Contra Callers

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4360 discussions

Videos: Wheels Within Wheels and Sun Skip

by John Sweeney

HI all, We performed these as a cabaret at the ceilidh last Saturday, so I finally got some good videos. Wheels Within Wheels by Carmen Giunta A beautiful dance in waltz-time in an unusual formation https://youtu.be/I8qBKFqsDCU Sun Skip by John Sweeney A contra-style dance for three couples in a circle https://youtu.be/j_6K58i-cb4 Click "...more" below the videos for lots more information, including the instructions. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

2 months, 4 weeks

waltz circle mixer with trios

by d_kreiss-tomkins＠riseup.net

Hello callers, Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer progressing to the next trio. Please let me know if you have a dance that matches this description! David Kreiss-Tomkins

3 months

Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (d_kreiss-tomkins@riseup.net)

by Claire Takemori

Well I wrote this for a family dance….. could be done in trios. Kids Family Waltz by Claire Takemori (Asheville NC) families in sm rings (2 adults 1-2 kids), in big circle A1 ----------- (6,6 ) In and Out, Circle Left (12) 2 adults Arch/Kids Duck thru A2 ----------- (6,6 ) In and Out, Circle Right (12) Arch/Kids Duck to Lines (spokes around the circle) B1 ----------- (12) lines promenade big circle (12) Roll ends across (Right end rolls in front to other end of the line) B2 ----------- cont. (keep rolling until kids are back in the middle) end in circle. Claire Takemori, Dance Caller website <https://clairetakemoridanceteacher.godaddysites.com/> email <mailto:clairedancecaller@gmail.com> Follow on Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/clairedancecaller/> Like my Facbeook page <https://www.facebook.com/ClaireTakemoriDanceCaller/> 408 874-6840 “To live is to dance, to dance is to live” ~Charles M. Schulz > On Feb 5, 2025, at 12:00 AM, contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net wrote: > > Send Contra Callers mailing list submissions to > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or > body 'help' to > contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > contracallers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..." > > Today's Topics: > > 1. waltz circle mixer with trios (d_kreiss-tomkins(a)riseup.net) > 2. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Mo Waddington) > 3. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Michael Dyck) > 4. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Colin Hume) > 5. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Gregory) > 6. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Allison and Hunt Smith) > 7. Fwd: Research Study on Gender-Free Contra Dance Callers > (Seth Seeger) > 8. Re: waltz circle mixer with trios (Michael Dyck) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:35:33 +0000 > From: d_kreiss-tomkins(a)riseup.net > Subject: [Callers] waltz circle mixer with trios > To: Shared Weight Contra Callers > <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <f354c16591c5922eb04d2f37bdcf2c88(a)riseup.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII > > Hello callers, > > Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a > musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing > around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer > progressing to the next trio. > > Please let me know if you have a dance that matches this description! > > David Kreiss-Tomkins > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 12:42:05 +0000 > From: Mo Waddington <mjw(a)mowaddington.plus.com> > Subject: [Callers] Re: waltz circle mixer with trios > To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Message-ID: > <bca8067a-2668-4813-a965-9fcf2c4c2c92(a)mowaddington.plus.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > I can think of 2 dances in that formation that aren't waltzes and > thumbing through CDM (Tony Parkes 1967 ed) finds more: > > Silly threesome ( Community Dance Manual book5.16) > > Rebecca's Roundabout (John Chapman) > > Kielder Schottische (CDM book 3.4) > > Russian Ballet (CDM bk 3.5) > > Texas Rpogressive Threesome (CDM 5.17) > > Nope, can't find one with waltzing > > On 04/02/2025 08:35, None via Contra Callers wrote: >> Hello callers, >> >> Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a >> musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing >> around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer >> progressing to the next trio. >> >> Please let me know if you have a dance that matches this description! >> >> David Kreiss-Tomkins >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 09:19:43 -0500 > From: Michael Dyck <jmdyck(a)ibiblio.org> > Subject: [Callers] Re: waltz circle mixer with trios > To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Message-ID: <91ec91a6-0bca-4e2d-a849-f4aee862e60a(a)ibiblio.