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

>> >> What I'm talking about here is that there's choreography that seems fairly >> inevitable - if you're going to circle left into a half-poussette isn't the >> probable direction of the half-poussette pretty obvious, or if you did a >> clockwise half poussette into a mad robin why should

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

Alan, You raise an interesting question. After I’ve had time to sleep on it, I’ve come up with some other issues to raise and.discuss. I’m curious if you have a beginning workshop before the dance. In my opinion the skills needed for a new dancer to not only survive their first dance but to

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 65, Issue 18

Call dances where the dancers have physical contact as much as possible I.e. circles allemandes etc. Avoid moves like mad robin and heys. Change heys to heys with hands etc. Sent from my iPad > On Sep 27, 2019, at 4:06 PM, callers-requ...@lists.sharedweight.net wrote: > > Send Callers

Re: [Callers] Tempo

> > Jim, thank you for all of your in depth analysis. If the dance tempos of > Danish contra dancers is of interest perhaps a Danish caller will shed some > light on the subject. > > I was attempting to answer Rich’s original question. Rich, what is your take > now? >> >

[Callers] Tempo

I believe that the tempo for dancing contras in the United States has to do with the style and wants of the dancers. It’s the desire to improvise and flirt which I think is an integral part of the US contra scene and is the reason for the tempo being what it is. If you look at the contra

[Callers] Feeling superstitious

I would stay away from programming dances by their names etc. Tom Hinds Sent from my iPad ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

[Callers] Brain dead

I would think that the play party type “dances” would be good for getting them to equate certain melodies/and perhaps the beat to movement. I second Sasha and others like that. If I were doing this I’d incorporate some drumming but that may not be for you. However, if anyone is interested

Re: [Callers] new dance

Nice dance! ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 62, Issue 10

in dance from that era, check out the blog that my > wife and I have at http://www.dancehistoryalive.com/blog/ We haven't > written an article on Away to the Camp yet, but we'll try to do one soon. > > Jacob Bloom > > On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 5:02 PM tom hinds via Callers <

[Callers] Allemande

John, Thanks so much for your hard work and sharing a tremendous amount of information with us. There’s one allemande I’d like to know more about. It’s the one used in the the dance, Away to the Camp which can be seen on the Lambertville ECD site. Tom Sent from my iPad

[Callers] Discussion group for musicians

Does anyone know of a discussion list for contra dance musicians? I used google and didn’t find anything. Sent from my iPad ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives:

Re: [Callers] does this dance already exist?

with. Sent from my iPad > On Sep 8, 2018, at 7:06 PM, Alan Winston wrote: > > Tom — > > Why is the square through 4 10 beats? > > — Alan > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Sep 8, 2018, at 1:39 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers >> wrote: >> >>

Re: [Callers] does this dance already exist?

Correction. The second square through is the same direction. Sent from my iPad > On Sep 8, 2018, at 4:39 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers > wrote: > > Jean, nice dance. Let us know how it goes if you try it out. I would be > surprised if your dance has been written be

Re: [Callers] does this dance already exist?

Jean, nice dance. Let us know how it goes if you try it out. I would be surprised if your dance has been written before. You list it as a double progression. Is that because you swing the second neighbor? You gave me an idea for a new dance. I’m not trying to out do any one here, just

Re: [Callers] Square Dance Choruses

Of course there’s tons of material. If you’re newish to calling I would get comfortable with a just one at first. How about: Circle left, right Allemande left corner, grand right and left. swing P and promenade Forward and back twice. You can change the order of the above for variety.

[Callers] Glossary dance

I don’t know if the dance below qualifies as a glossary dance but it’s one is one of my favorites for building confidence when there are loads of newbies. I’ve tried to find out the name but have had no luck. Just teach the Pet twirl well and tie the end of the B2 to the beginning of the

Re: [Callers] Contras with square dance figures

I’ve used (over used) the combination swing thru, turn thru in a number of contras: Batja’s Breakdown Stretching the Limits. Batja’s has pass the ocean I thought it would be fun to include scoot back in a contra and came up with Lisa’s Contra. The gypsy in that dance is a scoot back without

Re: [Callers] New Dance - Hey Dreaming by Emma Azelborn

Emma, Thanks for sharing your new dance. I believe it’s always best to have larks, men or first corners gypsy, walk around or allemande by the left. One reason is that the dancers keep their positioning better especially if there’s a swing. Of course a large number of dances follow this rule

Re: [Callers] What is a contra?

Since you need an answer quickly i’d say it’s a term in the folk dance world and it’s possible that different folks will define it differently. Personally I can see how a 4 X 4 could be a contra since it progresses in the same way but not other formations like squares and circles. Sent from

Re: [Callers] 2 New Dances (with a new move?)

