That dance, Family Contra looks like a great one to use for beginners. A tune that would fit the dance well is Beaumont Rag. Years ago in the DC area we used to dance a Sicilian circle called Balance the Star to the Beaumont Rag. For those who are curious here is Balance the Star (perhaps not original but how we danced it in DC). The tune swings and therefore allows for improvisations and craziness from the dancers.
A1 make a right hand star and balance twice. Star right 4 counts. Turn alone for 4 counts. A2 make a left hand star and balance twice. Star left 4 counts and turn alone. B1 do si do opposite. end the do si do facing away from partner. 'courtesy turn' neighbor. It's not a true courtesy turn. The dancers have to travel a bit more than in a courtesy turn so that the men end where they started and the women have traded places. B2 do si do orig. partner. end the do si do facing away from opposite. 'courtesy turn' original partner in the same manner as in the B1 plus couples pass each other (men pass left shoulder) in order to meet the next couple. [email protected] wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Easy dances for teaching contra (Joy Greenwolfe) > 2. Re: Easy dances for teaching contra (Richard Hart) > 3. Re: Easy dances for teaching contra (David Millstone) > 4. Re: Easy dances for teaching contra (Joy Greenwolfe) > 5. Re: Easy dances for teaching contra (Joy Greenwolfe) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:27:39 -0500 > From: Joy Greenwolfe <[email protected]> > Subject: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra > To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > Hi All, > > I'm calling two beginner-heavy dances soon (Dec 1st and end of Jan). > The first is opening a new series and is required by organizers to be > all contra (no circles or squares). So some semi-experienced dancers, > but mostly newbees. The second event will be entirely beginners and > mostly women but following a "western" theme. > > Could anyone share or recommend some dances that are both easy and > fun? I'm looking for simple and forgiving dances that could be used > to practice basic contra concepts while being satisfying for the > dancers and even give them a sense of success. > > Dances I already have include: Jefferson Revisited, Lady Wapole's > Reel, Becky Hill's Big Easy, and yes, Gallopede! I feel pretty good > about those choices, having already used them in a variety of raw- > beginner circumstances. > > Having recently worked with several room-fulls of beginners, I am > wary of throwing too much at them too soon. But I also don't want to > call a program of mush. > > Any ideas? Thanks in advance. > > Joy Greenwolfe > Durham, NC > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 23:30:09 -0500 > From: Richard Hart <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra > To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > This dance is not really a full-blown contra, but its also not a square > or circle. I use it to teach a few of the basics, without having to also > worry about the formation (proper, improper, etc.) and the progression > at the same time. Beginners seem to like it and I can use it to teach a > few of the basic moves without the additional complexities. > > Trip to F'Town (or Francestown) > > Setup: have couples form circles of 4 with couple facing couple anywhere > on the floor - no contra lines. > > At start, but really at the end of the B2 part: bow to your neighbor. > > A1: dos-a-dos neighbor; > dos-a-dos partner. > > A2: Chose 1 of Right & Left, over & back, or > Ladies' Chain over & back, or > Star left, then star right > > (Depending on the skills of the dancers, I will chose one or more of > these to teach, then practice during the dance. Sometimes I pick just > one, other times I alternate each time through, and sometimes even just > call the move randomly if they can handle it.) > > B1: Circle Left 1X > Circle Right back to place. > > B2: pass through and > go and find a new couple to dance with. > bow to your new neighbor. > > This dance allows me to focus on the basic calls, without having to also > teach progression at the same time. After doing this dance, it is much > easier to introduce the idea of the progression with the next dance. > > Rich Hart. > > Joy Greenwolfe remarked on 11/17/2006 9:27 PM: > > Hi All, > > > > I'm calling two beginner-heavy dances soon (Dec 1st and end of Jan). > > The first is opening a new series and is required by organizers to be > > all contra (no circles or squares). So some semi-experienced dancers, > > but mostly newbees. The second event will be entirely beginners and > > mostly women but following a "western" theme. > > > > Could anyone share or recommend some dances that are both easy and > > fun? I'm looking for simple and forgiving dances that could be used > > to practice basic contra concepts while being satisfying for the > > dancers and even give them a sense of success. > > > > Dances I already have include: Jefferson Revisited, Lady Wapole's > > Reel, Becky Hill's Big Easy, and yes, Gallopede! I feel pretty good > > about those choices, having already used them in a variety of