Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Thanks all for your help!

It seems probably that it was Bases Loaded (based on the write up at
http://www.dancerhapsody.com/calling/dances.html); but it's even more
likely that it was Bill Olsen calling, so I'd like to hear him weigh in on
both probabilities ;-)

I found write ups of some of the others mentioned:
Fatal Attraction:
http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#fa
Mini Grand Swing:
http://www.childgrove.org/index.php/about-dances/dance-writers/jim-hemphill-dances#
and the don't jog my memory.
Didn't find the others, but had fun poking around though.

The discussion of doing the grand square on the diagonal struck me as
something that could be included in a 4x4 as variations of Jacob Bloom's
dance ff your 4x4 was "bent".

To get into bent 4x4:
get into regular 4x4 lines,
point out the couple on the diagonal in the other lines of four
swing partner, end facing that diagonal couple.
It's like a square dance on an x instead of a +

Once you're there:

Fox Hollow Foibles
"bent" 4x4
A1
Grand Square, right side couples starting forward, left side couples
starting with split
A2
Reverse, right side couples starting with split, left side couples starting
forward
B1
Corner Balance and Swing, square set
B2
Heads pass through
Sides pass through
Partner swing, face "bent" line of direction

Musically, I could see pluses and minus to moving the entire grand square
to the A phrases. It's consistent, and allows for a punch on the B1 balance
& swing. But the A2->B1 transition signifying the reverse could also add
some pizzazz. When I use it as a break in squares, I (usually) have both
halves of the grand square in the same half of the tune. I'm curious how
other people use grand squares, and what they try to do in terms of
phrasing.

One apparent advantage of the original Fox Hollow Fancy is setting up clear
head couples to start forward in the grand square. I don't know how well
dancers would remember "right side couple goes forward" as they swap sides
back and forth. Even in the "bent" formation, you could have the heads (who
are corners) start the Grand Square forward. You don't see much of your
partner in Fox Hollow Fancy though, and the diagonal grand square lets you
have more partner interaction. Small factors to weigh.

Anyway, thanks again Shared Weight for being a resource.
Luke

On Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 7:05 PM, Chris Page  wrote:

> The popular four-face-four is "Grand Square Contra"
> There's also
> "McQuillen Fancy" by Tony Saletan
> "Bloom One" by Al Olson
> "To Hans T" by Birgit Rasmussen
> "To Torsten" by Birgit Rasmussen
>
>
> There's a grid square by Bob Isaacs called "Grand Square Grid".
>
> There's some contras that try and give the feel of Grand Square:
> Bases Loaded
> Fatal Attraction (Ravitz)
> Mini Grand Swing (Hemphill)
> Petite Square Contra (Tom Senior)
> Square Off Reel (Gaudreau)
> To Mette T (Rasumussen)
>
> -Chris Page
> San Diego
>



-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com 

Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Chris Page via Callers]

The popular four-face-four is "Grand Square Contra"
There's also
"McQuillen Fancy" by Tony Saletan
"Bloom One" by Al Olson
"To Hans T" by Birgit Rasmussen
"To Torsten" by Birgit Rasmussen


There's a grid square by Bob Isaacs called "Grand Square Grid".

There's some contras that try and give the feel of Grand Square:
Bases Loaded
Fatal Attraction (Ravitz)
Mini Grand Swing (Hemphill)
Petite Square Contra (Tom Senior)
Square Off Reel (Gaudreau)
To Mette T (Rasumussen)

-Chris Page
San Diego

Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Gary Shapiro via Callers]

There's an English Country Dance, Mary K (for Mary Kay Friday), with a
figure called Petit Fours, which is a two-couple version of grand square.

Maybe someone could devise another contra where two sets intersect each
other in the middle, and with the four couples they do a grand square
instead of the Petit Fours that the normal minor sets are doing.

On Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 3:30 PM, Linda Leslie via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> An FYI…..Jacob also calls this dance “Fox Hollow Fancy”.  In the RPDLW
> syllabus from 2005….Jacob states that both titles are valid.
> Linda
>
>
> On Jun 30, 2016, at 6:13 PM, Bob Isaacs via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Luke:
>
> You may be thinking of:
>
> Grand Square ContraJacob Bloom  4 x 4
>
> A1.  8  Lines forward and back
> 8  Corner swing – form square
>
> A2.  16Sides face grand square
>
> B1.  16Reverse grand square
>
> B2.  4,4   Heads pass through, sides pass through
> 8  Partner swing
>
> I don't see how you can have a grand square in a contra without it being a
> 4 x 4.  But if you come up with a way, let us know -
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 17:05:45 -0400
> To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
> From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I
> danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal.
>
> But that's about all I remember about it.
>
> Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or
> such?
>
> I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one
> way, then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the
> dance...
>
> Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and
> still following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions:
>
> A1
> Lines of 4 go forward and back
> Corner Swing
> A2
> Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split
> B1
> Reverse: sides start forward, heads split
> B2
>
>- Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through;
>find partner
>- Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner
>- Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go
>~1/2, turn back to partner
>
> partner swing, face line of direction
>
> I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't
> remember what it was. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be
> further ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just
> grand square and two swings...
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
>
> ___ Callers mailing list
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> ___
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>
>
>
> ___
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>
>

Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Linda Leslie via Callers]

An FYI…..Jacob also calls this dance “Fox Hollow Fancy”.  In the RPDLW syllabus 
from 2005….Jacob states that both titles are valid.  
Linda


On Jun 30, 2016, at 6:13 PM, Bob Isaacs via Callers 
 wrote:

> Hi Luke:
>  
> You may be thinking of:
>  
> Grand Square ContraJacob Bloom  4 x 4
>  
> A1.  8  Lines forward and back
> 8  Corner swing – form square
> 
> A2.  16Sides face grand square
> 
> B1.  16Reverse grand square
> 
> B2.  4,4   Heads pass through, sides pass through
> 8  Partner swing
>  
> I don't see how you can have a grand square in a contra without it being a 4 
> x 4.  But if you come up with a way, let us know - 
>  
> Bob
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 17:05:45 -0400
> To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
> From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I 
> danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal.
> 
> But that's about all I remember about it. 
> 
> Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or such?
> 
> I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one way, 
> then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the dance...
> 
> Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and still 
> following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions:
> 
> A1
> Lines of 4 go forward and back
> Corner Swing
> A2
> Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split
> B1
> Reverse: sides start forward, heads split
> B2
> Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through; find 
> partner
> Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner
> Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go ~1/2, turn 
> back to partner
> partner swing, face line of direction
> 
> I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't remember 
> what it was. Any help would be appreciated. 
> 
> If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be further 
> ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just grand 
> square and two swings...
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> -- 
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com
> 
> ___ Callers mailing list 
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.nethttp://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Bob Isaacs via Callers]

Hi Luke:
 
You may be thinking of:
 
Grand Square ContraJacob Bloom  4 x 4
 


A1.  8  Lines forward
and back


8  Corner swing – form square



A2.  16Sides face grand
square


B1.  16Reverse grand
square


B2.  4,4   Heads pass
through, sides pass through

8  Partner swing
 
I don't see how you can have a grand square in a contra without it being a 4 x 
4.  But if you come up with a way, let us know - 
 
Bob
 



 


 
List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 17:05:45 -0400
To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net

Hi Folks,

Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I 
danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal.

But that's about all I remember about it. 

Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or such?

 I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one way, 
then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the dance...

Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and still 
following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions:

A1
Lines of 4 go forward and back
Corner Swing
A2
Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split
B1
Reverse: sides start forward, heads split
B2
Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through; find 
partnerOption 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partnerOption 3: Gents 
left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go ~1/2, turn back to partner
partner swing, face line of direction

I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't remember 
what it was. Any help would be appreciated. 

If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be further 
ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just grand square 
and two swings...

Thanks.
-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com



___
Callers mailing list
Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net 
  

Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers]

Oooh! Bill Olson called a dance a little like that at Dawn dance last time
he called. It was cool.

Alex

On Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 5:05 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I
> danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal.
>
> But that's about all I remember about it.
>
> Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or
> such?
>
> I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one
> way, then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the
> dance...
>
> Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and
> still following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions:
>
> A1
> Lines of 4 go forward and back
> Corner Swing
> A2
> Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split
> B1
> Reverse: sides start forward, heads split
> B2
>
>- Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through;
>find partner
>- Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner
>- Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go
>~1/2, turn back to partner
>
> partner swing, face line of direction
>
> I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't
> remember what it was. Any help would be appreciated.
>
> If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be
> further ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just
> grand square and two swings...
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com 
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

[Callers] Grand Square in a contra?

[Luke Donforth via Callers]

Hi Folks,

Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I
danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal.

But that's about all I remember about it.

Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or
such?

I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one
way, then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the
dance...

Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and still
following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions:

A1
Lines of 4 go forward and back
Corner Swing
A2
Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split
B1
Reverse: sides start forward, heads split
B2

   - Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through;
   find partner
   - Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner
   - Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go ~1/2,
   turn back to partner

partner swing, face line of direction

I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't remember
what it was. Any help would be appreciated.

If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be
further ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just
grand square and two swings...

Thanks.

-- 
Luke Donforth
luke.donfo...@gmail.com