[Callers] Advanced Contras
Hello fellow callers! I am preparing a very short program of advanced or challenging contras which I will be leading at the Down East Festival next week. This will be one of many festival offerings during the weekend of March 24-25. I have done a challenging session at several past festivals and have a small collection of dances that I think are both moderately challenging and fun to dance. (I also have a few that I will never call again!) I have not added to my list for quite a while and would appreciate any suggestions that any of you would be kind enough to share. I will not be doing any other formations than duple or becket dances, although I understand that there are many other fun formations. If you could include the complete choreography and any teaching or other tips that would be very helpful. I always credit the dance authors, so please include that information as well. Thanks so much! This list is a great resource to have. Richard Green Wayne, Maine
Re: [Callers] ID dances for me?
#2 is also quite similar, although not identical, to "Whatchagonnado?" by Erik Weberg, found at his website, http://www.kluberg.com/eriksdances.html#Whatchagonnado Richard Green > Subject: Re: [Callers] ID dances for me? > > Could be seen as a variation of Tica Tica Timing by Dean Snipes. > > Its A1 is slide left, circle 3/4, N swing. Otherwise the same (well, 1/2 > promenade instead of R thru). > > On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 9:38 AM, Keith Tuxhorn > keithlmt-at-gmail.com|sharedweight-garyes| > <acwyhwp...@sneakemail.com> wrote: > > > 2. Didn't note when or where... it's a Becket... > > > > Circle L 3/4, pass through... new N swing > > R+L through... W chain > > Ring bal, Pet. twirl... repeat > > P bal and wing > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Re: [Callers] Happy as a Warm Pig in Cold Mud
I just danced (but have never called) this dance last weekend at our local dance. At the end of the A2 the call was for the gents to face out instead of in. I am not sure if this was intentional or not, but it not only worked fine, I liked it better than the original, which I assume is the version in Katy's original post. I think the dance works fine either way, as long as all the dancers are doing the same thing, but the calls need to be tweaked a little. I preferred the shorter allemande ending with the Gents facing out because, at the end of the partner allemande, there was a widespread moment of confusion as people struggled to remember to turn away from their partner and find their shadow for the LH star. This caused the star to be consistently late, and the Partner Swing to be short. It seems like this delay would have been worse if we had continued the partner allemande another half way around. If the dance is done this way, I would change the A2 calls as follows: A2 Men allemande L once and a half Partner Allemande R a little more than once around until the men face out and the ladies face in, look away from your partner to find your shadow on your left For the B1 I might say something like: B1 With your shadow and another couple make a LH Star. You are in a different star from your partner. Star once around until you meet your partner coming out of a different star and swing your partner. A little much to say as a calls, but okay for the walk through. A couple of other notes: You don't reach across to your shadow; they are next to you when you do the star. Also, in this variation of the dance, while you are waiting out you are obliged to participate in the LH star. If you cross over before the star, you won't be next to your shadow for the star, although it all works out in the end. I don't think that is the case in the original version. It should be noted that there were a fair number of beginners, but the moment of confusion going into the left hand star seemed to affect more than just the beginners; in fact, to me it was part of the fun of the dance. Richard Green Wayne, Maine -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of khe...@twcny.rr.com Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 12:56 PM To: call...@sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Happy as a Warm Pig in Cold Mud Have any of you ever called this dance by Mike Boerschig? It's been in my box for years, and I've never called it because I haven't been sure about who should go to which star. It was published one way in Midwest Folklore (see below), but the two YouTube videos I've seen of it have a shorter partner allemande, ending with the first woman and second man (i.e., second corners) starring above, while the second woman and the first man (first corners) star below. If you've called this and have an opinion about how it's best danced, or if you've found it challenging to teach, I'd love to hear what you have to say about it! --Katy Heine HAPPY AS A WARM PIG IN COLD MUD by Mike Boerschig dpl imp A1 Neighbor balance and swing A2 Men allemande left once and a half allemande right partner once and three quarters so men are facing in, women out B1 Star left away from partner, 1st corners star up, 2nd down; reaching across to shadow in star swing partner B2 Circle left three quarters balance in that circle, California twirl partner to face next couple ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Re: [Callers] Name of a dance
