Thanks, All. @Maia: thanks for asking me to be precise in my question. I see I asked two general questions which, while a mistake, was a happy mistake in that it led to hearing interesting thoughts.
However, I was hoping to benefit from Harris' experience, or the experience of others who have encountered the same challenge in a beginner-heavy dance. My clumsy question was within the context of the original post: Harris: "I called Star Trek Phraser at a beginner-heavy college dance last weekend and it worked quite well! The only thing I noticed was that I had to keep jumping in to keep the oval on time (dancers kept trying to shift it to A2) and even still it got pretty messy." Me: "Like Harris recently did, we plan to try Star Trek Phaser for our beginner-heavy college contra next week. Thanks for writing and posting it, Luke. "We often find that our dancers get off-phrase, especially with flowy dances, like this one. Is that what causes the challenge with the oval in this dance?" I wish I had asked, using Maia's trademark -- "Hive-mind" or Harris -- how would you foreshorten the challenge Harris witnessed in Star Trek Phaser, so, next week, our college group can have at least as much fun as Harris's college group did? (@Luke, I agree with you: that video of George Marshall giving a beginner lesson is a pleasure to study.) Rob - - - - - - - - - - - - Robert Matson Innovation Media Corp. The Innovation Works, Inc. Cell: (917) 626-2675 On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 9:57 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > That’s an interesting take—I usually see people swinging for too LONG, and > specifically see swings running over as one of the main culprits of dance > timing muddiness. Probably a combination of: swinging is fun, it’s a > variable number of rotations (ie no clear end point), and it may take > beginners a sec to get the hand/foot position right. So when dance timing > is slipping, my go-to is to start more clearly prompting the first move > after the swing, esp. the partner swing. > > For whatever that’s worth! > > Cheers, > Maia (Brooklyn, NY) > > -- > Maia McCormick (she/her) > 917.279.8194 > > > On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 4:40 PM Neal Schlein <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Robert— >> I’m thinking there are three things you may be working to counteract: >> >> 1. Rushing to the swing/the “easy bits” of the dance. If the dancers >> don’t perceive each part of the sequence as equally important or >> interesting, they will often attempt to shorten the distance to the next >> part; flowing segments are the natural casualty. This is also trained >> behavior, learned from exposure to music and tight choreography that >> rewards or forces “clipped” endings for flowing figures like heys or rushed >> contra corners. I don’t know how to alter this in a simple, clean way >> except by repeatedly not programming such choreography. >> >> 2. Driving or low-phrased music. This is regional, and in my opinion the >> dance tunes played in different places in our country are getting smooshed >> stylistically, but there are differences. When I lived in Illinois, for >> example, the music tended toward a hard driven beat with less intra- and >> sometimes extra-phrase distinction. I personally felt it was infinitely >> better for squares because it made contras became mushy, especially on long >> and flowing parts (which is choreography I tend to appreciate…and then >> people would rush to the swings). That outcome didn’t seem to bother anyone >> other than me, though. >> >> 3. Dropping out/style of calling. When we start to drop out, it gives >> more latitude to the dancers to make their own decisions about timing—which >> are then dictated by the band (music phrasing), their attitude toward the >> choreography (rush to the good parts), and their skill (easier to >> execute=faster potential execution). You can try to keep calling longer >> and provide more direction….which might also result in a riot, depending on >> the dancers. (Here in Colorado I have the reverse: a group that threatens >> homicide if I ever leave out a single call.) >> >> Neal Schlein >> Librarian, MSLIS >> Colorado >> >> On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 2:44 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Robert, are you looking for tips beyond the basic “clear, well-phrased, >>> LONG/well-in-advance calls”? That’s probably the biggest thing, in my >>> mind—a nice long (3-4 beat) call in advance of the move that often lags, to >>> give dancers some heads up. (And of course, identifying ahead of time what >>> parts of the dance that are likely to get smeary.) >>> >>> You might be able to preempt some of the timing issues in teaching. Eg >>> “take JUST FOUR STEPS down the hall, it’s shorter than you think” etc, but >>> honestly that kind of thing flies right out of people’s heads when the >>> music starts. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Maia in Brooklyn >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Maia McCormick (she/her) >>> 917.279.8194 >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 2:51 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks for giving the new dance a spin! I haven't even tried it with >>>> people yet :-) >>>> >>>> Robert, I'm reminded of George Wilson's beginner lesson where he talks >>>> explicitly about the connection between the music and the dancing, and >>>> makes the timing explicit: >>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14nxFdcaKWA >>>> >>>> Thanks again all, >>>> Luke >>>> >>>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 3:25 PM Robert Matson via Contra Callers < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Like Harris recently did, we plan to try Star Trek Phaser for our >>>>> beginner-heavy college contra next week. Thanks for writing and posting >>>>> it, Luke. >>>>> >>>>> We often find that our dancers get off-phrase, especially with flowy >>>>> dances, like this one. Is that what causes the challenge with the oval in >>>>> this dance? >>>>> >>>>> We have the benefit