:06:02 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104050602.74357.qmail(a)web30015.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi folks,
>
> A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
>
> I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow
> after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course,
> since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same
> person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
>
> For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
>
> Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
>
> Thanks,
> Karen Fontana
> *****************
>
> Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> Becket Contra
>
> A1 - Slide Left
> Cir Left 3/4
> N Swg
>
> A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> W Chain
>
> B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> Shadow Swing
>
> B2 - LL F&B
> Gents roll shadow away
> P Swg
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:12:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Winter or New Year's themes
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104051231.85983.qmail(a)web30014.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Again,
>
> I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner -
> Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter
> themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
>
> - "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
> - "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
> - "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
> - "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
>
>
> So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out
> worth mentioning?
>
> thanks,
>
> Karen Fontana
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:17:01 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43BBAEAD.6050200(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> Some time ago, I contacted Nils about this dance (because I had
> collected it without the title). You have the dance right, although when
> I did it the A2 was a R&L thru instead of a 1/2 promenade. Nils says
> that he calls it both ways, but that the swing to promenade transition
> is a favorite of his.
>
> As far as where their shadow is, here's how I think of it: If you
> reverse the last move of the dance, the roll away, their shadow is next
> to them both before and after. This is the way that Peter Amidon taught
> it and I copied him: "Bow to your partner, bow to your neighbor across
> the set, bow to your shadow next to you on the side of the set." It sets
> up a nice continuous rotation and identifies the three people you are
> going to interact with during the walk-thru.
>
> Chris
>
> P.S. Hope to see people at Ralph Page in a couple of weeks!
>
>
> Karen Fontana wrote:
>
> >Hi folks,
> >
> > A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
> >
> > I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the
> shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of
> course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the
> same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
> >
> > For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
> >
> > Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Karen Fontana
> > *****************
> >
> > Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> > Becket Contra
> >
> > A1 - Slide Left
> > Cir Left 3/4
> > N Swg
> >
> > A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> > W Chain
> >
> > B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> > Shadow Swing
> >
> > B2 - LL F&B
> > Gents roll shadow away
> > P Swg
> >
> >
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> > Karen Fontana
> >www.karenscontracorner.com
> >karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> >(H) 650-691-9663
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Callers mailing list
> >Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 2
> **************************************
Hi Again,
I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner - Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
- "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
- "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
- "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
- "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out worth mentioning?
thanks,
Karen Fontana
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen Fontana
www.karenscontracorner.com
karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
(H) 650-691-9663
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Dear Karen,
I always try to have dancers identify their shadows before I begin teaching the dance. For this particular dance, I believe that your shadow is actually right next to you once the dancers are lined up in Becket formation (this is the only way that the roll away with your shadow and swing your partner can work). So once the dancers are in Becket formation, I would say something like this: "Your partner is next to you on one side; turn away from your partner and find your shadow next to you in line." This helps folks with orientation in the dance once there is the need to find the shadow. Plus, it helps out those who have never been introduced to the term. I have also found that it helps me out a lot, too! I make sure that I understand the dance well before I am ready to call it, and know exactly where to locate shadows. I can also then verify that dancers are "getting" the dance during the walk through.
Have fun on Friday! Cheers, Linda Leslie
> A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
>
> I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow
> after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course,
> since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same
> person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
>
> For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
>
> Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
>
> Thanks,
> Karen Fontana
> *****************
>
> Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> Becket Contra
>
> A1 - Slide Left
> Cir Left 3/4
> N Swg
>
> A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> W Chain
>
> B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> Shadow Swing
>
> B2 - LL F&B
> Gents roll shadow away
> P Swg
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:12:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Winter or New Year's themes
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104051231.85983.qmail(a)web30014.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Again,
>
> I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner -
> Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter
> themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
>
> - "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
> - "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
> - "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
> - "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
>
>
> So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out
> worth mentioning?
>
> thanks,
>
> Karen Fontana
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:17:01 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43BBAEAD.6050200(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> Some time ago, I contacted Nils about this dance (because I had
> collected it without the title). You have the dance right, although when
> I did it the A2 was a R&L thru instead of a 1/2 promenade. Nils says
> that he calls it both ways, but that the swing to promenade transition
> is a favorite of his.
>
> As far as where their shadow is, here's how I think of it: If you
> reverse the last move of the dance, the roll away, their shadow is next
> to them both before and after. This is the way that Peter Amidon taught
> it and I copied him: "Bow to your partner, bow to your neighbor across
> the set, bow to your shadow next to you on the side of the set." It sets
> up a nice continuous rotation and identifies the three people you are
> going to interact with during the walk-thru.
>
> Chris
>
> P.S. Hope to see people at Ralph Page in a couple of weeks!
>
>
> Karen Fontana wrote:
>
> >Hi folks,
> >
> > A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
> >
> > I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the
> shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of
> course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the
> same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
> >
> > For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
> >
> > Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Karen Fontana
> > *****************
> >
> > Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> > Becket Contra
> >
> > A1 - Slide Left
> > Cir Left 3/4
> > N Swg
> >
> > A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> > W Chain
> >
> > B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> > Shadow Swing
> >
> > B2 - LL F&B
> > Gents roll shadow away
> > P Swg
> >
> >
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> > Karen Fontana
> >www.karenscontracorner.com
> >karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> >(H) 650-691-9663
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Callers mailing list
> >Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 2
> **************************************
Looks great! Since you've walked it through with some dancers, do you
remember how long the neighbor swing was?
Tom
callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. New Dance - Ashokan Flirtation (Chris Weiler)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:21:06 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: [Callers] New Dance - Ashokan Flirtation
> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43B9A752.9090501(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi all,
>
> Hope you all had a great holidays and wonderful New Year celebration. I
> (with a few friends) spent New Year's Eve at Ashokan (in NY state). A
> great time was had by all.
>
> During some down time while I was taking some time to relax, I mulled
> over some ideas for a new dance and came up with this new one. I walked
> it through with a few dancers, and it seems to work. Whether it's
> enjoyable to dance is yet to be seen. I would enjoy hearing any feedback
> that people have.
>
> Ashokan Flirtation
> Chris Weiler
> Duple Improper
> A1
> Long Lines forward & back
> Neighbor do-si-do
> A2
> Ladies lead Left Shoulder hey
> When Gents pass 2nd time, catch left hands and Allemande once to Partner
> B1
> Partner Swing
> B2
> Gents Allemande Left once
> Gypsy partner once around
> Gents cross set (swing wide and pass right shoulders) for Neighbor Swing
>
> Happy New Year!
> Chris
>
> http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 1
> **************************************
Hi all,
Hope you all had a great holidays and wonderful New Year celebration. I
(with a few friends) spent New Year's Eve at Ashokan (in NY state). A
great time was had by all.
During some down time while I was taking some time to relax, I mulled
over some ideas for a new dance and came up with this new one. I walked
it through with a few dancers, and it seems to work. Whether it's
enjoyable to dance is yet to be seen. I would enjoy hearing any feedback
that people have.
Ashokan Flirtation
Chris Weiler
Duple Improper
A1
Long Lines forward & back
Neighbor do-si-do
A2
Ladies lead Left Shoulder hey
When Gents pass 2nd time, catch left hands and Allemande once to Partner
B1
Partner Swing
B2
Gents Allemande Left once
Gypsy partner once around
Gents cross set (swing wide and pass right shoulders) for Neighbor Swing
Happy New Year!
Chris
http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
