On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 05:45:53 -0700, Aahz via Callers wrote:
> Putting it another way, if they can't enjoy what makes contra different from
> square dancing, why bother?
I was going to make exactly the same point. It's like people who want to
introduce contra dancers to English, and therefore
On Tue, 8 Aug 2017 14:02:07 -0400, Dugan Murphy via Callers wrote:
> Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune?
Depends what you class as a contra! Here's one of mine - at least it's
longways duple improper.
http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#HeidisWaltz
Colin Hume
On Fri, 1 May 2015 04:44:13 + (UTC), Lindsey Dono via Callers
wrote:
> (Based on a YouTube video, Colin Hume's Kim's Game looks like a
> 4x4, but contains this "pass through to a new line" concept...)
And the YouTube video is correct (though naturally the band aren't
playing the tune I wrote
On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:34:10 -0400, Sister Mary Joseph wrote:
> I'm not sure if the dances I do know are even contras technically.
> I am pretty much working with the families who come here to Mass
> and am looking to add to the ten or so dances that they already
> know. Here are a few of our
Well, now we've moved on from political correctness to dance interpretation
(reconstruction) I have some interest in the matter.
On Mon, 26 Oct 2015 01:40:18 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote:
>�Basically, Cecil Sharp made up *and named* the Gypsy figure.
Are you sure he didn't get it from
On Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:48:00 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote:
> I didn't know morris dancers used "gypsy" rather than "gyp", as you
> say on the web page.
Alan -
I don't believe I say that. I say that Sharp's handwritten notes use
the word "gipsies", and I give links to prove it. I agree
On Wed, 16 Dec 2015 06:20:58 + (UTC), Michael Fuerst via Callers
wrote:
> "Mad Robin" became part of contra in the last ten years or so.
> Unless someone comes up with more succinct and descriptive words,
> we are probably stuck with "Mad Robin"
I use the word "shuttle" (though in the
I've been booked to teach/call at the New London Assembly in
Connecticut, Sunday July 17 to Sunday July 24, 2016. I'd love some
other bookings before or after this - I usually do 4 weeks when I
travel to the States. I call English, Squares and Contras - if you
don't like Squares you probably
On Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:47:04 -0500, Tom Hinds via Callers wrote:
> My understanding is that here in the US choreography can't be
> protected by law but the written word or the description of it can
> be legally copyrighted.
>
> It would be interesting to know what the law is in the UK.
My
On Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:27:19 -0500, Bree Kalb via Callers wrote:
> B1Women allmd Left 1/2; Ptr Swg
Bree -
I like the dance, but I would make the allemande left one and a half -
I think that fits the music better.
Colin Hume
Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
My dance Alterations Swing has three swings (double progression).
http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#AltSwing
Colin Hume
On Sat, 26 Mar 2016 11:22:05 -0400, Bob Isaacs via Callers wrote:
> A1. 1s cast to bottom, 1s up the center and 1/2 figure 8 below (2s move up)
> A2. 1s turn contra corners
Bob -
I don't see what you mean. 1/2 figure 8 would leave the ones improper for
contra corners.
One possibility is:
A1
On Tue, 5 Apr 2016 06:19:43 + (UTC), Lindsey Dono via Callers wrote:
> I'm working on a themed contra workshop called "Role Scramblers,"
Lindsey -
I'm not sure this fits your theme, but you could try my dance "Women in Charge":
http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#WomenInCharge
Colin Hume
(Sending to the list this time!)
On Mon, 9 May 2016 18:37:23 -0400, Bob Isaacs via Callers wrote:
> With a neighbor swing and a single progression, this is objectively better.
Bob -
That depends on your objectives! The original Becket Reel was a double
progression and I generally prefer that.
I'll reply off-list tomorrow
Colin Hume
The latest version of my Dance Organiser program (which runs on Windows,
including a Windows tablet) has extra features which may
appeal to contra callers. Now you can see a grid of which figures appear in
which dances of your event, and you can change things
to give more variety of figures. I
On Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:14:48 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote:
> go back far enough (1700s) and you get "moulinet" in French sources, "mill"
> in some English sources,f or what I'm
> pretty sure are hands-across stars.
In the Netherlands it's called "molen" which means "windmill". That's
On Sun, 8 Jan 2017 00:11:36 -0800, Martha Wild via Callers wrote:
> A1 Lines forward and back
> Dip and dive around the square*
> A2 Continue the dip and dive
> Women chain up and down the set
I'd prefer the ladies' chain after the forward and back. That means the dip
and dive fits into A2
Here's my favourite: Abnormality -
http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#Abnormality
Below this on the page you will also see two of mine which will also baffle
people:
Blackmore Gardens Contra
Colin's Back
Colin Hume
I agree with Andrea about not liking a ladies chain up and down.
