Petronella claps interfere with my listening to the music
On Wed, May 22, 2024 at 10:50 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> tldr: those of you who are anti-Petronella claps (in general, not just in
> specific cases where they interrupt flow from
A short swing on an odd phrase works fine for reasonably experienced
dancers if the tune clearly delineates the phrase and/or the caller
clearly announces the next figure until the dancers get it.
Here is one of mine with a short swing on an odd phrase (which I last
called at the Sugar Hill dance
Here are dances you should find useful:
To teach wavy lines
"Positional Thinikning" https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#PosTh
A great dance for beginners and for moderately skilled to guide beginners
"The Balter Dance" https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
For dancers comfortable
In 1810, and for some years before and after, Sudbury MA (incorporated in 1639)
was the site of a monthly barn dance. One of the local dance masters, Allen
Ortep, composed a contra dance, where four dancers would balance in a circle,
left foot then right foot, followed by shift/spin left one
age.
> Haven't tried it, but there's a good video -- Alone at the End
> <https://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=689>
>
> On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 1:43 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> [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.sh
quately 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:
&
The Balter Dance (Becket, robins chain, left hand star, larks chain,
right hand star...)
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
Roller Coaster (reason for name is clear once you read the dance)
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Roller
Alex is Where? (A less challenging version of
... to teach to reasonably experienced dancers than they are for them to dance.
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Sometime within the past 3 years or so someone posted an excellent procedure in
this forum, which I did not copy, and could not find a year or so later when I
tried. maybe someone can find it.
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The dance is named "Trip to Phan Reel"
The composer, Susan Kevra, wrote it on the way to a Thanksgiving gathering.
Only in the past several years have callers realized that those orbiting
[counter]clockwise should pass [lef]right with the person in an adjacent
foursome if needed. I
Three Waves, Five Balances on the Head of a Pin
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#TwoW5B
The Balter Dance
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
Roller Coaster
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Roller
A New Idea
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#NewIdea
This almost certainly is not the dance David referred to, but should be of
scientific interest
https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Unconsoled
On Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 9:12 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> > Late in a regular evening dance a
During an allemande, dancers should think of their arn as a
spring--neither the elbow nor is rigid.Without instruction, most
beginners will keep one or both rigid
On Wed, Jan 17, 2024 at 7:39 PM Read Weaver via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I quite like
Oops!! From my earlier comment, delete the following:
---
"Your dance can be made single progression by using rights and lefts on the
1/2 diagonal ( https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#RL ) , in which case
the robins move 3 places forward and 2 places back. Work out the details
with coins
Hello Maia:
Oops.. I have been referring to your dance Happy Jew Queer with a wrong name.
I apologize. I fear this was a temporary case of dyslexia, likely prompted
by my having been, just before I just before I looked up the dance, thinking
about an acquaintance who is both Jewish and
Alan:
Oops.. I indeed have been referring to Maia's dance Happy Jew Queer
incorrectly. I apologize. I suspect this was a temporary case of dyslexia,
prompted by my having been, just before I just before I looked up the dance,
thinking about an acquaintance who is both Jewish and queer.
> Happy Jew Queer
>>> <https://contra.maiamccormick.com/dances.html#happyjewqueer> is one of
>>> mine, and has been revised several times to make it a little more
>>> tractable, but it's still a fun gnarly double-prog double shadow dance.
>>>
>&
fun gnarly double-prog double shadow dance.
>
> - Maia
> --
> Maia McCormick (she/her)
> 917.279.8194
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 11, 2023 at 4:27 PM Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> In Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mu
Several months ago someone posted on a thread here her/his excellent approach
to this.
Does anyone know in which thread this was?
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Which do you speculate will come first?
a) The press will regularly refer to "X" rather than "X, formerly known as
Twitter"
OR
b) The contra dance world will agree to one of larks/robins or gents/ladies
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hing 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 Con
Thirty or so years ago a since deceased acquaintance told me his experience
calling a contra dance for developmentally disabled adults.
The first dance he chose (I assume it quite simple) took a while to teach.
But once started the group enjoyed it.
When the group lined up again and he started
dy
> --
> Woody Lane
> Caller, Percussive Dancer
> Roseburg, Oregon
> ------
>
> On 9/25/2023 3:38 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers wrote:
>
> What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or becket)
> that you have danced, have called, and remain
ight.net> wrote:
>
>> Whitewater by Cary Ravitz is a difficult dance.
>>
>> bob...@aol.com
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 6:38 PM, Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers
>> wrote:
>> What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or
>> b
What are the most difficult contras (improper, proper, indecent or becket)
that you have danced, have called, and remain afraid to call?
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Nothing wrong with teaching a figure and assigning it a name for the
duration of the dance or duration of the program--even if that name is
commonly used elsewhere.I would suggest so-di-so, but an
immediate following or preceding do-si-do may well leave the dancers
confused and/or the caller
nyone
> can join in without lessons. Some sequences – maybe even some moves –
> should be reserved for workshops. I’m glad to see an influential modern
> contra caller speaking out on this.
>
>
>
> Tony Parkes
>
> Billerica, Mass.
>
> www.hands4.com
&
d to see an influential modern
> contra caller speaking out on this.
