Since all these easy dances are fresh on my mind. I think we don't see many new compositions being written because it's difficult to find ones that aren't like, a simple variation on an existing dance. There's a longstanding discussion on "what constitutes a new dance", and I'm unsure there's a clear or agreed-upon answer. I think we all understand that 99% of dances are derivative - it's rare we get a dance that adds a new choreography tool to contra that can be used more than once or twice, yeah? I do think there's a general consensus that swapping two nearly-equivalent moves doesn't count (swapping the order of 2 zero moves, swapping a right and left through for chain, vice versa, changing a balance and swing to a dosido and swing, etc) But ... it's unclear how many simple swaps may constitute "new", yeah? 2? 3? I remember Bob Isaacs taught a general "25% of the dance" as a rough guideline.
I digress. Yours is: A1: N B+S A2: Larks Alle L, PS B1: LLFB, R+L Thru B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal, Pass Thru Wedded Bliss, by Mark Goodwin: A1: N DSD + S A2: Larks Alle L, PS B1: P Prom, LLFB B2: Circle Left 3/4, Bal, Pass Thru So, is 3 small transpositions more than a variation of Mark's dance? Me, personally? Hm, it could go either way. I personally do not like a promenade into Long Lines, so, I prefer your version. Pass through to do-si-do is a fun transition, too, and I have a _ton_ A1 N B+S dances in my box. There's also Lisa Greenleaf's After the Solstice: A1: N B+S A2: LLFB, Larks Alle L B1: P B+S B2: R+L Thru, Circle L 3/4, Pass Thru In this case, your dance moves a balance from Partner to Ring, and puts the Partner Swing in the A and the LLFB in the B (and I like a long lines at the top of the B, too) Another 3-small variations, and in this one, it's all the same moves. But it's enough different that I'd keep both versions in my box. I also have Chama River Reel, by Merri Rudd: A1: N R Shoulder 'Round + Swing A2: LLFB, Larks Alle L B1: P B+S B2: P Prom, Circle L 3/4, Pass Thru ... which is clearly the same as After the Solstice but the entry-to-PS changed and the R+L Thru for Prom swapped. Which came first? *shrug* I have both in my box, though, even though I put Appetizer and Push the Button on the same card as variations of the same dance. And then I have my dance I wrote in the Before Pandemic times, which I never really got a chance to publish or call more than once, Turtle Twirl: A1: N B+S A2: Pass Thru Across, N Cali Twirl*, Robins Alle R B1: P B+S B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal, P Cali Twirl * (basically a R+L Thru flourish written as a variation) ... which I have marked on my card as a variation of A1 Reel: A1: Circle Left 3/4, Balance, Partner Cal Twirl A2: New Neighbour Balance & Swing B1: R&L Thru, Ladies RHT 3/2 B2: Partner Balance & Swing ... I'm laughing at myself, because I realize is two moves different from The Big Hello from my original thread, which I clearly forgot about my older dance, and hasn't gotten to The Caller's Box. So, I'm likely transcribing this as a variation and noting both dances and authors, lol: A1: N DSD + S A2: Larks Alle L, PS B1: LLFB, R+L Thru B2: Circle, Bal, Pass Thru in dance, Julian On Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 4:17 AM Drew Delaware via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I have been meaning to post this new dance I wrote last month, but hadn't > gotten around to it yet. Seems appropriate to contribute it to this > discussion as we explore early evening dances and their variations. > > Had a fun chat a few weeks ago with Chris Page about how there aren't a > lot of easy dances being written, as those of us who enjoy writing dances > naturally tend to get more excited by the innovative and elaborate > choreography more typically found in the middle of the program. But it's > great to have new options emerge for that easy, first dance, when you know > you have new dancers on the floor - especially since those dances get a lot > of use. > > I wanted a first dance of the evening that sent the Larks to the Robin's > home side for the partner swing, and I was set on having "balance the ring > and pass through" as the progression - all so that it flowed with the rest > of my program. Couldn't find a match, so I wrote my own. > > *‘Git Goin’ - Drew Delaware * > A1 - Neighbour Balance & Swing > A2 - Larks Allemande Left 1.5x; Partner Swing > B1 - Long Lines Forward and Back; Right & Left Through > B2 - Circle Left 3 places; Balance the Ring; Pass through to new neighbours > > It tested well on the dance floor, so I offer it here in case you're > looking for new options for a first dance of the evening. The dance will be > added to Caller's Box online in the next update. > > Cheers! > Drew > > *From:* Ron Blechner <contra...@gmail.com> >> >> *Date:* October 22, 2022 at 6:20:04 AM HST >> *To:* Tony Parkes <t...@hands4.com> >> *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> *Subject:* *[Callers] Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation* >> >> >> I have a couple of Tony's books, but I just checked, and not the one >> containing Ashoken Hello. I'd be curious the choreo for that. >> >> I've heard a few callers call The Big Easy, and most recently it was Liz >> Nelson, locally, early in an evening with a gaggle of new dancers, and she >> prompted it with the allemande Right. >> >> The one on The Caller's Box has it as a Left. >> >> I guess the other issue, which, now that I'm thinking about L vs R in >> details, is that from Robins role, an alle R puts it at 38-40 beats of >> clockwise rotation, which 26-28 beats is consecutively. >> >> Hm. >> >> Changing the alle to a DoSiDo solves that, keeps the timing and keeps it >> as glossary moves, and flows well from a promade.(alts: pass thru across + >> twirl, or R+L Thru) >> >> A1: N B+S >> A2: N Prom, Robins DSD 1.5x >> B1: P B+S >> B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal, Cali Twirl >> >> This dance searched brings up Yoyo Zhou's "Larks in the Afternoon" >> >> A1: same >> A2: Larks Alle L 1.5x, Robins DSD 1x >> B1: same >> B2: same >> >> And also is similar to Linda Leslie's Berlin Contra: >> >> A1: same >> A2: LLFB, Robins DSD 1.5 >> B1: same >> B2: Bal Ring, 2s Arch, 1s Dive >> >> (Essentially, the Big Easy but Robins DSD. Now I'm curious which dance >> came first?) >> >> And of course, Diane Silver's Easy Peasy: >> >> A1: same >> A2: LLFB, Larks Alle L 1.5 >> B1: same >> B2: Circle, bal, cali. >> >> Adding in a chain and/or a star and dropping the promenade and I have at >> least a dozen other dances in my box. (Appetizer, Push the Button, Too Hot >> To Trot, Simplicity Swing, Spend Some Time Together, Harmony Supper Line, >> Dick & Mary's Departure, Baby Rose, et al) >> >> ... but this niche of "simple dance with a courtesy turn, one role >> doesn't stay mostly in one spot, no star, no chain" is something I know >> I've looked for programming gigs and left wanting. >> >> I'll leave this thread going as more callers see it and have dances to >> think of. I may temprarily dub the DSD version "The Big Hello". >> >> -Julian >> >> _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
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