I really enjoy collecting new dances, but they usually remain in a special file, unused, until I learn the name and author. Thanks very much to Michael Dyck for identifying this one, and also thanks to Chris Page for your tremendous effort in supplying this information for so many of the dance videos that can be found on the internet. Richard -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Chris Page Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 11:47 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Name of a dance On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 9:49 AM, Richard Green <richard.a.gr...@roadrunner.com> wrote: > Hi Folks, > > > > Can anyone name this dance? It seems like a pretty nice early dance. This dance sequence is "Culver City Contra" written in 1993 by James Hutson, as found in Southern California Twirls. Caller is Jeff Spero. The dance is improper. and starts with the neighbor do-si-do. -Chris Page San Diego ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2654 - Release Date: 01/28/10 14:36:00
Re: [Callers] Name of a dance
David, Looking at the video after reading your note, it suddenly appears obvious that you are correct! Thanks very much for picking up on that. I know that many, or probably most, dances can be called either as beckets or improper. Is there something in particular in this dance that would make you think that it wouldn't flow well as an improper dance? Richard -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of David Millstone Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 4:49 PM To: call...@sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] Name of a dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TnURscEvpc=PlayList=992537F69CC7EC Richard gave the figures for a dance on YouTube as follows: Duple Improper A1Neighbor Dosido Neighbor Swing A2Gents Allemande L 1.5 Partner Swing B1Long Lines Forward & Back R & L across B2Ladies Chain Across LH Star. I don't know the tune, but it sounds to me like the dance starts with the long lines and finishes with the partner swing. So, the beginning of the dance is cut off the beginning of the YouTube clip and then comes around again at :32. That also makes better choreographic sense, IMHO, and if that's correct then this is Becket formation, not duple improper. If so, then the notation would be: Becket formation A1Long Lines Forward & Back R & L across A2Ladies Chain Across LH Star B1Neighbor Dosido Neighbor Swing B2Gents Allemande L 1.5 Partner Swing David Millstone Lebanon, NH ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2650 - Release Date: 01/28/10 02:36:00
[Callers] Name of a dance
Hi Folks, Can anyone name this dance? It seems like a pretty nice early dance. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TnURscEvpc=PlayList=992537F69CC7EC EC=112 Duple Improper A1Neighbor Dosido Neighbor Swing A2Gents Allemande L 1.5 Partner Swing B1Long Lines Forward & Back R & L across B2Ladies Chain Across LH Star Richard Green, Wayne, ME
Re: [Callers] Gypsies for Beginners
Ricky, Ted Crane's dance "All You Can Eat" is easy and has multiple gypsies. It is posted on his website, but I couldn't find the link, so here is what I have: All You Can Eat Ted Crane Duple Improper A1 Neighbor R sh Gypsy Ladies Allemande L 1.5 A2 Partner Balance & Swing B1 Circle L ¾ Neighbor Swing B2 LH Star (Same)Neighbor L sh Gypsy Richard -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Rickey Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:22 PM To: call...@sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Gypsies for Beginners OK, I give up. I have been trying to find dances that feature gypsies and that beginners could enjoy. I am especially interested in dances with more than one gypsy, and would be even more excited if there was a gypsy right into a gypsy left (or the reverse), and/or if men gypsy men or women gypsy women. I tried "American Country Dances on Line", but no multiple gypsy dances. I even tried writing one - but I do not think that it 'flies'. Any suggestions. It is for Valentine's Day. Rickey ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.234 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1949 - Release Date: 02/12/09 11:34:00
Re: [Callers] Dances for 3-6 couples - add'l note
Will, Here is a dance that I have called a few times, and I like it because it is a little different. It is phrased, although the timing becomes a little more critical with four couples. I hope it is something you can use. Richard Green T.A.G. by Roger Whynot Proper Lines of 3 or 4 couples A1 1's lead down center, turn alone come back Return & Cast around 2's. As they cast: A2 Gents turn LH star, Ladies turn RH Star(at same time) B1 When 1's meet, switch stars, lady passing in front. Keep star moving. Each couple switches as they meet. All switch back as they meet again When 1's meet again lead all to top, peel the banana, 1's make arch at bottom B2 Others pass under arch to top, 2's are now 1s -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Will Loving Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 11:23 PM To: call...@sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Dances for 3-6 couples - add'l note I neglected to mention that I'm looking for dances that might be suitable for more experienced dancers. I've found a fair number of dances that can work well with a small number of dancers, but nearly all are geared towards beginner dancers, with only the most basic figures. Finding interesting dances that can satisfy more experienced dancers - near the end of a smallish dance or at a party - seems to be the challenge. Thanks to Richard for your suggestions, I will be following up! Is Nine Pin anything like the John McIntire's "Prime Minister's Breakdown", which I've heard described but never seen or danced and which I believe has a similar three-by-three formation? Thanks, Will Loving ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
