[Callers] Thanks everyone!

[William M Loving via Callers]

Dear Friends,

Caller's Companion just got it’s 100th user today! 

Thanks to everyone for their support, feedback and patience over the last 8 
years in making CC an invaluable tool for Contra Dance (and some ECD) callers. 
I hope to be able to continue improvements in the future. As a labor-of-love / 
shareware project, you're sharing CC with other callers and showing them how 
you use it helps spread the word and also support future efforts as well as the 
hundreds of hours that I've already invested in it. 

Special thanks to Bev Bernbaum, my initial beta tester; Linda Leslie, who 
provided invaluable feedback in the early years and made feature suggestions to 
support ECD calling; and Nils Fredland, for extensive feedback around iPad use.

Thank you again! 

Love, Will

http://callerscompanion.com

--

Will Loving
2419 S York St Apt 5
Denver CO 80210-5319
413-253-7223 (desk)
413-221-8626 (iPhone)

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Re: [Callers] Thanks

[Alan Winston via Callers]

On 7/9/15 11:58 PM, Claire Takemori via Callers wrote:


I'm still looking for good instructions on when to cue the band for the ending? 
  Is it simply when a couple is out at the top that you signal during B1 that 
there are 3 more times left?

Basically, mostly.

And you have to stay with them because sometimes they'll catch the 3, 
know it's happening, and then look to you for confirmation of the last 
one and if you're thinking about the next dance or glazing over and 
can't confirm it, confusion may ensue.  So it doesn't hurt to be ready 
to show them 1 finger (not that one) before the last time. Usually a 
full 3-2-1 is more than they need and actually unhelpful because your 
coming over with the "2" makes them think this is new information and 
they need to process it.



Complications:  Some dances have a couple out at the top in B1 who are 
going to be brought back in B2, so you have to know the end effects of 
the dance.


Talk to the band.

Rarely (in the Bay Area, anyway) you get an old-timey band that's just 
going to pound one tune all the way through, and they just want to know 
when to go out.


I've mostly been used to bands that are playing three-tune medleys. 
They're going to play like 6-6-7 or 6-6-5.  The last tune is probably 
climactic so you don't want to cut it short.  You ideally will keep 
track of which tune they're on (which can be surprisingly hard to do 
from the stage with your attention on the floor and no monitors pointing 
at you and the tune sounding different every time they play it because 
of variations and dynamics - you might not realize they've changed)  and 
know when they're in the third tune and give them the 3-more at B1 of 
tune 2 or 4.If you give 'em 3 when they're about to change tunes 
they might wave you off and play 5.


But the band might want to play a two-tune medley, and then they want to 
know when you're (about) halfway through the dance so they know when to 
switch, and for that you have to decide how many times you want to run 
the dance, keep count of how many times it's been run by the time you 
said it was halfway, and count down to your "3", remembering to do it 
when there's a couple out at the top, if that's possible.


"If that's possible" because sometimes you're trying to manage all this 
and some couple drops out of one set or tries and fails to trade or some 
other damn thing and the sets get out of synch.  (For some reason that's 
happened to me most often calling Lake City.) Then it's not possible to 
finish after a couple has come in at the top in all sets.


People who care about that care about that,  most won't notice, and a 
lot of dancers will just say "huh" and move on if they do notice it.


  
  
What I was mostly curious is if someone had written out ways to teach the various steps.  I guess this is one of those things that is still passed down the old-fashioned way.  I have to find a great caller, listen to them call and write down what they say.  I was hoping I would not have to miss out on dancing to learn this.


You can set up a voice recorder and transcribe later.  (Polite to ask if 
it's okay first.)  If you're friends with the sound man you might the 
caller mic feed ...


-- Alan

[Callers] thanks for the help on those original 11 no names :)

[Emily Addison]

Much much thanks Chris, Michael, Yoyo, Bill, Linda & Greg for helping me
identify those 11 dances  plus giving me come
corrections/clarifications!

Michael - interesting that you picked up Pound Cat Promenade from Cis
Hinkle as she was also my source something like four years ago at the dance
flurry. :)

Looks as though I'm going to have to take a close look at the Cabot School
Mixer and Ellen's Yarns.  I'l run them through our callers practice group
here!

Much thanks!
Emily in Ottawa

Re: [Callers] Thanks to Bob Isaac

[Joyce Miller]

I called it last night in Grass Valley, California.

Joyce Miller

On Nov 4, 2012, at 10:10 AM, hgrast...@aol.com wrote:

> I will be calling Vote With Your Feet tonight at Glen Echo. Thanks,  Bob!
> 
> April Blum
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

[Callers] Thanks to Bob Isaac

[Hgrastorf]

I will be calling Vote With Your Feet tonight at Glen Echo. Thanks,  Bob!

April Blum

Re: [Callers] Thanks for the dances.

[JsphDeP]

This is very helpful  Thank you so  much.
Joe


In a message dated 7/24/2012 11:30:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
callers-requ...@sharedweight.net writes:

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Today's Topics:

1. Re:  Gender Neutral Dance Request (rich sbardella)
2. Re: Gender  Neutral Dance Request (dhuntdan...@aol.com)
3. Re: Callers  Gender Free Dances (Bob Green)
4. Re: Gender Neutral Dance  Request (Martha  Wild)


--

Message:  1
List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:10:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: rich sbardella  
To: Caller's discussion list  
Subject: Re: [Callers] Gender Neutral  Dance Request
Message-ID:
<1343092230.2428.yahoomailclas...@web180003.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1






Gender Free EZ dance  lnk.? Taped at Bob Livingston's monthly dance in 
Killingly CT.? The dance was  prompted by me and I call it bay rollers because 
it has the solo rolls and  because I usually use "Montego Bay" as the music.? 
I do not know the origin of  the dance.? I learned it from a Western MA 
caller named Gene King.? I have  used this dance with all age groups and with 
various group compositions,? It  is a favorite at ONS  parties.
?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDceiX8W5lA

--- On Mon,  7/23/12, jsph...@aol.com  wrote:


From:  jsph...@aol.com 
Subject: [Callers] Gender Neutral  Dance Request
To: call...@sharedweight.net
List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Date: Monday, July 23, 2012,  2:58 PM


Hi All,
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just checking? to see if  someone would have a few gender 
neutral dances to? share with me.? I will  be calling to a large group of 
non-dancers that? will mostly be same-sex  couples.? I was thinking of 
calling a 
few? circle mixers, Sicilian  circles, Virginia reel type dances and 
perhaps 
a? few contras. 

