Contra Callers

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4404 discussions

by Rich Sbardella

Helo Folks, This group has been so quiet lately. The group has been so important for me as I developed my Contra calling repertoire and skills, so I thought I'd initiate a conversation. As I sit here programming a dance I realize that I do not have many dances without circles. Many that I do have, do not have a Neighbor Swing, or have a Give & Take to cheat it out. Those factors limit where and when I can use them. I generally like to program two no circle dances in each half, and also a NO neighbor Swing dance in at least one half if not both halves of an evening. Any thoughts on this? Does anyone want to share some modern contras that have no Circles and no Give & Takes, but include a partner and neighbor swing. Here are a few I have used. Just for NEFFA, Linda Leslie Rollin' and Tumblin'. Cis Hinkle Rocket City Romp, Cis Hinkle Travels with Rick and Kim, Shari Miller Johnson Friday Night Fever, Tony Parkes Thanks, Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT

6 years, 9 months

Please name those tunes

by The Witful Turnip

Hi all, Happy new year everyone! I'm hoping that someone on this list can identify the names of the two tunes being played for this dance of Dan Pearl's, Beneficial Tradition. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/245 I'm pretty sure that I've seen Bob Green post on this list. Bob, do you know the tune names? Would Martha? I'd welcome other tune suggestions for this dance that I think needs strong 4 beat phrases in that B2. The last time I called it, The Dam Beavers played The George Paul Reel and it was a perfect fit. I'm just looking for other choices. Thanks all! Bev **************************************************************************** ***** The Witful Turnip <mailto:wturnip@sympatico.ca> wturnip(a)sympatico.ca "It will be alright in the end. So, if it is not alright, it is not yet the end." - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel **************************************************************************** *****

6 years, 9 months

Re: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate"

by Valerie Cohen

I have been using "Circulate" as the call, after seeing that people got the general idea of the figure during teaching. I have always liked this technique borrowed from another caller (I forget who now...) for teaching purposes: During the walk-through (after seeing that people have gotten into the correct positions to begin the box circulate from the previous figure - for example "men facing out, ladies facing in" in long wavy lines) I give this "rule": (after balancing): When you are facing into the set, you will walk straight across (to the other line), and take hands with those looping to face you. When you are facing out of the set, you will loop over your right shoulder taking hands with the people coming towards you, (on the same side) in a wavy line. I have avoided calling different roles, like "Gents cross, ladies loop", and the dancers seemed to get the "face in means cross", "face out means turn to the right to face in on the same side" When I taught this to a less experienced group of dancers, they all got it, and also noticed on their own that they had sort of a shadow, and said they liked realizing that they were heading toward a familiar face to rejoin hands. I think the best part of a box circulate dance is when one partner is approaching another as they are turning to go into a balance and swing, as most of them do. Valerie Cohen Message: 1 Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2019 00:45:54 -0800 From: Lenore Frigo <lfrigo(a)gmail.com> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate" Message-ID: <CAN6PTP1zWViwO4LXA25be9n5R80HE_ESn2EVbq6GkNcCmbt9Uw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used. For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!). Thanks so much, Lenore Frigo

6 years, 9 months

Calling a "box circulate"

by Lenore Frigo

I'm planning to call a dance with a box circulate, for the first time, and got to thinking, how do you call it during the dance? Do you use the actual word "circulate"? That seems clunky to me.I can think of lots of possible alternatives, but was wondering if there's a word that is commonly used. For context, I'll be calling this for a group that has for the most part never done a box circulate. (And while we're at it, if you have any tips for teaching the box circulate, I'd be glad to hear those as well!). Thanks so much, Lenore Frigo

6 years, 9 months

books gone

by Judy Greenhill

The 2 books are spoken for-thank you. Judy --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

6 years, 10 months

books to give away

by Judy Greenhill

I have acquired 2 copies of Sets in Order-The American Round Dance handbook 1948-56. Don't really want to throw them away-well, recycle them-but I am not interested in them Does anyone want them? Willing to mail them to interested parties. Please contact me off list. Judy Greenhill judy(a)relativeharmony.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