[Callers] challenging contras
Hello, I am posting this on both the sharedweight and trad-dance-callers lists: Next month at the Downeast Festival in Maine I am scheduled to do a short session which I have called "challenging contras." At the time that I suggested it, I thought that I fondly remembered enjoying challenging dance sessions at dance festivals. But as I think more about it I realize that the only ones I can actually remember were sessions where the dances seemed so complex that it was almost impossible to get 4 or 6 people together at once who understood what to do, or on the other hand being somewhat disappointed because the dances didn't seem challenging enough. I am sure the line between too much and too little is probably different for everyone. Can anyone suggest dances that experienced dancers might find somewhat challenging, perhaps something with an unusual figure? I have heard several people on this list mention that anyone can dance anything as long as the teaching is good enough, so that will be my own challenge. I plan to try a couple dances that are not the standard duple formation, but I would like to find at least one that is duple, so any suggestions or advice are welcome. If you can also include the transcription or tell me where to find the dances I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance! Richard
[Callers] Petronella spins
I would like to find a couple of fairly easy but interesting contradances with petronella spins in them somewhere. I am going to call for an unknown mixed dance this weekend and would like to use this figure somewhere in the program. I have used "Maliza's Magical Mystery Motion" before but it seems like it might be a little bit challenging if there are a lot of beginners. Your suggestions would be appreciated. If you can include or point me to the transcription, that would also greatly help. Thanks, Richard
[Callers] Can you name these dances?
Hi everyone. I am trying to find the name and author of two dances which I discovered by watching dance videos on youtube. To view the videos, go to the youtube site and search for vt contradance and st louis contradance. Here is how I transcribed them: Vt contradance Duple Improper A1Balance & Swing Neighbor -- A2Long Line F & B Ladies Do-Si-Do 1 1/2 B1Balance & Swing Partner -- B2Ladies Chain Across Star Left St Louis Contradance Duple Improper Start wave across, Neighbor by RH, Ladies in center by LH A1Balance Wave(4), Allemande R 1/2 way(4) Gents Almde L 3/4 to long wave(4), balance wave(4) A2Gents Almde L 3/4(4), Swing Ptnr(12) -- B1Ladies Allemande R 1.5(8) Swing Neighbor B2R to Ptnr, balance(4), pull by Neighbor L(4) Do Si Do New Neighbor, form wave across Thanks for you help! Richard
Re: [Callers] Opinions on Sound Equipment Needed
We recently purchased a complete sound system, and ended up using FBT Jolly 8ba for the stage speakers and 8ra for the monitors. Both are powered, and the ba has a more powerful amp. They weigh about 18 lbs. We have used them for contradances in grange halls and they have plenty of sound. You can get them from full compass. Richard -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Peter Amidon Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 5:19 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: [Callers] Opinions on Sound Equipment Needed Hi, I am adding to the request. I need advice on what self-powered speaker with at least an XLR and a quarter inch input in the back. I would love a speaker big enough for dancing with groups of children; right now I use my amplifier with an EV X300 (I'm spoiled). I would be using it with my wireless headset system (the XLR connection) and my iPod (I have an adaptor into a quarter inch input). Of course I would love it if it were not too heavy. It needs to be able to go on a stand. Any suggestions? Many thanks. Peter Amidon pe...@amidonmusic.com 802-257-1006 cell 917-922-5462 ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
Re: [Callers] Dance Recovery
That's the one. Thanks! -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Joy Greenwolfe Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 9:09 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance Recovery Hi Richard, This was written by Robert Cromartie's daughter when she was yea- high. I seem to recall that some ladies have a tendency to slow down on the gypsy, so the dosido was an alternative for that. Generation Gap - Thankful Cromartie Improper A1 N inside hand Balance & star thru (4,4) Ladies chain (to P) (8) A2 Ladies gypsy (back to P) (8) (alt: dosido) P swing B1 Long lines forward and back (8) Gents chain! (8) (by the L hand. Ladies give R, then scoop up gent back to place) B2 In a Ring, balance, spin R 1 place as in Rory O'More In a Ring, balance, spin R 1 place AND half way more! to face new N (8) (Turn to face new N with inside hand) Joy Greenwolfe Durham, NC On Jul 22, 2007, at 8:51 PM, Richard Green wrote: > I am trying to recover a dance that was called last night by George > Marshall > in Belfast, ME. I noted at the time that it was named "Generation > Gap" and > that I enjoyed it, but I recall little else about it. I have done > a google > search and found reference to a dance of that name written by Thankful > Cromartie, so that is probably it, but I can't find a > transcription. Is > anyone familiar with this one? Thanks > > > > Richard Green > > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
