Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Martha Wild via Callers]

> This is one I wrote that I’ve called a couple of times and people liked it. 
> It is unequal in that the ones swing, but you can easily alternate between 
> ones and twos if the dancers are more experienced. If you look at the link it 
> will make the move clear, in case my explanation doesn’t quite get the idea 
> across.
> 

San Diego Sleigh Ride                                   <>
Martha Wild
Duple improper  
  August 1, 2014

A1Balance and swing your neighbor

A2Down the set four in line, turn as couples
Up the set, bend the line, and all face up taking inside hands with 
partners (facing up two by two)

B1Ones (below) arch and over, twos back up under the ones arch (4)
Twos arch and over, ones back up (4)
Ones arch and over, twos back up (4)
Twos arch and over, ones back up (4)

B2Twos face ones at end, circle left once around
Ones swing and face down (can alternate with twos swing and face up 
with more experienced dancers)


This dance was written after I saw a Youtube video of Nantucket Sleigh Ride 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVwNiszdVNg 
 (by Kirsten Koths), which has 
this arch and under figure. The people doing it looked like they were having a 
very good time, but the rest of the dance had no partner swing. I have modified 
this to include one, or at best an alternating partner swing. Feedback was 
positive. 


> On Mar 17, 2016, at 11:41 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hello Tavi, 
> 
> You are correct, gimmick was a bad choice of words.  Gimmick is a term used 
> in MWSD publications to describe surprise or unusual choreography.
> 
> The type of dances I am looking for are dances that have an unusual element, 
> whether it be a different move like rip 'n snort, an unusual application as 
> in Bree's "couple to solo" Dosido, or an unusual progression.  These dances 
> are easy enough for a floor with many beginners but novel (?) enough for most 
> dancers to enjoy.  
> 
> Rich
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 1:46 PM, tavi merrill via Callers 
> > 
> wrote:
> I take issue with the term "gimmick." Using familiar moves in new ways is IMO 
> called "good choreography." If one defines using existing moves in novel ways 
> as "gimmick," basically every use of petronella turns and waves after 
> "Petronella" and "Rory O'Moore" is a gimmick. 
> 
> Originally had a long list of dances, but then i saw "easy" in Rich's 
> original ask, so pared down: 
> 
> "Anthem to a Pet Ferret" by Sargon de Jesus may be of interest
> 
> "A Sure Thing" by Chris Page is challenging to teach but not actually 
> challenging to dance
> 
> also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun twist. U can 
> find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine"
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Rich Sbardella via Callers]

Hello Tavi,

You are correct, gimmick was a bad choice of words.  Gimmick is a term used
in MWSD publications to describe surprise or unusual choreography.

The type of dances I am looking for are dances that have an unusual
element, whether it be a different move like rip 'n snort, an unusual
application as in Bree's "couple to solo" Dosido, or an unusual
progression.  These dances are easy enough for a floor with many beginners
but novel (?) enough for most dancers to enjoy.

Rich





On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 1:46 PM, tavi merrill via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I take issue with the term "gimmick." Using familiar moves in new ways is
> IMO called "good choreography." If one defines using existing moves in
> novel ways as "gimmick," basically every use of petronella turns and waves
> after "Petronella" and "Rory O'Moore" is a gimmick.
>
> Originally had a long list of dances, but then i saw "easy" in Rich's
> original ask, so pared down:
>
> "Anthem to a Pet Ferret" by Sargon de Jesus may be of interest
>
> "A Sure Thing" by Chris Page is challenging to teach but not actually
> challenging to dance
>
> also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun twist. U
> can find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine"
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Bill Olson via Callers]

tavi said: also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun 
twist. U can find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the 
Wine"
 
I agree and... actually this comes up (originally I believe) in "another nice 
combination" also by Tom..
 
bill
 

 
List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:46:24 -0700
To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net; callers-requ...@lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras
From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net

I take issue with the term "gimmick." Using familiar moves in new ways is IMO 
called "good choreography." If one defines using existing moves in novel ways 
as "gimmick," basically every use of petronella turns and waves after 
"Petronella" and "Rory O'Moore" is a gimmick. 