Colin Hume
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I'm in Germany, and I'm speaking for the next few days at a Conference run by
the European Callers and Teachers Association.
Several of my sessions are about Contras, and speaking to the Contra
Coordinator as we drove to the hotel I realised we had very
different ideas about what a contra is.
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 13:51:14 -0500, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote:
> Thank you for the shout out to Entangled in Monte Carlo :-)
Luke -
I'm not likely to call contras with swing dance moves, but I noticed that in
typical Becket fashion yours finishes with a partner
swing. It then starts
On Thu, 2 Aug 2018 18:40:51 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote:
> interesting - the a1 looks pretty ambitious - but if they don't finish in
> time, the a2 is forgiving
I agree with Mac, but I also don't think contra dancers will be willing to take
4 steps to go forward and then 4 to
On Mon, 13 Aug 2018 09:18:36 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote:
> Just take any dance with a Right & Left Through and change it to a Half
> Promenade.
Brilliant!
Colin Hume
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Don -
I don't understand why Americans are so keen on this "Mad Robin" move.
Instead of staring at your partner the whole time, why not interact with other
people and just do a hey for four?
Colin Hume
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On Tue, 10 Jul 2018 10:23:02 -0400, Maia McCormick via Callers wrote:
> Re: g -- that's totally fair, and an experience I've had on the floor as
> well, but oh man when it's done right it's
> lovely! Maybe worth spending some time teaching the right way to do it from
> the mic?
In my
On Tue, 6 Mar 2018 17:41:55 -0800, Kalia Kliban via Callers wrote:
> If you work with something like Caller's Companion, do you update the program
> list with what you actually danced as
> opposed to what you programmed?
I work with my Dance Organiser, and yes, I always update the list
On Thu, 05 Apr 2018 23:08:43 +, Jack Mitchell wrote:
> That works a lot of the time, but it really doesn't work in dances like Ken
> is talking about. Dance like song in
> the night (gene Hubert), or for other dances where you go out and then in and
> then out, not necessarily with your
>
On Sat, 7 Apr 2018 12:07:55 -0400, K Panton via Callers wrote:
> Thanks to Yoyo for setting me straight, it looks like "treat P as N" does
> work on The Hobbit. I stand corrected.
I'm relieved that I don't have to introduce a 6th rule! I'll certainly try
this dance out when I get a chance.
On Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:49:07 +, Mary Collins via Callers wrote:
> Looking for dance ideas. Either with May or '5' idea in title. Thanks!
The Fifth of May - Bernard Chalk
Longways duple 32 bar jigs
A1: Right-hand star. First corners right-hand turn half-way, continue
outside
I'm not sure that dancing with ghosts is the best way to deal with end-effects
- I prefer "treat your partner as a neighbour".
I have a whole section of notes on End-effects at
https://colinhume.com/dtendeffects.htm
Colin Hume
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On Wed, 4 Apr 2018 19:09:58 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote:
> I have called hey mania several times and it is not hard to stay with the
> phrasing - as long as you use the swing
> after the heys to let everyone catch up
I agree with that - and I add a promenade after the final
I'm going to be controversial, so please think hard about what I'm saying - and
why you're reacting to it the way you
are - before replying.
I think "Political correctness" is mainly an American problem, though it seems
to be spreading to England too.
The word "nigger" was not originally a
On Tue, 3 Apr 2018 22:27:19 -0400, Luke Donforth wrote:
> I'd appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and
> how you'd teach it.
I think the "Bent 4x4" is an unnecessary complication. People expect to finish
the figure facing the next line, not facing into
the
It's on! Same venues as last time; same prices as advertised on the flyer.
Book your Early Bird tickets at http://eiff.org.uk/tickets.html
Colin Hume
Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
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In 2019 I'll be touring North America from around Thursday May 30 to Wednesday
June 19. If you'd like to book me to call English
or American please see http://colinhume.com/tour for more information.
Colin Hume
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On Mon, 24 Sep 2018 22:57:42 +, Bill Olson via Callers wrote:
> Judy, I really like Sackett's Harbor.
I second Bill's vote for Sackett's Harbor. Always goes down well, and it's a
good introduction to contra corners because the twos
and threes can only see their own active couple whereas
Rick -
Lots of good barn dance material on my "other" website,
http://barndances.org.uk/
You might even introduce them to Playford with "Black Nag"!