? ?  ? ? ? ? ? ???Any? feedback would be greatly appreciated.

? Thanks,
?  ? ? ? ???Joe?  


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Message:  2
List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:35:27 -0400 (EDT)
From:  dhuntdan...@aol.com
To: call...@sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers]  Gender Neutral Dance Request
Message-ID:  <2f05c.7ca9bba1.3d3f5...@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="US-ASCII"



I guess the most important question I would  ask is this: is this group  
planning on continuing as a contra dance  series or are they only 
interested in 
a  one-night stand dance? And  how many is "a large group"?


If it's a one night stand then I'd  stay away from contras completely 
(other 
than Virginia Reel, OXO and  Boston Tea Party), but if they are interested 
in  continuing as a  contra dance series that's another story.  


Donna  Hunt
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while  we're here we  should 
dance." -unknown 





In a message dated  7/23/2012 4:25:57 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,   
wins...@slac.stanford.edu writes:

Joseph  --

Unless  you've had a bunch of experience calling longways duple  minors to  
non-dancers  -- I actually do, but it's in the context of   people who 
wanted 
to learn about Jane Austen-era dances and so are up for  a  party with some 
lesson in it, aren't drinking, and won't wander  away if they  don't get it 
instantly; this lets me get away with a  somewhat rocky first  longways and 
then things get better - I would  stay away from contras  generally.

Don't know if by "Virginia-reel  type dances" you mean "small  set dances 
with a ones-to-the-bottom  progression".  If you do, then I  think you've 
got 
this  covered.

Even so, some   suggestions:

-
Orcadian   Strip the Willow
(Long line of couples.)

Top couple right-elbow  turn  1.5 and face neighbor in the other line
Left elbow 1x with   neighbor
Right elbow 1x with partner
Left elbow 1x with next  neighbor  
Repeat until end of line, where that couple turns to their  own side (or  
not, in gender-neutral version)

Every 16 bars  another couple starts the  sequence while previous couples 
are still  going.  (So at 
the top of  A1 and the top of B1 every time  through the tune).  

Biggest  problem is keeping people from  starting too soon.  This is 
probably even  an easier 

Re: [Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!

[Linda Leslie]

Dear Emily,
The last dance is a slight variation of a dance called Contraindicated  
by Peter Stix. In Peter's dance, the women do si do once and a half  
instead of gypsy.


Also, I believe in the Becket dance New Fall Reel, in the A1, there  
would not be a balance..rather a simple circle left 3/4, neighbor  
swing. I find that most times, after the Partner swing in the B2,  
having couples simply "face the left diagonal and find new neighbors"  
also works well. It is an easy and satisfying progression for newer  
dancers.


Good luck with your programplease tell us how the evening turns out!
Warmly, Linda




The dances themselves -

1. Swallowtails’s First -  - Improper
A1: (8) neighbor do si do; (8) neighbor swing
A2: (16) ladies chain over and back
B1: (8) circle left; (8) circle right
B2: (8) right hand star; (8) left hand star

2. (The) Baby Rose - David Kaynor - Improper
A1: Neighbor Balance & Swing (16)
A2: Circle Left Three Places (8)   //Partner Do-si-do (16)
B1: Partner Balance & Swing (16)
B2: Ladies Chain (8)//Left Hand Star (8)

3. New Fall Reel?  - Susan Kevra - Beckett
A1: circle left 3 places (1/2); neighbour balance and swing
A2: long lines (1/2); ladies chain
B1: ladies allemande (full); partner allemande 1.5; gents allemande  
(full) [keep talk flowing..watch as maybe bit space before gents  
allemande]
B2: partner balance and swing (3/4); slide left (this kind of  
happens at the start of A1)


4. Mad Scatter Rick Mohr; March, 2010 …. Mixer, Scattered circles of  
two or more couples

Level: Easy/Intermediate
A1: Circle left (8)   Dosido neighbor (8)
A2:	Allemande right with partner 1 1/2 (8)  Women star (or  
allemande) left while men orbit clockwise (8)

B1: Balance and swing new partner (16)
B2:	Promenade anywhere with new partner (16)  (Find another group to  
circle with)
In this mixer dancers form scattered groups with any number of  
couples. That makes for fun chaos, less transition panic (compared  
with 2-couple scatter mixers), and more flavors to enjoy as circle  
sizes vary.
The A2 allemande ends with women in the center facing  
counterclockwise and men on the outside facing clockwise. If there  
are two women they allemande left for 8 beats; if there are more  
than two they star left for 8 beats. Either way, the men orbit  
clockwise around the women. Then all balance and swing a new partner  
and promenade to a new group.
I tell the dancers it's a zero-stress dance. "If a couple wants to  
join your circle, let them in!" And no problem if you happen to keep  
the same partner now and then.



5. Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) duple minor-- don't worry about  
gender, proper or improper
A1  	Balance ring 2x, circle left 1x("Go IN... and OUT... and  
IN... and OUT)

A2  Balance ring 2x, circle right 1x
B1  DSD with neighbor, DSD with partner
B2  	Facing other couple and with inside hands joined with partner,  
DSD 1.5 as a couple to progress


6. Lexington’s Loss - Carol Ormand - Improper
A1: Neighbour B
A2: R over   //   R back
B1: CL ¾   //   Partner swing
B2: LLFB//   CL ¾ and pass through up or down

7. ?? Improper ???
A1: neighbour balance & swing
A2: long lines; ladies allemande left 1½
B1: partner balance and swing
B2: gents do-si-do (1/2 about); circle left ¾; pass through (to new
neighbour)


8. Snowball waltz

9. Feet in Flight -???- Improper
A1: Ring balance; women roll neigbor gent away with a half  
sashay   ///   Ladies chain

A2: Women gypsy  ///  Swing P
B1: Circle L x3/4   /// Ring balance, Petronella twirl
B2: Ring balance, Petronella twirl///   Ring balance, California  
twirl

… … Not original version but ok

10. Trip To Lamberville -  Steve Zakon-Anderson
A1: [8] Ladies into the center to a wave and balance /// [8] Gents  
into the center to a wave and balance
A2: [8] Gents allemende left 3/4 to a wave across and balance   
[8] Neighbors swing

B1: [8] Gents allemende left 1 ½   [8] Partners swing
B2: [8] Right and left through / [8] Ladies chain

11. Who’s in the Middle? - Al Olson - DI

A1- Circle left /// Allemande right your neighbor until someone is  
in the center where they join left hands to form an “ocean wave”
A2- Balance the wave, those in the middle allemande left once  
around  /// Swing neighbor

B1- Promenade across; right and left back
B2- Ladies chain, over and back
Notes from Syracuse callers gathering: This is a beginner dance, and  
fun. It’s a game to play with the speed of your allemande. Eye  
contact can convey whose turn it is to be in the middle. It can be  
reassuring to a beginner that it doesn’t matter how fast one goes on  
the allemande right. The B-parts also introduce a bunch of basic  
figures (also helpful for newcomers). The caller should probably  
keep calling in the B-parts (especially for beginners) because you  
are crossing back and forth. We talked about replacing the chain  
with a 

Re: [Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!

[Richard Fischer]

Hi Emily,

I believe your 7th dance is Monday Night in Ballard by Mike Richardson. I have 
the A2 as long lines followed by ladies  allemande *R* 1 1/2.

Richard

On Feb 7, 2012, at 10:45 AM, Emily Addison wrote:

> Hi folks :)
> 
> (Don and Bill - thanks for the encouragement last week!  I love the 
> suggestion re recording myself… will do.)
> 
> I have my first dance this Saturday so I thought I would post my draft 
> program to see what some of you think.  [Apologies for the VERY long email!]
> 
> -If you have any suggestions on teaching tips, that would be lovely.  I'm 
> working on those today (along with figuring out how I want to teach my first 
> beginners lesson – yikes!!!).
> -I love it when callers provide neat little facts (e.g., where the name of 
> the dance came from; when it was written; etc.). If you have ideas here, 
> please let me know! I also have four dances without authors and two dances 
> without names.
> -And, of course, feel free to critique dance selection and order!
> 
> A bit about the dance community ---
> -The dance is in Maberly Ontario, out in the countryside 1.5hrs from Ottawa.  
>  The dance has been happening four times a year (Maberly Quarterly!) for two 
> years. 
> -Sheesham and Lotus always play the dance and Martha Cooper is usually the 
> caller.  As context, S have lots of experience playing contras (both were 
> in Flapjack and one was in the Groovemongers).  They play oldtime with fiddle 
> and banjo for the whole evening so it's driven' music with not as much 
> variety in sound as you would get with some bands.
> -The local dance community is novice and while some Ottawa dancers come out, 
> dances need to be kept relatively simple.
> -The hall is quite small and can get quite full.
> -There is always a beginners lesson before the dance begins
> -Timing of the dance 730 lesson, 8pm dance, break around 915/930, finishes at 
> 11pm
> -Martha has traditionally called a mix of contras and squares with (I think), 
> more contras in the mix.
> 
> A bit about my draft program-
> -I'm aiming for fun, variety, and discovery/learning.
> -I'm aiming for one walk through but will do two if needed … I want to see if 
> I can help tweak the ear of local dancers to be picking up information on the 
> first time around as well as keeping that feeling of momentum.
> -I haven't put any 'down the hall in a line of 4' within the programming.  I 
> would try them another time in Maberly but it seems to be a challenging move 
> for that community.  One reason is that the hall isn't very big so it's hard 
> to get a good feeling in that move.  The other is that there are so many 
> beginners that it seems from previous dances that leaving their circle and 
> space could maybe cause confusion.  I'm going to test whether  keeping them 
> more within their home space on the dance floor will keep the beginners a bit 
> more grounded.
> -I have also left out heys.  I do like them but I have a lot of variety 
> coming in from other aspects of the program and I want to focus on other 
> aspects of dancing this evening.
> -I'm trying to cater to both a large number of beginners locally as well as 
> those experienced dancers coming from Ottawa.  The experienced folks from 
> Ottawa aren't the super aerobic dancers who want huge challenges so I think 
> they'll be ok as long as variety is there and there are fun surprises here 
> and there.
> -Working with the driven' 4/4 old time sounds and thinking about what dances 
> would fit with that.
> -I would have loved to have tried a square or chesnut but with it being my 
> first full dance, I want to focus on an overall successful evening. :)
> -I'm aiming for 7 dances in the first half, 4-5 in the second + I have some 
> back up dances if needed.
> 
> Draft program with comments -
> 1. Swallowtail's First (DI) - ???unknown author to me
> -Put first because of the neighbour swing  so folks can practice swinging 
> with various people.  No partner swing in this dance, the only one of the 
> evening without PSw.
> -Getting dancers solid (hopefully) on LChain, Stars, and Circling
> -staying within circle
> 
> 2. Baby Rose (DI) - David Kaynor
> -Introducing the balance (twice!)
> -similar progression as previous … nice for the very start
> -staying within circle
> 
> 3. New Fall Reel (Becket) - Susan Kevra
> -Introduce a different formation
> -beginners second chance to head towards a solid balance and swing
> -long lines appear!  Wooohooo! Good timing here (hopefully) + feel the 
> room/community
> -Sequences of alemands gets a few quicker 'thinking' moments on people's radar
> -different progression, easy enough and feels great/different
> -staying within circle
> 
> 4. Mad Scatter (scatter mixer) - Rick Mohr
> -I want to get the dancers mixing through dance and this is such a fun mixer. 
>  Want the feeling of a bit of chaos but fun/controlled.
> -Put this dance forth as I wanted to have the 

