correct. Also I just saw one of my dancers so I asked her -she confirmed that it worked great the other evening, and everyone enjoyed it :)
Sep 27, 2023 5:34:56 PM Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <[email protected]>: > To confirm, is this the timing we're talking about? > > (8) Long lines forward and back > (2) Walk forward > (4) Balance > (2) Pass through, turn single > > Jeff > > > On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 9:45 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers > <[email protected]> wrote: >> 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: >>>>> Here are a couple more that I wrote, that I called the other night and >>>>> went very well. >>>>> (again, I haven't searched to see if they exist already) >>>>> >>>>> these all build on the skills we did in my "very simple contra" in the >>>>> sicilian formation, that I outlined in a previous message. >>>>> >>>>> 1. "Off they go" >>>>> >>>>> - Circle left >>>>> - Circle right >>>>> - LLFB >>>>> - (still holding hands) - walk 4 steps left then 4 steps right (or call >>>>> it a giant oval left then right if you prefer) >>>>> >>>>> - partner do si do >>>>> - neighbour left hand turn (allemande) >>>>> - partner 2 hand balance twice (I suggest the convention of veering >>>>> slightly to the left the first balance, and slightly to the right on the >>>>> second, for interest) >>>>> - holding inside hands with your partner facing the other couple, veer on >>>>> a forward right diagonal to pass the other couple, then on a forward left >>>>> diagonal to meet the next couple >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 2. "first out of place dance" (at a brisk pace) >>>>> people found this very fun!! >>>>> >>>>> - circle left >>>>> - circle right >>>>> - partner do si do >>>>> - neighbour 2 hand balance once, and baby turn (ie switch places, by >>>>> circling while holding 2 hands in the same direction you would in a 2 >>>>> hand turn or swing - can also say - switch places with your neighbour, >>>>> with the ravens going on the inside) >>>>> >>>>> - LLFB >>>>> - LLF, balance partner by the right one time and pull by (to switch >>>>> places w partner) >>>>> - LLFB >>>>> - LLF, just pull by the right (no balance) - give a little nod and stomp >>>>> to your old group, turn to face the new >>>>> >>>>> 3. " first down the hall dance" >>>>> >>>>> -1's split the 2's and all walk down the hall in line of 4, turn alone >>>>> - come on back, bend line >>>>> - circle left >>>>> - circle right >>>>> >>>>> - partner left shoulder round >>>>> - neighbour right hand turn (allemande) >>>>> - all circle left again >>>>> - left hand star to new group >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 4. "first swing (or 2 hand turn) dance" >>>>> >>>>> - N bal and 2 hand turn (or swing, depending on level of dancers), for 16 >>>>> - LLFB >>>>> - Partner left shoulder round >>>>> >>>>> - Neighbour right shoulder round >>>>> - circle left >>>>> - circle right >>>>> - balance the circle one time, 2 hand balance your partner one time, turn >>>>> to face new group >>>>> >>>>> There were 2 more dances in my sequence after this, but they wouldn't >>>>> qualify as super easy. (though probably still easier than most of you >>>>> call!! :) ) >>>>> >>>>> - Kat k >>>>> in Hfx, NS, CA >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
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