I agree that the timing (say, from a zig-zag into a do-si-do) can be squishy, but I like it if the music encourages the dancers to be on time. Once I asked Anna Patton for a tune that "swoops" into A1 from B2, with the explanation that the A1 figure is a do-si-do, and but the dancers are coming at each other from a long way away. She nodded and picked something - I don't know what - that fit the dance perfectly. No fewer than 8 callers asked me that night, what words I had used in describing the dance to the band.
On Jul 31, 2014, at 8:43 AM, Linda Leslie via Callers <[email protected]> wrote: > HI, Luke! > I looked up Bill’s web site, and found that he wrote 20 Below in Feb, 2003. > Coincidentally enough, I came up with The Winter Storm that very same month > and year…..I was on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard to call a dance over > there, and there was a cold, windy, snowy storm….but not enough to keep the > ferries in port! I thought of the dance while on the ferry. The storm was the > biggest part of the story; but I also know that at that time, some of us were > attempting to come up with dances that had a different start than “circle > left 3/4, swing N”. I learned about Bill’s dance a few years later. Since the > A’s are a bit different from each other, I believe they do qualify as > different dances…..but not by much! So it will be interesting to see what > folks have to say about Ron’s most recent question….. > > As for zig zags, I find it very useful that the timing is “squishy” , or > “forgiving” in some compositions, since this means that many dance styles and > abilities are accommodated. In Meg’s Choice, by Sue Rosen, called in Rehoboth > by the author, Amy Larkin and Bob Golder were dancing together, and they > turned the zig/zag motion into a playful poussette. Very nice! > > Your final entry below is very similar to Boys from Urbana by John Coffman. > Becket-CW > A1 ----------- > (8) Circle Left 3/4 (with P) > Zig left Zag right > New gents alle left 1/2 > A2 ----------- > (16) Neighbor balance and swing > B1 ----------- > (8) Long lines, forward and back > (8) Women allemande Right 1-1/2 > B2 ----------- > (16) Partner balance and swing > > I believe in your second, single progression dance, the dancers may arrive > early for the N B&S—a bit too “squishy” for some? > > The dances may very well be new compositions, so I look forward to hearing > from others on the list. > warmly, Linda > > On Jul 30, 2014, at 11:14 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers > <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hello folks, >> >> Thanks for all the insight on Grand Marches. It was a very fruitful >> discussion for me, so I'm going to toss another question out there. >> >> What timing do you like for zig and zag the set? The (uncommon) move where >> you and someone else (usually partner) move out to one side and slip behind >> the couple you were facing to face a new couple, and then possibly do it >> again where you keep going and then cut back to face a 3rd couple (double >> progression). >> >> I've got dances in my box that have a zig and zag in 8 (single progression) >> like Bill Pope's "The Cows Are Watching"; and I've got danced in my box that >> zig-zag-zig (double progression) in 8, like Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine". >> >> A couple of the zig-zag dances I've seen do the zig and zag in, pairing it >> with a circle 1 1/4 or such (Will Mentor's "Frock's Rocking Frolic"). >> >> I've danced and enjoyed all of these dances, or they wouldn't be in my box, >> but it seems a squishier move on timing than most; so I'm curious what >> people think about it; and/or what they ask for the band when calling one of >> these. >> >> This came up for me when I was playing with a new (I think) choreography. I >> put forth two possibilities drawing inspiration from Linda Leslie's Winter >> Storm and Bill Olson's 20 Below (side question, which one came first?). >> >> Becket, double progression cw >> A1 >> Circle Left 3/4 >> With Partner, zig left, zag right past a couple, zig left to face another >> new couple >> A2 >> New Neighbor Gypsy and Swing >> B1 >> Men allemande Left 1 1/2 >> Pass Partner Right to start 1/2 hey >> B2 >> Partner Gypsy and Swing >> >> Becket, single progression cw >> A1 >> Circle Left 3/4 >> With Partner, zig left, zag right to face new couple >> A2 >> New Neighbor balance and swing >> B1 >> Men allemande Left 1 1/2 >> Pass Partner to start 1/2 hey by Right >> B2 >> Partner Balance and Swing >> >> And for those of you who have stuck with my rambling this long, I'll toss >> another one out there: >> >> Becket, single progression, ccw >> A1 >> Circle Left 1 1/4 >> with Partner: Zig left, zag right to face new couple >> A2 >> New Neighbor balance and swing >> B1 >> Promenade across set with Neighbor >> Women Do-Si-Do 1 1/2 >> B2 >> Partner Balance and Swing >> >> If I had enough dancers, I'd just medley them; using the double progression >> every other time so you'd always see new faces... no, wait, that's a >> terrible idea. >> >> Thoughts or experience? >> >> Thanks again! >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> [email protected] >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
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