Thanks for the clarification, Sue and Stacy! Perhaps it wasn’t the appropriate 
rec for this case—I was maybe overexcited about recently learning about it 
myself, though with only limited details 😅

Harris Lapiroff (he/him)

Dance Caller and Organizer
Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
https://chromamine.com/contra/

On Tue, Feb 18, 2025, at 2:20 PM, Sue C. Hulsether via Contra Callers wrote:
> I second EVERYTHING that Stacy said in her email.  Pourparler is a unique and 
> wonderful annual gathering of dance leaders who specialize in community 
> dancing, family dancing, and dancing with school-aged people.  It is 
> dance-sharing and conversation between colleagues, both experienced and new 
> leaders, as well as school teachers.  What is most interesting to me (every 
> year I go, and I am definitely a long-timer) is that there is a  50/50 split 
> between leaders who specialize in American (contra-square-barndance) and 
> International folk dancing.  But what we don’t share in repertoire, we share 
> in “target audience,” as all the Pourparler attendees care deeply about 
> teaching dance to new dancers.  
> 
> Like Stacy said, it is not an event to help you with contra calling chops or 
> repertoire.  But it is an event to feed your teacher-soul as you teach, 
> learn, dance and watch colleagues teach and learn dance.  
> 
> If anyone on this list would like to connect more about the Pourparler, I am 
> happy to correspond off list.  
> 
> sue
> 
> Sue Hulsether
> New Day Hoedown LLC
> www.suehulsether.com
> [email protected]
> [email protected]
> 608-632-1267  Cell
> P.O. Box 363, Viroqua, WI 54665
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Feb 18, 2025, at 10:03 AM, Stacy Rose via Contra Callers 
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> As a contra caller AND a longtime Pourparler (PP) devotee, I don’t 
>> recommend attending PP if you’re interested in learning contra calling and 
>> getting feedback on your calling technique. 
>> 
>> PP is fabulous! I’ve learned lots and have met amazing dance teachers from 
>> across the continent. The focus is broad — contras, squares, Maypole 
>> dancing, international folk dancing (IFD), singing, play party games… 
>> participants are varied — elementary school music teachers, IFD teachers… 
>> 
>> Maybe instead, you might enjoy attending a summer CDSS camp 
>> <https://camp.cdss.org/> that focuses on contra calling. Or an intensive 
>> contra calling week at John C. Campbell Folk School. Pourparler is a great 
>> program for learning how to engage a wide audience of people into a wide 
>> variety of participatory dance. 
>> 
>> Stacy Rose
>> 541.808.1002
>> [email protected]
>> www.stacyrosedance.com
>> 
>>> On Feb 17, 2025, at 9:24 PM, Robert Matson via Contra Callers 
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> About Pour Parler:
>>> 
>>> "In the past we have learned dances from many traditions including Balkan, 
>>> Mexican, East Asian, Central Asian, Scandinavian, Israeli, French, English 
>>> Country, square dancing, contra dancing, sword dancing, line dancing, 
>>> Maypoles, old-time couple dancing, singing games, and many others. We 
>>> discuss teaching techniques, repertoire, costuming, music, school curricula 
>>> and self-employment."
>>> 
>>> "Pourparler is a yearly gathering of dance and music educators from North 
>>> America who are dedicated to teaching folk/ethnic/world/traditional dance 
>>> in schools and/or community events. The brainchild of Sanna Longden, 
>>> internationally respected dance educator from Evanston, Illinois, this 
>>> weekend is a unique blend of dance and song sharing, discussion and 
>>> networking. Experts in the field, teachers and musicians known across the 
>>> continent, join with relative newcomers to share their best dances and tips 
>>> for successful school residencies, family dances and other events that 
>>> build community through cross-cultural dancing. Pourparler is a gathering 
>>> of colleagues, where we are all leaders and participants, and there are no 
>>> hired “experts.” "
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Rob
>>> 
>>> - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Robert Matson
>>> Cell: (917) 626-2675
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers 
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> __
>>>> I recently saw a recommendation for Pourparler, happening in DC this year 
>>>> (https://nfo-usa.com/pourparler/). I've never been (though I'm considering 
>>>> it now), but I understand the focus there is broader than contra and it 
>>>> seems to be more about dance sharing than a *course* per se. But if your 
>>>> community is almost all beginners, I somewhat think you may want to do a 
>>>> lot of barn dances and similar things rather than starting with full 
>>>> evenings of duple minor contras, which can be challenging in a largely 
>>>> beginner crowd, in my experience.
>>>> 
>>>> Harris Lapiroff (he/him)
>>>> 
>>>> Dance Caller and Organizer
>>>> Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
>>>> Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
>>>> https://chromamine.com/contra/
>>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Feb 12, 2025, at 4:31 PM, Brian Roberts via Contra Callers wrote:
>>>>> Long time dancer, first time caller.  
>>>>> 
>>>>> Anyone know of any courses / workshops to improve my calling (in person 
>>>>> or online)?  I'm willing to travel for the right course. (E.g. Meet Me in 
>>>>> St Louis had a calling workshop in 2024, but the schedule isn't out yet 
>>>>> for 2025.)
>>>>> 
>>>>> My wife and I were long-time Boston-area contra dancers who are now 
>>>>> trying to bring the tradition to our adopted city in Austria.  Almost all 
>>>>> the dancers are new, I'm a new caller, and I believe it would help me to 
>>>>> attend a class to learn more and get feedback on my technique.  
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>   Brian
>>>>> ----
>>>>> Bringing contra dance to Graz, Austria https://contradance.at/
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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]
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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]

Reply via email to