Re: [Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!

[Donald Perley]

On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Emily Addison  wrote:

> -I haven't put any 'down the hall in a line of 4' within the programming.  I 
> would try them another time in Maberly but it seems to be a challenging move 
> for that community.  One reason is that the hall isn't very big so it's hard 
> to get a good feeling in that move.

Lately in my tentative program I've had some slots with multiple
dances and I pick on the spot depending on the situation.  For
instance a 4 facing 4 needs a good crowd or you spend too much time
waiting out, while a dance with actives and inactives is better with
short lines so you can run everyone through both roles, and a "down
the hall" needs room.  Maybe the line of 4 could work early or late if
that dance tends to have people show up late or go home before the
end.

Just IMO, dances that have long and short line balancing and alemans
in increments of 1/4 to get between them is maybe a bit confusing for
a high percentage of beginners.

Re: [Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!

[M E]

Emily:

I believe that Feet in Flight is a Dale Rempert dance. 

This page is my source:  
http://www.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers/2006-May/000425.html

Thank-you for sharing so much detail--helps to get the picture and understand 
your thought processes. You're going to be a great caller!



> From: eaddi...@trentu.ca
> To: call...@sharedweight.net
> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 10:45:55 -0500
> CC: eaddi...@trentu.ca
> Subject: [Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!
> 
> Hi folks :)
> 
> (Don and Bill - thanks for the encouragement last week!  I love the 
> suggestion re recording myself… will do.)
> 
> I have my first dance this Saturday so I thought I would post my draft 
> program to see what some of you think.  [Apologies for the VERY long email!]
> 
> -If you have any suggestions on teaching tips, that would be lovely.  I'm 
> working on those today (along with figuring out how I want to teach my first 
> beginners lesson – yikes!!!).
> -I love it when callers provide neat little facts (e.g., where the name of 
> the dance came from; when it was written; etc.). If you have ideas here, 
> please let me know! I also have four dances without authors and two dances 
> without names.
> -And, of course, feel free to critique dance selection and order!
> 
> A bit about the dance community ---
> -The dance is in Maberly Ontario, out in the countryside 1.5hrs from Ottawa.  
>  The dance has been happening four times a year (Maberly Quarterly!) for two 
> years. 
> -Sheesham and Lotus always play the dance and Martha Cooper is usually the 
> caller.  As context, S have lots of experience playing contras (both were 
> in Flapjack and one was in the Groovemongers).  They play oldtime with fiddle 
> and banjo for the whole evening so it's driven' music with not as much 
> variety in sound as you would get with some bands.
> -The local dance community is novice and while some Ottawa dancers come out, 
> dances need to be kept relatively simple.
> -The hall is quite small and can get quite full.
> -There is always a beginners lesson before the dance begins
> -Timing of the dance 730 lesson, 8pm dance, break around 915/930, finishes at 
> 11pm
> -Martha has traditionally called a mix of contras and squares with (I think), 
> more contras in the mix.
> 
> A bit about my draft program-
> -I'm aiming for fun, variety, and discovery/learning.
> -I'm aiming for one walk through but will do two if needed … I want to see if 
> I can help tweak the ear of local dancers to be picking up information on the 
> first time around as well as keeping that feeling of momentum.
> -I haven't put any 'down the hall in a line of 4' within the programming.  I 
> would try them another time in Maberly but it seems to be a challenging move 
> for that community.  One reason is that the hall isn't very big so it's hard 
> to get a good feeling in that move.  The other is that there are so many 
> beginners that it seems from previous dances that leaving their circle and 
> space could maybe cause confusion.  I'm going to test whether  keeping them 
> more within their home space on the dance floor will keep the beginners a bit 
> more grounded.
> -I have also left out heys.  I do like them but I have a lot of variety 
> coming in from other aspects of the program and I want to focus on other 
> aspects of dancing this evening.
> -I'm trying to cater to both a large number of beginners locally as well as 
> those experienced dancers coming from Ottawa.  The experienced folks from 
> Ottawa aren't the super aerobic dancers who want huge challenges so I think 
> they'll be ok as long as variety is there and there are fun surprises here 
> and there.
> -Working with the driven' 4/4 old time sounds and thinking about what dances 
> would fit with that.
> -I would have loved to have tried a square or chesnut but with it being my 
> first full dance, I want to focus on an overall successful evening. :)
> -I'm aiming for 7 dances in the first half, 4-5 in the second + I have some 
> back up dances if needed.
> 
> Draft program with comments -
> 1. Swallowtail's First (DI) - ???unknown author to me
> -Put first because of the neighbour swing  so folks can practice swinging 
> with various people.  No partner swing in this dance, the only one of the 
> evening without PSw.
> -Getting dancers solid (hopefully) on LChain, Stars, and Circling
> -staying within circle
> 
> 2. Baby Rose (DI) - David Kaynor
> -Introducing the balance (twice!)
> -similar progression as previous … nice for the very start
> -staying within circle
> 
> 3. New Fall Reel (Becket) - Susan Kevra
> -Introduce a different formation
> -beginners sec

[Callers] thanks for welcome :) + my first full evening program!