Colin Hume
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I've been having such trouble sending and receiving emails that my hosting
company will shortly be moving everything to
a new server. That means that both website and email will be down for a while.
If you might want to contact me, see
http://colinhume.com NOW for an alternative email address!
A new organisation, the English Dance Callers Association, has been formed to
run courses for Club Callers in England.
If you're a Club Caller who would like to improve your calling and thereby
improve the standard of dancing at your club, this is
for you!
The organisation was formed by
On Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:34:08 -0500, Michael Dyck via Callers wrote:
> Just curious: which word does "English" attach to? I.e., is it:
> an English association for callers of dance or
> an association for English callers of dance or
> an association for callers of English dance ?
A
On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 10:30:38 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote:
> Bottoms Up (Author unknown)
According to https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up the author
is Graham Spencer.
Colin Hume
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I'm calling the Boston Gender-free dance on 11th June, and in preparation for
this I've updated my Dance Organiser program so that
when you display the dance instructions full-screen you have the option of
converting "man" to "lark" and "lady" or "woman" to
"raven", etc.
You can download the
On Fri, 26 Apr 2019 14:44:32 -0700, Lenore Frigo via Callers wrote:
> I would like to teach some of my more advanced dancers some flourishes or
> other embellishments to contra dance.
> I'd like to start with things that are easy and obviously that can be
> smoothly integrated into a dance.
How
My choice would be Sackett's Harbor. The experienced dancers won't be bored
because they're probably not used to doing triple
minors anyway. The twos and threes are in no doubt who their ones are, and
unlike modern contras where the move has been
condensed from triple minor to duple minor
On Mon, 8 Jul 2019 15:30:18 -0700, jim saxe via Callers wrote:
> 9-?. *???*: What possibilities have I missed?
Put me down as a cynical Englishman if you wish, but I think they just don't
care! So long as a contra has a partner swing, a
neighbor swing and a few allemandes, many contra dancers
On Sat, 17 Aug 2019 19:20:08 +, Winston, Alan P. via Callers wrote:
> I'd think if you could get them to do "Lucky Seven" and count the progression
> aloud (1 .. 2.. 3 ..) so that they're
> hearing 2 beat or 4 beat chunks on the pull by, you'd be exceeding the
> request.
In my experience
On Tue, 10 Sep 2019 04:07:27 -0400, Jonathan Janzen via Callers wrote:
> I'm planning to throw in a few circle mixers, and a couple easy English
> Country Dances as well.
> Maybe Hole in the Wall, or even the Virginia Reel..
Who told you Virginia Reel was English?
They may not have the style or
I still prefer Man and Ladies (and I'm aware this is old-fashioned and
inconsistent), but I certainly prefer Robins to Ravens.
I think of a Raven as a large bird, and since men are generally larger than
women I get confused! I think of a Robin as a
small bird (though maybe the American Robin is
On Sat, 21 Sep 2019 13:36:37 -0400, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> Tempo for contra is often below 120 bpm.� I learned to call squares at about
> 128 bpm.
>
> Is this significant difference the norm, and if so why?
If you're talking about unphrased squares (Southern or MWSD) maybe people
On Sun, 22 Sep 2019 09:02:31 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote:
> http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm is an excellent tool for timing music or
> videos on your computer.
John -
That's so useful! Thank you very much.
Colin Hume
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Ann Appleing's funeral is on Monday 18th November aT 2o'c,
Cheltenham Crematorium, Bouncers Lane, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL52 5JT
If you are planning to go to the Gathering afterwards, please email
Derek Appleing
otherwise he will have no idea how much food to order.
Colin Hume
I'm sorry to announce that Ann Appleing died on the morning of 17th October.
For as long as I can remember, Derek and Ann have been a Folk Sales point.
Their caravan was a familiar sight at many
Folk Festivals and dance weekends in England, and they had an enormous supply
of books, CDs and
On Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:30:10 +, Sivier, Jonathan E via Callers wrote:
> I would say that rather than removing a dance from your collection you should
>resolve to call it at the next
> opportunity. I go through my dances from time to time and identify ones that
>I enjoyed in the past, but
On Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:22:00 -0400, Alan J Rosenthal via Callers wrote:
> Imagine if there were a dance move entitled "Black-man swing"? (I think that
> part of why "Gypsy" flies under the
> radar is because many people here don't immediately perceive it as a racial
> term.)
There's a dance
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