Originally had a long list of dances, but then i saw "easy" in Rich's original 
ask, so pared down: 

"Anthem to a Pet Ferret" by Sargon de Jesus may be of interest

"A Sure Thing" by Chris Page is challenging to teach but not actually 
challenging to dance

also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun twist. U can 
find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine"



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http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net 
  

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[tavi merrill via Callers]

I take issue with the term "gimmick." Using familiar moves in new ways is
IMO called "good choreography." If one defines using existing moves in
novel ways as "gimmick," basically every use of petronella turns and waves
after "Petronella" and "Rory O'Moore" is a gimmick.

Originally had a long list of dances, but then i saw "easy" in Rich's
original ask, so pared down:

"Anthem to a Pet Ferret" by Sargon de Jesus may be of interest

"A Sure Thing" by Chris Page is challenging to teach but not actually
challenging to dance

also do si do and swing the one behind offers a simple but fun twist. U can
find it in Tom Hinds' "Python Reel" and Rick Mohr's "Leave the Wine"

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Linda Leslie via Callers]

Hi, Bree!
That is a very novel way to get into a short wave Balance! and not al tall 
gimmicky, in my view. I watched the video…thanks for including the link. I have 
two questions for you:
It seems the dance is double progression, correct?
For the single do si do: the dancers stay back to back with their Neighbors to 
start, and actually do a 3/4 dosido into the wave, and must turn around  
(neighbor now in right hand), right? This means that each dancer is facing 
their original direction of travel once in the wave. The link really helped 
with this move; when I read the dance, in my head I was picturing the dancers 
moving very differently.

Thanks for the dance!
warmly, Linda

On Mar 17, 2016, at 1:00 PM, Bree Kalb via Callers 
 wrote:

> I wrote a dance that has a move I've not seen in a dance before. Although I'd 
> rather not call it a gimmick. The 'reviews' so far have been good. There’s a 
> video of Jack Mitchell calling the dance here: 
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEp2vlYq1Nc=youtu.be
> 
> This is My Brain on Buddha Imp
> 
> 
> 
> A1  Partners DoSiSo as a couple just ½ way until back-to-back with these 
> Neighbors. 
> 
>Drop hands with your Ptr, and complete the DosiDo solo with the N you 
> have your back to, 
> 
>until the women can take L hands, Rt to N, in a wavy line of 4.  
> 
>Balance the wave, walk forward to next Ns in a new wave of 4.
> 
> 
> 
> A2 Balance this wave; with this new N, Swg.
> 
> 
> 
> B1 Face across, Mad Robin (Gents sliding in front to the right to start) 
> 
>   Men keep moving to cross the set to your Ptr; Swg.
> 
> 
> 
> B2 Circle L ¾; Balance the Ring, Calif Twirl
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> A dancer suggested naming the move in A1 “Double Dose.” I like it, but 
> another caller, Jack Mitchell, discouraged me from making up a new name when 
> just explaining the move will do.  I’m curious what others think.
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Callers] Multiple Swings

[tavi merrill via Callers]

Didn't see these mentioned yet (pardon if i missed them)

Ted and Lynn - Rick Mohr
Naked in California - Nils Fredland
Belgian Chocolate - Sargon de Jesus
All Swings Considered - Tom Hinds

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Bree Kalb via Callers]

I wrote a dance that has a move I've not seen in a dance before. Although I'd rather not call it a gimmick. The 'reviews' so far have been good. There’s a video of Jack Mitchell
calling the dance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEp2vlYq1Nc=youtu.be

This is My Brain on Buddha Imp

A1  Partners DoSiSo as a couple just ½ way until
back-to-back with these Neighbors.    Drop hands with your Ptr, and complete the
DosiDo solo with the N you have your back to,    until the women can take L hands,
Rt to N, in a wavy line of 4.     Balance the wave, walk forward to next Ns in a
new wave of 4.