raw- > > beginner circumstances. > > > > Having recently worked with several room-fulls of beginners, I am > > wary of throwing too much at them too soon. But I also don't want to > > call a program of mush. > > > > Any ideas? Thanks in advance. > > > > > > Joy Greenwolfe > > Durham, NC > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: 18 Nov 2006 09:28:22 EST > From: [email protected] (David Millstone) > Subject: Re: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain > > Hello Joy, > > If you're going to be doing similar gigs with less experienced dancers, I'd > suggest getting copies of Chimes of Dunkirk and Listen to the Mockingbird (New > England Dancing Masters) plus Dudley Laufman's two books (with CDs)-- White > Mountain Reel and Sweets of May-- as useful sources for lots of material. > Marian > Rose's books (the Step Lively series) also have some wonderful dances in them. > (All available through Country Dance and Song Society.) Yes, it's an > investment > in resources, but armed with the material in these books (and CDs, too) you'll > have plenty of excellent material-- contras, circles, squares, simple line > dances, mixers, suitable for working with beginners of all ages. > > For your first dance coming up in early December, you have your hands tied-- > "required by organizers to be all contra (no circles or squares)." WHAT ARE > THEY > THINKING? Is the next list of requirements going to be that they want lots of > newcomers to be there and oh, by the way, they want the first dance of the > evening to include a hey for four on the left diagonal? Have they told you > that > every contra has to have a partner swing and a neighbor swing? Or are they > waiting to spring that on you later on? Sheesh. > > Okay, stepping back off my soapbox... > > In the meantime, here are two simple contras that work with folks who are new > to > this kind of dancing. Don't have to worry about proper/improper, just line 'em > up across from a partner, set up your minor sets of four, and you're off. > > David Millstone > > P.S. It really is worth having a discussion with the organizers to see if you > can come to a better understanding of how to build a dance series. I would > suggest that contra contra contra is not the best recipe for success. > > ------- > Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) > > A1 Balance ring 2x ("Go IN... and OUT... and IN... and OUT), > circle left 1x > > A2 Balance ring 2x, circle right 1x > > B1 DSD with neighbor, DSD with partner > > B2 DSD 1.5 as a couple > ------ > > Ellen's Green Jig (Roy Dommett) > > A1 Do-si-do neighbor > Do-si-do partner > > A2 Ones balance and swing > > B1 Circle left > Circle right > > B2 Square dance figure, Duck for the Oyster, Dive for the Clam: > (Still joined in a circle, twos arch and ones duck partially under and then > back > up to place. Ones arch and twos duck under and then back up. Ones duck all the > way through Twos' arch to meet new neighbors.) > > "Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in the old tin > can" or similar patter > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:13:35 -0500 > From: Joy Greenwolfe <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra > To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > Thanks for the ideas, Rich. > > --Joy > > On Nov 17, 2006, at 11:30 PM, Richard Hart wrote: > > > This dance is not really a full-blown contra, but its also not a > > square > > or circle. I use it to teach a few of the basics, without having to > > also > > worry about the formation (proper, improper, etc.) and the progression > > at the same time. Beginners seem to like it and I can use it to > > teach a > > few of the basic moves without the additional complexities. > > > > Trip to F'Town (or Francestown) > > > > Setup: have couples form circles of 4 with couple facing couple > > anywhere > > on the floor - no contra lines. > > > > At start, but really at the end of the B2 part: bow to your neighbor. > > > > A1: dos-a-dos neighbor; > > dos-a-dos partner. > > > > A2: Chose 1 of Right & Left, over & back, or > > Ladies' Chain over & back, or > > Star left, then star right > > > > (Depending on the skills of the dancers, I will chose one or more of > > these to teach, then practice during the dance. Sometimes I pick just > > one, other times I alternate each time through, and sometimes even > > just > > call the move randomly if they can handle it.) > > > > B1: Circle Left 1X > > Circle Right back to place. > > > > B2: pass through and > > go and find a new couple to dance with. > > bow to your new neighbor. > > > > This dance allows me to focus on the basic calls, without having to > > also > > teach progression at the same time. After doing this dance, it is much > > easier to introduce the idea of the progression with the next dance. > > > > Rich Hart. > > > > Joy Greenwolfe remarked on 11/17/2006 9:27 PM: > >> Hi All, > >> > >> I'm calling two beginner-heavy dances soon (Dec 1st and end of Jan). > >> The first is opening a new series and is required by organizers to be > >> all contra (no circles or squares). So some semi-experienced dancers, > >> but mostly newbees. The second event will be entirely