I like the ending to the revolving door. I'm assuming it's a star and that the gents join the star behind their partner. I can't remember doing a Mad Robin immediately after a swing so I'm curious how that feels. This looks like it's a good one for experienced dancers. Tom

Re: [Callers] Partial circulate the wave?

Sent from my iPad > On May 17, 2018, at 9:25 PM, Tom Hinds wrote: > > If I'm reading it correctly I would say some dancers circulate and the others > circulate half. > > It looks so close to the mwsd diamond circulate. > > Tom > > Sent from my iPad > >> On May

[Callers] Star 1/2 - seat 1/2

Luke I think you've come up with something original. The only dances I know of that have a series of half stars were written by Rod Linnel. He came up with a figure (i believe) he called grand star and used in a double square. Sent from my iPad

Re: [Callers] Great dances for learning how to dance with ghosts?

Jim, maybe the meager response was because you didn't give an example. And what does "the DL;TR crowd" mean? Tom Sent from my iPad > On Apr 10, 2018, at 9:45 PM, jim saxe via Callers > wrote: > >> On Apr 6, 2018, at 3:49 PM, Yoyo Zhou via Callers >>

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

I don't think you should make an ocean wave. To get a satisfying swing the dancers will have to do the arm turns as you describe. You have three arm turns which comes to 6 beats and I always allow for two extra beats when there are busy transitions so the dancers would get approx and 8 beat

Re: [Callers] How many beats to a rip/snort?

I think you're correct about it taking between 4 and 8 beats (more like 6). If you want someone to ask, I'm pretty sure Jane Ewing of Alabama wrote a dance with this move in it. I don't think that we need to be rigid about the names we use today, but I suspect that historically cowboy loop was

[Callers] Contralab, gypsylab

Woody, I haven't heard anyone suggest standardization and I'm not pushing for it. My whole issue has been freedom so whatever people want to use if fine by me. At one time, around 2011 I thought the use of different terms by callers might lead to problems but now I don't think that's the

Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?contra lab.

anization called ContraLab, and thankfully its reach is > limited. > > Rich Sbardella > Stafford, CT > > > >> On Fri, Mar 30, 2018 at 3:23 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers >> <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> Woody, I really don't understand your que

Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?

use the word "gypsy"! And then she did, people > relaxed, and the evening progressed smoothly. > > The intensity and animus of these conversations may have unintended long-term > consequences in the contra dance world. Does anyone really want to establish > the contra equival

Re: [Callers] freedom

ings up controversy about >>>> terminology. >>>> >>>> On the flip side, when an older caller tries to adapt pronouns and such >>>> without making a big deal of it, it’s awesome, even when they make >>>> mistakes. >>>> &g

Re: [Callers] freedom

ction whenever a caller brings up controversy about >> terminology. >> >> On the flip side, when an older caller tries to adapt pronouns and such >> without making a big deal of it, it’s awesome, even when they make mistakes. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >&g

Re: [Callers] freedom

r 28, 2018 at 2:29 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers >> <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> Here was my issue, briefly : I was told to use "walk around" when calling >> at glen echo. It also happens that I'm a western square caller and have >> us

[Callers] freedom

Here was my issue, briefly : I was told to use "walk around" when calling at glen echo. It also happens that I'm a western square caller and have used "walk around your corner, see saw your taw" for decades. It has happened on two occasions when I have mixed up square dance calls from one

Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?

Correlation? Maybe so. > > Thanks Ron, Louise, Maia and Jen for the thoughtful responses. > > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 28, 2018, at 2:58 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers >> <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Ron, >&g

Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?

Ron, I keep on reading your writing and see that you often give only partial information. What you write below is interesting: > In New England, New York, Seattle, and the Bay Area, many callers have been > examining terminology and changing. Several dance series have gone genderfree >

Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?

In the land of freedom and rugged individualism I find that my choices in many realms of my life are being eaten away. Go for it! Call what you want and don't worry about what others are going to say. For me the PC stuff has gone over board. Calling is difficult enough without having to be

Re: [Callers] Leading, consent in embellishments

see my comments sprinkled... On Mar 6, 2018, at 12:21 AM, Jeanette Mill via Callers wrote: Hello I am devising a workshop for a festival here in Australia, and have long been of the opinion that there are no "leaders" in contra dance couples. That's a great issue to discuss. My

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

Jack, I'd like to call the dance you just sent but have a question. How close do the men get to each other as they do the double Pet? Since you've danced this, how might it work in a crowded hall? Might the men crash into each other on the spin? On Feb 10, 2018, at 9:59 PM, Jack Mitchell

Re: [Callers] Has this dance already been written?

