[Callers] Re: Looking for contra dances that are more difficult .......
For those who don't know Michael, he specializes in writing and calling these kinds of dances. When he calls at a dance weekend, it's always an adventure, and amazingly enough the dances actually work! [Michael, I still remember that dance you called at Kimmswick that included a right-and-left that somehow happened with a couple from another set.] Dale On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:43 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Greg: > > I guess I mean dances that a caller must spend an extra bit of > time to visualize, and/or to work out the teaching and/or calls > -- or dances that only an experienced caller can try. > A few examples from my dances... > > Where's Alex? > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Wheres > > From the Earth to the Moon and a Trip Around It > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Earth > > Two Orange Cats > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Cats > > Rusty Wheel Reels > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Rusty > > The Great Urbana Barn Dance > https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Great > > Michael > > On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 3:40 PM Gregory Frock wrote: > >> Hi Michael, >> I am not sure I understand the premise of the question. >> >> Breaking things down, an instructor has verbal description and >> demonstrations as primary tools teach a dance. If an instructor feels they >> cannot describe a figure adequately well verbally, they should not hesitate >> to demonstrate it. Any figures from the basic vocabulary, circles, stars, >> chains, etc would be familia >> >> On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 2:56 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < >> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> ... to teach to reasonably experienced dancers than they are for them >>> to dance. >>> ___ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >>> >> ___ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > -- Penultimatum: Surrender now or next time I threaten you I'll really mean it. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: Most difficult contras
"Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud" y Mike Boerschig doesn't seem like it would be very difficult when you read the card, but it is amazing how many creative ways it can go wrong. There is usually at least one star for five somewhere in the line at the same time there's a star for three going on elsewhere. I call it sometimes with the right crowd of experienced dancers because it's fun to watch the recovery process. Dale On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 6:47 PM Jerome Grisanti via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > "Would You Do It for Twenty?" by Robert Cromartie. We have discussions > about "glossary" dances, this one is a "kitchen sink" dance, as in > "everything you can think of but the kitchen sink." Contra corners, > petronella, diagonal hey, alternates between proper and improper. > > Maybe in a workshop, on a bet, hence the title. > > Jerome > > On Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 6:38 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or >> becket) that you have danced, have called, and remain afraid to call? >> ___ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >> > ___ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > -- Penultimatum: Surrender now or next time I threaten you I'll really mean it. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: New Terminology Question
Jeff says: I'll bite that bullet: callers generally shouldn't be calling a dolphin hey at a regular evening dance. And Amy says: It always helps to read the room first. Got a bunch of beginners? Call simpler dances, at least the first half. Explain them well. Don't call a complicated move that will discourage them. You want them to return, right? Baby steps, then walking, then jogging, then dolphin heys. So I say: Exactly right, Amy. I always have a challenging dance on tap ready to call toward the middle of the second half of the evening. If there are too many beginners (including our perpetual beginners) when the time comes, I simply skip the challenging dance. If the walk-thru doesn't go well, I'm ready with an easy replacement. But when it works our experienced dancers love conquering a [small] challenge -- at least that's what they tell me later. Dale ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: New Terminology Question
On Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 3:11 AM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > dancers should need to understand the names of a dozen or so basic figures > (such as F, allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left, circle, > shoulders round, hey, and maybe several more) > Agreed, although I fear "several" might be more than you would expect. > > and that callers should need only basic figures to teach any dance. > I disagree with this. How would you teach, say, a dolphin hey using only basic figures. Dale ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: No Wait-Out Contras
Ants Marching by Ron T. Blechner. One of my favorite dances to call or to dance: https://contradances.tumblr.com/post/10510984149/ants-marching Dale On Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 1:16 PM Colin Hume via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On Wed, 9 Aug 2023 11:38:41 -0400, Susan English via Contra Callers wrote: > > I want to collect contras where there is no wait-out at the end of the > line. > > Then you want a double progression. > > The Bag Lady of Falls Church by Bob Howell > Greenfield Petronella by Chris Ricciotti > Here's to the Fiddler by Tony Parkes > Jansens' Silver Anniversary by Frede Olsen > New Decade Reel by Gene Hubert > No Clapping! by Colin Hume > and there are lots more. > > Colin Hume > > ___ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > -- Penultimatum: Surrender now or next time I threaten you I'll really mean it. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: Starting to call squares at contra dances