[Callers] Dance Recovery
I am trying to recover a dance that was called last night by George Marshall in Belfast, ME. I noted at the time that it was named "Generation Gap" and that I enjoyed it, but I recall little else about it. I have done a google search and found reference to a dance of that name written by Thankful Cromartie, so that is probably it, but I can't find a transcription. Is anyone familiar with this one? Thanks Richard Green
Re: [Callers] Greetings from a new caller and some random questionsabout calling
Many thanks for the suggestions from everyone. We are fortunate to have this resource for help and support Richard -Original Message- From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 1:04 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Greetings from a new caller and some random questionsabout calling Long winded, personal, comments in line> - Original Message - From: "Richard Green" <richard.a.gr...@hotmail.com> To: "'Caller's discussion list'" <call...@sharedweight.net> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 8:24 AM Subject: [Callers] Greetings from a new caller and some random questionsabout calling > Greetings to all of you! And to you!!! > Since then I have doubled my calling experience by calling a mixer at a > recent family dance that we played at. John has also scheduled another > dance next month with guest callers which I will be one of. Other than that > I have spent time preparing by transcribing several dances that I have found > online,(several on this list), donning my mp3 player and practicing calling > as I jog around the neighborhood. It is a pretty good way to become > familiar with the timing of the calls, but doesn't really do much for the > stage fright that I will still have to deal with, although I suppose that > running around the streets shouting contradance calls in cadence does make > me an object of attention. Focus on the dancer's need and how to meet them. Any time that I am thinking about ME it really messes things up. Even if what I am thinking is something that is supposed to help. The only thing that is really important is what's going on between you, the dancers and the band. For me, if I am thinking about all of the really important things, then unimportant things like my own fear, recede into the background. If stagefright is significant, there are really good self-calming techniques available that can help. (Any professional counselor would know about this.) > Despite my lack of experience I now have several gigs lined up to call. > They are all for family type and special dances that we have been asked to > play at. Since it is not very likely that much of this dancing is going to > be done to the phrasing of the music it takes a little pressure off the need > to be precise with timing, but in general I think that calling these types > of dances is actually more difficult in some ways because teaching, as well > as just maintaining the dance, can be a challenge. In my, not so very humble, opinion, you have just given yourself the most difficult and most rewarding challenge a caller can have: non-experienced dancers. They need the finest calling and the best bands. Experienced dancers will fix your mistakes for you. Beginners will fail and blame themselves saying: "I just can't do this" when YOU mess up. So pat yourself on the back for taking these dances and enjoy the learning experience involved with calling the toughest gigs (and most rewarding gigs) there are. > I would like to say that I will be satisfied with calling these family > dances, but I really harbor a secret desire to make it to the big time and > call a "real" dance. I have always been pretty impressed by how the callers > could stand up there and make a dance happen, and now that I know more about > what goes into it I am even more in awe of you all. Hah, almost anyone can call a modern urban contra dance for experienced dancers: pick a dance, walk it through once, call it two or three times and let the band do their thing. It doesn't take a whole lot of skill to do that. You can read right off the card and it will work. Your family dances and private party dances are what take real skill. (but I repeat myself.) > Since it is too late to avoid being long-winded, I would like to add a few > random questions which I will throw out to see if they generate any > discussion: > > Timing issues- I think that I have a pretty good handle on the eight and > sixteen beat figures, but how do you keep track of others? For example, the > petronella balance & spin are 4 & 4, I think. Do you call them together, > like a balance and swing, or try to separate the call a little? And for > that matter, for a balance and swing call, is it better to call that all at > once, or would it be good to call balance..and swing, with a separation. > And what about these dances that have other timing. Sometimes I see timing > of 7 or 9, or other odd numbers. Does the timing of the calls have to > change to reflect this? Think a little about what it was like when you first learned to play an instrument: you had to think about where your fingers went for each note, how to make the notes sound right, etc. etc. etc. Eventually these things became second n