Bree, I'll definitely put your dance on my list to call soon. We could kick around choreographic ideas for a good long time. Here's what I came up with after seeing yours: Becket, left prog. A1. Circle left 3/4 pass through, do si do A2 Gypsy and swing this new N B1 Chain left

Re: [Callers] pre-school dances?

Here's one. They have to know the colors of the clothes they are wearing. It's a circle. Circle left, right Forward and back . Those wearing red, for instance, skip in the inside. Then skip the other way back to place. Sent from my iPad > On Oct 29, 2017, at 12:53 AM, Luke Donforth

Re: [Callers] Ladies

l this dance of which you speak. Could you share the true title and calls? Thanks! I also cringe over ladies (I don't fit that tradition) yet it is a good "place holder, ROLE identifer" for my communities. On Oct 14, 2017 9:06 AM, "Tom Hinds via Callers" <callers@

[Callers] Ladies

I must have fallen asleep during a discussion of "ladies". What's the issue? Sent from my iPad > On Oct 11, 2017, at 12:13 PM, Martha Wild via Callers > wrote: > > I’ve got a gypsy star dance (I actually call it “Star Wrong” and not just > because of the

Re: [Callers] Variation or Original Composition - A Question of Semantics

Isaac, you raise a very good question. There are so many dances that the issue of originality is bound to come up. > Of course we're all going to have different opinions. To those who have been > on this list for some time I apologize for repeating myself. Since you are > relatively new

Re: [Callers] New Square?

I have one in my collection that's similar. Maybe, through the folk process it's from you. Sent from my iPad > On Sep 27, 2017, at 10:10 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers > wrote: > > Folks, > I found a square sequence I wrote a while ago? > Does it exist in

Re: [Callers] Contra Dances with Modern Western Square Dance Figures

There are some others. Seth Topher and I have each written one with Spin the top. I wrote one, not a great dance, with single circle to an ocean wave. It's in my first book. If you don't have it I'll be glad to send it to you. Tag the line is in many dances including a nice one written by

[Callers] Fwd: Pre-dance preparation

For me a leisurely day and relaxed trip yields a better dance. I avoid rush hour traffic like the plague. Tom Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: Mary Collins via Callers > Date: September 16, 2017 at 9:01:50 AM EDT > To:

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

A1. F,slice A2 circle left, right B1. Chain B2 women do si do, swing partner Becketized version ofThe Necessity by TH A1. Long lines... circle left 3/4 pass... A2. Do si do and swing N B1. One half prom., right and left through (or any zero) B2. Ladies do si do once and a half.

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

Linda, thanks for bringing this topic up. It sounds like might have a good collection of English village dances in your collection. I think they're perfect for that group. John is correct, get them moving right away. I realize that the thread is super easy dances but I'd like to throw

Re: [Callers] New Dance

Really nice dance. Do neighbors face across when they balance? Or do they face each other? T On May 30, 2017, at 8:16 AM, Stephanie Marie via Callers wrote: Wrote this over the last several months and called it last night in Charlotte: Swim at Round Pond, improper A1 1's in the

Re: [Callers] Two new dances (and two more dances)

Jacqui, Looks to me like you wrote some real unique and fun dances. I'm looking forward to calling them. Tom

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

On Apr 9, 2017, at 1:32 PM, April Blum via Callers wrote: I believe that at some point in every dance, you and your partner are on the same side, usually swinging, so from that perspective all dances can start in Becket, just depends on where you decide A1 is. So I would not find dances

Re: [Callers] In search of un-premiered contras!

David, you're thinking of Stretching the Limits (men chain version) and Stretching the LImits (women chain version). You're very creative, thinking of switching each time. A caller, Will Martin has come up with that very idea. The progression is in the same direction and has half heys

Re: [Callers] ???? Looking for Author of Dance -dancers adjust

I believe that zig left, zag right normally takes 4 beats. If the dancers zag a little farther so men can easily take a left hand that would take an additional 2 beats for a total of 6 counts. I'll confirm the timing this Saturday. For me there's this issue of how much we ask the dancers

Re: [Callers] ???? Looking for Author of Dance - The Cows Go Marching

Cheryl, It looks like a fun dance but there's a mistake in the B1: an eight-beat balance and an eight-beat roll away? On Mar 22, 2017, at 10:32 AM, Cheryl Joyal via Callers wrote: I have a wonderful dance in my box that I enjoy dancing and calling - but do not know who wrote it…. can