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > On 2025-02-04 3:35 a.m., Mo via Contra Callers wrote: >> Hello callers, >> >> Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a >> musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing >> around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer >> progressing to the next trio. > At the Caller's Box, this is "Circle of Threesomes" formation, with single > progression: > https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/?formation=Circle+of+Thre… > > Currently, there are 20 such, but none of them involves waltzing, or is > paired with waltz-time music. > > I don't think waltzing would fit very well in that formation. If two in each > threesome are waltzing, that leaves out the third. You could have (e.g.) the > center person waltz with each other person in turn, but that would take up a > lot of time. (Say, 8 bars each, 16 bars total of waltzing?) > > More significantly, waltzing is asymmetric, so if the dance doesn't want > awkward pairings, it would have to dictate (e.g.) that each trio consists of > one 'lead' between two 'follows', with no rearrangement after the > progression. Which is not unheard of, but the examples are fairly old, and > might not go over that well these days (depending on the context). > > -Michael > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 18:14:22 GMT > From: Colin Hume <colin(a)colinhume.com> > Subject: [Callers] Re: waltz circle mixer with trios > To: <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <202524181422.966990@Owner-PC> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 09:19:43 -0500, Michael Dyck via Contra Callers wrote: >> I don't think waltzing would fit very well in that formation. If two in each threesome are waltzing, that leaves out >> the third. > > You're assuming that a dance in waltz time involves rotating with a ballroom hold - that's not true. > There are certainly old dances such as "Duke of Kent's Waltz" and "The Bath Waltz" which don't, > and there's no reason why there couldn't be modern ones too. > > Colin Hume > > Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:27:19 +0000 > From: Gregory <glibguide(a)protonmail.com> > Subject: [Callers] Re: waltz circle mixer with trios > To: Shared Weight Contra Callers > <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Message-ID: <fRtJUdBNt7AFWee3abIGG3kyz1wRIc0Kv6HVXnYGiHUj5pKFUFaj-943- > L9OzMDUxRtFiKmUgHxXi_hE3Z8cb0JZsiemY0aRXlnqlrHTsQc=(a)protonmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > I have a funny feeling I have danced this dance before, but so vague is my memory there's no way to be sure. I recall that there is indeed a portion of the dance where the middle person dances an individual waltz with the person on the right, then with the person on the left, and there may have been something like a hey for 3 (with hands) and some promenading. > > Hopefully that helps jog the memory. > > > Greg Allan, Winnipeg > > > > > > > Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. This is filler text that changes the size of the messages I send - an added layer of security > for detection and identification of encrypted information using metadata. > Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. This is filler text that changes the size of the messages I send - an added layer of security > for detection and identification of encrypted information using metadata. > Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. > > Sent with Proton Mail secure email. > > On Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 at 12:35 AM, None via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hello callers, >> >> Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a >> musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing >> around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer >> progressing to the next trio. >> >> Please let me know if you have a dance that matches this description! >> >> David Kreiss-Tomkins >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 14:10:43 -0500 > From: Allison and Hunt Smith <huntandallison(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [Callers] Re: waltz circle mixer with trios > To: Mo Waddington <mjw(a)mowaddington.plus.com> > Cc: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > Message-ID: > <CAHeZ3+ihLnoHxC51HC23tCFqBm1WT0zZftpv+CMr8uYt3nGB+Q(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: multipart/alternative; > boundary="000000000000a70cb8062d55c46f" > > This certainly sounds as though it might be an English Country Dance. > Leah's Waltz by Fried Herman comes to mind > https://youtu.be/Zp_5pf3Xr6M?si=z-hMahQjyZmFDqtE > > > On Tue, Feb 4, 2025 at 7:47 AM Mo Waddington via Contra Callers < > contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> I can think of 2 dances in that formation that aren't waltzes and >> thumbing through CDM (Tony Parkes 1967 ed) finds more: >> >> Silly threesome ( Community Dance Manual book5.16) >> >> Rebecca's Roundabout (John Chapman) >> >> Kielder Schottische (CDM book 3.4) >> >> Russian Ballet (CDM bk 3.5) >> >> Texas Rpogressive Threesome (CDM 5.17) >> >> Nope, can't find one with waltzing >> >> On 04/02/2025 08:35, None via Contra Callers wrote: >>> Hello callers, >>> >>> Apologies for the non-contra question: I'm looking for a dance that a >>> musician remembers and would like called. He pictures trios facing >>> around a circle like spokes, waltzing somehow and the middle dancer >>> progressing to the next trio. >>> >>> Please let me know if you have a dance that matches this description! >>> >>> David Kreiss-Tomkins >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> > > > -- > www.huntandallison.net > > http://thsmaritime.com/ > > www.centralhallcommons.org >

