Interesting. We went a step farther at another dance. A (charming!) older man was slow-moving and hard of hearing, and caused problems. So a "sacrificial squad" of women would, one by one, dance with him and manage him. (He had a great time; we hope he never knew.)
But we also had a couple of "angels", men who would follow this progress, and make sure the "lamb" got a great dance immediately after their sacrifice. (We made a point to tell the lambs we appreciated what they were doing.) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Martha Wild Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 11:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 41, Issue 15 Linda, I enjoyed your post. Years ago we had two dancers at our dance who were terrible dancers, though they had danced for a long time and thought of themselves as experienced dancers, and the combination of that and being avoided by the women who knew them meant they would ask beginners to dance, totally confusing them and causing whole sets to fall apart. Similar to your story, a group of us women got together and decided we would be the "sacrificial squad" and take turns "neutralizing" them when they showed up by asking them to dance before they could ask a beginner. It certainly made the dances go a lot more smoothly and beginners came back more frequently when they felt competent and not confused, so it was worth the sacrifice. I wonder if they ever marveled at why suddenly they were so popular. I wish I could say they became better dancers, but they eventually moved so the squad happily disbanded. Regarding shadow swings - at a dance out of town I ended up with a shadow and we suddenly recognized each other as having been in school together years ago, so that was fun. Part of the mystery of life - sometimes you get a prize, sometimes you don't. Martha On Jan 25, 2008, at 9:00 AM, [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. Re: Shadow swings (Jerome Grisanti) > 2. A Shadow Swing and New moves for contras... (Linda Leslie) > 3. Re: Shadow swings (Chris Page) > 4. Re: Shadow swings and Irrational Hypocrisy (Greg McKenzie) > 5. Re: Shadow swings ([email protected]) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:56:58 -0600 > From: "Jerome Grisanti" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > I believe shadow swings should be limited to dance weekends or > workshops, > and even then only rarely. While keeping in mind Cary Ravitz's > rationale > that you don't choose your shadow, your chances of having a very > pleasant > interaction with a shadow are very much higher at a dance weekend. Of > course, not all weekends are made the same. > > As a dancer I sometimes replace certain interactions (such as shadow > allemande right once and a half) with a shadow swing when it's > someone I > enjoy swinging with. If my shadow is a beginner or a so-so swinger, > I dance > the figure as called. > > And I like Mark Galipeau's suggestion that the caller can change > shadow > interaction to a swing on the last iteration of the dance, but only > if that > would not confuse the dancers. > > --Jerome > > > On Jan 24, 2008 11:00 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:25:25 -0500 >> From: J L Korr <[email protected]> >> Subject: [Callers] Shadow swings >> >> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils >> Fredland's "Head >> of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it got me >> thinking. I've >> called dances with shadow swings infrequently, because in the back >> of my >> head I think about the following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes >> on contra >> choreography: "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. >> People don't >> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the >> entire dance. >> . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed." >> >> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal >> preferences, and >> others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate others' thoughts >> on this -- >> are shadow swings as strongly negative an issue for you as they >> are for >> Cary? Clearly they were not an issue for Nils when writing "Head >> of the Bed" >> or Seth T. when writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance. >> >> Thanks, >> Jeremy >> >> > > -- > Jerome Grisanti > 660-528-0858 > 660-528-0714 > http://www.jeromegrisanti.com > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:52:55 -0500 > From: Linda Leslie <[email protected]> > Subject: [Callers] A Shadow Swing and New moves for contras... > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed > > Greetings! > I very much agree with Greg's list of "thoughts about contra dance > moves". This is an area that begs for lots of wonderful > conversations among callers...we have a responsibility to keep a > healthy balance between the traditions, and the evolution of dancing. > I encourage one of you to apply for NEFFA 2009 (the schedule for 2008 > is all done!), with this as a topic for discussion! > > And as for shadow swings, three cheers to Chris Weiler for his > thoughts! One of the most satisfying venues for me to call is the > community dance, where dancers are happy to dance with each other, > regardless of skill. There is a recognition of the need to "take > care" of one another in order for the joy of the dance to be shared > by all, and an understanding that the dancing will continue only if > we make sure that new dancers feel welcome. The dance in Rehoboth, > MA is probably one of the best community dances that demonstrates > this commitment. I, like Chris, when dancing, tend to wait until the > last minute, and ask someone I don't know, or who seems shy, to > dance. If is works out to be fun, then it is great for both of us; if > is was not so pleasurable, thus is life....and after all, a dance is > *only* 12 minutes or so! The same can be said for having a shadow > that you do not choose: there is the potential serendipity of making > a new friend, or the possibility of a less than thrilling experience. > I am willing to take the risk! Certainly only one dance in an evening > with a shadow swing would be advisable, but not calling any at all > also seems to me to be a mistake. > > I am also reminded of an experience at a very small dance on Cape > Cod. A not so skilled dancer (gent) who had trouble hearing the > calls, was a fervent attendee at the dance in Sandwich. Because the > number of dancers is small (though high in energy!), it was obvious > that this gent was left out until the end or entirely, and often > would be paired with new dancers. The experienced women got together > and decided that they would each take a turn asking him to dance one > dance on any given evening. What a marvelous plan! He was as happy as > could be, smiling the whole evening, and the dance in general was > more enjoyable for all as a consequence. He may not have been on > time, or skilled, but the joy from him made everybody feel great! > > So Jeremy, I would say don't be shy about calling a dance with a > shadow swing! > warmly, Linda Leslie > >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:48:49 -0800 (GMT-08:00) >> From: Greg McKenzie <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] What did he say !??? MWSD >> To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: >> <20647868.1201114129207.JavaMail.root@elwamui- >> polski.atl.sa.earthlink.net> >> >> Jerome wrote: >>> One other thing I might mention about bringing Modern Western >>> Square moves >>> into Contra crowds: ... >> >> Then there is also the other, more basic, discussion about both the >> advisability of this course and the responsibilities it entails. >> >> The contra dance tradition, as it currently stands, is still one of >> the most effective means of bringing a roomfull of people with >> widely varying skill levels together in a joyful evening of social >> dance to live music, without the requirement of separate lessons. >> >> For some of us this is the most attracive quality of contras. An >> effort to increase the number of calls and the skills necessary to >> participate at any evening of contra dance is a bold course that >> could do violence to the traditional role of contras. An effort to >> do so should be pursued with caution. Each step in this direction >> should be precluded with a series of questions: >> >> - How will this addition affect the confidence level of first-time >> dancers in the hall? >> >> - How will it affect their ability to participate and the >> likelihood that they will return? >> >> - How should I characterize this addition to make it clear that it >> varies from the basic tradition of contras? >> >> - What is the appropriate venue to introduce this kind of >> variation? (Dance camps, special events, festivals, or regular >> contra dance series?) >> >> - Are my variations significant enough over the course of the >> evening that I have a responsibility to distinguish this event, in >> the publicity, from a regular evening of contras? >> >> - Would I like to see this variation become a part of the contra >> dance tradition? >> >> Just a thought, >> Greg McKenzie >> >> >> >> >> >> . . . and Chris did an excellent job calling a fun dance he co- >> wrote. Will you consider posting it on SharedWeight, Chris? >> >> During the same open mike session, I enjoyed dancing Nils >> Fredland's "Head of the Bed" to Dave Eisenstatter's calling, and it >> got me thinking. I've called dances with shadow swings >> infrequently, because in the back of my head I think about the >> following excerpt from Cary Ravitz's notes on contra choreography: >> "Watch out for excessive trail buddy interaction. People don't >> choose their trail buddy and they are stuck with them for the >> entire dance. . . . Trail buddy swings are not allowed." >> >> However, Cary also emphasizes that those are his personal >> preferences, and