[Emily Addison]

Hi folks :)

(Don and Bill - thanks for the encouragement last week!  I love the suggestion 
re recording myself… will do.)

I have my first dance this Saturday so I thought I would post my draft program 
to see what some of you think.  [Apologies for the VERY long email!]

-If you have any suggestions on teaching tips, that would be lovely.  I'm 
working on those today (along with figuring out how I want to teach my first 
beginners lesson – yikes!!!).
-I love it when callers provide neat little facts (e.g., where the name of the 
dance came from; when it was written; etc.). If you have ideas here, please let 
me know! I also have four dances without authors and two dances without names.
-And, of course, feel free to critique dance selection and order!

A bit about the dance community ---
-The dance is in Maberly Ontario, out in the countryside 1.5hrs from Ottawa.   
The dance has been happening four times a year (Maberly Quarterly!) for two 
years. 
-Sheesham and Lotus always play the dance and Martha Cooper is usually the 
caller.  As context, S have lots of experience playing contras (both were in 
Flapjack and one was in the Groovemongers).  They play oldtime with fiddle and 
banjo for the whole evening so it's driven' music with not as much variety in 
sound as you would get with some bands.
-The local dance community is novice and while some Ottawa dancers come out, 
dances need to be kept relatively simple.
-The hall is quite small and can get quite full.
-There is always a beginners lesson before the dance begins
-Timing of the dance 730 lesson, 8pm dance, break around 915/930, finishes at 
11pm
-Martha has traditionally called a mix of contras and squares with (I think), 
more contras in the mix.

A bit about my draft program-
-I'm aiming for fun, variety, and discovery/learning.
-I'm aiming for one walk through but will do two if needed … I want to see if I 
can help tweak the ear of local dancers to be picking up information on the 
first time around as well as keeping that feeling of momentum.
-I haven't put any 'down the hall in a line of 4' within the programming.  I 
would try them another time in Maberly but it seems to be a challenging move 
for that community.  One reason is that the hall isn't very big so it's hard to 
get a good feeling in that move.  The other is that there are so many beginners 
that it seems from previous dances that leaving their circle and space could 
maybe cause confusion.  I'm going to test whether  keeping them more within 
their home space on the dance floor will keep the beginners a bit more grounded.
-I have also left out heys.  I do like them but I have a lot of variety coming 
in from other aspects of the program and I want to focus on other aspects of 
dancing this evening.
-I'm trying to cater to both a large number of beginners locally as well as 
those experienced dancers coming from Ottawa.  The experienced folks from 
Ottawa aren't the super aerobic dancers who want huge challenges so I think 
they'll be ok as long as variety is there and there are fun surprises here and 
there.
-Working with the driven' 4/4 old time sounds and thinking about what dances 
would fit with that.
-I would have loved to have tried a square or chesnut but with it being my 
first full dance, I want to focus on an overall successful evening. :)
-I'm aiming for 7 dances in the first half, 4-5 in the second + I have some 
back up dances if needed.

Draft program with comments -
1. Swallowtail's First (DI) - ???unknown author to me
-Put first because of the neighbour swing  so folks can practice swinging with 
various people.  No partner swing in this dance, the only one of the evening 
without PSw.
-Getting dancers solid (hopefully) on LChain, Stars, and Circling
-staying within circle

2. Baby Rose (DI) - David Kaynor
-Introducing the balance (twice!)
-similar progression as previous … nice for the very start
-staying within circle

3. New Fall Reel (Becket) - Susan Kevra
-Introduce a different formation
-beginners second chance to head towards a solid balance and swing
-long lines appear!  Wooohooo! Good timing here (hopefully) + feel the 
room/community
-Sequences of alemands gets a few quicker 'thinking' moments on people's radar
-different progression, easy enough and feels great/different
-staying within circle

4. Mad Scatter (scatter mixer) - Rick Mohr
-I want to get the dancers mixing through dance and this is such a fun mixer.  
Want the feeling of a bit of chaos but fun/controlled.
-Put this dance forth as I wanted to have the moves solidified above first
-First promenade of the night (just realized!)... that should be ok though … 
I'll cover it in the beginners lesson and revisit here.

5. Family Contra (DI) – Sherry Nevins
-I know this dance can be used for the first of the evening but I thought would 
save until a bit later.  
-Bal the ring & couple DSD for progression are neat features that will make 
this 

[Callers] Thanks to Ridge, Bob , Adina, Chris, Jeanette, etc :) Re: dance video info

[Richie K.]

Thanks to everyone who let me know about Donna Hunt and the "stutter step" in 
the video :)
I've emailed Donna and will let you all know of any data she gives me  :) :)
Keep the contra fires burning... :)
Richie Katz

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Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...

[Jeanette Mill]

G'day from Australia. I found myself automatically doing a stutter step a few 
years back when I discovered the joys of embellishments. In thinking about when 
it happens, it is usually when I am about to go into an "extra-curricular" 
move. I don't think I'm changing feet, I think I am just putting in a small 
quick step to put me where I need to be when I need to be there. However, here 
in the office, I am having trouble recalling exactly the situation, so I'll try 
to pay attention next time I dance and write a fuller reply.

