I had never thought of that.... Like I said, I just called it and it went well - no questions, no issues, lots of enjoyment-- (with a number of beginners and nobody else in the group of 40+ people terribly advanced) - and it certainly didn't seem to hamper their dancing abilities in that dance or any future one.
When I dance it here in my house to try it out, I feel there is still a great rhythm to that combination--maybe it's got a bit of a syncopated feel? Anyhow, I still say, "don't knock it till you try it" :) KK Sep 27, 2023 11:23:18 AM Tony Parkes <t...@hands4.com>: > I’m not saying this phrasing should be outlawed. But it’s enough of a > challenge to get new folks to do a balance on 1-2-3-4 without giving them an > exception early on. > > Tony Parkes > Billerica, Mass. > www.hands4.com[http://www.hands4.com/] > New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century > (available now) > > > *From:* Katherine Kitching <k...@outdooractive.ca> > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 10:03 AM > *To:* Tony Parkes <t...@hands4.com> > *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence > > aw, really? > > I say, don't knock it till you try it :) > > - I had a mix of beginner and more experienced dancers - I didn't explain it > any detail, I just demo'd it once, and then they all did it easily and with > gusto. :D > > Sep 27, 2023 10:50:10 AM Tony Parkes <t...@hands4.com>: > > Ah, thanks. > Different strokes for different folks. I don’t think I could bring myself to > ask for a balance on 3-4-5-6 of an 8-count phrase. > Tony Parkes > Billerica, Mass. > www.hands4.com[http://www.hands4.com/] > New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century > (available now) > *From:* Katherine Kitching <k...@outdooractive.ca> > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:46 AM > *To:* Tony Parkes <t...@hands4.com> > *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence > haha I was unsure it would work when I called it for the first time the other > night - but it worked great!! > > Previously I had done LLFB, LLF and pull by, LLFB, LLF and pull by-- > > but my dancers did it so fast and energetically there was a super long and > awkward pause after they pulled by and turned to face their partner again. > > the secret is, it only takes them 2 counts to get close enough to rt-hand > balance. > > so it's 1-2 (walk), 1-2-3-4 (balance), and 1-2 pass by and turn - that part > is admittedly fast, but they enjoyed the challenge of it and it really > livened up this beginner-oriented dance. > > Sep 27, 2023 10:40:00 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers > <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>: > > “- LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again” > Will someone please explain the timing of this sequence? I get 8 steps for > LLFB, 4 for LLF, 4 for a balance, and 4 for a pull by, adding up to 20; but I > assume it’s intended to be done in 16. (I’m assuming that “turn to face in” > is done as part of the pull by – no problem there.) Is there actually no LLF > apart from the balance? > Tony Parkes > Billerica, Mass. > www.hands4.com[http://www.hands4.com/] > New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century > (available now) > *From:* Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers > <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 27, 2023 9:33 AM > *To:* Joe Harrington <contradancer...@gmail.com> > *Cc:* contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > *Subject:* [Callers] Re: Most-Easiest Duple Minors in existence > lol "full washing machine" - I hadn't heard that before! > > I agree on avoiding the full one as much as possible - but I quite like just > a circle-left-circle-right - brings the group together for some smiles and > allows for fancy footwork for those who want to throw in a little something > extra. > > But it may be interesting to ask the group to compile a list of > beginner-friendly figures, beyond the very basic ones like allemandes and do > si dos, that could be used to put together some dances of the type that you > (and I, always!!) are seeking? > > My criteria would be: > > - does not take anyone out of home place > (or takes them out temporarily but puts them back again, such as pulling by > your partner across the set, but then pulling by again within the next 1 or 2 > moves). > > - doesn't involve anything that is known to cause confusion for total > beginners, such as courtesy turns or heys. > > _Here are some that I like:_ > > - do si do as couples > > - LLFB, LLF, balance pull by:, LLFB, LLF, balance pull by again > > - take 4 steps left then 4 steps right, around the oval > > - turn and walk individually around the oval for 8, then back for 8 > > - balance and spin the star (as per Louise S) > > - balance the ring, then 2 hand balance your partner > > - holding hands, veer right then left with your partner to progress > > - what else?? :) > > Sep 27, 2023 12:44:51 AM Joe Harrington <contradancer...@gmail.com>: > > Thanks for this thread! My group is tired of me bailing out to a small > collection of trivial contras (Airpants, Midwest Folklore...). > How about the easiest dance *that experienced dancers don't mind dancing*? I > have always disliked the "full washing machine" of circle left, circle right, > star right, star left. Even a half-wash makes my shoulders sag, inwardly. > Of course, I will try to do them with a smile and encourage both the new > dancers and the caller. But, surely we can make it a little more interesting > without losing the newbies. Airpants and Midwest Folklore do, though they > involve swings. Elbow or crossed-hand swings are fine for this and don't need > to be taught outside of a walkthrough. If I'm using these dances in a > workshop, I do tell the experienced dancers not to teach the ballroom swing, > we'll get to that in a minute. Otherwise, they all try. > --jh-- > On Mon, Sep 25, 2023 at 7:27 PM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers > <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Here are a couple more that I wrote, that I called the other night and went > very well. > (again, I haven't searched to see if they exist already) > > these all build on the skills we did in my "very simple contra" in the > sicilian formation, that I outlined in a previous message. > > 1. "Off they go" > > - Circle left > - Circle right > - LLFB > - (still holding hands) - walk 4 steps left then 4 steps right (or call it a > giant oval left then right if you prefer) > > - partner do si do > - neighbour left hand turn (allemande) > - partner 2 hand balance twice (I suggest the convention of veering slightly > to the left the first balance, and slightly to the right on the second, for > interest) > - holding inside hands with your partner facing the other couple, veer on a > forward right diagonal to pass the other couple, then on a forward left > diagonal to meet the next couple > > > 2. "first out of place dance" (at a brisk pace) > people found this very fun!! > > - circle left > - circle right > - partner do si do > - neighbour 2 hand balance once, and baby turn (ie switch places, by circling > while holding 2 hands in the same direction you would in a 2 hand turn or > swing - can also say - switch places with your neighbour, with the ravens > going on the inside) > > - LLFB > - LLF, balance partner by the right one time and pull by (to switch places w > partner) > - LLFB > - LLF, just pull by the right (no balance) - give a little nod and stomp to > your old group, turn to face the new > > 3. " first down the hall dance" > > -1's split the 2's and all walk down the hall in line of 4, turn alone > - come on back, bend line > - circle left > - circle right > > - partner left shoulder round > - neighbour right hand turn (allemande) > - all circle left again > - left hand star to new group > > > 4. "first swing (or 2 hand turn) dance" > > - N bal and 2 hand turn (or swing, depending on level of dancers), for 16 > - LLFB > - Partner left shoulder round > > - Neighbour right shoulder round > - circle left > - circle right > - balance the circle one time, 2 hand balance your partner one time, turn to > face new group > > There were 2 more dances in my sequence after this, but they wouldn't qualify > as super easy. (though probably still easier than most of you call!! :) ) > > - Kat k > in Hfx, NS, CA > _______________________________________________ > 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