[Callers] Greetings from a new caller and some random questions about calling
Greetings to all of you! My name is Richard Green and I have decided to come out of the lurking closet and announce my intention of learning how to call. I discovered this wonderful discussion list about a month ago and avidly read through the multiple years of postings. Now, alas, I am up to date and finding it hard to adjust to having only an occasional new post to read. I live in Maine, and my calling interest began in January when I attended John McIntire's calling workshops. At the time I thought it would be nice to learn some calling skills because my wife and I have had some opportunities to play music for some barn and family dances in the area, and on one occasion the caller was not present and we didn't know how to proceed.(He did eventually show up). At the end of the caller's workshop we were given the opportunity to call at a live contradance, and despite a rather anxious time spent worrying about the fiasco that was sure to occur, it went quite well and I really had a good time. It was a breakthrough moment for me, and it was then and there that I decided I would like to pursue calling more seriously. I am grateful to John for giving me that chance. Since then I have doubled my calling experience by calling a mixer at a recent family dance that we played at. John has also scheduled another dance next month with guest callers which I will be one of. Other than that I have spent time preparing by transcribing several dances that I have found online,(several on this list), donning my mp3 player and practicing calling as I jog around the neighborhood. It is a pretty good way to become familiar with the timing of the calls, but doesn't really do much for the stage fright that I will still have to deal with, although I suppose that running around the streets shouting contradance calls in cadence does make me an object of attention. Despite my lack of experience I now have several gigs lined up to call. They are all for family type and special dances that we have been asked to play at. Since it is not very likely that much of this dancing is going to be done to the phrasing of the music it takes a little pressure off the need to be precise with timing, but in general I think that calling these types of dances is actually more difficult in some ways because teaching, as well as just maintaining the dance, can be a challenge. I would like to say that I will be satisfied with calling these family dances, but I really harbor a secret desire to make it to the big time and call a "real" dance. I have always been pretty impressed by how the callers could stand up there and make a dance happen, and now that I know more about what goes into it I am even more in awe of you all. Since it is too late to avoid being long-winded, I would like to add a few random questions which I will throw out to see if they generate any discussion: Timing issues- I think that I have a pretty good handle on the eight and sixteen beat figures, but how do you keep track of others? For example, the petronella balance & spin are 4 & 4, I think. Do you call them together, like a balance and swing, or try to separate the call a little? And for that matter, for a balance and swing call, is it better to call that all at once, or would it be good to call balance..and swing, with a separation. And what about these dances that have other timing. Sometimes I see timing of 7 or 9, or other odd numbers. Does the timing of the calls have to change to reflect this? Calling and Playing - Does anyone call and play an instrument at the same time? Are you able to call and play simultaneously or do you do some calling and then join the band when the calling is no longer needed. Any hints on how to share these tasks? Ending the Dance - Do most callers change the call at the end of the dance so that you swing your partner or something to close the dance? I know Bill Olson does, but I can't really remember if it is the common thing to do. If so, do you have some special ending already prepared or do you just develop something on the fly or with experience. In transcribing dances and I have not included anything like that. Varying your Calls - Is it a good thing to vary the words that you use when calling a dance or is it better to use the exact same words each time through? It seems like it would be a nice to avoid repetition, but on the other hand it also seems like it would be easier to be consistently understood if you stick to the same phrases. Also, should you always call using the same phrases from dance to dance? It seems like the dancers would get used to hearing things in the same way and understand them better, but I wonder if it would make you seem limited or boring as a caller. Judging the Dancer's Level - Any tips on how to judge the ability of the dancers in order to introduce more complex dances? Is this something that is obvious or does it take some special skills to observe,
