ok just one more thought: I like this figure because (IMHO anyhow), it does fulfill the purpose that was under discussion...
for a beginner, it is straightforward in that (if the 16 beats are taken as a whole), it does not move them out of home place. Maybe they don't get the beat just right (though like I said, my 40 novice dancers all got it right away) - but they can't really mess up the dance or get lost. And... apparently based on this discussion - it could provide something novel, and slightly challenging, for more experienced dancers? :) KK Sep 27, 2023 11:39:00 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <[email protected]>: > I had never thought of that.... > > Like I said, I just called it and it went well - no questions, no issues, > lots of enjoyment-- (with a number of beginners and nobody else in the group > of 40+ people terribly advanced) - and it certainly didn't seem to hamper > their dancing abilities in that dance or any future one. > > When I dance it here in my house to try it out, I feel there is still a great > rhythm to that combination--maybe it's got a bit of a syncopated feel? > > Anyhow, I still say, "don't knock it till you try it" :) > > KK > > Sep 27, 2023 11:23:18 AM Tony Parkes <[email protected]>: > >> I’m not saying this phrasing should be outlawed. But it’s enough of a >> challenge to get new folks to do a balance on 1-2-3-4 without giving them an >> exception early on. >> >> 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:* Katherine Kitching <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:03 AM >> *To:* Tony Parkes <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence >> >> aw, really? >> >> I say, don't knock it till you try it :) >> >> - I had a mix of beginner and more experienced dancers - I didn't explain it >> any detail, I just demo'd it once, and then they all did it easily and with >> gusto. :D >> >> Sep 27, 2023 10:50:10 AM Tony Parkes <[email protected]>: >> >> Ah, thanks. >> Different strokes for different folks. I don’t think I could bring myself to >> ask for a balance on 3-4-5-6 of an 8-count phrase. >> 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:* Katherine Kitching <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:46 AM >> *To:* Tony Parkes <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence >> haha I was unsure it would work when I called it for the first time the >> other night - but it worked great!! >> >> Previously I had done LLFB, LLF and pull by, LLFB, LLF and pull by-- >> >> but my dancers did it so fast and energetically there was a super long and >> awkward pause after they pulled by and turned to face their partner again. >> >> the secret is, it only takes them 2 counts to get close enough to rt-hand >> balance. >> >> so it's 1-2 (walk), 1-2-3-4 (balance), and 1-2 pass by and turn - that part >> is admittedly fast, but they enjoyed the challenge of it and it really >> livened up this beginner-oriented dance. >> >> Sep 27, 2023 10:40:00 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers >> <[email protected]>: >> >> “- LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again” >> Will someone please explain the timing of this sequence? I get 8 steps for >> LLFB, 4 for LLF, 4 for a balance, and 4 for a pull by, adding up to 20; but >> I assume it’s intended to be done in 16. (I’m assuming that “turn to face >> in” is done as part of the pull by – no problem there.) Is there actually no >> LLF apart from the balance? >> 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:* Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers >> <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:33 AM >> *To:* Joe Harrington <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* [email protected] >> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence >> lol "full washing machine" - I hadn't heard that before! >> >> I agree on avoiding the full one as much as possible - but I quite like just >> a circle-left-circle-right - brings the group together for some smiles and >> allows for fancy footwork for those who want to throw in a little something >> extra. >> >> But it may be interesting to ask the group to compile a list of >> beginner-friendly figures, beyond the very basic ones like allemandes and do >> si dos, that could be used to put together some dances of the type that you >> (and I, always!!) are seeking? >> >> My criteria would be: >> >> - does not take anyone out of home place >> (or takes them out temporarily but puts them back again, such as pulling by >> your partner across the set, but then pulling by again within the next 1 or >> 2 moves). >> >> - doesn't involve anything that is known to cause confusion for total >> beginners, such as courtesy turns or heys. >> >> _Here are some that I like:_ >> >> - do si do as couples >> >> - LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again >> >> - take 4 steps left then 4 steps right, around the oval >> >> - turn and walk individually around the oval for 8, then back for 8 >> >> - balance and spin the star (as per Louise S) >> >> - balance the ring, then 2 hand balance your partner >> >> - holding hands, veer right then left with your partner to progress >> >> - what else?? :) >> >> Sep 27, 2023 12:44:51 AM Joe Harrington <[email protected]>: >> >> Thanks for this thread! My group is tired of me bailing out to a small >> collection of trivial contras (Airpants, Midwest Folklore...). >> How about the easiest dance *that experienced dancers don't mind dancing*? I >> have always disliked the "full washing machine" of circle left, circle >> right, star right, star left. Even a half-wash makes my shoulders sag, >> inwardly. Of course, I will try to do them with a smile and encourage both >> the new dancers and the caller. But, surely we can make it a little more >> interesting without losing the newbies. Airpants and Midwest Folklore do, >> though they involve swings. Elbow or crossed-hand swings are fine for this >> and don't need to be taught outside of a walkthrough. If I'm using these >> dances in a workshop, I do tell the experienced dancers not to teach the >> ballroom swing, we'll get to that in a minute. Otherwise, they all try. >> --jh-- >> On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 7:27 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> …
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