Jerome, I assumed you were talking about calling contras to MWSDers. Apologies 
if you meant calling MWSD, which I have no experience with.

Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/>
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)


From: Rich Sbardella <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 3:08 PM
To: Jerome Grisanti <[email protected]>
Cc: Tony Parkes <[email protected]>; Caller's discussion list 
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: Contras for a Crowd that does not Swing

Jerome,

I call trade by after a square thru 3 often with no confusion.
The Sq Thru 3 has left them in a Trade By formation.

Here is a singing call figure I use to teach Trade By:
Hds F&B, Hds Sq 4
R&L Thru
Ps Thru, Trade By
Sq Thru 3, Trade By
Corner Swing, Promenade
The figure ends in a Corner Box so you have an Alle Left available in lieu of 
the Corner Swing.

Rich

On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 2:31 PM Jerome Grisanti 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Tony (and Rich and others),

I'm just learning to call to MWSD dancers, and learning how to gauge what will 
work out of the box, what will work with a heads-up phrase, and what needs a 
little teach.

With that in mind, how do you think dancers would respond to "trade by" without 
a preceeding "pass thru," to maintain a single progression. The power of habits.

Jerome

On Tue, Mar 14, 2023, 1:57 PM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
 wrote:
I’ve led several Intro to Contras sessions at National S/D Conventions. The 
first dance in the session was typically my Inflation Reel, with a Trade By 
added after the Pass Thru. (Trade By: If you’re facing someone, pass thru; if 
not, do a partner trade [like a California Twirl without hands]). This gives a 
double progression and means I don’t have to explain waiting at the ends or 
crossing over. I’ve always also used Shadrack’s Delight, which I wrote to 
appeal to traditional dancers and MWSDers alike.

For the most part, I’ve found that MWSDers quickly get into the groove of 
dancing to the phrase, as long as they’re in longways formation. (I tell them 
that contra dancing is “square dance basics with round dance timing.”) But the 
moment I put them in squares, with the hope of doing some of my favorite 
Lancers or other quadrille figures, they think they can “relax” and clip the 
timing.

Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/>
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)


From: Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 12:29 PM
To: Caller's discussion list 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: [Callers] Contras for a Crowd that does not Swing

Friends,

I have been asked to lead an intro to contra dance session at a square dance 
convention.

I will have time to lead 3-4 contras, and I am looking for suggestions.
My main concern is that most modern square dancers do not swing, they simply 
twirl under.  With that in mind, I need contras which have no more than an 
eight count swing yet reflect the spirit of the modern contra scene.

One major difference between contra dance and MWSD is square dancers are not 
trained to dance to the phrase of the music.  I will most likely begin with a 
circle mixer to encourage a full 8 count swing and to emphasize dancing to the 
phrase.

I am not looking for contra dances with MWSD basics, but rather typical contra 
basics.  Any suggestions?  I can certainly find some among my collection, but 
perhaps there is a gem I might miss.

Thanks,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
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