3 months

Fwd: Research Study on Gender-Free Contra Dance Callers

by Seth Seeger

Hello callers, This just came across my inbox, and I told them I would forward it to the list. I know nothing more than is in this email. Seth > Begin forwarded message: > > From: "Coladangelo, LP" <lcoladan(a)kent.edu> > Subject: Research Study on Gender-Free Contra Dance Callers > Date: February 4, 2025 at 11:24:21 AM EST > To: "chris(a)sharedweight.net" <chris(a)sharedweight.net>, "seth(a)sharedweight.net" <seth(a)sharedweight.net> > > Hello Chris and Seth (and members of the Shared Weight community), > My name is L.P. Coladangelo and I am a doctoral candidate in Communication and Information at Kent State University. I am conducting dissertation research on the knowledge practices of gender-free contra dance callers. In order to complete my study, I am asking for participants to fill out a questionnaire about their expertise, their calling practice, their social networks in the dance community, and their understanding of the culture and values of gender-free contra dance. > If you would be so kind as to share this study participation announcement (found below) with your community, I would greatly appreciate it. Additionally, if you know of others who may be interested in participating in the study, please feel free to send this information on to them. You may also have potential participants contact me directly to follow up by sharing my contact information with them. > If you or anyone interested in learning more about the study would wish to contact me, please email me at lcoladan(a)kent.edu <mailto:lcoladan@kent.edu> or my advisor Dr. Lala Hajibayova at 330- 672-2872 or lhajibay(a)kent.edu <mailto:lhajibay@kent.edu>. > Thank you in advance for your help. > Best, > L.P. Coladangelo (he/him) > PhD Candidate, College of Communication and Information, Kent State University > **************** > Study Title: Exploring Knowledge Practices of Callers as Core Practitioners of Gender-Free Contra Dance > Principal Investigator Name: L.P. Coladangelo (PhD Candidate), Dr. Lala Hajibayova (Advisor) > You are being invited to participate in a research study about gender-free contra dance callers that is being conducted by L.P. Coladangelo at Kent State University. This study has been approved by the Kent State University IRB. > Participation is confidential and involves answering a questionnaire that will take 30-45 minutes. > Eligible participants need only be over the age of 18 and currently identify as a contra dance caller. > All participants who complete the survey will be part of a drawing to win one of two $50 Visa Gift Cards. > If you wish to participate in this study, please click on the link below. > https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d3Z8lmaaJ1l7ZOK <https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d3Z8lmaaJ1l7ZOK?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0…> > Thank you for your time, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at lcoladan(a)kent.edu <mailto:lcoladan@kent.edu> or Dr. Lala Hajibayova at 330- 672-2872 or lhajibay(a)kent.edu <mailto:lhajibay@kent.edu>.

3 months

Puttin’ On The Dance::: Get ready - registration opens March 1st!

by Emily Addison

Hey folks! I know some of you are dance organizers as well as callers so just wanted to share the news... =============== Hello Dance Organizers, It’s happening! Puttin’ On The Dance 3: Dancing Forward Together will be May 2-4, 2025 in Belfast Maine. This conference is for YOU - the people who plan and run traditional dance events and series across the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada. And it is by YOU. Conference attendees will share best practices, participate in group discussions, help peers solve problems, and learn new skills. And, of course, we’ll make music and dance together! Friday we’ll join the Belfast Flying Shoes community dance and contras and Saturday we’ll throw a conference-only dance party. We’ll be gathering at the Fireside Inn & Suites, Ocean Edge, Belfast, Maine where every room has an ocean view and the amenities include a heated mineral pool, hot tub and sauna. But, DON’T reserve your room. This is a residential conference where everyone will stay at the hotel; lodging is included in the registration fee. We’re still working on the final costs for catering and securing sponsorships, but we expect the full conference fees to be in the range of $250-$315 USD per person if sharing a room. Plan ahead now! POTD1 and POTD2 sold out. Registration opens on March 1, 2025. Watch the website over the next few weeks for more information <https://www.puttinonthedance.org/potd-3/> including ideas on how to fund your conference participation. Please share this information with new organizers who might not be on this distribution list. See you in Maine! Chrissy Fowler - Belfast ME Emily Addison - Ottawa, ON Patty Giavara - Montpelier, VT -- puttinonthedance.org facebook.com/PuttinOnTheDance *You're on the POTD email list because we think you're interested in conferences for dance organizers. Let us know if you want your address removed. *

