Hi Judy- Here’s a helpful article written by Clark Baker, a MWSD caller and a contra dancer, and it explains contras and trad squares to MWSDers: http://www.tiac.net/~mabaker/how-contra-dances-work.html
I dance both styles, and I’ve noticed a few big differences: -MWSDers are not used to long contra swings (they usually just go 2 times around, commonly with an arm around the waist). The longer contra swing = more centrifugal force, requiring good frame. MWSDers often get dizzy. -Contra dancers love their rhythmic balances; the balance is not often used in MWSD, and when it is, it’s usually in an Alamo Ring and pretty wimpy. Not their fault! -Phrasing: MWSDers dance to a beat, not a phrase. So for them, a ladies chain takes 6 beats, not 8. They will zip through a move and stand there waiting for the next call at a contra dance. -Contra dancing is more aerobic, even though MWSD is done to a faster beat (average contra is 117-121 bpm, depending on where you live; MWSD can be 128-132 bpm). And a reminder to folks on this lest to be respectful of BOTH traditions. I love ‘em and one isn’t better than the other! Lisa Greenleaf > On Jul 18, 2017, at 10:28 PM, Judy Greenhill via Callers > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi everyone, > I have undertaken to teach some modern square dancers how to contra dance, > and I’m wondering if anyone has experience with this and has any dances to > recommend? I’m a square dancer myself but most of my contra repertoire is for > modern contra dancers- 2 swings, lots of Balance and swing, etc. I’d like > more dances with MWSD moves in them and possibly without any, or only 1, > swing, and they don’t need to have a partner swing. The dancers I am teaching > are all either plus or advanced, so they will tire pretty quickly of the > usual simple glossary contras I would normally do in a teaching situation. > They can do the moves; it’s the formation that is new to them. > > Thanks, > Judy > > > Virus-free. www.avast.com > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net [email protected] _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