Re: [Callers] Modern Western Square Dance for Contra Dancers

I attempted to call modern western at Pinewoods and then latter Buff. Gap (in the early 90s). Unfortunately there was always one person that wasn't up for it. One person in each class had a very hard time learning the new moves while the rest of the class had no difficulty at all. So I

Re: [Callers] Local styles vs. consensus

On Jan 30, 2017, at 3:53 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers wrote: If I need to teach a box the gnat or a square-thru to a room with a number of new dancers, does it matter whether that move is taught for a contra or a square? I think it depends on your creativity and more specifically the move/

Re: [Callers] Holiday contras - BEG/EASY

, many, many have been arranged into 32 bar tunes, and many are appropriate for contra dance with a slight tempo adjustment. Rich On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Tom Hinds via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: It's not my cup of tea but Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Re: [Callers] Holiday contras - BEG/EASY

It's not my cup of tea but Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer could be used as a singing square or in a contra medley. On Dec 5, 2016, at 11:49 PM, Tina Fields via Callers wrote: The year I called the No Snow Ball in the SF Bay Area, Hillbillies from Mars agreed to include I Saw Mommy

Re: [Callers] Reverse prog/becket R dances?

The Host, by TH My memory tells me that this might be a Becket version of a previously written improper contra. A1 circle left 3/4, balance, Calif. tw. A2 bal and swing N2 B1 hey, men, left B2 men pass left a 3rd time and swing P. T On Dec 3, 2016, at 4:09 PM, Maia

Re: [Callers] Dance Title

On Oct 27, 2016, at 3:25 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote: I am looking for the title and author of the following dance. Can anyone help me? A1 CL 3/4, N Swg A2 LL, Partner Balance, Pull R, Pull L B1 Along Line RH Bal, Bx Gnat, Gents Alle Left 1 1/2 B2 P Bal & Swg I wrote a dance

Re: [Callers] Wrist Lock Stars - Summary

John, Thanks for summarizing all of this. I thought it was saddle-pack not that it really matters. You can add Washington DC and surrounding areas (probably Baltimore) plus central Virginia as wrist lock. T

Re: [Callers] Contra friendly squares

There are many reasons some contra dancers don't like squares. One is that they take a long time to teach. For some squares it's a good idea to walk through the figure for both the heads and sides. Depending on the caller and dancers a full length break may be taught as well. When I

Re: [Callers] Contra friendly squares

Erik, I really like the break and figure you sent! Is the promenade in the figure about 3/4 of the way around? When you say it's "not the easiest in the world" do you think it's better for an all experienced crowd? Tom

Re: [Callers] Good dances for beginners to safely leave/return to minor set.

Cheat or swing in a square. On Oct 10, 2016, at 12:36 PM, K Panton via Callers wrote: 3-33-33 is not a good choice for introducing beginners to extra-4some expeditions. I've also found that a diagonal chain followed by a straight-across figure causes confusion. The Young Adult Rose,and

Re: [Callers] Another Existential Inquiry

I suspect that many callers have what Bob Dalsemer labeled "danceritis". The term he should have used is dancerphopia i.e. fear of dancers or more specifically of what dancers might think of the caller. I often see new callers who are afraid of calling programs that will bore the

Re: [Callers] Reverse R/L thru?

In 1992 I wrote and called this: A1 bal and sw N A2 left and right through, men chain B1 men L gypsy, swing P B2 circle left 3/4 pass through and do-si-do the next. Left and right through: pull by P with left and women courtesy turn the men. T On Jun 13, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Maia McCormick

Re: [Callers] does this dance exist?

Looks new to me. How about a little change: A1 Left gypsy neighbor (or allemande) 1 1/2 Next neighbor right gypsy (or allemande) 1 1/2 A2 Next neighbor left gypsy once Swing second gypsy. T On Apr 18, 2016, at 3:53 PM, Andy Shore via Callers wrote: from a dance-writing session led

Re: [Callers] Favorite Triplet ?

Michael, That's one of my favorites too. I'm curious about the chasse down and heel toe. Are there any old English dances that have this combination? Maybe French (shouldn't leave them out)? Tom

Re: [Callers] Young Adult Rose

Kalia, I wouldn't hesitate changing a dance. I call variations of other people's dances and my own all the time. It's good for variety's sake if nothing else. The pass through, allemande right and swing combination forces the dancers to use three "rights" in a row. The most awkward

Re: [Callers] New dance?

Nice dance Amy. I really like the sequence of moves. I'm trying to imagine this in my head and assume that the allemande right is once around which takes less than 8 beats to do. Hope you don't mind suggesting a change. I would change the allemande right to once and a half. That would

Re: [Callers] Calling to a square dance crowd

Joseph, Everyone's given you great advice. If I were doing this I would use music that they're more used to for the first evening. And I'd use dances that they can more easily relate to (see below). That might make for a easier transition and more acceptance (and therefore more

Re: [Callers] Dances from English Dance & Song

Thank you for doing that!