Cheers
Jeanette

The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen;  Peter Barnes


--- On Fri, 1/8/08, Chris Weiler (home) <chris.wei...@weirdtable.org> wrote:

> From: Chris Weiler (home) <chris.wei...@weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <call...@sharedweight.net>
> Received: Friday, 1 August, 2008, 3:45 AM
> Hmmm... I thought she was, but I can't find her
> subscription.
> 
> Based from what I know of Donna (she's a great dancer
> and lots of fun) 
> and what I see and hear in the video: she's reflecting
> what she hears in 
> the music in her step. A little stutter step on the phrase,
> especially 
> when the music is "telling" you to do it can be a
> lot of fun. It places 
> a physical emphasis on the first beat of the phrase that
> reflects the 
> musical emphasis. It's pretty much a style thing,
> rather than a 
> technique is my guess.
> 
> It's really fun as a caller to watch how people dance
> differently based 
> on the style of the music.
> 
> Chris Weiler
> Goffstown, NH
> 
> 
> Adina Gordon wrote:
> > Hi Richie,
> >
> > That's Donna Hunt.  Donna, are you on this list?
> >
> > - Adina
> > -
> >
> > Adina Gordon
> >
> > 828.230.9266
> >
> > http://www.adinagordon.com/
> >
> > --- On Wed, 7/30/08, callers-requ...@sharedweight.net
> <callers-requ...@sharedweight.net> wrote:
> > From: "Richie K."
> <mightylum...@juno.com>
> > Subject: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and
> other data...
> > oh and one more question besides... :)
> >
> > ...
> >
> >
> http://contrausa.com/user/fri2%20ron%20b4%20with%20quote.wmv
> > ...starting just after the music gets fast, there is
> an inactive women coming
> > up the line with reddish hair and and a knee brace who
> does a sort of stutter
> > step before she does some of the moves... If anyone
> knows why she does so or
> > even who she is so I can ask her the advantage of that
> it would be most
> > appreciated  :)
> > best wishes ...
> > Richie Katz
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   
> > ___
> > 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


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Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...

[Bob Isaacs]

To All;
 
I though she was Donna too, and forwarded her Richie's web link.  I don't think 
she's on this list, and haven't heard back yet.  Given the dance is Jurassic 
Redheads, she sure fit in.  Donna is a member of Philadelphia's Fiddlekicks 
clogging team, and was most likely getting in some extra practice.
 
Bob
 
 
 
> Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:24:08 -0700> From: trravel...@yahoo.com> To: 
> call...@sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, 
> author and other data...> > Hi Richie,> > That's Donna Hunt.  Donna, are you 
> on this list?> > - Adina> -> > Adina Gordon> > 828.230.9266> > 
> http://www.adinagordon.com/> > --- On Wed, 7/30/08, 
> callers-requ...@sharedweight.net <callers-requ...@sharedweight.net> wrote:> 
> From: "Richie K." <mightylum...@juno.com>> Subject: [Callers] Thanks for a 
> dance name, author and other data...> oh and one more question besides... :)> 
> > ...> > http://contrausa.com/user/fri2%20ron%20b4%20with%20quote.wmv> 
> ...starting just after the music gets fast, there is an inactive women 
> coming> up the line with reddish hair and and a knee brace who does a sort of 
> stutter> step before she does some of the moves... If anyone knows why she 
> does so or> even who she is so I can ask her the advantage of that it would 
> be most> appreciated :)> best wishes ...> Richie Katz> > > > > > 
> ___> Callers mailing list> 
> call...@sharedweight.net> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
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Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...

[Chris Weiler (home)]

Hmmm... I thought she was, but I can't find her subscription.

Based from what I know of Donna (she's a great dancer and lots of fun) 
and what I see and hear in the video: she's reflecting what she hears in 
the music in her step. A little stutter step on the phrase, especially 
when the music is "telling" you to do it can be a lot of fun. It places 
a physical emphasis on the first beat of the phrase that reflects the 
musical emphasis. It's pretty much a style thing, rather than a 
technique is my guess.


It's really fun as a caller to watch how people dance differently based 
on the style of the music.


Chris Weiler
Goffstown, NH


Adina Gordon wrote:

Hi Richie,

That's Donna Hunt.  Donna, are you on this list?

- Adina
-

Adina Gordon

828.230.9266

http://www.adinagordon.com/

--- On Wed, 7/30/08, callers-requ...@sharedweight.net 
<callers-requ...@sharedweight.net> wrote:
From: "Richie K." <mightylum...@juno.com>
Subject: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...
oh and one more question besides... :)

...

http://contrausa.com/user/fri2%20ron%20b4%20with%20quote.wmv
...starting just after the music gets fast, there is an inactive women coming
up the line with reddish hair and and a knee brace who does a sort of stutter
step before she does some of the moves... If anyone knows why she does so or
even who she is so I can ask her the advantage of that it would be most
appreciated  :)
best wishes ...
Richie Katz




  
___

Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

  

Re: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...

[Adina Gordon]

Hi Richie,

That's Donna Hunt.  Donna, are you on this list?

- Adina
-

Adina Gordon

828.230.9266

http://www.adinagordon.com/

--- On Wed, 7/30/08, callers-requ...@sharedweight.net 
<callers-requ...@sharedweight.net> wrote:
From: "Richie K." <mightylum...@juno.com>
Subject: [Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data...
oh and one more question besides... :)

...

http://contrausa.com/user/fri2%20ron%20b4%20with%20quote.wmv
...starting just after the music gets fast, there is an inactive women coming
up the line with reddish hair and and a knee brace who does a sort of stutter
step before she does some of the moves... If anyone knows why she does so or
even who she is so I can ask her the advantage of that it would be most
appreciated  :)
best wishes ...
Richie Katz

[Callers] Thanks for a dance name, author and other data... oh and one more que stion besides... :)

[Richie K.]

