Hi Joe, I’m so glad you suggested this!
I’ve been contra dancing about 8 years and have NEVER heard anyone describe the waltz circulating convention (counter-clockwise, faster toward outside). It would be SO easy to just announce it (not every time, but even a few times a year would eventually get the info/convention out there to everyone.) I will try to remember to suggest it from the stage if I ever get to call again! (I just moved from Toronto, where I called 2 or 3 times a year, to Bowen Island BC where if I want a contra dance I will have to start it myself!) Becky Liddle > On Mar 18, 2025, at 10:00 PM, [email protected] > wrote: > > Send Contra Callers mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or > body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..."Today's Topics: > > 1. bringing back waltz line of direction (Joe Harrington) > > From: Joe Harrington <[email protected]> > Subject: [Callers] bringing back waltz line of direction > Date: March 17, 2025 at 10:14:03 PM PDT > To: Shared Weight Callers <[email protected]> > > > There used to be a strong community tradition about the flow of waltzing at > contra dances. It was fast around the outside and stationary in the middle. > You could do a nice Viennese, flying around the outside of the hall with no > trouble, except in the most crowded of halls. You could do tricks galore > standing virtually still. You could do everything in between. There were a > lot fewer collisions, despite some much-faster-moving dancers. Halls were at > least as crowded as they are today. > > Today, that's a near-impossibility in many halls. There tends to be a > slow-circulating middle, but there isn't the former gradient of speeds > outside of that zone that increases options while reducing collisions. It's > all just a slow-moving mass, and people are so focused on their partners that > collisions are common. > > I think everyone's enjoyment would increase if we followed four simple > considerations: > > a) If someone passes you on the inside, you are a slower-circulating couple > and should move closer to the middle, > b) If you pass someone on the inside, you are a faster-circulating couple and > should move farther out, > c) Moving counter-flow or wagging strongly sideways (much more than just a > side-by-side promenade) in the traveling ring are no-nos, > d) Both partners really need to look out for others all the time and protect > each other from collisions, elbows to the face, etc. This is not just the > lead's job, especially if they're being considerate and moving backward for a > substantial portion of the time. > > I hope this is on-topic for this group. Callers are the evening's MCs, but > they usually don't have much to do with waltzes, other than to announce them. > However, what I'm talking about here would probably come about if callers a) > announce it and b) include it in their waltz lesson, if they hold one. And > maybe c) discuss it with dancers and organizers. > > Happy(ier) waltzing! > > --jh-- > Joe Harrington > Orlando >
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