Re: [Callers] Family dances

[mavis mcgaugh]

if you have a number of kids  under the age of ten (especially boys)  --   I 
use this one anytime I have youngsters 
 
Can't Jump  Josie -    it is a big circle dance No Partners   --    I never 
have the band play anything  -- 
 I tell the dancers  -  you better learn this song  quickly - or you will have 
to listen to me sing!   they always pick it up quickly  --- 
 
you identify   1 young person to stand in the  center of the circle  --  
everyone else  walks **single file  CW   singing  (or  they join hands and 
circle left )
 
We're floating down the river 
We're floating down below 
We're floating down the river
Down the old Saint Jo  ( have also heard it done saying   O H I O) 
 
then all in outer circle  face in  - and point to the person in the middle  
[who NOW begins jumping up and down ] and they sing  
 
:1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie 
1 in the middle and he can't jump Josie 
1 in the middle and he can''t jump Josie   
 Oh Susie Brown  :   Repeat
 
while all are singing OH SUZIE BROWN   the 2nd time  - the person  in middle  
grabs someone from the outer circle and now there are two in the middle 
 
those in outer circle face CW walking &  singing   or Circle Left
 
 
We're floating down the river 
We're floating down below
We're floating down the river 
Down the  old Saint Joe  
 
ALL face to center and point at the 2 in the middle  who commence jumping  
while others point and sing 
 
:  2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie
  2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie 
  2 in the middle and they can't jump Josie 
  OH SUZIE BROWN :  Repeat
 
 
last time  I just say  ALL in the middle ..    
 
** I usually tell the folks in the outer circle  -  they need to face left and 
step  onto  their raft - so they can float down the river  - so we have our 
arms outstretched  and we kind of rock from side to side as we move over the 
water 
 
 
the dance and tune are in the    PEEL the BANANA  dance book  
also in the book  DOWN IN THE VALLEY  
also in the book  STEP LIVELY   (Red Cover)   
 
Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)



From: Chris Weiler (home) 
To: call...@sharedweight.net 
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances

I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate 
with the band on music for specific dances. 

What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go 
with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. 

Thanks!

Chris


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Re: [Callers] Family dances

[JohnFreem]

Chris,

There is not "correct" answer for this. This is "folk dance". 

That said, do you know your audience? I've been leading a family dance 
series for 21 years now. We've learned to plan a wide variety of dances because 
we never know who is going to show up. I am a huge fan of play party singing 
games and very simple dances for a younger set.   We usually have a group 
of high school foreign exchange students show up for either our January or 
February dance. I've warned the band and the other leaders to be prepared!

Many simple play party games can be done to almost any reel or jig if YOU 
make it okay. If this is an ONS, then make it fun and don't worry too much 
about form or what is "correct". Keep it simple and keep it fun.

You should be able to find a ton of play party games and simple dances 
online.

Good luck!

John B. Freeman, SFTPOCTJ

Re: [Callers] Family dances

[Paul Wilde]

Chris,

I highly recommend the Suites of May.  It's a 3 part dance, but as long as
you keep the general phrasing matched, no one seems to notice the dance
doesn't always begin on the A-1 of the music.  It is a surprisingly fun and
exciting dance, compared to how it looks on paper.  Keep lines to 6 or 7
couples  or less.  Sometimes I let them run the cast off longer than it
should, but as they get the hang of it, speed up the sequential cast off
calls.  It adds an element of excitement, especially when the men's line is
getting back to starting position and you are calling both lines to cast
off.

Have fun!
Paul

PS   Top cpl that makes arch at bottom has to go down far enough to avoid
cramping at the top of the set.

Re: [Callers] Family dances

[mavis mcgaugh]

 I love La Bastrigne - because the band can play any 32 bar tune.    
the dance is easy to teach and folks quickly get the pattern down ---   

couples in a big circle facing in  - Mixer  

A1)   forward & back
    forward & back 

A2)   circle left  and  back to the right 

B1)  ALL turn to corner and  SWING   

B2   w corner (new partner)  Promenade     



FAMILY Contra  by Sherry Nevins  ---  Sicilian Circle No swings   ---  
and fun  and folks get into the pattern quickly 

A1)  Balance Ring 2x 
 circle  Left

A2)  Balance Ring 2x 
 Circle Right 

B1)  Neighbor d-s-d
 Partner  d-s-d 

B2  as couples  
   D-s-d  1 1/2  

any version of a virginia reel dance -  is always popular  -  especially if the 
top couple  get to do the   Reel the Set figure [also known as Strip the 
willow] 


Le Brandy  proper longways  10-12 couples

A1)    lines forward & back
    w/ Partner seesaw

A2)   lines forward & back 
  w/ Partner d-s-d  1 and 1/2 to end back to back  

B1)    ALL count in french  - [1,2,3]  then once dance is going I will yell 
in  German or Japanese or Spanish  or  Russian  -  and see how many are able to 
count 
  and then shout Poussez  -  PUSH ---   they bump 'behinds' with each other 
turn around and SWING  

B2)  ONLY  Top couple sashays down to the bottom   while everyone else claps   
and all then move 2 steps  up the hall --  




Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)



From: Chris Weiler (home) 
To: call...@sharedweight.net 
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 11:50 AM
Subject: [Callers] Family dances

I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate 
with the band on music for specific dances. 

What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go 
with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. 

Thanks!

Chris


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Re: [Callers] Family dances

[Laur]

I think many of these have been posted before.  This is an example of what I've 
done with our 

Wheat Scout's program.  typically younger Kids (not preadolescence) and their 
parents at a family dance.


The "Blob" dance
Patty Cake Polka - hell and toe polka

Big Circle for little kids (I think this was in the White Mt. Reel book)
Portland Fancy (same book)
Family Contra - Sherry Nevin

Moons and Stars (Lisa Greenleaf, I believe)


I've also used the hat dance? I use a feather or something like that.
I have Sashay the Donut referenced for upper elementary
Seth Tepfer wrote Family Contra in the Castle


Rick Gross also has family dances to share.

Laurie 

Grand Rapids, MI



 



>
> From: Chris Weiler (home) 
>To: call...@sharedweight.net 
>Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 2:50 PM
>Subject: [Callers] Family dances
> 
>I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to 
>coordinate with the band on music for specific dances. 
>
>What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go 
>with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. 
>
>Thanks!
>
>Chris
>
>
>___
>Callers mailing list
>call...@sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
>

[Callers] Family dances

[Chris Weiler (home)]

I'm calling my first family dance tonight and I haven't been able to coordinate 
with the band on music for specific dances. 

What are your favorite family dances that do not have a specific tune to go 
with them? I'll be looking through my books, but could use some suggestions. 

Thanks!

Chris