Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

Delia said, “especially with the family/community/ONS dances that are my mainstay. It’s easy to call, emphasizes eye contact, flirty and fun like the original move.” Please see http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html. The original move was not flirty and did not involve eye contact :-)

Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

Bob said: "Walk all around" [the left-hand lady] has been the MWSD terminology, and it seems adequate to me. Why create new terminology? The MWSD definition is: Dance action: Dancers face their corners. Walking forward and around each other while keeping right shoulders adjacent, dancers return

Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

Since the topic has been re-opened… First, please may I clear up a couple of points of confusion. The original version of the Gypsy dance move did not involve eyes. The first known mention of eyes is in America in 1983. Dancers outside the modern contra genre do not always lock eyes.

Re: [Callers] What can you do.....?

Bill asked, "Consider a right and left thru. Which is more natural: following by Circle Left or Circle Right?" Ah ha! That's a trick question! Right & Left Thru is not natural itself, so the answer is neither! :-) Happy dancing,

Re: [Callers] What can you do.....?

For a Petronella, I always say, "Look to your right, step to your right, spin to your right". But some look to the right, then spin to the left (must be very uncomfortable!). As long as they are happy and get to the correct place then accept it as a win. Happy dancing,

Re: [Callers] Tempos for Contras (was Re: Tempo for Squares)

http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm is an excellent tool for timing music or videos on your computer.    Happy dancing,    John John Sweeney, Dancer, England   j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574

Re: [Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

Hi Jim, Q: I said, "The only thing I focus on with respect to music is getting them to hear the eights and be ready for the next "one"." You asked, "do you say anything in particular about the structure of the music or have new dancers do any particular exercises to practice awareness of "the

Re: [Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

“maybe swinging”? You swing every 15 seconds! And, for beginners, the most common fault in contras is to finish the swing on the wrong side, thus messing up the next figure or the progression. If I only had time to teach one thing, then it would unquestionably be the swing - how to

Re: [Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

The only thing I focus on with respect to music is getting them to hear the eights and be ready for the next "one". So, if there is a band they can play anything. If there isn't I play an mp3 file at 115 to 120bpm on my deck. Failing that I just count. Having circled left and right and gone

Re: [Callers] Public Dance, Ideas Wanted

Colin suggested: https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Clopton_Bridge Make sure that you check the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB4a1z-DHwM to understand the music speed and the stepping (watch the dancers who are doing what the caller is saying). The music in that video is at 74

Re: [Callers] Brain Dead - Need Suggestions

Hi Linda, With some of the dancers as young as five you have quite a challenge. :-) I would start with something like: Welcome to the Dance Sicilian Circle A1: Circle Left; Circle Right A2: Star Right; Star Left B1: Neighbour Arm Right; Arm Left B2: With

Re: [Callers] "Dixie Twirl" term

I call lots of dances with Thread the Needle and it is never called by itself. First you have to tell the dancers who is making the arch. This is normally an end-of-line couple, so it is obvious that the other end of the line is doing the threading. For a Dixie Twirl you would need to

Re: [Callers] "Dixie Twirl" term

Sorry, but I don't understand how the term Dixie Twirl can be considered to be culturally sensitive. There are over twenty towns in the USA called Dixie. I haven't heard of any plans to change their name by them, or Winn-Dixie, or the Dixie Chicks, or countless other organisations with

Re: [Callers] Larks and Robins

I wish people who document dances on the forum would not write things like “ladies’/robins’ chain”. We all know what you mean if you say either “ladies’ chain” or “robins’ chain”. You don’t need to say both. Trying to parse a dance with extra words scattered throughout it can be very

Re: [Callers] Double Grand Square

I had these responses from trad-dance-call...@yahoogroups.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = Otto Warteman: I had an exhibition group from 1975-1998 and we did it with 32 dancers, but with 8 steps and turn and alternating couples turning. You can

[Callers] Double Grand Square

Hi all, This post is all about Double Grand Squares. But just to justify it being on a contra dance forum, here are a couple of nice Four-Facing-Four contras that incorporate Grand-Square-like figures, and call them "Double Grand Squares": https://grandsquare.dk/alle/index.php?menu=5

[Callers] 101 Formations

Thanks to all those who have contributed more formations since I started this page with about 80 formations. I was going to let you know when I hit 100. But Carmen Giunta sent me Wheels Within Wheels this morning, and I found Seth Tepfer calling Double Grand Square this afternoon. So

Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance

Hi Bill, Just get them to line up in contra lines and say, "Hands six from the top; hold hands in a circle of six; spread out and find some space then make two lines of three facing three." Then you just have to sort out any odd couples at the bottom.

Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance

Hi Rich, While Linda’s “Corner Triplet” is a good dance, it does leave the #2s and #3s with nothing to do most of the time. For a Triplet I prefer Michrochasmic: http://www.folkdancecamp.org/assets/Contra-MicrochasmicTriplet-SFDC2015.pdf For a

Re: [Callers] What are they thunking? (was Re: Hand Turns & Safety)

At the last Style & Technique workshop that I ran at Chippenham Folk Festival, one of the key areas that I focussed on was finishing a flourish with both dancers facing in the correct direction, and on time. One guy failed completely. When my wife danced with him during the lesson, and pointed

Re: [Callers] Two Face Three Dance Inquiry

Hi Rich, Jack Turns Back is a circle of five. You can find a link to the instructions at http://contrafusion.co.uk/Formations.html On the same page you will find two actual Two Face Three dances, plus lots more dances for five dancers, or indeed any number!

Re: [Callers] Allemande

Hi Tom, As I say at the top of the page, "Allemande" is a popular word and has been used to mean many completely different things. For example Wilson, in 1816, used "Allemande" to mean a Dosido using three chasses, a jete and an assemble (polka steps then jump)!

[Callers] Allemandes, Hand Turns and Arming

Hi all, Following up on forum discussions over the years, some of which floundered a little without photographs to aid the discussion, I have now created this page on Allemandes: http://contrafusion.co.uk/Allemande.html I haven't linked to it yet. Please let me

Re: [Callers] Colin Hume

https://colinhume.com/Contact.aspx Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574

Re: [Callers] Hand Turns & Safety

Hi Andrea, Absolutely. All moves should be taught explicitly as not a grip. Amazing! There is always something new to learn. I have been dancing the cupped elbow hold for over 50 years, and taught it to literally thousands of dancers. I have never heard about

Re: [Callers] Hand Turns & Safety

definition of what they consider to be this problematic option? Bob On Tue, May 21, 2019 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Callers mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Hmm… I seem to have stirred up a hornet’s nest! It is great to see discussion on this important topic. Ther

Re: [Callers] Hand Turns & Safety

Hmm… I seem to have stirred up a hornet’s nest! It is great to see discussion on this important topic. There are two very different forearm holds. *** In front of the elbow ***: This is the MWSD version. Callerlab defines it as: “Forearm: The arms are held past the wrist but not past

Re: [Callers] Name that Dance

Hi Rich, I would just call it a "Big Set Mixer". It is a slight variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a 32 bar sequence that works for their dancers. While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I really wish

Re: [Callers] Easy flourishes or other "bonus" movements?

Hi Lenore, I think part of the challenge with contra is that there is so little teaching done at dances. Technique is very rarely taught; people are just supposed to pick it all up as they go along. As a result people who can get through challenging dances consider themselves

[Callers] How Many Formations Are There?

Hi All, Recently two situations started me thinking about formations. Firstly, three different times, in different places, with different people, the topic came up of why so many dance sessions consisted of a single formation: "Longways for as many as will", also known as "contra

Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance

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

Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance

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

Re: [Callers] Opposite StarThru and functional difference in LD v Slide

Hi Seth, 1) Larry Jennings has a whole section on this in Give-and-Take. Page 42: Effective Lingo. He suggests that you don't need any fancy names. Just use "Twirl to Swap". As you do the walk-through you tell the dancers: Initial facing Final facing Which hands

Re: [Callers] Building to Contra Corners

But I’m guessing that you do things like: Neighbour Swing, Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing multiple times in an evening. I would much rather do Contra Corners multiple times! :-) Happy dancing, John

Re: [Callers] Easy/Fun Hey-for-Three Contras

Hi Don, You could try http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/HeyDown.html For a more contra feel change B2 to Neighbour Swing; Long Lines Go Forward & Back. You could do http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/TheDolphinsF8.html as a Shetland Reel: #1 Man

Re: [Callers] Calling a "box circulate"

If someone tells me to rotate then I will turn on the spot :-) The move is called Box Circulate. It doesn't make sense to me to use "rotate" instead of "circulate". When you are calling then using instructions such as Men Cross, Ladies Turn (or just Circulate once they have got it) is obviously

[Callers] Twitter and Instagram for Contra Dance Marketing

Hi all, Has anyone had any success at getting new people along to dances by using Twitter or Instagram? If so, please do you have any advice on: How to get started? What sort of material to post? Who to Follow to see some successful usage?

