Re: [Callers] Waltz Mixers

[Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing]

Sue Robishaw wrote:


>PS - Has anyone danced/called Pat Shaw's "Margaret's Waltz"? Love
>the tune (particularly the original version as in Pinewoods Collection)
>but I've never seen it danced.


I'm very fond of it.  I called it on Saturday at my "Congress of Vienna"
Regency ball.  It's reasonable for inexperienced dancers who are willing to pay
attention to the instruction.  As a Sicilian Circle it takes up a fair amount
of space.

I haven't called it at a contra.  I find regular contra dancers really want to
twirl, etc, and some of them will not believe you when you say that a courtesy
turn works better than a twirl in this dance, so I fear that I would just
frustrate the hotshots with it.  I'd have no hesitation calling it for English
dancers except that you'd really like 30+ people to do a satisfying Sicilian -
because you never turn around, you always run into the same people, and with 32
dances you'll at least see 8 other couples) and most English dances around here
run smaller than that, or are in spaces that don't have enough extra room to do
Sicilians when the attendance is large enough.

I also very much like Pat Shaw's "Nan's Waltz".

-- Alan


-- 
===
 Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
 Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:  650/926-3056
 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA   94025
===

Re: [Callers] Waltz Mixers

[Sue Robishaw]

   I can't wait to try the alternate Wood Phoenix, sounds fun. And with
   the right group Wood Duck. You're probably looking for more complex
   dances but for an Easy Waltz Circle for non-dancers I like:
   Even number of dancers in a circle (gender doesn't matter and they
   don't have to know how to waltz)
   Count off 1, 2 around Circle
  Waltz step In; Back; In; Back
  1s turn/roll across 2s to right (2 waltz steps)
  All waltz in place (2 waltz steps)
  Continue until back to original place (if a smallish circle) OR
   caller calls changes
  Then 2s cross over and 1s stay in place (alternating back and
   forth between 1s and 2s)
   Sue R.
   PS - Has anyone danced/called Pat Shaw's "Margaret's Waltz"? Love
   the tune (particularly the original version as in Pinewoods Collection)
   but I've never seen it danced.

   --

   Sue Robishaw   ~   [1]s...@manytracks.com

References

   1. mailto:s...@manytracks.com

Re: [Callers] waltz mixers?

[Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing]

Martha wrote:

> I'm surprised not to see The Spanish Waltz on this list, as I love to dance
> it. Is it not English enough, or is there some authenticity problem with it?

Which flavor Spanish Waltz?  The one I'm generally used to is a duple minor or
Sicilian Circle; a keeper, not a mixer.

-- Alan



> On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Michael Clark wrote:

> > It's interesting to see the votes for The Wood Duck, which has always been
> > a favorite of mine, too.
> >
> > About 15 years ago I was asked to call a series of dance parties for a
> > church social group, one a month for 3 months. One night I thought I'd try a
> > waltz mixer. Knew The Wood Duck would be too much of a challenge, so I
> > worked up the following substitute figures for the same tune (Bare
> > Necessities recording):
> >
> > Formation: Circle of couples with partners facing, gents with backs to
> > center, ladies facing the center.
> > Music: 32 bar waltz tune
> > A1 Right hand balance together and apart, box the gnat to trade places.
> > Joining left hands as well, do a cross-hand two-hand turn once around. Now
> > gents are facing the center.
> > A2 That again. Now everyone is back in the starting place.
> > B1 With partner, dos-a-dos. On left diagonal, dos-a-dos neighbor (=next
> > partner).
> > B2 With neighbor (new partner) waltz promenade (those who can and wish to
> > may do a turning waltz), end facing this partner and give right hands to
> > start next round of dance.
> >
> > Didn't give it a title at the time but came to think of it as The Wood
> > Phoenix, which incorporates the church name as well as the dance and tune
> > that were its inspiration. I probably used the recording of The Wood Duck
> > the first time I called it but have used other tunes, recorded and live, as
> > well.
> >
> > The two-hand turns in A1 and A2 could go just half-way, or even once and a
> > half around, as long as everyone is back in the starting position at the end
> > of A2.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> > At 11:40 PM 10/11/2010, you wrote:
> >
> >> I agree with Alan's choices, and will just add that Circle Waltz (or
> >> Family Waltz) works very nicely to the tune Tombigbee Waltz, especially at
> >> the chassee steps.
> >>
> >> Richard
> >>
> >> On Oct 11, 2010, at 10:41 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing wrote:
> >>
> >> > Chrissy wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> A poll:  What's your favorite waltz mixer, and why?
> >> >
> >> > For experienced English dancers:
> >> > "The Wood Duck", because of the trance-inducing match of tune and dance,
> >> > elegant flow, partner and neighbor interaction.
> >> >
> >> > For everybody else:
> >> > "Circle Waltz" (Big circle, balance and roll-away 4x, with this one
> >> balance
> >> > in and out, roll in, repeat going out, chassee in, chassee out, waltz
> >> around)
> >> > or some variation, because it's so accessible,  connects the whole room
> >> > repeatedly, lets you see most of the opposite-sex people in the room if
> >> only
> >> > for a fleeting moment, and works with many flavors of waltz.)
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -- Alan
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> >
> >> ===
> >> > Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
> >> > Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:
> >>  650/926-3056
> >> > Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA
> >> 94025
> >> >
> >> ===
> >> >
> >>
> >
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > call...@sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >



> --
> For the good are always the merry,
> Save by an evil chance,
> And the merry love the fiddle
> And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

-- 
===
 Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
 Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:  650/926-3056
 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA   94025
===

Re: [Callers] waltz mixers?

[Martha Edwards]

I'm surprised not to see The Spanish Waltz on this list, as I love to dance
it. Is it not English enough, or is there some authenticity problem with it?


M
E

On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Michael Clark wrote:

> It's interesting to see the votes for The Wood Duck, which has always been
> a favorite of mine, too.
>
> About 15 years ago I was asked to call a series of dance parties for a
> church social group, one a month for 3 months. One night I thought I'd try a
> waltz mixer. Knew The Wood Duck would be too much of a challenge, so I
> worked up the following substitute figures for the same tune (Bare
> Necessities recording):
>
> Formation: Circle of couples with partners facing, gents with backs to
> center, ladies facing the center.
> Music: 32 bar waltz tune
> A1 Right hand balance together and apart, box the gnat to trade places.
> Joining left hands as well, do a cross-hand two-hand turn once around. Now
> gents are facing the center.
> A2 That again. Now everyone is back in the starting place.
> B1 With partner, dos-a-dos. On left diagonal, dos-a-dos neighbor (=next
> partner).
> B2 With neighbor (new partner) waltz promenade (those who can and wish to
> may do a turning waltz), end facing this partner and give right hands to
> start next round of dance.
>
> Didn't give it a title at the time but came to think of it as The Wood
> Phoenix, which incorporates the church name as well as the dance and tune
> that were its inspiration. I probably used the recording of The Wood Duck
> the first time I called it but have used other tunes, recorded and live, as
> well.
>
> The two-hand turns in A1 and A2 could go just half-way, or even once and a
> half around, as long as everyone is back in the starting position at the end
> of A2.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> At 11:40 PM 10/11/2010, you wrote:
>
>> I agree with Alan's choices, and will just add that Circle Waltz (or
>> Family Waltz) works very nicely to the tune Tombigbee Waltz, especially at
>> the chassee steps.
>>
>> Richard
>>
>> On Oct 11, 2010, at 10:41 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing wrote:
>>
>> > Chrissy wrote:
>> >
>> >> A poll:  What's your favorite waltz mixer, and why?
>> >
>> > For experienced English dancers:
>> > "The Wood Duck", because of the trance-inducing match of tune and dance,
>> > elegant flow, partner and neighbor interaction.
>> >
>> > For everybody else:
>> > "Circle Waltz" (Big circle, balance and roll-away 4x, with this one
>> balance
>> > in and out, roll in, repeat going out, chassee in, chassee out, waltz
>> around)
>> > or some variation, because it's so accessible,  connects the whole room
>> > repeatedly, lets you see most of the opposite-sex people in the room if
>> only
>> > for a fleeting moment, and works with many flavors of waltz.)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -- Alan
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> ===
>> > Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
>> > Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:
>>  650/926-3056
>> > Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA
>> 94025
>> >
>> ===
>> >
>>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>



-- 
For the good are always the merry,
Save by an evil chance,
And the merry love the fiddle
And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

Re: [Callers] waltz mixers?

[Michael Clark]

It's interesting to see the votes for The Wood Duck, which has always 
been a favorite of mine, too.


About 15 years ago I was asked to call a series of dance parties for 
a church social group, one a month for 3 months. One night I thought 
I'd try a waltz mixer. Knew The Wood Duck would be too much of a 
challenge, so I worked up the following substitute figures for the 
same tune (Bare Necessities recording):


Formation: Circle of couples with partners facing, gents with backs 
to center, ladies facing the center.

