Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
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 - centers (1s) arch - shoot 2s thru to new neighbors They really need to understand 1s & 2s and when t change and how to wait out at the ends With new dancers I only let them go down the hall 4 counts, back up 4 counts - then they have 8 counts to get the progression and get a new circle formed. Not how I would call it with experienced dancers. Mac McKeever On Friday, March 29, 2019, 12:53:24 PM CDT, Bree Kalb via Callers wrote: 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 wrote: 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 Mallow", La Bastringue, Rural Felicity, Heel & Toe Polka, etc. Few people in the crowd understand what a "modern" contra dance is, they just want to move to the music. Goodluck,Rich SbardellaStafford, CT On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 10:05 AM Casey Carr via Callers wrote: 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 could start with Gallopede or Virginia Reel, then Family Contra would be perfect and end with another simple contra. Casey Carr On 3/29/2019 8:52 AM, Liz Burkhart via Callers wrote: 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 even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? Thanks, Liz Burkhart ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
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@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > 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 Mallow", La Bastringue, Rural Felicity, Heel > & Toe Polka, etc. Few people in the crowd understand what a "modern" > contra dance is, they just want to move to the music. > > Goodluck, > Rich Sbardella > Stafford, CT > > On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 10:05 AM Casey Carr via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> 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 could start with Gallopede or Virginia Reel, then >> Family Contra would be perfect and end with another simple contra. >> >> Casey Carr >> >> On 3/29/2019 8:52 AM, Liz Burkhart via Callers wrote: >> >> 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 >> even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the >> lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I >> usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get >> bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Liz Burkhart >> >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> >> >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
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 Mallow", La Bastringue, Rural Felicity, Heel & Toe Polka, etc. Few people in the crowd understand what a "modern" contra dance is, they just want to move to the music. Goodluck, Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT On Fri, Mar 29, 2019 at 10:05 AM Casey Carr via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > 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 could start with Gallopede or Virginia Reel, then > Family Contra would be perfect and end with another simple contra. > > Casey Carr > > On 3/29/2019 8:52 AM, Liz Burkhart via Callers wrote: > > 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 > even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the > lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I > usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get > bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? > > Thanks, > > Liz Burkhart > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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 John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
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 could start with Gallopede or Virginia Reel, then Family Contra would be perfect and end with another simple contra. Casey Carr On 3/29/2019 8:52 AM, Liz Burkhart via Callers wrote: 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 even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? Thanks, Liz Burkhart ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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 to the top or bottom! https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2015/05/family-contra-usa.html East Litchfield Volunteers - use wrist-lock stars instead of circles as they did circles in the previous dance http://biteyourownelbow.com/conndanc.htm Or I would do a completely different repertoire of easy dances since trying to do actual modern American contras with beginners can be a disaster :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs From: Callers On Behalf Of Liz Burkhart via Callers Sent: 29 March 2019 12:53 To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance 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 even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? Thanks, Liz Burkhart ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Leading a 1 hr contra dance
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 even cut out courtesy turns in order to minimize the time we spend on the lesson. I've taught for small, mostly inexperienced crowds before but I usually have a lot more time. I'd really rather get them moving than to get bogged down in teaching. Does anyone have insight, suggestions, or advice? Thanks, Liz Burkhart ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
