Hi All,
Recently two situations started me thinking about formations.
Firstly, three different times, in different places, with different people,
the topic came up of why so many dance sessions consisted of a single
formation: "Longways for as many as will", also known as "contra lines".
Secondly, there was a long discussion on one of the forums
about how much space is needed for a dance. All the replies, without
exception, assumed that it was the space required for longways sets! There
was just one brief comment at the bottom of one post acknowledging that
other formations might have different space requirements.
So, I did some research and made a Web page:
http://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html
I list over EIGHTY different formations, with sample dances
(including links to instructions or videos) for every formation.
I hope you find it useful, and maybe you will try
choreographing, calling or dancing a different formation.
Please let me know of any additions, corrections, comments,
etc.
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com
<mailto:john@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
So asking one of the most asked questions on this list? "Anyone seen this dance before?" It came to me as I was preparing for the Norwich, VT dance and I called it last night. Thanks!
Spring Forward – Impr. contra (doubleprogresssion)
A1: Neighbor B & S
A2: Ladies Ch across; Ladies Ch back
B1: Long Lines F & B; 1s swing (end facing down)
B2: (with newneighbors) Circle Clockwise 1full hour; Bal. the ring and Spring forward to next
Sandy LafleurPO Box 877Wilton, NH 03086
(603) 654-1245
Since the beginning of man the hours between the coming of night and the coming of sleep have belonged to the tellers of tales and the makers of music.
Hey folks,
I haven't called all that many techno contras, and I'm slated to do so this
weekend. Any tips or things to keep in mind about how techno differs from
your standard contra evening? (Particularly curious about anything relating
to dance choice and dance length.)
Cheers,
Maia
I wanted a closer with a Rory O'Moore and a partner balance and swing. This
is what I came up with. Does this (or a variant thereof) already exist?
*Wave Goodbye* (becket L)
A1: (on the L diagonal) give and take N (to lark's side)
N swing
A2: ravens chain (to P)
ravens alle. R 1 1/2 to short waves (LH to N, ravens by R)
B1: bal. L and R, slide L (short waves, RH to N, larks by L)
bal. R and L, slide R, ravens sliding extra to pass each other
B2: P b&s
I attempted to send Tom Hinds a private query today and got a message that
his mailbox is full. I don't have his phone number. Can someone in direct
contact with Tom let him know I'm trying to reach him? (Alternatively,
share his phone number directly to me -- i.e., off list).
Thanks in advance!
Jerome
--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power
and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hi fellow Shared Weight callers,
CDSS has a free web chat coming up this Thursday!
The topic is organizing dances that include young children and all ages
----> there are some FANTASTIC speakers lined up. I know some of you mostly
call and don't organize but I also know there's a fair bit of overlap among
callers/organizers so I thought it appropriate to share here.
Pre-registration is required in order to receive the online access
information.
See some of you there!
Emily Addison
* * * *
*Next CDSS Web Chat on 4/4*
It’s not too late to sign up for the next CDSS web chat on *Thurs Apr 4*
from 8:30-9:30 pm EDT! It’s for *organizers of dances that include young
children and all ages. *Organizers of four thriving family and community
dances in CA, NC, PA, and ME will share their stories and advice. To
register, submit the *online RSVP form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcA0RodctE8qX-h-yCIKKDjXN16fwtS6Z…>*
ASAP (by 4/2 if possible). This live chat also includes time for Q&A, so
bring YOUR questions. Hope you can join us!
Tossed this together last night to go with one of my techno DJ's tracks,
because I wanted petronellas in the B, but NOT Tica Tica Timing/Old Time
Elixir. Does this exist?
*Hold You In My Arms*, improper
A1: (new) larks alle. L 1 1/4 (ish)
partner swing
A2: long lines forward and back
ravens chain (to N)
B1: bal. the ring and spin R (2x)
B2: neighbor balance and swing
(look on slight L. diagonal for new larks)
I have a brand new Samson SE10 (earset microphone) which comes with several connectors to work with different beltpack transmitters. I move around way too much when calling and the original broke. Samson sent me a replacement under warranty so this is completely new: it still has the plastic baggies on all the items in the brand new box. Contact me for pictures or questions. I’m hoping to get $60 for this.