beginners and > >> mostly women but following a "western" theme. > >> > >> Could anyone share or recommend some dances that are both easy and > >> fun? I'm looking for simple and forgiving dances that could be used > >> to practice basic contra concepts while being satisfying for the > >> dancers and even give them a sense of success. > >> > >> Dances I already have include: Jefferson Revisited, Lady Wapole's > >> Reel, Becky Hill's Big Easy, and yes, Gallopede! I feel pretty good > >> about those choices, having already used them in a variety of raw- > >> beginner circumstances. > >> > >> Having recently worked with several room-fulls of beginners, I am > >> wary of throwing too much at them too soon. But I also don't want to > >> call a program of mush. > >> > >> Any ideas? Thanks in advance. > >> > >> > >> Joy Greenwolfe > >> Durham, NC > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Callers mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 11:13:39 -0500 > From: Joy Greenwolfe <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Easy dances for teaching contra > To: [email protected], Caller's discussion list > <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > Hi David and all, > > Thanks for the ideas. I know! It's a little crazy with the no- > circles. They did actually ask that no "complicated moves" such as > Heys be taught until/unless the dancers are doing well up to that > point. They are concerned about first impressions with the new > dancers, but I think the no-circles thing came from wanting to appeal > to the existing dancers in that area of the state. Since they are > dancer-organizers and not caller-organizers, I think I will lean on > them a little about their expectations. :) Your remarks encourage me. > > I do have the Chimes of Dunkirk book, which has saved me from teeth- > gnashing in the past. I will look into the others. I have to say > that the Shared Weight archives have been useful in the past. Maybe > I should look again. I seem to recall some good discussion of family > dances. > > And thanks for these dances, David. It's great that they can be > danced without regard to gender positioning! I will definitely make > use of them. > > Thanks, > Joy Greenwolfe > > On Nov 18, 2006, at 9:28 AM, David Millstone wrote: > > > Hello Joy, > > > > If you're going to be doing similar gigs with less experienced > > dancers, I'd > > suggest getting copies of Chimes of Dunkirk and Listen to the > > Mockingbird (New > > England Dancing Masters) plus Dudley Laufman's two books (with > > CDs)-- White > > Mountain Reel and Sweets of May-- as useful sources for lots of > > material. Marian > > Rose's books (the Step Lively series) also have some wonderful > > dances in them. > > (All available through Country Dance and Song Society.) Yes, it's > > an investment > > in resources, but armed with the material in these books (and CDs, > > too) you'll > > have plenty of excellent material-- contras, circles, squares, > > simple line > > dances, mixers, suitable for working with beginners of all ages. > > > > For your first dance coming up in early December, you have your > > hands tied-- > > "required by organizers to be all contra (no circles or squares)." > > WHAT ARE THEY > > THINKING? Is the next list of requirements going to be that they > > want lots of > > newcomers to be there and oh, by the way, they want the first dance > > of the > > evening to include a hey for four on the left diagonal? Have they > > told you that > > every contra has to have a partner swing and a neighbor swing? Or > > are they > > waiting to spring that on you later on? Sheesh. > > > > Okay, stepping back off my soapbox... > > > > In the meantime, here are two simple contras that work with folks > > who are new to > > this kind of dancing. Don't have to worry about proper/improper, > > just line 'em > > up across from a partner, set up your minor sets of four, and > > you're off. > > > > David Millstone > > > > P.S. It really is worth having a discussion with the organizers to > > see if you > > can come to a better understanding of how to build a dance series. > > I would > > suggest that contra contra contra is not the best recipe for success. > > > > ------- > > Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) > > > > A1 Balance ring 2x ("Go IN... and OUT... and IN... and OUT), > > circle left 1x > > > > A2 Balance ring 2x, circle right 1x > > > > B1 DSD with neighbor, DSD with partner > > > > B2 DSD 1.5 as a couple > > ------ > > > > Ellen's Green Jig (Roy Dommett) > > > > A1 Do-si-do neighbor > > Do-si-do partner > > > > A2 Ones balance and swing > > > > B1 Circle left > > Circle right > > > > B2 Square dance figure, Duck for the Oyster, Dive for the Clam: > > (Still joined in a circle, twos arch and ones duck partially under > > and then back > > up to place. Ones arch and twos duck under and then back up. Ones > > duck all the > > way through Twos' arch to meet new neighbors.) > > > > "Duck for the oyster, dive for the clam, duck through the hole in > > the old tin > > can" or similar patter > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 27, Issue 11 > ***************************************