A minor point, but one which seems to noticeably improve how contra dancers react to a square: After the room has achieved hands-four for the contra dance immediately before the square, but before the walk through for that dance I announce "The dance after this one will be a square." This does a couple of things. It gives the dancers an opportunity to opt out if they really don't enjoy squares or opt-in if they are big fans of squares; it lets them select partners that they like to do square dances with; and it avoids the confusion of switching from contra dance lines to squares. Timing is important. If you announce it too soon some people will hear the word "square" and try to form squares for *this* dance. If you announce it too late, the dancers have already started to absorb the teaching for this dance and they forget the heads up. Dale On Sat, Mar 18, 2023 at 5:34 PM Woody Lane via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > A lot of good descriptions and suggestions already, but I’d like to add a > couple. > > > > Calling squares can require a different mindset than calling contras. This > is especially true for western-style or southern-style squares. New > England-style squares with their 32-bar structure and generally slower > tempos are less demanding of callers, as these are more like contras in > square formations, but still I think the difference from contra calling is > still a reality. And most of the caller techniques are the same. > > > > Calling a square dance is becoming part of the music. The caller is not > just a prompter. The caller drives the dancers with voice, including pulse > with down-beat emphases and patter to fill the space and increase the > excitement. As one person noted, the calling doesn’t stop – the caller > calls straight through the entire dance. > > > > And can play with the music. 32 bars are great, but many many tunes, > especially southern or Quebecois tunes, have never heard of that structure, > and we can definitely call squares to them. Even to bluegrass or European > tunes. And this is a strength. We can play with it. At a dance camp, I once > called the square “Texas Star” to the jazz tune “Take Five”. It was an > experience for everyone. > > > > The caller watches the entire room, and if one or two squares begin to > break up or fall behind, there is always the laughing “Everyone home and > swing your own!” reset button. Or the caller can add a circle left, swing > your partner, promenade – to bring the entire room up to the music. And so > it seamlessly so everyone has a good time. At the same time, playing with > the musical phrases so that the next part of the dance begins at the top of > the tuner – no one may ever realize that, but it’s good caller-craft. > > > > And the thing is that the caller can really bring fun and acceptance into > the dance – using their voice and patter and laughter and jokes (“Some use > a shovel, some use a hoe, if you know that you’re doing that’s more than I > know!”). Calling squares opens up wonderful possibilities for fun and > artistry. And great fun for the dancers. > > > > Woody > > > > Woody Lane > > Caller, percussive dancer > > Roseburg, Oregon > > > > > > *From:* Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Saturday, March 18, 2023 9:21 AM > *To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers > *Subject:* [Callers] Starting to call squares at contra dances > > > > After dancing to some of Lisa's Greenleaf's squares at Beantown Stomp > last weekend, I'm feeling inspired to add some to my repertoire. (To be > clear, I'm looking for squares-for-contra-dancers, not MWSD squares.) > >1. Any resources to recommend for someone learning to call squares? >2. Any advice to share, techniques to look into, things you wish you'd >known when starting out / wish contra callers knew about squares? >3. Suggestions for callers to look up on YouTube (besides Lisa ofc) / >fave videos? >4. Favorite dances that I should add to my box? > > Thanks in advance, > > Maia > > -- > > Maia McCormick (she/her) > > 917.279.8194 > ___ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > -- There are only two hard things in computer science: cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-one errors. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: Calling in a mask?
I sing and play music wearing a mask -- often in retirement homes so a mask is not optional. I've had no problems with a standard cloth mask, but I just ordered one of these to see if it works as advertised: https://vocaleasemask.com/ Dale On Sat, Dec 18, 2021 at 11:07 AM Don Veino via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Yes, using standard KN95 masks. It is even more important to use good mic > technique in this case. You'll likely need to manage the sound system EQ > for your channel well to ensure best articulation and avoid muddiness. I > remember Steve Z-A managed to get a headset mic *under* a (cloth, IIRC) > mask at one point. I don't recall it being a significant improvement, > because it accentuated the proximity effect by being within such a > tight space and was a bit fussy to manage. > > If not strictly required, you may want to consider specifically exempting > the caller from the mask requirement while on mic. If distanced and the > venue has good ventilation, etc. the risk from one individual speaking is > relatively low and the improvement in sound is significant to the event's > success. This is a judgment call on degrees of risk but if one > has concluded that getting together for this purpose is advisable then you > may as well ensure folks are able to hear the caller as well as the music > to best enjoy it. > > Good luck! > Don > > On Sat, Dec 18, 2021 at 11:36 AM Bree Kalb via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Have you called dances while wearing a mask? If so, I’m interested in >> your experience and if you can suggest a particular mask. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Bree Kalb >> Carrboro, NC >> >> ___ >>> >> ___ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >> > ___ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net > -- Penultimatum: Surrender now or next time I'll really mean it. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: Fwd: "70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo
Coming out of the swing, the lady's momentum is forward while the gent's is backward, so lady in front in the Mad Robin makes a lot of sense. Also it flowed nicely when I called it last night. The dancers seemed to be pleased. Dale On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 11:41 AM Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > No I have not tried that. Let me know if you do and how it works! > > Jean > > On Nov 25, 2019, at 9:13 AM, Gregory Frock wrote: > > Hey Jean, > > Nice dance. Did you consider or field test reversing the mad robin (gents > forward and left to start)? Just curious. > > Regards, > > Greg > > On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 12:09 PM Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Actually, I wrote it for my 69th birthday, which was on Oct 1. You see, >> when you are born, that is your first trip around the sun. Then you have >> your first birthday, which is actually your 2nd trip around the sun. I am >> so happy the dance is being called! YAY!! The only tricky part seems to >> be having the Neighbor gent end the swing in good time, to allow the Lady >> to transition smoothly into the Mad Robin with their next neighbor. >> >> Amy - I will be up your way for my actual 70th birthday, on my >> Septuagenarian Tour with Audrey Knuth and Amy Englesberg! Hope to see you >> then! >> >> Jean >> >> On Nov 25, 2019, at 8:57 AM, Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers < >> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Jean wrote it to celebrate her 70th birthday. 70 trips around the sun. >> >> On Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 7:25 AM Dale Wilson via Contra Callers < >> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> I called this last night at Childgrove in Saint Louis. Dancers seemed >>> pleased, but I got some questions about the title -- I think some of them >>> heard 70 Libra Sons and were imagining a bunch of boys born in October. >>> Where did the name come from? >>> >>> Dale >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 2:39 PM Tncontracaller via Callers < >>> call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>>> Sounds like a fun dance. It is new to me. >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Sep 24, 2019, at 11:28 AM, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers < >>>> call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello All! I wanted to write a dance in celebration of my stepping >>>> into the Libra Sun for the 70th time. I wanted it to be very balanced, in >>>> Libra fashion. >>>> >>>> Anyone seen this dance before? It is not like anything in my data base >>>> that has Mad Robin in the A1, but I did not search the other figures. >>>> >>>> Thanks for your input! >>>> >>>> Jean Gorrindo >>>> >>>> Begin forwarded message: >>>> >>>> *From: *Jean Gibson-Gorrindo >>>> *Subject: **"70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo* >>>> *Date: *September 24, 2019 at 8:25:56 AM PDT >>>> *To: *jean gorrindo >>>> >>>> 70 Libra Suns >>>> by Jean Gorrindo >>>> Contra/Improper/Easy >>>> >>>> A1 --- >>>> (8) Mad Robin (Ladies pass in front moving Right >>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >>>> A2 --- >>>> (16) Partner balance and swing >>>> B1 --- >>>> (8) 1/2 Hey, Ladies passing right shoulders >>>> (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2 >>>> B2 --- >>>> (16) Neighbor balance and swing >>>> >>>> >>>> ___ >>>> List Name: Callers mailing list >>>> List Address: call...@lists.sharedweight.net >>>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >>>> >>>> ___ >>>> List Name: Callers mailing list >>>> List Address: call...@lists.sharedweight.net >>>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to >>> one that never starts up. >>> >>> ___ >>> Contra C
[Callers] Re: Fwd: "70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo
I called this last night at Childgrove in Saint Louis. Dancers seemed pleased, but I got some questions about the title -- I think some of them heard 70 Libra Sons and were imagining a bunch of boys born in October. Where did the name come from? Dale On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 2:39 PM Tncontracaller via Callers < call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Sounds like a fun dance. It is new to me. > > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Sep 24, 2019, at 11:28 AM, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers < > call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hello All! I wanted to write a dance in celebration of my stepping into > the Libra Sun for the 70th time. I wanted it to be very balanced, in Libra > fashion. > > Anyone seen this dance before? It is not like anything in my data base > that has Mad Robin in the A1, but I did not search the other figures. > > Thanks for your input! > > Jean Gorrindo > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From: *Jean Gibson-Gorrindo > *Subject: **"70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo* > *Date: *September 24, 2019 at 8:25:56 AM PDT > *To: *jean gorrindo > > 70 Libra Suns > by Jean Gorrindo > Contra/Improper/Easy > > A1 --- > (8) Mad Robin (Ladies pass in front moving Right > (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) > A2 --- > (16) Partner balance and swing > B1 --- > (8) 1/2 Hey, Ladies passing right shoulders > (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2 > B2 --- > (16) Neighbor balance and swing > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: call...@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: call...@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to one that never starts up. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: New circulate dance
I called this last night at Childgrove in Saint Louis. There were lots of positive comments from the dancers, but a couple of them said something like "You should warn us how busy the end of the dance is. Unless everybody really boogied we were late to the wavy line." Thanks, Ron. Another winner. Dale On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 9:15 PM Ron Blechner via Callers < call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I'm pretty behind publishing a year or so of dances, but wanted to check > in since this one may be done? > > I riffed off Nils' Spring Fever, swapping petronellas for the circulate, > then changed the simple B2 to fit the ending in a wave. Test driven Sunday > in Greenfield, MA. > > Going Out For Bao > Ron T Blechner > D.I., start in long waves with Larks facing out, Ravens facing in > > A1. Bal Wave, Ravens X, Larks Loop R (4,4) >Bal Wave, Larks X, Ravens Loop R (4,4) > A2. N B+S (4,12) > B1. Larks Lead 1/2 Hey, Ravens Ricochet, Partner Swing (16) > B2. Pass Thru Straight Across (4ish) (face P) >P Alle L 1x (6ish) >Larks Pull By R (2ish) >N Alle L 1 + 1/4 (6ish) (RH to New N to form waves) > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: call...@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to one that never starts up. ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
