A secret contra/ECD dance that can't be shared.  That's too bad.  Maybe the
author could share it?

Patricia. our local dancers do "The Source" which is a dance I learned at
Pourparler (when it was in Vermont before the most recent Vermont PP.)  If
I recall correctly it's a Navajo dance but I learned it to a Loreena
McKennit rendition of the tune "The Mummer's Dance."  We've done it at a
couple of folk dance memorial services.  Quite spiritual.  A circle dance
though, not a contra.

Lissa Bengtson
San Antonio

On Thu, May 9, 2024 at 11:00 PM <
[email protected]> wrote:

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>    1. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Neal Schlein)
>    2. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Tina Fields)
>
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>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Neal Schlein <[email protected]>
> To: Patricia Campbell <[email protected]>
> Cc: Claire Takemori <[email protected]>, Shared Weight Contra Callers <
> [email protected]>
> Bcc:
> Date: Wed, 8 May 2024 23:00:00 -0600
> Subject: [Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024
> Actually, I don’t think I can give details.  Sorry.
>
> I’m not the author of Empty Shoes and can’t claim I have permission to
> share the full choreography widely. It was written by a musician/caller
> (Rodney Barnes?) after his father died, and I first learned it from him at
> one of the last Folk Fellowship dance camps. Those were invitation-only
> groups and the notes were printed in the syllabus/yearbook, which is what I
> refer to every time we need it. (Which I regretfully have to do soon, as we
> just lost one of our longest-term dancers. I’ve only taught it five or six
> times in the last 15 years.)
>
> While I assume it would probably be fine for me to share the details, I’ve
> never seen the dance posted online anywhere and I don’t know the author
> that well. I would prefer not to violate his copyrights on something that
> could still be sensitive.
>
> However, I will say that it require a fairly large number of people,
> because it is a circular contra with a definite ECD feel and rather more
> intricate than the typical contra dance.  If I recall correctly, it has a
> setting-type balance and a 2-hand turn in it.
>
> Neal Schlein
> Librarian, MSLIS
>
>
> On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 4:21 PM Patricia Campbell @gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Would you please describe the dance Empty Shoes?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Patricia
>>
>> Patricia Campbell
>> southern Maine
>>
>>
>> *Celebrating Community Through Traditional Dance and Music*
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 5:23 PM Neal Schlein via Contra Callers <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> One of the rather idiosyncratic dance groups that I belong to has a
>>> specific dance that we do in memory of a recently deceased member, as well
>>> as all the other dancers who came and left before. We also do it at camps
>>> to remember anyone who can’t join us for whatever reason. The dance is
>>> named Empty Shoes.
>>>
>>> At a more open dance, if it is recent and the person is locally known I
>>> might post a note at the front table with a brief obituary and let the
>>> volunteers know that a dance will be dedicated at some point in the night.
>>>
>>> From the microphone, I would make the announcement one dance ahead so
>>> people have the chance to step out. Then keep it brief, basically to the
>>> extent of, “Some of you may not have heard, but XYZ person passed away
>>> recently.  They were a valuable part of our/the national dance community
>>> for many years and will be missed. The next dance is one that they
>>> wrote/particularly enjoyed, and I want to share it with you in their
>>> memory.”
>>>
>>> Neal Schlein
>>> Librarian, MSLIS
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected]
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>>> [email protected]
>>>
>>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Tina Fields <[email protected]>
> To: "[email protected]" <
> [email protected]>
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Thu, 9 May 2024 16:48:14 +0000 (UTC)
> Subject: [Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024
> Hi everyone,
>
> I, too, will join in calling a dance in Tony's honor this weekend, one he
> wrote or possibly a medley of them. I appreciate Neil Schlein's way of
> introducing a memorial dance - thanks for that. Can you also please share
> the dance Empty Shoes here?
>
> I only got to meet Tony once, at RPDLW, and thought his reputation well
> deserved: he was one of the finest callers I'd ever heard to date, and a
> truly nice person to boot. My condolences to all who loved him. Hail the
> Goer!
>
> warmly,
> Tina Fields
>
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