I'm in Germany, and I'm speaking for the next few days at a Conference run by the European Callers and Teachers Association.
Several of my sessions are about Contras, and speaking to the Contra Coordinator as we drove to the hotel I realised we had very
different ideas about what a contra is. I say it is an American (or American-style) dance, longways duple or triple. He classes
three-couple dances (such as Ted's Triplets), four-couple dances and circles as contras. He even classes my dance "Sting in the
Tail" as a contra. This is for two three-couple sets side-by-side and involves siding into line, set and turn single. I would
regard this quite definitely as "Playford"-style, and I think Americans would categorise it as English. But what is a contra? I
know the hot-shots would say that it's longways duple improper or Becket with a partner swing and preferably a neighbor swing, but
is that your definition? What about an early American dance such as "The Young Widow" - is that a contra? Can a dance in waltz
time be a contra? I think of a contra as mainly danced to reels or jigs, though I know there are a few to slip-jigs. Within
reels I would include marches and American hornpipes, which are smooth, but not English hornpipes which I would dance to a
step-hop. And not Strathspeys. I would say contras are done to a walking step, apart from the swing which is often a buzz step.
But do you agree with me?
Answers fairly quickly please!
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Also from ECTA's definition:
"Contra Dance is mainly danced in two long, facing lines of couples, the
longways. There are different setups relating to the position of the
partner in the formation (e. g. Proper, Improper and Becket) and relating
to the number of couples dancing together (Duple, Triple, Triplet). A
different formation is the Sicilian Circle. Facing couples create a ring in
which in each group one couple is dancing counter clockwise and the other
clockwise.
Contra Dances are mostly danced to reels and jigs, but also to hornpipes.
The music consists of the melodies A and B, which each contain 16 bats and
are repeated so that a melodic structure of AABB is created. The set of
figures is danced to this AA BB structure of 64 beats. There also are
deviant structures like AB BA.
The Prompter explains each dance and calls the figures to the music a
little ahead of time. Like this it is possible for both experienced and new
dancers to dance. Through the repetition of the set of figures the dancers
learn the dance and the Prompter can shorten his calls or reduce them bit
by bit. The set of figures is written so that after dancing through it once
a new group of dancers meet. This is called the progression. In formations
with a fixed group of couples the position within the formation changes.
"[sic]
Bob
Hi folks,
I ran this at a monthly dance, and it was well received; so I figured I'd
share it around. To my knowledge it's new. Please correct me if you know of
a prior.
The interesting/odd bit is the transition from B2 to A1, where the ladies
role comes out of a left hand star with old neighbors to start a hey by the
left shoulder in the middle with new neighbors. It flows well, but is
unexpected.
*Hubert Humphrey Deserves More Than Just a Song By Tom Lehrer*
by Luke Donforth
Improper, duple minor contra
A1
Ladies start full hey by the left
A2
Neighbor gyre and swing
B1
Circle Left 3/4
Partner Swing
B2
Ladies chain across
Left Hand Star 1x
As for the title, well, I was on a presidents and folk music kick. Writing
titles is harder than writing dances...
Enjoy.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>
good day!
thanks for providing this outlet for us!
does anyone have experience with hearing impaired calling?
has anyone used signing for dances?
or other solutions to make the dance accessible?
grateful for your thoughts
billy fischer
312 litchfield turnpike
bethany ct 06524
203-393-3464 land
203-314-0221 cell/text
www.billthedancecaller.com <http://www.billthedancecaller.com/>
Hi all,
Karen and I like to get some winter sunshine (temperature
averaging at least mid-sixties) with lots of dancing (ECD, contra, square,
etc.) on our USA vacations in January or February, taking in a dance
festival if we can.
Any recommendations as to the best place to go?
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Caller, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Buffalo. NY. Pay lousey, perks great! We'll feed you, put you up, be
grateful.
Caller scheduled has health problems, I think I've called the last 6
dances...we need a different voice for a reunion of Hey Diddle Diddle.
Message me if you can help a girl out.
Thank your band, thank your caller...
Mary Collins
I play with a String band that used to do dances with callers, but the callers have quit for various reasons. We have a guitar, banjo, bass, drum and fiddle. We are flexible about where the dances should take place.
We play reel, two-steps, jigs, rags, waltzes and polkas. Willing to learn any tunes you require.
Looking forward to hearing from interested parties.
Carol McDowall
Sent from my iPad
Please see the disclaimer/request at the end of this message.
Just FYI, I've been trialing an alternative term for Gypsy in place of the
good but long-ish "[Right|Left] Shoulder 'round" - I wanted to wait until
I'd had several evenings of usage in order to see how it went before
sharing with others.
The term, "Synchronize", fits syntactically like "Gypsy" using the same
modifiers, e.g.: "Neighbor Left Synchronize", with something like
"Sync(h)(ro) Left" as a short form. In my opinion, it speaks to what the
move achieves in choreography and feeling, plus fits some of the prior
constructs used (e.g.: "Sync into a Swing"). As best as I can determine
there is no existing/related dance form using the term, so there's no
complication with existing meanings.
In my experience, dancers have just smiled and done the move when I've
taught/introduced it - no confusion or complaints or "why don't you just
say Gypsy?" comments in several events now. Those dancers who have
mentioned it at all said they liked it.
BTW, I don't wish to re-ignite the flame wars on whether or not an
alternative term is required - if you aren't interested in one then please
simply ignore this.
Thanks,
Don
Hi All,
I am asking for a friend, who is looking for a square caller for a
wedding on 9/22, in Estes Park, Colorado.
I don't have any other details, but if anyone is interested I will forward
your response.
Thank you,
Dereck
Dereck Kalish
Director NEFFA
Sound Committee
Thursday Night Dance Committee, Chair (Concord, Ma)
dereckkalish(a)gmail.com
*Upcoming Contra Dance Calling appearances...*
Manchester, Nh Friday 5/18
Rehoboth, Ma Friday 5/25
Conventry, Ct Friday 6/1
Berlin, Ma Saturday 6/2
.
Does anybody call Show of Hands by Melanie Axel-Lute? I have the first
figure as neighbor allemande right once around in eight beats, which is
enough time to go twice around. Is there some reason the extra time is
necessary? Or should it be twice around?
Jacob Bloom
--
jandnbloom(a)gmail.com
http://jacobbloom.net/
View my Arlington Food Pantry fundraiser at
https://www.youcaring.com/arlington-food-pantry-621657