6 years, 10 months

contra dance survey

by Jonathan Sivier

Hello Contra Dancers: Researchers Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann are currently conducting a study on contra dance, in preparation for developing an article that will introduce contra dancing to a wider audience. Their goal for this article is to help promote the benefits of this form of dance to those who aren’t currently familiar with it. They would like to gather information from as many dancers around the country as possible, and be able to compare the experiences and dynamics of contra dancers in different parts of the country. They would greatly appreciate your participation in a survey on contra dance that asks you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with contra dancing. This survey is anonymous, and will only take a few minutes to fill out. Please click on the link below to take this survey. Contra Dance Survey - Copy and paste the following address into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YYRJCNJ Sincerely, Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann Jonathan Sivier, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign jsivier(a)illinois.edu / 217-359-8225 Jan Buhrmann, Ph.D. Department of Sociology, Illinois College jbuhrman(a)ic.edu / 303-503-0858

6 years, 10 months

French Four as a triplet

by Bob Peterson

While taking today to clean up my dance inventory I took a look at French Four, which goes like this: French Four Contra Duple/Improper Traditional A1 1s balance, right pull by, cross below 2s, 2s move up 1s balance, right pull by, cross above 2s, 2s move down A2 1s Balance & Swing B1 1s down center, turn as a couple, come back 2s cast 1s to second place B2 All right and left through, twice If the major set is short and dancers tired, this can be done as a triple minor to give the 2s and 3s even more resting out (but pretty dull for the 3s). So then I wondered what it might take to make it a triplet (because I’m collecting my triplets as part of my inventory review) and came up with this variation in B2. Triplet variation All dancers proper A1 (new) 1s balance, right pull by, cross below 2s, 2s move up 1s balance, right pull by, cross above 2s, 2s move down A2 1s Balance & Swing B1 1s down center, turn as a couple, come back 2s cast 1s to second place B2 Lines of 3 forward and back Lines of 3 forward, on the way back 3s roll 1s to bottom (left to right) This variation gives the 3s more to do. What do you think? Is it too odd to have same-roles do the roll away with each other? \Bob Peterson bob(a)contracorner.com

6 years, 10 months

Dance ID?

by Louise Siddons

Hi all, I collected a dance from a colleague, and she didn’t know its name or choreographer. Can you help us? Duple minor A1 (Face your neighbor) Right-hand chain (up and down the set); ptr do-si-do 1 1/2 A2 w/next N (shadow), bal & box the gnat; pull by R and ptr swing B1 Circle left 3 places; N swing B2 Long lines fwd & back; new N do-si-do thanks, Louise. — Louise Siddons, dance caller http://www.scissortail.org/siddons/ lesiddons(a)gmail.com 650-804-9663

6 years, 11 months

For Sale: Complete Caller Wireless Setup with Broadway quality headset mic

by William M Loving

For Sale: Complete caller wireless microphone setup with Broadway quality Countryman e6 microphone. $400 (approx $740 new) • Countryman e6 "earset" microphone and case • Spare e6 cable (worth $60) • Shure PGX1 Body Pack Transmitter • Shure PGX4 Receiver with power adaptor • XML Receiver to sound board cable • Shure carrying case I used this setup to teach and call contra dance and it allowed me to both walk around while teaching and also occasionally dance while calling. The sound quality of the Countryman e6 mic is superb. Dancers frequently commented on how clear it was and that it was "like you were standing right next to me". The e6 is the same mic you will see performers wearing in professional theater productions. This is the "directional" version rather than the omni-directional version which I also tested before going with the directional. The directional version allowed me to walk directly in front of the main speakers and continue talking as long as I did not turn my head so that the mic tip was pointed directly at the speaker. Though correct placement near the corner of the mouth is more important with a directional mic, I had no problem with it and was able to dance and call at the same time (at the end of the night when you're down to one short set). Photos posted publicly on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/wmloving/media_set?set=a.10156761519392192 Will -- Will Loving 2419 S York St Apt 5 Denver CO 80210-5319 +1 413 253-7223 (GMT –7) +1 413-221-8626 (iPhone)

6 years, 11 months

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Contra Callers