A2 Balance this wave; with this
new N, Swg.

B1 Face across, Mad Robin (Gents
sliding in front to the right to start)   Men keep moving to cross
the set to your Ptr; Swg.

B2 Circle L ¾; Balance the Ring,
Calif Twirl

A dancer suggested naming the
move in A1 “Double Dose.” I like it, but another caller, Jack Mitchell,
discouraged me from making up a new name when just explaining the move will
do.  I’m curious what others think.

 

Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras

[Jim Hemphill via Callers]

Here are a couple of easy dances with unusual moves used in different
ways.  The 1st uses an invert the line as an entry into a swing that works
very nicely, the 2nd uses pousettes sort of like an extended give and take.


*Invertro Flirtilization *  by Jim Hemphill  improper

A1 Neighbor balance and swing
A2 Down the hall in lines of 4, middle gent turns both ladies, right hand
high, left hand low and up the hall you go
B1 Invert the line, 1's arch, lady 2 lead thru and swing your partner
B2 Circle left 3 places
Balance the circle and California twirl

B1:   Couple 1's make and arch as they bend the line to cross the set, The
lady on the left (lady 2)  bends the line and leads her partner thru the
arch to cross the set.  For couple 2 the transition into a swing is like a
circle left then swing.  Couple 1 can have some fun with twirls out of
their joined arch into a swing.

*Push Me Pull You Two*   improper   by Jim Hemphill

A1 Ladies cross, push your partner to start 1/2 pousette then pull him back
across the set and
 Swing him around
A2 Gents cross, push your neighbor to start 1/2 pousette then pull her back
across the set and
 Swing her around
B1 Right left through
 Left hand star once around
B2 Next neighbor do si do,
 Face across, Mad Robin (clockwise)

Notes:  Pousettes are clockwise. A1 Ladies will swing their partner back on
the side of the set they started from, likewise in A2 gents will swing
their neighbor on the side they started A2 from.

On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 9:09 PM, Tina Fields via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Another great whole-oval dance, along with Gang of Four, is the
> ever-popular Fairport Harbour by Paul Balliet. Advanced dancers can add in
> a cool trick in that one: suggest that in the B, gents have time to
> rollaway your partner before passing through the set (with lady on the left
> - scandalous!) because it's a piece of cake to correct that with the next
> move, swing your partner on that other side.
>
> My favorite "can only get away with calling it once every few years" dance
> is Carmen's Contra or variations, which features a truly goofy and fun
> "clap-clap-bump-bump" figure a la Carmen Miranda. Remind those dancing the
> gents' role to empty their pockets first.
>
> Tina
>
> > On Mar 16, 2016, at 2:01 PM, via Callers 
> wrote:
> >
> > Re: [Callers] Novelty & Gimmick Contras
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Re: [Callers] Favorite Triplet ?

[Claire T via Callers]

Sorry I meant  Microclasmic by Ann Fallon was a triplet with contra corners. 

Claire Takemori


On Mar 16, 2016, at 10:51 PM, Claire Takemori  wrote:

Hi everyone.  I’m enjoying all the great information that is shared on this 
list.  Thank you! 

I’m wondering if you have a favorite Triplet that would work for a very small 
but experienced contra dance with just 6 dancers left after the break?  Ideally 
more dancing together and less casting down/back, etc…. 

I’ve done Ted’s Triplet #5, and they loved the hey for 6.  I will call Labor of 
Love by Kathy Anderson (contra corners) next time. 
I have the book of Zesty Contras & Give and Take, but not sure how all of the 
33 Triplets work or if they are really fun….. 

Grateful for your help! 

Claire Takemori (Bay Area, CA)


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