>
>
>
> Tony Parkes
>
> Billerica, Mass.
>
> www.hands4.com
>
> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
>
> (available now)
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Michae
Jeff's suggestion of "facing star" works perfectly, and merits becoming the
standard term used for discussions about and written descriptions of
dances. However, such occasionally used figures must always be explained
during walk-throughs, so the caller can designate, for the duration of the
Skilled and/or properly prepared callers can make "experienced" material quite
tractable.
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Any dance where dancers progress to a couple with which they do not end up with
is, to some extent, is a no-wait contra.
Here is one of mine:
Alex is Where? http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Alex
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Two waves, Five Balances on the Head of Pin
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#2W5BW
The Balter Dance
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
A New Idea
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#NewIdea
Alex is Where?
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Alex
A.O.'s No-No
There is nothing inappropriate or embarrassing about the parameters
neffa.org sets for its Scout House dances.
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"no more than two dances without neighbor swings"
https://www.neffa.org/thursday-contras-caller-info/
(A search for the words, enclosed in quotes, revealed the source)
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Limiting the number of no-neighbor-swing dances in a program seems prudent.
But Greg's comment seemed focused on dance choreography
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Greg Frock in a Jun 9 thread, 'Dance Modules,' suggested " the 'mandatory
swing requirements' these days, more and more choreographic sequences are just
coming up with new ways to interestingly connect the swings"
I disagree. A mandatory partner swing requirement seems to exist, but no
In 1810, and for some years before and after, Sudbury MA (incorporated in 1639)
was the site of a monthly barn dance. One of the local dance masters, Allen
Ortep, composed a contra dance, where four dancers would balance in a circle,
left foot then right foot, followed by shift/spin left one
Oops I meant Stuart, not Frank, Hodes
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I remain entertained that while we conjure how to ensure dancers complete
repetitive 30+ second sequences relatively in time to repetitive tunes, some
can retain infinitely complex sequences for infinitely complex music within.
Frank Hodes, who dance with Martha Graham, just died.Here
Here is a dance of mine (which I have called several times) where partners
say together, but the calls at a critical moment determines direction and
distance of progression.
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Unconsoled
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Here is page by Colin Hume which discusses end effects--
https://colinhume.com/dtendeffects.htm
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Alan J. Rosenthal suggested: "In my opinion it's important that the
replacement terms don't resemble any gendered words"
I disagree.
The purpose of the replacement words is, in the long run, to leave as few
persons as possible (hopefully no one) uncomfortable.
Whether they sound like other
jets/rubies might be the best solution several reasons:
(1) no relation to gender roles,
(2) sound like gents and ladies, satisfying those who cognitively have
difficulty associating larks and robins with the corresponding roles.
(3) easier and faster to say. Jets, unlike larks, has no hard
For lots of balances
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#TwoW6B
or
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#TwoW5B
On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 12:16 PM ROBERT FABINSKI via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> I like Roger Diggle's Snake Oil Reel for lots of balances, and the
No asked it to use positional callng!!
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For many years a man named Jim Hicks has run not quite monthly dances in
the Peoria IL area. He certainly once faced the same challenges you now
face.Their Facebook page is
https://www.facebook.com/rusty.pickup.barn.dance/
You might want to contact him through his FB page about
For some reason I thought you were getting 20-25 dancers.
But with 60-80 your slower approach seems needed.
However, if you are planning an "advanced" dance for your "more experienced"
dancers, you can probably proceed closer to my suggestions.
oops!! I meant "This link contains a list" rather than "This link (a
list .."
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For how many months have you been holding these dances?
I am assuming you are the caller.
If you have at least 6 or 8 regulars, I would think, that after 3 or 4
sessions the core group should be familiar with all of allemande, chain, R
across, courtesy turn, swing, balance and swing,
Deceptively easy for those who have danced several times
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#2W5BW
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I've written two, but wonder if anyone know of others?
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Many excellent dances without a neighbor swing exist, I have fantasized about
calling a whole evening of such dances.
Many dances having only the 1's active can be adapted so the 1's and 2's
alternate as active, the most often called of which is "Alternating Corners"
by Jim Kitch.
Relevant
Here is a link to one of my recent dances, "The Balter Dance," not written
with beginners in mind...
http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter
A caller described her experience calling this at a local dance (which
usually attracts
a relatively large number of beginners)
"I called a
Your concerns about positional calling are correct.
It works ok for the majority of dances, but poorly for some.
Positional teaching/prompting requires more words from the caller and more
thought by dancers.
Thus some dances will require a crowd of a collectively higher skill level for
the
I can think of two out of print books where this dance or something terribly
close could be.
Holden, Rickey, Frank Kaltman, and Olga Kulbitsky. The Contra Dance Book.
Newark, NJ: American Squares, 1956; Lovendegem, Belgium: Anglo-American Dance
Service, 1997.
A compilation of contras and
Good dance
I think the second half of the dance can be better described as follows
B1
Balance circle of 4 (4)
Petronella finish taking left hands in a wavy line of 2 with person you swung.
(4)
(Tell dancers to think of their group of 8 as a racetrack or paper clip of 8
everyone facing
How about a right shoulder round instead of dsd?
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