Re: [Callers] Oval Petronella critique

Hi Austin, I’ve always found balances in lines to be fun. Yes, it is a different feeling from a Wave Balance, but so is a standard Petronella Balance. The whole line spinning together is great as well. I can’t agree that the “ideal” Wave Balance is Right/Left. That is only

Re: [Callers] Oval Petronella - critique please

Hi Bill, I first saw it in The Balanced Diet by Sue Rosen. Here's one I wrote after seeing that: http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/SlithyDance.html I find it better to Balance Right & Left rather than Forward & Back (as in a four person Petronella); it sets the momentum up

Re: [Callers] Gate vs Hand Cast

Hi Don, I think that the default definition now is that the pivot point is at the joined hands, but diverse choreography means that it can be anywhere in order to achieve the desired effect. For example in Bob Isaacs’ March of the Triplets, the second pair of

[Callers] FW: Gate vs Hand Cast

Hi Don, Alan said most of it already. You could potentially use any of Gate, Wheel, Wheel Around, Assisted Cast, Hand Cast, Hand Cast Off, Turn as a Couple! From Zesty Contras: Hand Cast Off: Often shortened to “hand cast”, even though it is

Re: [Callers] A Call for Caller Jokes

For loads more, get ready to groan: http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/dancingjokes.html Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England

[Callers] My First Triple Minor

Hi Judy, I like Alamo Triad from Give-and-Take. Hands Six from the top. #1s Improper, #2s and #3s Becket, now hold hands in a circle of six - #1s keep your backs to the band. It is Double Progression, so you don't spend so long out at the end. It

Re: [Callers] Teaching a Mad Robin

Hi Don, I find that the key word is the one that Maia used: “Slide”. I teach it as slide in front/behind, step forwards/backwards, slide back to where you started. And, very important, I call it as “Slide (to the side)” for the first few times

Re: [Callers] Easy contras for teens

Hi Don, I get confused when Americans use Sashay in a dance. Do you mean Sashay as in Roll Away with a Half Sashay – where it just means step to the side? Or do you mean Sashay as in the dictionary: “walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner,

Re: [Callers] Barn dances for teens

Hi Rick, Here are a few ideas: http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/DiversDelight.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/FourJollySheepskins.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/PlainHamburger.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/WaltzCountryDance.html

Re: [Callers] Intrigued by a Photo

Bottoms Up (Author unknown) Five Couples; Longways; Proper A1:Top Two Men Arch; #1 Lady leads Thread the Needle A2:Top Two Ladies Arch; #1 Man leads Thread the Needle B1: Circle Left; Circle Right [OR Partner Swing; Long Lines – gives recovery time if they are late]

Re: [Callers] does this dance already exist?

A Box the Gnat finishes with you facing the person you did it with. So everyone has to turn 90 degrees to face their neighbour for A2. On another point. It is not a Square Through! (Sorry, just checked Callerlab: Square Thru!) A Square Thru finishes with your back to the last person

Re: [Callers] Luke's Tunnel

om being a square dance. Is there a reason to run it as a "contra" rather than a "square"? Or do you find the distinction doesn't really matter? On Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 8:19 AM John Sweeney via Callers mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: I took Luke’s Dou

[Callers] Luke's Tunnel

I took Luke's Double Contra and, since I often work with small groups, made it into a Four Couple Dance: Luke's Tunnel (by John Sweeney/Luke Donforth) Four Couples; Longways; Becket Start in Side Lines; Number the positions as in a Square Dance A1: Neighbour Balance & Box the Gnat - keep

Re: [Callers] Barn Weddings are a thing now

Hi Luke, I call for two or three weddings a year. There are as many non-weddings as weddings in barns. Some of the barns are terrible! The weddings tend to be in the better quality barns. I think a number of old barns have been refurbished to

Re: [Callers] Glossary dances with promenade, no chain/RL through?