Re: [Callers] ONS with a *tiny* inexperienced crowd?

I hate to say this but it's not a bad idea to have a line dance like Texas Freeze in your hip pocket just in case. I don't like line dances but some people enjoy them. And for heaven's sake don't forget everyone's favorite, the bird dance! T

Re: [Callers] 9-person dance?

See if you can find El Capitan on line. I learned it from Larry Edelman and I believe it's Fr-CA. I probably have the dance but am to busy with the snow and critters right now to find it. T

Re: [Callers] Choreography and Copyright

Jeremy, 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. T

Re: [Callers] 4 person do-si-do?

Luke, There have been times when I've tried new ideas and the dancers figured out an easier way. Or said differently they saw through the complexity and thought it was not worth the effort. I'm not saying this is true for your dance but it's something to be prepared for. In terms of

Re: [Callers] Gypsy perception

No Aahz my logic is broken. Our perceptions and experiences are different. You said, The question isn't whether using "gypsy" generates negative stereotypes but whether using the word reminds people of existing negative stereotypes and whether the people referred to by the word have

Re: [Callers] Gypsy / "Redneck"/honky

When this discussion started I decided to actually use honky instead of gypsy the next time I called. I would of course explain to the dancers this extremely important and delicate issue that is now confronting the contra dance community. Why not get a chuckle from the floor? I

Re: [Callers] Dances For Short Line

Laur, Even with great music and calling it's tough to create excitement when the hall feels empty. I've tried to think of everything I can do to make that kind of evening fun. My personal choice is to call a large proportion of contras where the dancers swing their partner not their

Re: [Callers] Rollaway sans sashay?

I believe it's called If You Were Dead. I called it in England recently and out of all the dances I called, that was the most popular. I understand it was the first one she's written! T On Sep 9, 2015, at 10:20 PM, Perry Shafran via Callers wrote: I happen to know of one by Rachel

Re: [Callers] Contra- roll differences?

I'd be interested in knowing which one came first, stationary verses step sideways. Anyone know? In the book book, Cowboy Dances I believe there's a square called Sashay, re-sashay - Mad Robins with a different attitude. T

Re: [Callers] Contra- roll differences?

I don't think there is a difference. On Aug 21, 2015, at 5:19 PM, Claire Takemori via Callers wrote: In Contra dancing, what is the difference between "Roll your ___ Across/along" and "Roll away with a half sashay"? What are your favorite words to teach this move? thanks!! claire takemori

Re: [Callers] sticky floors

I must have missed the suggestion about windows. I was curious if this hall is air-conditioned. And I would think it would be useful to know the condition of the floor before the dance begins. I'm thinking the only real solution is increasing the capacity of the HVAC system to remove

Re: [Callers] Title and author if this dance, please?

Keith, You probably missed my response. The Becket dance you refer to was written by me and is called The Host. I'm embarrassed that I took credit for The Host since it really isn't original. I just never figured out that it was the same as Piece of Cake until Martha mentioned it.

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

Several of you have asked about programming and how it relates to teaching the beginning workshop. I'll get to that fairly soon as work is too demanding. Before much time goes by I want to apolopize to everyone and especially Miai for one of my emails that was too intense. I hope I

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

Thank you for letting me know about the date of my computer. On Jun 21, 2015, at 10:51 AM, Aahz Maruch via Callers wrote: With Ladies Chain, two dancers change places. If they fail to execute that part, it's likely that the progression will get affected. That's probably not going to happen

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

Aahz, I'm not sure what you're saying in your email. Do you teach a right and left through plus the chain in the beginning lesson because learning those moves is critical to the success of the evening? And are you saying that you spend little time with the swing because those other

Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey

I'm asking myself why not demo a ricochet? In my mind there are some advantages to demonstrating a move instead of describing it (or doing both with a wireless mic). My experience is most contra callers are highly educated and have exceptional verbal skills. Maybe some callers don't

Re: [Callers] New vs. Variation

Ron, what a great question. I think it's interesting that Ted Sannella once said that a dance had to have 50% different choreography in order to be a new dance. Although I never asked him why, it occurred to me that there might be a historical reason for his view. Take Petronella,

Re: [Callers] Fwd: Timing on a zig and zag

In my opinion a zig and a zag past one couple takes four beats, sort of like a half do-si-do as couples. So I agree that it takes 8 beats it takes to weave the line past two couples. Tom ___ Callers mailing list Callers@lists.sharedweight.net