others' preferences may vary. So I'd appreciate >> others' thoughts on this -- are shadow swings as strongly negative >> an issue for you as they are for Cary? Clearly they were not an >> issue for Nils when writing "Head of the Bed" or Seth T. when >> writing "Meg's a Dancing Fool," for instance. >> >> Thanks, >> Jeremy >> >> Jeremy Korr >> East of Los Angeles >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. >> http://www.windowslive.com/share.html? >> ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_012008 >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 3 >> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:37:56 -0500 >> From: "Koren A. Wake" <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings >> To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: >> <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 >> >> This is my opinion mainly as a dancer, not so much as a caller, but >> I'm >> inclined to agree with Cary - especially when you consider that the >> more >> shadow interaction there is, the less partner interaction! A nice >> shadow >> move that bounces me back to my partner can be very cool, and when >> my shadow >> is a good dancer or good friend of mine, I'm happy to have more >> shadow >> interaction, but it's a gamble. I might be stuck with a shadow >> who's a >> terrible dancer, or smells bad, or is generally just not someone >> I'd want to >> dance with, and not only are you (the choreographer and caller) >> forcing me >> to swing him every time through the dance, you're also taking me >> away from >> the person who I *did* choose to dance with. >> >> On the other hand, there are really cool dances with lots of shadow >> interaction, too. If the dance itself is cool enough, I'm willing >> to let >> myself get pulled away from my partner more. >> >> - Koren >> >> On 1/23/08, J L Korr <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >> Message: 4 >> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:35:16 -0500 (EST) >> From: Greg McKenzie <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings >> To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: >> <11856886.1201127716708.JavaMail.root@elwamui- >> karabash.atl.sa.earthlink.net> >> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 >> >> >> Jeremy, >> >> I enjoy shadow swings. >> >> Greg >> >> ******** >>> Chris Weiler wrote: >>> >>> >> >> Message: 5 >> Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:47:16 -0800 (PST) >> From: Mark Galipeau <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings >> To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 >> >> I love it when I have a shadow, without a swing, and >> the caller throws in in the last iteration of the >> dance, swing your shadow, just as a final good bye >> gesture! Makes for a nice finish to a dance. >> >> >> >> Message: 7 >> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:23:38 -0500 >> From: Chris Weiler <[email protected]> >> Subject: [Callers] Give the Scout a Hand >> To: Shared Weight <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> Jeremy, >> >> Here is the dance that you asked for: >> >> Give the Scout a Hand Becket-L >> Bob Isaacs and Chris Weiler >> >> A1. Circle L 3/4, neighbor swing >> A2. Long lines, gents allemande L 1 1/2 - give R to partner >> B1. Balance, box the gnat, 1/2 hey with hands (partner pull by R, >> gents >> pull by L, neighbor pull by R, ladies pull by L) >> B2. Partner balance, swing, then slide L, etc. >> >> Written for a fundraiser auction for the Concord Scout House in >> Concord, >> MA. Written 6/17/07. I prefer the 1/2 hey with hands to a standard >> hey >> since it gives the whole dance a connected feeling. I have used it >> with >> mixed crowds before with success. >> >> Best, >> Chris >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 8 >> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:35:52 -0500 >> From: Chris Weiler <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings >> To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> Jeremy, >> >> I agree with Koren that it's a crap shoot when you call a shadow >> swing. >> I definitely would never call one with a crowd that has more than a >> minimal number of beginners. I also would never call more than one >> in an >> evening. >> >> That said, I like the gamble. I think that I'm a little unusual in >> that >> I very often in the evening wait until the last minute to find a >> partner >> and take whoever is available. I've met some wonderful dancers and >> friends that way. Sometimes I get to dance with someone I haven't >> danced >> with in a long time. I think it's fun. The shadow swing can be the >> same >> way. Quite often when I have shadow interaction in a dance, I'll >> ask my >> shadow to be my next partner when the dance is done. >> >> Head of the Bed is unusual with it's 3 swings (Neighbor, Partner and >> Shadow). When I first danced it at the Flurry, I knew I had to >> collect >> it. But I haven't had more than one opportunity to call it. 8^) >> It's a >> fun dance! >> >> Happy Dancing! >> Chris >> >> >> > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:35:38 -0800 > From: "Chris Page" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings > To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > I currently don't have any dances with shadow swings in my > repertoire, by choice. > > Part of that is to avoid the situation where you're forcing two > people to swing together who Really Don't Want To Swing > Over and Over. And they'll let you know it, whether it's a > breakup, or one person's someone that they don't want to > dance with. (In my first community I went to, there was > one person like this. It would drive which lines people went > into, people would refuse sometimes to neighbor swing > with said person, and it really corrupted the whole partner- > asking dynamic of the dance. So I'm shaped by an extreme.) > > There's the secondary reason that it's not as interesting as > it's the same person over and over and over. And you've > already got your partner over and over and over, with the > partner swing I need to pander to. So that cuts out still more > neighbor interaction. It's why I strongly prefer neighbor grand > right and lefts to shadow grand right and lefts, for instance. > > A shadow can be a convenient marker to create the effect > of a lose-and-find partner sequence, so they do have their > uses. > > > > Yet I call a dance with a shadow swing about one night > of every three. They're the four-face-fours where you swing > your corner. So I fully admit to irrational hypocrisy. > > -Chris Page > San Diego > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:09:36 -0800 > From: Greg McKenzie <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings and Irrational Hypocrisy > To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > > Friends, > > It seems that having folks who really dislike swinging together at a > community dance is bad news...with, or without shadow swings. I know > it happens, but callers can work to create a more gracious and > generous atmosphere. It would feel odd to plan an evening program > while considering the needs of people who wish to avoid contact at a > social dance. > > Chris, I wonder; how would you feel about a dance with a shadow > swing, and a neighbor swing, but with NO partner swing? I suspect > that many of us call a dance or two each night with no partner > swing. Would you protest more if there were one partner-swing-free > dance with a shadow swing? (And would that be "rational hypocrisy?) > > Also, how many dances a night do you call that have no partner swing? > > Just wondering, > > Greg > > ********* > > At 02:35 PM 1/24/2008, Chris wrote: >> I currently don't have any dances with shadow swings in my >> repertoire, by choice. >> >> Part of that is to avoid the situation where you're forcing two >> people to swing together who Really Don't Want To Swing >> Over and Over. And they'll let you know it, whether it's a >> breakup, or one person's someone that they don't want to >> dance with. (In my first community I went to, there was >> one person like this. It would drive which lines people went >> into, people would refuse sometimes to neighbor swing >> with said person, and it really corrupted the whole partner- >> asking dynamic of the dance. So I'm shaped by an extreme.) >> >> There's the secondary reason that it's not as interesting as >> it's the same person over and over and over. And you've >> already got your partner over and over and over, with the >> partner swing I need to pander to. So that cuts out still more >> neighbor interaction. It's why I strongly prefer neighbor grand >> right and lefts to shadow grand right and lefts, for instance. >> >> A shadow can be a convenient marker to create the effect >> of a lose-and-find partner sequence, so they do have their >> uses. >> >> >> >> Yet I call a dance with a shadow swing about one night >> of every three. They're the four-face-fours where you swing >> your corner. So I fully admit to irrational hypocrisy. >> >> -Chris Page >> San Diego >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:06:20 -0500 > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Shadow swings > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Give the dancers credit. They will adjust to the > dance as needed. > I recall, years ago, there was a couple who really > did not care for each other and they were caught > in the dreaded shadow swing. Instead of making a fuss > thay turned the swing into a 'Lady Walpole' and did > a DSD in it's place. The dance goes on! > Gale > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web LIVE ? Free email based on Microsoft? Exchange technology - > http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 41, Issue 15 > *************************************** _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