Hi Maia, Just take any dance with a Right & Left Through and change it to a Half Promenade. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England

Re: [Callers] New 4x4 composition with a tunnel, and related questions

Hi Luke, I called it tonight. We had low numbers so I tested it during the interval with some volunteers as a Four Couple Dance. At the end of the Partner Swing we just faced back to the same line. Or changed it from Head Lines to Side Lines if we wanted different people to go

Re: [Callers] Contras with square dance figures

Hi Rachel, Some of the moves that have been mentioned are actually English country dance moves that have been used in squares. Grand Square: 1648: http://sca.uwaterloo.ca/~praetzel/sca/lansdowne.html And a few years later in Playford’s Hunsdon House. This is, of course, a

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

let go of the pointy hands works much better than “gents on the left, ladies on the right” for ending correctly. Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org On Jul 24, 2018, at 12:00 PM, John Sweeney via Callers mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > wrote: Your ne

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

Here’s another easy one – my version of J & L, using ideas picked from other callers: Jefferson & Liberty #27 Contra; Improper A1: Circle Left; Star Right A2: Star Left; Circle Right – finish where you started B1: #1s Dance Down the Outside (6), Turn around (2) #1s Dance Back

Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

Hi Lorraine, As has been said, if you really want to do contras the you need to have a program which teaches basic concepts and builds on them. Family Contra is a great dance for teaching the concept of progression:

Re: [Callers] Does a 1/2 figure 8 and cast off exist in ECD? In Contra?

Hi Luke, I am not sure why you are calling it a Half Figure Eight. Unless I have misunderstood something, you just have the ladies crossing the set, going around each other instead of straight across, while the men move out of the way. Since the active dancers don't go around a

Re: [Callers] Circles, Crazy Circles

Hi Rich, If you have a great dance that you want to call but it has a circle, and you have called too many circles, then why not just rechoreograph it to remove the circle? For example you can replace Neighbour Swing; Circle Left 3/4; Partner Swing with Neighbour Swing;

Re: [Callers] Circles, Crazy Circles

Larry Jenning's words from Give-and-Take (just in case there is anyone out there who doesn't have, or can't find their copy!): = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = GIVE-AND-TAKE: General definition adopted by some callers and composers: The "swingers", a man and a woman facing across the set,

Re: [Callers] What is a contra?

Hi Colin, I think there at least three definitions: 1) Average American understanding today: >From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance Many modern contra dances have these characteristics: longways for as many as will first couples improper, or Becket formation

[Callers] Sunshine & Dancing - Where to go in Jan/Feb?

Hi all, Karen and I like to get some winter sunshine (temperature averaging at least mid-sixties) with lots of dancing (ECD, contra, square, etc.) on our USA vacations in January or February, taking in a dance festival if we can. Any recommendations as to the best

Re: [Callers] A Dance without Partner Swing

Hi Rich, I call them: * As the first dance when there are lots of beginners. Quite often they will dance with each other, so doing a dance with only a Neighbour Swing means that they get to learn to swing with lots of other people before doing a Partner Swing dance together.

Re: [Callers] Need help teleporting to other side of set - new dance

Hi Ken, How about: 1) (Balance Forward & Back) Men Orbit CW Half Way WHILE Ladies Allemande Left Half; Neighbour Swing 2) Travelling Gypsy Meltdown: Lock Eyes and the Man starts Orbiting CW with the Lady following, Gypsying around each other to the other side and melting

[Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra

I picked up a Square Dance break from somewhere that was called the Dixie Chain Break: Dixie Chain Break: Heads Hey for Four with hands – Ladies lead with Right Hand Sides the same Heads and Sides do simultaneous Heys – when four are in the middle they do a Hands Across Star (Ladies Star, Pull

Re: [Callers] Leading, consent in embellishments

My belief: For the actual dance there is only one Leader: that is the caller. All the dancers are Followers, following the caller’s Lead. Any suggestion that one role has a leading responsibility is misleading and does disservice to all the dancers in the other role. Historically

Re: [Callers] Leading, consent in embellishments

Angela’s point about managing your weight is really important. I hate the term “give weight”! I really don’t want your weight, in swings or allemandes or anything else. I am happy, though, to counterbalance your mass in order to stop centrifugal force pulling us apart. It is dancing,

Re: [Callers] Leading, consent in embellishments

Hi Jeanette, For star holds see: http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers-sharedweight.net/2016-October/001950.html Embellishments are best achieved in a microsecond by a good leader initiating the embellishment and a good follower following it.

Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?