\Bob Peterson
Billerica, MA, USA
Maia:Don't believe that. I called with a DJ who didn't know how long their tracks were and couldn't tell me how they started and often went down on the floor to dance once the music started. One track ended in the middle of the A2. And there was no clear "start" to any of the phrasing in most of the tracks. Not a fun evening for me.
Donna
Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com
Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com
Cell: 215-565-6050
-----Original Message-----
From: Maia McCormick via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: jim saxe <jim.saxe(a)gmail.com>
Cc: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Fri, Mar 29, 2019 1:06 pm
Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling techno?
I don't think you would ever play a random non-vetted techno track for contra, though. The DJs who get booked for these events are specifically techno contra DJs.
On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 11:59 AM jim saxe via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
On Mar 28, 2019, at 2:39 PM, Bob via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> ...
> Live or mixed recordings? If live then it should be perfectly square AABB. If mixed, the only thing you can count on is 8-beat phrases. ...
Can you even count on 8-beat phrases if someone, such as a caller or a knowledgeable DJ, hasn't vetted the tracks?
I know practically nothing about techno music, but recordings in other genres that aren't made for phrased dancing will not necessarily follow strict 8-beat phrasing. For instance ...
It's pretty common for a folk singers accompanying themselves to play a few bars of guitar strums--and not always the same number--while trying to remember the first line of the next verse. While I haven't gone looking for examples, I'd be surprised if such variable inter-verse vamping didn't sometimes appear even on studio recordings.
In some fiddle traditions, such as southern and Quebecois, besides straight tunes and wildly crooked tunes, there are also tunes that are mostly straight but have an occasional odd phrase. Even medleys of straight tunes can sometimes have some extra beats at the transitions between tunes, as heard around 0:59 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLUyg173n_M
Yo-Yo Ma - Fiddle Medley ft. Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile
Line dances are mostly choreographed to music that's in multiples of 8 beats, but exceptions are hardly unusual. Also, in order to fit recordings that were made for listening and not specifically for dance routines, line-dance step sheets may prescribe various irregularities in the routines. Here are just a few of the examples a little searching turned up:
https://www.learn2dance4fun.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Boot-Scootin-Boo…
Boot Scootin’ Boogie
38 count, 4 wall, beginner line dance
https://www.copperknob.co.uk/stepsheets/every-little-honky-tonk-ID132260.as…
Every Little Honky Tonk
32-count, 4 wall line dance with 12-count tag after wall 2
http://tinalinedancers.com/data/documents/Came-Here-To-Forget.pdf
Came Here To Forget
Description: Line Dance - 2 Wall (24ct.) - Intermediate 1 Restart, 2 Tags
Sequence: 24, 24, Tag 1, 14cts- Restart, 24, 24, Tag 2 (6cts.), 24, 24...
For some other examples of music that's largely, *but not entirely*, in chunks of 8 beats (or eight bars of triple meter), try listening to any of these while tapping your foot or fingers and counting along:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0kfd7kow4
Paul McCartney - When I'm 64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33o32C0ogVM
Julie Andrews - My Favorite Things
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbyAZQ45uww
Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
So here's my question, for those of you who are more familiar with techno music than I am: If you play a random track not already "vetted" for phrasing, if you find a place where there's sufficiently discernible phrasing to establish a starting point for your "mental metronome of 8 counts" (to quote Donna Hunt), if you use that mental metronome to carry you through a part where phrasing is less evident, and if you then get to another part with findable phrasing, how reliably (or not) can you expect that the phrases will still line up with your mental eight-counts?
--Jim
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_______________________________________________
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I have a gig coming up at a library wherein I have one hour to teach and
call contra dances. It's a mixed crowd, and I heard there may be a lot of
tweens present. I think I'd like to focus on bigger picture things - moving
up and down the line, swinging, interacting with their set. I imagine I may
even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the
lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I
usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get
bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice?
Thanks,
Liz Burkhart