3 months, 1 week

Puttin’ On The Dance::: Get ready - registration opens March 1st!

by Puttin' on the Dance Team

Hello Dance Organizers, It’s happening! Puttin’ On The Dance 3: Dancing Forward Together will be May 2-4, 2025 in Belfast Maine. This conference is for YOU - the people who plan and run traditional dance events and series across the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada. And it is by YOU. Conference attendees will share best practices, participate in group discussions, help peers solve problems, and learn new skills. And, of course, we’ll make music and dance together! Friday we’ll join the Belfast Flying Shoes community dance and contras and Saturday we’ll throw a conference-only dance party. We’ll be gathering at the Fireside Inn & Suites, Ocean Edge, Belfast, Maine where every room has an ocean view and the amenities include a heated mineral pool, hot tub and sauna. But, DON’T reserve your room. This is a residential conference where everyone will stay at the hotel; lodging is included in the registration fee. We’re still working on the final costs for catering and securing sponsorships, but we expect the full conference fees to be in the range of $250-$315 USD per person if sharing a room. Plan ahead now! POTD1 and POTD2 sold out. Registration opens on March 1, 2025. Watch the website over the next few weeks for more information <https://www.puttinonthedance.org/potd-3/> including ideas on how to fund your conference participation. Please share this information with new organizers who might not be on this distribution list. See you in Maine! Chrissy Fowler - Belfast ME Emily Addison - Ottawa, ON Patty Giavara - Montpelier, VT -- puttinonthedance.org facebook.com/PuttinOnTheDance *You're on the POTD email list because we think you're interested in conferences for dance organizers. Let us know if you want your address removed. *

3 months, 1 week

Valentine dances

by Mary Collins

Looking for a few simple, maybe not so simple (nothing advanced plz) dances in a valentine's theme. Go - Many thx Mary Collins Formerly of Buffalo

3 months, 1 week

Re: Sicilian circle to tame end effects?

by Ben Werner

My complaint about Sicilian circles (as a dancer) is you only dance with half the hall unless you find neighbors that you can switch directions with. Ben W ABQ, NM Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 27, 2025, at 6:04 AM, John Sweeney via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > Hi Claire, > You can see the Zia formation at https://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html#other if you scroll down a bit. It is a square with contra lines radiating from the sides. There are some example dances there as well. > > I set Sicilian Circles up by getting the dancers to make a Circle, then tell one couple to face another couple and work around the circle telling each couple which way to face. Experienced dancers will see what is happening and quickly start sorting themselves out. > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

3 months, 1 week

Fwd: Re: Sicilian circle to tame end effects?

by Mo Waddington

-------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Sicilian circle to tame end effects? Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:57:10 +0000 From: Mo Waddington <mjw(a)mowaddington.plus.com> To: Ben Werner <benknobi89(a)gmail.com> Yes I also dance at a club with 20 -24 dancers each week. You start meeting the same couples. But (ceilidh) dances like lucky 7 or circle waltz are worse, you might only dance with 2 or 3 partners. On 27/01/2025 14:28, Ben Werner via Contra Callers wrote: > My complaint about Sicilian circles (as a dancer) is you only dance > with half the hall unless you find neighbors that you can switch > directions with. > > Ben W > ABQ, NM > > Sent from my iPhone

3 months, 1 week

Sicilian circle to tame end effects?

by Rick Mohr

Many good contras where you leave the minor set aren’t too hard, but have challenging end effects. One could eliminate the end effects using a Sicilian circle. I haven't tried it, but wonder whether disorientation from the curved set would offset the advantages. If you’ve actually tried it, how did it go? Rick (...ignoring for the moment that Sicilian circles don't fit every hall or size of group...)

3 months, 1 week

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