Hi Amy, No, no, that’s not what See-Saw means! You can see a See-Saw being performed just after 31 seconds into: https://archive.org/details/square_dancing No, just kidding.  Dosido and Seesaw mean lots of different things (I have a contra

Re: [Callers] Looking for "fun" dances

Since so many people enjoy the contrary circling in The Wheel, you might enjoy this one as well: Suicide Square http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?view=1=9 It is extremely chaotic! You can reduce the chaos slightly by getting the band to stop randomly during the circling, at

Re: [Callers] Double petronella Dance -- Name?

Hi, I don’t know that dance. But I have another dance with that move in my file. I learnt it as a “Petronella Pivot”. You’ll find the dance, “A Glimpse of Beauty “, at http://charleyharvey.com/dances.html Happy dancing,

[Callers] Hole in the Wall Crossing

Hi Angela, “Hole in the Wall” isn’t a move. It is a dance from 1695. The “Hole in the Wall Crossing” is not a new move. It is a stylised version of a normal Cross Over. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25=TUxbcJIOHNY There are

[Callers] Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Gypsies (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Important note: This is NOT about whether or not modern callers should use the term. Please don't raise that question in response to this note. This is a historical analysis of the gypsy. If you are interested please look at http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html where you will find all these

Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography

Hi, Dugan asked about waltz contra choreographies. The music in the Allison Wonderland video is much faster than I would use for a contra waltz. Many of the dancers seem to end up almost running to keep up. The waltz at the beginning or end of an evening at a contra dance is

Re: [Callers] Looking for a particular sort of becket dance

Hi Kalia, I see you have loads of responses already! Here are a few easy ones from my files that I believe meet your criteria: Bases Loaded (by Jim Saxe, Lydee Scudder, and Tom Thoreau) Contra; Becket (CW) Start by turning the circle of four 1/8 AC so that you face another couple on

Re: [Callers] Quiet (was Super easy dances - do they exist?)

Jim said: "I think there's more to it than using up a bit of energy. John had also shown the dancers (not merely told/lectured them) that he had something to offer that was fun. I think that could have done at least a little toward making them willing to attend to whatever he was about to

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

Hi Linda, Do you try to teach them a Ballroom Hold Swing? I.e. a standard contra swing? I never use that for one night stands. For first-timers I always teach them to put their right forearms together, gently hook their hand around their partner’s elbow, with the thumb below

Re: [Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

Hi Linda, Re your Box ‘n’ Swat: I have a somewhat similar dance in my files: Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes) A1) Into the Middle & Back x 2 A2) Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido B1) Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw

Re: [Callers] Docey-Doe (Was: Swing Like Thunder)

There is a very good example of the rollaway into a Docey-Doe, that Tony mentions, in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfZZdB2MyKs at 5:16 Then you can see it danced three times in the next dance sequence. Especially check out the one at 6:44 with a lady doing a double spin! Happy dancing, John

Re: [Callers] Swing Like Thunder

Hi Deborah, The move for two couples is also known as a California Show Basket, an Appalachian Big Set/Square dance move. I have the full Swing Like Thunder as: First Couple out to the Right : Circle Up Four Take Hands Across: Men take hands; Ladies take hands below Ladies Bow:

Re: [Callers] New Dance to Share

Hi Frederick, You'll find lots of dances at: http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances.html http://contrafusion.co.uk/DancesEDS.html If you call the Weevil, the most helpful things you can do are: Make sure everyone knows that there are seven positions and the "threes" must face the gaps

Re: [Callers] Two New Dances

d Summer 2017) -----Original Message- From: Callers [mailto:callers-boun...@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of John Sweeney via Callers Sent: Saturday, May 6, 2017 8:18 AM To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Two New Dances Hi All, These two proved popular at Eastbo

[Callers] Two New Dances

Hi All, These two proved popular at Eastbourne International Folk Festival. I would be interested in any comments on them, and on whether the Double Gypsy I have used is common. Rogue's March has the same first half as Devil's Dream, but without the awkward hand change at the end

Re: [Callers] Ladies Chain to Allemande Left (Was: Does this dance already exist?)

Hi All, Ladies' Chain to Allemande Left is actually the original version of the Ladies' Chain! I believe that the Courtesy Turn was added sometime late in the 19th century, or maybe in the first half of the 20th century. Prior to that the "Chaine des Dames" was always danced as

Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

Hi all, My categories are a little different: Dances I want to try once I am calling for a group that can handle them Dances for beginners My current set of favourite dances which I will use for most gigs Dances to fall back on when something doesn't work Chestnuts and other traditional

Re: [Callers] Name and author for circle mixer?