Bob and Cis... Thanks for the "Jurassic Redheads"- Carol Ormand dance 
identification I'll email Carol and make sure the use of the dance in the 
video is OK  :)
THANKS !!!
By the way... in the same video ...
http://contrausa.com/user/fri2%20ron%20b4%20with%20quote.wmv
...starting just after the music gets fast, there is an inactive women coming 
up the line with reddish hair and and a knee brace who does a sort of stutter 
step before she does some of the moves... If anyone knows why she does so or 
even who she is so I can ask her the advantage of that it would be most 
appreciated  :)
best wishes ...
Richie Katz

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Re: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

[crunchym...@juno.com]

David, 

It helps VERY MUCH thank you! I think I was looking alphabetically under "O" 
for Olson instead of "J" for Jennings. DUH! Google was pulling up the right 
page, but I kept scrolling down too far. 

And thank you for the Roger Diggle version!

Alison Murphy


-- david.millst...@valley.net (David Millstone) wrote:
Dear Alison,



Zesty Contras does, indeed, appear to be available from CDSS:

http://www.cdss.org/sales/american_dance.html#books

and scroll down to Jennings. Along with 500 dances in his unique transcription
style, Larry includees many provocative essays that are in many ways even more
valuable than the dances. Same thing goes for Give-and-Take, the more recent
sequel which was written in part because Larry's sense of what constituted a
"zesty" contra had changed over time. "Zesty Contras" actually includes dances
without a partner swing-- gasp!

I was on autopilot when I suggested this and credited it to Roger Diggle. It's 
because the version I usually call is Roger's variation of Al's dance, which Al 
liked even better than his original composition.

MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR 
Roger Diggle variation of dance by Al Olson
Becket formation

A1  Circle left 3/4, allemande right with your neighbor 1-1/2 into long waves
(men facing in, women out)

A2  Rory O'More balances 

B1  Allemande right once around, men start hey for four across the set

B2  Continue the hey (until you meet partner), swing partner, slide left along
the set to the next couple


Hope this helps...

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH

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Re: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

[David Millstone]

Dear Alison,

> Is the momentum from cast off proper really any different from a ladies chain
into long lines forward and back? 

No. It's just that instead of starting across, as in a courtesty turn, with a
180 degree assisted turn, with a cast off the assisted turn starts with the
actuve couple facing up and the turn is more like 270 degrees, three quarters of
the way around, to end facing across.

Zesty Contras does, indeed, appear to be available from CDSS:

http://www.cdss.org/sales/american_dance.html#books

and scroll down to Jennings. Along with 500 dances in his unique transcription
style, Larry includees many provocative essays that are in many ways even more
valuable than the dances. Same thing goes for Give-and-Take, the more recent
sequel which was written in part because Larry's sense of what constituted a
"zesty" contra had changed over time. "Zesty Contras" actually includes dances
without a partner swing-- gasp!

Rory O'More balances for all in contempory contras work because they're done in
two lines, one on each side of the set, rather than one line down the center.
There's simply not enough room to put all the dancers into one line. (Think of
normal spacing along a contra line, and now put twice as many people into it.)

MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR
Al Olson
duple improper contra

A1  Circle left; allemande right neighbor 1-1/2 to a long wave

A2  All balance right, then left, then slde right past your neighbor (the Rory
O'More balances)
 For new wave, balance left, right, and slide left past that same neighbor

B1  Allemande right neighbor once around (just 4 counts!), men start hey for
four across the set, going 3/4 of the way

B2  All swing partner; ladies chain

I was on autopilot when I suggested this and credited it to Roger Diggle.
It'sbecause the versin I usually call is Roger's variation of Al's dance, which
Al liked even better than his original composition.

MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR 
Roger Diggle variation of dance by Al Olson
Becket formation

A1  Circle left 3/4, allemande right with your neighbor 1-1/2 into long waves
(men facing in, women out)

A2  Rory O'More balances 

B1  Allemande right once around, men start hey for four across the set

B2  Continue the hey (until you meet partner), swing partner, slide left along
the set to the next couple


And if that's not enough, Al Olson also came up with...

MORE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR #2, which is published in Give-and-Take...


Hope this helps...

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH

Re: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

[Beth Parkes]

Zesty Contras is on this page:
http://cdss.org/sales/american_dance.html#books

It is a steal at $10.00. If you also do not have Give and Take, the sequel
to Zesty Contras, it is listed on this page as well.

Hope this helps,
Beth Parkes

> crunchym...@juno.com
> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 5:41 PM
> To: call...@sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More
> 
> Thank you all, again, for all the help with Rory O'More. Apparently the
> decision on how or even whether to call it has been postponed for me by
> the weather- our dance for tonight was snowed out!! (My kids are
> thrilled, the jonquils maybe less so.)

> If anyone would be willing to post "More For Your Neighbor" by Al Olson
> I'd appreciate it!!
> 
> I already tried looking it up on the net, which insists it is by Al
> Olson rather than Roger Diggle. It was published in "Zesty Contras"
> which I unfortunately do not own. "Zesty Contras" is not currently
> available on Amazon, and while NEFFA publishes it and says it is
> available through CDSS, I couldn't find it there.

[Callers] thanks again for all the help with Rory O'More

[crunchym...@juno.com]

Thank you all, again, for all the help with Rory O'More. Apparently the 
decision on how or even whether to call it has been postponed for me by the 
weather- our dance for tonight was snowed out!! (My kids are thrilled, the 
jonquils maybe less so.)  