Music: 32 bar waltz tune
A1 Right hand balance together and apart, box the gnat to trade 
places. Joining left hands as well, do a cross-hand two-hand turn 
once around. Now gents are facing the center.

A2 That again. Now everyone is back in the starting place.
B1 With partner, dos-a-dos. On left diagonal, dos-a-dos neighbor 
(=next partner).
B2 With neighbor (new partner) waltz promenade (those who can and 
wish to may do a turning waltz), end facing this partner and give 
right hands to start next round of dance.


Didn't give it a title at the time but came to think of it as The 
Wood Phoenix, which incorporates the church name as well as the dance 
and tune that were its inspiration. I probably used the recording of 
The Wood Duck the first time I called it but have used other tunes, 
recorded and live, as well.


The two-hand turns in A1 and A2 could go just half-way, or even once 
and a half around, as long as everyone is back in the starting 
position at the end of A2.


Mike


At 11:40 PM 10/11/2010, you wrote:
I agree with Alan's choices, and will just add that Circle Waltz (or 
Family Waltz) works very nicely to the tune Tombigbee Waltz, 
especially at the chassee steps.


Richard

On Oct 11, 2010, at 10:41 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing wrote:

> Chrissy wrote:
>
>> A poll:  What's your favorite waltz mixer, and why?
>
> For experienced English dancers:
> "The Wood Duck", because of the trance-inducing match of tune and dance,
> elegant flow, partner and neighbor interaction.
>
> For everybody else:
> "Circle Waltz" (Big circle, balance and roll-away 4x, with this one balance
> in and out, roll in, repeat going out, chassee in, chassee out, 
waltz around)

> or some variation, because it's so accessible,  connects the whole room
> repeatedly, lets you see most of the opposite-sex people in the 
room if only

> for a fleeting moment, and works with many flavors of waltz.)
>
>
>
> -- Alan
>
> --
> 
===

> Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
> Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or 
SSRL   Phone:  650/926-3056
> Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park 
CA   94025
> 
===

>

Re: [Callers] waltz mixers?

[Richard Fischer]

I agree with Alan's choices, and will just add that Circle Waltz (or Family 
Waltz) works very nicely to the tune Tombigbee Waltz, especially at the chassee 
steps. 

Richard

On Oct 11, 2010, at 10:41 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing wrote:

> Chrissy wrote:
> 
>> A poll:  What's your favorite waltz mixer, and why?
> 
> For experienced English dancers:
> "The Wood Duck", because of the trance-inducing match of tune and dance,
> elegant flow, partner and neighbor interaction.
> 
> For everybody else:
> "Circle Waltz" (Big circle, balance and roll-away 4x, with this one balance
> in and out, roll in, repeat going out, chassee in, chassee out, waltz around)
> or some variation, because it's so accessible,  connects the whole room
> repeatedly, lets you see most of the opposite-sex people in the room if only
> for a fleeting moment, and works with many flavors of waltz.)
> 
> 
> 
> -- Alan
> 
> -- 
> ===
> Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
> Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:  650/926-3056
> Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA   94025
> ===
> 
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] waltz mixers?

[Paul Wilde]

Chrissy,

What a sweet question.  Thanks.

My favorite?  The Wood Duck by Fried de Metz Herman.  Even the
contracentrics may cave into this ECD.

Done w/ proper spacing, it is a thing of total beauty, to watch and to
dance.  It's easy to remember from a caller's view.  It has a quality of
very powerful unity w/in the group.  I love these dances.  They have a great
inclusive feel.
Anyone have other dances that do this for them?

Would love to hear.
Paul

The Wood Duck (Words & Music by Fried de Metz Herman)

Large Circle, Men step into center 2 steps and stand facing directly in
front of partner:

A-1  P  R Shd. Gypsy (all 1X)
   L Diag Corner, L Hand Turn (English hold) 8b.

A-2  P L Shd. Gypsy
   R Diag C, R Hand Turn8b.

B-1  Ps Join 2 hands (starting places)
   Slide 2 steps CCW (gent's L, Lady's R)  2b.
   Lady Under Gents Raised L Hand  2b.
   All Hands Joined (Cirlce) backs to Ctr
   All Balance Out & Back2b.
   Gent (ly) pull RH Lady into a waltz position   2b.

B-2  All Waltz w/ New P,  8b.
   (trying to keep circle to get back into A-1 gracefully, YIKES!
   Suggest waltzing a little out towards the walls, then back in)