"Corner" does not appear to be well defined from the ending position of that Dosido - normally for a Corner the Lady would look Right. In Give & Take it specifies Dosido 1 & 1/4 which makes it clearer - the person now beside you who you did not Dosido, i.e. the one on your left is the one you

Re: [Callers] ACK! First time calling night of *squares* -- any last minute advice?

Hi Meg, Or you may have seen the Grand Chain, sorry Grand Right & Left for you Americans, without the Allemande in other dance styles. English ceilidh dances don’t bother with the Allemande. And of course it occurred in 1650 dances as well. The earliest record I know of is in

Re: [Callers] ACK! First time calling night of *squares* -- any last minute advice?

Meg said, "I have better luck teaching that to beginners if I teach the grand right and left first and *then* add the allemande left, rather than teach it in the sequence it's presented in the dance." The same advice was given by Lloyd Shaw in "Cowboy Dances" in 1939: "It is so simple that it

Re: [Callers] Local styles vs. consensus (Was: Another vote for "jets" and "rubies")

Yes, but… Variations in local styling can be very unsatisfying unless: 1) visiting dancers are prepared to accept the local styling 2) if the caller sees problems then they explain what the local styling is and ask visitors to respect it At my contra dances I always ask visiting callers

Re: [Callers] Lead & Follow

Cara asked, "Is there something wrong with Lead and Follow? Not sure if I have posted this on here before; my apologies if you read it all before. My beliefs, understandings, opinions - some points: 1) Contra is not intrinsically a lead/follow dance style; calling the roles "leader" &

Re: [Callers] Slice vs Yearn

Richard Hopkins asked, "What is 'slice'? And is it different from 'yearn'?" I think most people use Slice and Yearn to mean the same thing: As a couple move forward diagonally to face the next couple (default is usually to the left); high-five them with your spare hands (not the one you are

Re: [Callers] Variations of 3-33 by Steve Zakon-Anderson

Instead of Ladies Dosido 1 & 1/2 I always teach Ladies Dosido then Pass Through (by the Right Shoulder). That makes it clearer as to where they are heading (especially if they like spinning their Dosidos!). Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362

Re: [Callers] Favorite relatively Modern ECD

Hi Erik, It all depends on how you, or the group you are working with, define ECD. The definition of country dancing in England is much wider. We'll dance anything the caller calls as long as it is fun. You can find some 50 year old dances at

Re: [Callers] Wizard's Way?

Yes, Dean Snipes. Sent off-list. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

Re: [Callers] Wrist Lock Stars - Summary

David said, " I would rather have a lump star moving promptly than a beautiful wrist star three steps late". Absolutely! Which is why I always teach the dancers to move their feet first and worry about their hands once they are moving. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England

[Callers] Wrist Lock Stars - Summary

Thanks to all those who contributed. Here is a summary of the key points that were made. It is clear that the wrist lock star is indeed the standard across the USA, with only a few areas using hands across. Summary Names: Wrist Star, Box Star, Wrist-Grip Star, Wrist-Lock Star, Pack-saddle

Re: [Callers] Contra friendly squares

Hi Ron, Here are some figures that might fit your needs. But you also need some breaks/choruses that contra dancers will find easy; you don’t have to use ones shown with the figures. Chippenham Square by Colin Hume http://colinhume.com/insts.htm#ChippenhamSquare Geezy Peezy by Larry

Re: [Callers] Ralph Page Style

Hi Neal, Thanks. But I don't understand what Ralph's smoother style was. To me, modern contra dancing is beautifully smooth. Larry Jennings defines the style in Zesty Contras as "zesty, purposeful, extroverted, smooth, meticulously phrased, strongly connected, vigorous, New England,

Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

Hi Read, Yes, you shouldn't pull away from the centre, but then I never recommend that in any move. But you can pull forwards around the circle. I always teach that you are pulling the person behind you, who is pulling the person behind them, who is pulling the person behind them, who

[Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars

Hi all, I have been to contra dances and festivals all over America and everywhere I have danced everyone automatically uses a wrist-lock star (unless the caller has specified hands-across because of the subsequent choreography). But I am constantly challenged in England by people

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