Here's a "how-to" that I wrote several years ago that covers putting
together dance medleys and mixing music, including what to do with
"non-square" phrases.
*Crossover contras: music and dance medleys:* *Creating a fun and danceable
contra dance medley to alternative music*
Erik B. Erhardt, Albuq
Here is a contra I have had success with new dancers - but only if they are
doing really well on the other stuff - otherwise I avoid contras.
A1 - Cir L - dosido neighborA2 ladies dosido, gents dosidoB1 Long Liine for &
back - 1s swing in centerB2 Down hall line of 4 - don't let go - back up -
Do Si Three by Linda Leslie is another excellent dance for newbies. It has
progression and swings (I encourage elbow swings) and it doesn't matter a
bit where one ends up. It's always been a great success when I've called it.
On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 11:02 AM Rich Sbardella via Callers <
callers@li
I don't think you would ever play a random non-vetted techno track for
contra, though. The DJs who get booked for these events are specifically
techno contra DJs.
On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 11:59 AM jim saxe via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> On Mar 28, 2019, at 2:39 PM, Bob via
I mix lots of genres of music for contras. The only track I’ve ever called
without mixing was the first release of Mika’s “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)”
on Cartoon Motion. It goes 7x through so it was a real short dance but a nice
filler with a no-walkthrough dance.
Everything else needs work.
On Mar 28, 2019, at 2:39 PM, Bob via Callers
wrote:
> ...
> Live or mixed recordings? If live then it should be perfectly square AABB. If
> mixed, the only thing you can count on is 8-beat phrases. ...
Can you even count on 8-beat phrases if someone, such as a caller or a
knowledgeable DJ, ha
Casey,
In a one hour gig with lots of newbies, I would suggest not using any
progressive contras. There are too many fun dances that usr similar basics
without the complication of progression.
I have been hired to call such contra dances, but found the most success
calling dances likes "Rakes of
I would strongly suggest that you don’t use the phrase “Give weight” when
teaching. It will be misunderstood and people will pull and lean. I believe
its is much better to talk about “connection”.
Happy dancing,
John
Yes, to what everyone said.
When I program for techno I try for specific 8 +8 counts throughout the dance
or 4+4+8 in a phrase. I've found that the 4+12 ct of a Balance and swing is
usually cut short or a flowing phrase of an allemande/star promenade/butterfly
whirl gets interpreted differentl
I would also start with a circle - teach giving weight, hand holds, 8
counts. Might teach La Bastringue (keeping partners and 2 hand turn
instead of swing). I would definitely not teach swings in an hour - no
ladies chains. Just circles, stars, allemandes, dos si dos.
Depending on the crowd
Hi Liz,
I would start with something like:
In a big circle teach: 8-count moves; hand-holds and connection; how to swing
Family Contra so they learn to progress. No swings so that they can’t end on
the wrong side and mess things up. Tell them not to switch lines when they get
I have a gig coming up at a library wherein I have one hour to teach and
call contra dances. It's a mixed crowd, and I heard there may be a lot of
tweens present. I think I'd like to focus on bigger picture things - moving
up and down the line, swinging, interacting with their set. I imagine I may
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