Contra Callers

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40 participants
4387 discussions

by Bob Peterson

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

6 years, 4 months

Re: [Callers] Calling techno?

by Donna Hunt

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 _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ _______________________________________________ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

6 years, 4 months

Leading a 1 hr contra dance

by Liz Burkhart

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

6 years, 4 months

Neffa 75th contra winner

by Greenleaf

The winner of the Neffa 75th Contra Choreography Contest is Diamonds Are For Neffa, written by Chris Page. The judges feel that his dance has good flow, is suitable for the NEFFA audience, and includes very NEFFA-appropriate inter-set allemandes and a celebratory diamond. Even the title is clever. We honor Chris for this wonderful contribution to the NEFFA tradition. Congratulations! Thanks to the many people who submitted dances. There were 21 entries, with only one repetition of title (Diamond Jubilee). Bob Isaacs and I had fun trying out the dances in various parts of the country. Choreography for all of the submissions will be posted after the Festival. Bob will call the winning dance at the Festival’s 75th Dance Bash on Saturday, April 13. We hope that many of you will be there to help us celebrate. Many thanks, Lisa Greenleaf

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Callers] Opposite StarThru and functional difference in LD v Slide

by Bill Baritompa

Hi Rich and all, In MWSD both star and slide thru are gender specific. Dance action In a single smooth motion, Pass Thru and Men Face Right, Women Face Left. Ending formation If two men, Right-Hand Mini-Wave; if two women, Left-Hand Mini-Wave; otherwise, a Couple. Cheers, Bill > On 22/03/2019, at 10:29, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > In MWSD Star Thru is one of the few gender specific calls. Slide thru is the same motion as Star Thru, but without hands.

6 years, 5 months

How would you teach this? What would you call it?

by Luke Donforth

Hi All, I'm playing around with choreographing triplets, and I've got a sequence that I think would flow well; but I'm not sure how to teach it short of a demo. The idea is that couples 2 & 3 do a star. Out of that star, they move out, up, and back in; leaving space in the middle for couple 1 to move to the bottom. I put together an animation of it: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ Is that already a defined move? What would you call it? How would you teach it? Thanks for your thoughts! -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

6 years, 5 months

Moves Following Box Circulate

by Isaac Banner

Hey all, I've felt like most box circulate dances use the circulate as a buildup into a swing with *someone*. Looking at http://www.contra.dance/thecallersbox, there are only 12 results for dances with a circulate that isn't followed by a swing and 9 of those results don't include their choreography (grumble grumble), so I can't actually confirm that they belong in the result set. I feel like there's a lot of potential for dances that have box circulates followed by something other than a swing. Here are a few I've been messing with: *Peace Is Still the Way* Becket A1 (8) Pass the ocean, balance the wave (6) Ladies allemande left 1.5x while gents orbit cw halfway (2) Partner allemande right 1/4 to long waves, gents in A2 (8) Long waves balance & circulate (gents cross, ladies loop) (8) Long waves balance & circulate - ladies catch RH as they cross, scoop up partner B1 (6) Ladies star promenade right 3/4, next gents catch left (6) Gents star promenade left 3/4 (4) Partner butterfly whirl B2 (6) Ladies dosido (10) Partner swing *Snowbirds* Becket A1 (8) Ladies half hey passing right (4) Ladies chain (4) Gents courtesy turn, roll lady away R to L into long waves (gents in)** A2 (8) Long waves balance & circulate (gents cross, ladies loop) (8) Long waves balance & circulate (ladies cross, gents loop) B1 (8) Mad robin CW, gents in front (8) Circle left 3/4 (better as a chase with eye contact, rather than hands) B2 (16) Partner meltdown swing I'm interested in what people think and also any other dances folks have with different moves following a circulate (other than waves balance + Rory because honestly who are we fooling). Thanks, Isaac Banner http://www.contra.dance/isaac

6 years, 5 months

Who’s in the middle?

by Alexandra Deis-Lauby

Anyone have a simple wave dance where it doesn’t matter which role is in the middle of the wave? Kind of like Bob Isaacs’ double your fun but easier. Thanks! Alex Sent from my iPhone

6 years, 5 months

Fan Favorite PROPER Contras?

by Don Veino

Hi, I've been assigned the opening slot at this year's 2019 New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) for my session: "Keepin' It Proper Contras - It's not all about improper contras! Dances from times past to the present set in a proper form." Soooo... what proper dances have you found to be particular favorites with dancers and amenable in a large hall "some experience" (non-advanced dancer) setting? I'd appreciate your suggestions. Thanks, Don

6 years, 5 months

New left-hand chain dance (riffing on Star Trek)

by Maia McCormick

I danced Mike Richardson's Star Trek <https://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/mike_richardson/star_trek.ht…> recently and was super into the "star and single file promenade to the next star" progression (and also the right-shoulder hey straight into a swing niggled me just a bit). So, I re-jiggered it. I welcome thoughts, and if it strikes your fancy, definitely call it and let me know how it goes! Star Trek: the Next Generation <http://contra.maiamccormick.com/dances.html#startrekthenextgeneration> (becket R) A1: hands-across left-hand star 1x larks LH chain (to N) A2: full hey (larks pass L) and ravens ricochet B1: P walk-around and swing B2: promenade across left-hand star 1x and walk along the set (ravens in the lead) to progress Before the B2 star, note direction of progression (i.e. to the RIGHT); dancers walk along the set single file in this direction, with larks following their partner.

6 years, 5 months

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Contra Callers