September 19, of course
On Mon, Feb 24, 2014, Michael Fuerst wrote: > > Alan: Since when do we aargh on on right? > > > On Monday, February 24, 2014 6:35 PM, Alan Winston > <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 2/24/2014 2:48 PM, Alan Winston wrote: > > If it were me I'd be inclined to do it somewhat differently.? (The > > suggestions that have been made so far > > are just fine, though.) > > > > First night: > > > > Circassian Circle Mixer > > > > (Or some other super-easy mixer with a swing in it.? Teaches listening > > to the caller, doing things to the phrase, ending swings with the lady > > on the left, > > AARGH.? on the right. > > >? gets them used to changing partners rather than dancing > > only with the one they came in with.? Since it's not a one-night stand > > dance - that is, they're supposed to learn something - you want them > > doing a contra-dance swing; this gets the experienced contra dancers > > into the arms of as many people as possible right away.? Swings are > > easier to do right once you've felt them being done right.)? This is a > > dance that doesn't fail, so they'll feel successful right away.? Pretty > > much immune to tune choice so long as the band is clear about phrasing. > > > > Big Circle > > > > A1:? Forward and back twice > > > > A2:? Women to center and back to place > >? ? ? ? Men to center and back to woman originally on his left (not partner). > > > > B1:? They swing > > > > B2:? Promenade around, open to to big circle. > > > > [You might want to just have them swing their first partner and open up > > facing in, and then tell them that they're done with that person and the > > next partner is in their other hand] > > > > > > Some kind of Sicilian Circle ideally with a partner swing and a neighbor > > swing.? Gets them used to improper formation but without having to deal > > with action at the ends of the set.? (Although it's not totally ideal, I > > often use "Soldier's Joy", mostly because it's a Civil War era version > > and I use it when I'm calling Civil War dances and then I don't have to > > remember something else when I'm calling contras.)? Ladies chain along > > rather than across the set is unusual but not terribly difficult.? I'm > > certainly open to suggestions for better sicilian circle dances for this > > purpose. This give some opportunity to discuss giving weight. > > > > SOLDIER'S JOY. > > Sicilian Circle ("As for Spanish Dance") - that means facing the other > > couple, gent on the left, lady on the right. > > 32-bar reel.? The name tune is the best. > > > > > > A1: 1-4: Forward and back > >? ? ? 5-8: Opposites turn two hands (no progression), open facing partner > > > > A2: 1-8: Partners balance &swing, face other couple > > > > B1: 1-8: Ladies chain over and back (along the line). > > > > B2: 1-8: Forward and back, forward and pass through. > > > > > > Then? Simplicity Swing (because they already know most of the bits and > > the bits they don't know are circle, star, and do-si-do, which are > > things many people think they know how to do even before their first > > contra dance.) > > > > SIMPLICITY SWING > > (by Becky Hill) > > Improper contra > > > > Figs: NB&S:CL3/4:PS:LLF&B:LC:LHS:NNDSD: > > > > > > A1: Neighbor Balance and Swing > > > > A2: Circle left 3/4; > >? ? ? partner swing > > > > B1: Long lines forward and back; > >? ? ? ladies chain > > > > B2: left hand star; > >? ? ? next neighbor do si do > > > > > > And then you can do the rest of the? evening with easy to intermediate > > longways dances. > > > > > > Repeat this pattern (with different mixer and different Sicilian Circle) > > the next time to get the brand new dancers swung and sweaty before they > > have to learn much. > > > > -- Alan > > > > > > > > On 2/24/2014 8:50 AM, Ben Hornstein wrote: > >> Greetings fellow callers, > >> > >> My graduate school's social dance club is going to be having a Contra > >> night, which I will be calling. I was hoping to get some advice on how to > >> structure the evening. Here's what I'm expecting: > >> > >> Two 2 hour events, on March 3 and 10 > >> 20-30 people, with maybe 5-8 who have danced contra before at all, 1-3 who > >> I would consider experts > >> The second week will most likely have people who did not come the first > >> week > >> Minimal live band (who I have worked with before) > >> > >> Here's what I'm thinking so far: > >> 1st dance: something simple without any swing to teach a few of the most > >> basic moves > >> 2nd dance: teach the swing, do an easy dance > >> remaining dances: teach one new move before each dance, then do a dance > >> that incorporates that move > >> > >> 2nd week: plan a generally easy program, but review moves as they come up > >> (for those who missed the first week) > >> > >> I'm hoping for suggestions of specific dances that I should use, and ways > >> to teach and handle a group with very few experienced dancers. How do I > >> prevent the whole thing from falling apart? In general, I think they'll be > >> more tolerant towards additional teaching time because it's billed more as > >> a lesson than a dance. (Last month they had a salsa lesson which went on > >> for 2 hours before they turned on the music.) I'm hoping that the fact that > >> these are mostly graduate/medical students who have done other forms of > >> social dance before will help greatly, but any and all advice is welcome. > >> > >> Sincerely, > >> Ben Hornstein > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Callers mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