of choosing our music program at the same time as >>>>> our dance program. So, our Plan A for flowy dances is to choose a tune >>>>> set >>>>> with clear differentiation between the 8-bar phrases and some sort of >>>>> punctuation at the start or end of each phrase. (Maybe a tune set >>>>> like this one. >>>>> <https://youtu.be/ADQq_nqqHik?si=UX83w43tUtd8pw6x&t=151>) >>>>> >>>>> From the perspective of callers, what would be a few tips that help >>>>> ensure flowy dances don't get off-phrase or would help in a case like >>>>> Harris'? >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Rob >>>>> >>>>> - - - - - - - - - - - - >>>>> >>>>> Robert Matson >>>>> Cell: (917) 626-2675 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 12:51 AM Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I called Star Trek Phraser at a beginner-heavy college dance last >>>>>> weekend and it worked quite well! The only thing I noticed was that I had >>>>>> to keep jumping in to keep the oval on time (dancers kept trying to shift >>>>>> it to A2) and even still it got pretty messy. But it's a nice whole-set >>>>>> moment that I think is worth it. (And for attentive beginners I think it >>>>>> also reveals something to them about the structure of the dance.) I was >>>>>> surprised and pleased by how well beginners were able to handle the >>>>>> star-to-star transition, quick though it is! >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for that one, Luke! >>>>>> >>>>>> Harris Lapiroff >>>>>> >>>>>> Dance Caller and Organizer >>>>>> Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA) >>>>>> Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA) >>>>>> https://chromamine.com/contra/ >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, Sep 9, 2024, at 8:08 PM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks all. >>>>>> >>>>>> I continue to turn this one over in my head, and I think I've got a >>>>>> new one (borrowing heavily from Bob Isaac's *To Turn a Phrase* and >>>>>> the star-to-star transition of Mick Richardson's *Star Trek*) >>>>>> >>>>>> Star Trek Phraser >>>>>> by Luke Donforth >>>>>> Contra/Becket-CCW >>>>>> >>>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Left hand Star >>>>>> (8) Whole set oval right >>>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>>> (8) whole set oval Left >>>>>> (8) Groups of 4 Circle Left 1X >>>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Partner Do-si-do >>>>>> (8) Partner swing >>>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Long lines, forward and back >>>>>> (8) Left hand Star 1x, walk on to next star >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hello all, >>>>>> >>>>>> Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways >>>>>> set dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an >>>>>> evening. But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking >>>>>> to >>>>>> grow their familiarity with the dance form. >>>>>> >>>>>> I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor >>>>>> swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways >>>>>> in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a >>>>>> while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option: >>>>>> >>>>>> Pluck It >>>>>> Contra/Becket-CW >>>>>> >>>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Circle Left >>>>>> (8) Circle Right >>>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Left hand Star >>>>>> (8) Right hand Star >>>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Partner Do-si-do >>>>>> (8) Partner swing >>>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set >>>>>> (8) Long lines, yearn left >>>>>> >>>>>> This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter >>>>>> Shot but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, >>>>>> which in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I >>>>>> wouldn't use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think >>>>>> it's >>>>>> accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and >>>>>> if >>>>>> folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't >>>>>> really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over >>>>>> improper >>>>>> for this type of dance; different position on the side is less >>>>>> disorienting >>>>>> than different side of the set). >>>>>> >>>>>> What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No >>>>>> larks allemande or robins chain, etc. >>>>>> >>>>>> On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one >>>>>> (which may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community >>>>>> dance I was at: >>>>>> >>>>>> A Pillar of Weathersfield >>>>>> Contra/Becket-CW >>>>>> >>>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >>>>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >>>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>>> (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall >>>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) >>>>>> (8) Return and face across >>>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>>> (8) Long lines, forward and back >>>>>> (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress >>>>>> (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and >>>>>> the new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple) >>>>>> >>>>>> I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level >>>>>> contras when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper >>>>>> dances with neighbor swings. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks! >>>>>> Luke Donforth >>>>>> Burlington, VT >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Luke Donforth >>>>>> [email protected] <[email protected]> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> 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] >>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Luke Donforth >>>> [email protected] <[email protected]> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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] >>> >> _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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