I'm not supposed to call again till April 18th, I will think on it till then, 
but I'm still not convinced that having all hands in for the Rory O'More line 
wouldn't work- can you tell stubborn runs in the family!? 

Is the momentum from cast off proper really any different from a ladies chain 
into long lines forward and back? 

If Rory O'More LWL work in modern dances, why wouldn't there be space for 
everyone? 

Is there just not enough time for the 2's to back out? The hand grips in the 
LWL seem perfect for a little push off momentum for the 2's  walking back, and 
their presence does not interfere with the 1's being in the right place. 

You'd even get a little A2 preview of your corners in B1: 1's have P in R hand, 
2nd corner in L, then after the first (8) P in L hand, 1st corner in R.

Ah well, I will give y'all a report when I get a chance to try it. Hopefully a 
glowing one rather than crash and burn! 

If anyone would be willing to post "More For Your Neighbor" by Al Olson I'd 
appreciate it!! 

I already tried looking it up on the net, which insists it is by Al Olson 
rather than Roger Diggle. It was published in "Zesty Contras" which I 
unfortunately do not own. "Zesty Contras" is not currently available on Amazon, 
and while NEFFA publishes it and says it is available through CDSS, I couldn't 
find it there. 

Thank you again for all the encouragement, advice and insight.
Alison Murphy


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 it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
~ James Madison 
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Re: [Callers] Thanks!

[Jeffrey Petrovitch]

Yes!  Thank you to everyone.

Jeff

[Callers] Thanks!

[Rickey]

Hi,

Thanks to all of you who sent in tips for calling, thanks to all of you who
sent in dances with star promenades and thanks to Richard and Jeff for
asking.  We all benefit!!!

Rickey Holt.

Re: [Callers] Thanks for New Years Ideas

[Jerome Grisanti]

Karen,

"Lucky Five" is Bob's slight variation on "Lucky Seven:"

Lucky Five
Bob Dalsemer
Circle Mixer -- Easy

A1: Circle Left, circle right

A2: Forward and back, face partner and do-si-do

B1: Grand right & left, counting partner as one. Swing the fifth.

B2: Promenade the one you swung.

Because you pass four people, this sets you up nicely for a square with a
grand R later in the evening. You can of course count aloud "one, two,
three, four, five" but Bob suggested "A, E, I, O, U" with "You!" being the
one you swing.

This can also be used as an easy square break, easy since there's no corner
allemande to set up the grand R In a square I would change the B2 to
eight-count promenade and swing again at home. Or grand R all the way home
(16) & swing (16).

Jerome


Message: 4

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:47:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Karen Fontana <karen_font...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Thanks for New Years Ideas
To: Caller's discussion list <call...@sharedweight.net>
Message-ID: <197133.60827...@web30311.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi Jerome,

Thanks for sharing, sounds interesting.  I looked online for <> and wasn't able to find it...

Would you mind to share it?

Thanks,

Karen Fontana


--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
660-528-0714
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

[Callers] Thanks for New Years Ideas

[Jerome Grisanti]

I wanted to say "thank you" to the many folks who chimed in with great ideas
about orchestrating the midnight "moment" at a New Years Eve dance. I ended
up using several, plus one.

Firstly, I took the approach that there would be a New Years celebration at
the top of each hour, at least in some time zone, so we might as well join
in here too. For midnight local time, we sang "Auld Lang Syne," danced a
mixer (Bob Dalsemer's "Lucky Five"), got back to our partners and shifted to
a waltz. For one of the other times we did a grand march, shifted to a
circle with some ins and outs to get in the shouts, then went into a spiral
dance. This seemed new to a lot of the crowd, so it went really well. For
one of the other "midnights" we waltzed.

--
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
660-528-0714
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

[Callers] Thanks and more

[Rickey]

Hi all,

First I would like to thank all of you who have been answering my questions
so far.  At first I didn’t know how to email back only those who had
answered rather than the whole list, and then I thought that I would see you
at NEFFA.  That did not happen either so here is a general thanks.
Secondly, I have two versions of Gene Hubert’s “Summer of ‘84” (written with
Steve Schnur ?), that differ in A1 and A2, and I was wondering which if any,
was correct. I would love to call one of these versions this Thursday. Both
versions are duple improper. The two versions are:

Version 1 

(A1) forward and back all (8), Men allemande left (1 ½), Right to Partner to
a wavy line across (8)

(A2) balance that wavy line (4), walk forward (leaving Partner) to new wavy
line across (4), balance there (4), Allemande Right “shadow” (4) and back to
Partner

 

Version 2

(A1) forward and back all (8), Men allemande RIGHT ( ½ ) (2), Partner
Allemande left to a wavy line across (6)

(A2) balance the wave (4), walk forward (leaving Partner) to new wavy line
across (4), Balance that wavy line (4), Allemande LEFT ( ¾ ) to Partner

 

The B sections are the same.

 

Finally, I would like to ask your opinion about starting a new dance series
in a town that already has a series.  In the case I am thinking of there
already is a well established dance in the same town, and it is not at all
clear that the town can support two dance series every month.

 

Thank you all in advance for your replies,

Rickey Holt.

[Callers] Thanks to the Dean, II

[David Millstone]

Something didn't seem right in the directions as cited-- I don't call the dance
with a balance in A2-- so I went back and checked. When the dance was published
in Ted Sannella's "Swing the Next," Ted had this to say:

"Originally there was a balance before the swing in A2. I found the transition
from the allemande directlyu into the swing to be more pleasing, and mentioned
this to Steve. He tried it without the balance, liked it and declared that to be
the 'official' version It's one of my favorites."

Steve wrote the dance shortly after Ralph Page died in February of 1985.

David