That’s an interesting take—I usually see people swinging for too LONG, and specifically see swings running over as one of the main culprits of dance timing muddiness. Probably a combination of: swinging is fun, it’s a variable number of rotations (ie no clear end point), and it may take beginners a sec to get the hand/foot position right. So when dance timing is slipping, my go-to is to start more clearly prompting the first move after the swing, esp. the partner swing.
For whatever that’s worth! Cheers, Maia (Brooklyn, NY) -- Maia McCormick (she/her) 917.279.8194 On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 4:40 PM Neal Schlein <[email protected]> wrote: > Robert— > I’m thinking there are three things you may be working to counteract: > > 1. Rushing to the swing/the “easy bits” of the dance. If the dancers > don’t perceive each part of the sequence as equally important or > interesting, they will often attempt to shorten the distance to the next > part; flowing segments are the natural casualty. This is also trained > behavior, learned from exposure to music and tight choreography that > rewards or forces “clipped” endings for flowing figures like heys or rushed > contra corners. I don’t know how to alter this in a simple, clean way > except by repeatedly not programming such choreography. > > 2. Driving or low-phrased music. This is regional, and in my opinion the > dance tunes played in different places in our country are getting smooshed > stylistically, but there are differences. When I lived in Illinois, for > example, the music tended toward a hard driven beat with less intra- and > sometimes extra-phrase distinction. I personally felt it was infinitely > better for squares because it made contras became mushy, especially on long > and flowing parts (which is choreography I tend to appreciate…and then > people would rush to the swings). That outcome didn’t seem to bother anyone > other than me, though. > > 3. Dropping out/style of calling. When we start to drop out, it gives > more latitude to the dancers to make their own decisions about timing—which > are then dictated by the band (music phrasing), their attitude toward the > choreography (rush to the good parts), and their skill (easier to > execute=faster potential execution). You can try to keep calling longer > and provide more direction….which might also result in a riot, depending on > the dancers. (Here in Colorado I have the reverse: a group that threatens > homicide if I ever leave out a single call.) > > Neal Schlein > Librarian, MSLIS > Colorado > > On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 2:44 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Robert, are you looking for tips beyond the basic “clear, well-phrased, >> LONG/well-in-advance calls”? That’s probably the biggest thing, in my >> mind—a nice long (3-4 beat) call in advance of the move that often lags, to >> give dancers some heads up. (And of course, identifying ahead of time what >> parts of the dance that are likely to get smeary.) >> >> You might be able to preempt some of the timing issues in teaching. Eg >> “take JUST FOUR STEPS down the hall, it’s shorter than you think” etc, but >> honestly that kind of thing flies right out of people’s heads when the >> music starts. >> >> Cheers, >> Maia in Brooklyn >> >> >> -- >> Maia McCormick (she/her) >> 917.279.8194 >> >> >> On Wed, Sep 25, 2024 at 2:51 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Thanks for giving the new dance a spin! I haven't even tried it with >>> people yet :-) >>> >>> Robert, I'm reminded of George Wilson's beginner lesson where he talks >>> explicitly about the connection between the music and the dancing, and >>> makes the timing explicit: >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14nxFdcaKWA >>> >>> Thanks again all, >>> Luke >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 3:25 PM Robert Matson via Contra Callers < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Like Harris recently did, we plan to try Star Trek Phaser for our >>>> beginner-heavy college contra next week. Thanks for writing and posting >>>> it, Luke. >>>> >>>> We often find that our dancers get off-phrase, especially with flowy >>>> dances, like this one. Is that what causes the challenge with the oval in >>>> this dance? >>>> >>>> We have the benefit of choosing our music program at the same time as >>>> our dance program. So, our Plan A for flowy dances is to choose a tune set >>>> with clear differentiation between the 8-bar phrases and some sort of >>>> punctuation at the start or end of each phrase. (Maybe a tune set >>>> like this one. <https://youtu.be/ADQq_nqqHik?si=UX83w43tUtd8pw6x&t=151> >>>> ) >>>> >>>> From the perspective of callers, what would be a few tips that help >>>> ensure flowy dances don't get off-phrase or would help in a case like >>>> Harris'? >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Rob >>>> >>>> - - - - - - - - - - - - >>>> >>>> Robert Matson >>>> Cell: (917) 626-2675 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Tue, Sep 24, 2024 at 12:51 AM Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I called Star Trek Phraser at a beginner-heavy college dance last >>>>> weekend and it worked quite well! The only thing I noticed was that I had >>>>> to keep jumping in to keep the oval on time (dancers kept trying to shift >>>>> it to A2) and even still it got pretty messy. But it's a nice whole-set >>>>> moment that I think is worth it. (And for attentive beginners I think it >>>>> also reveals something to them about the structure of the dance.) I was >>>>> surprised and pleased by how well beginners were able to handle the >>>>> star-to-star transition, quick though it is! >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for that one, Luke! >>>>> >>>>> Harris Lapiroff >>>>> >>>>> Dance Caller and Organizer >>>>> Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA) >>>>> Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA) >>>>> https://chromamine.com/contra/ >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Sep 9, 2024, at 8:08 PM, Luke Donforth via Contra Callers >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Thanks all. >>>>> >>>>> I continue to turn this one over in my head, and I think I've got a >>>>> new one (borrowing heavily from Bob Isaac's *To Turn a Phrase* and >>>>> the star-to-star transition of Mick Richardson's *Star Trek*) >>>>> >>>>> Star Trek Phraser >>>>> by Luke Donforth >>>>> Contra/Becket-CCW >>>>> >>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Left hand Star >>>>> (8) Whole set oval right >>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>> (8) whole set oval Left >>>>> (8) Groups of 4 Circle Left 1X >>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Partner Do-si-do >>>>> (8) Partner swing >>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>> (8) Long lines, forward and back >>>>> (8) Left hand Star 1x, walk on to next star >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 7:55 PM <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> https://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#Balter >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 11:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hello all, >>>>> >>>>> Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set >>>>> dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening. >>>>> But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow >>>>> their familiarity with the dance form. >>>>> >>>>> I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor >>>>> swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways >>>>> in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a >>>>> while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option: >>>>> >>>>> Pluck It >>>>> Contra/Becket-CW >>>>> >>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Circle Left >>>>> (8) Circle Right >>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>> (8) Left hand Star >>>>> (8) Right hand Star >>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Partner Do-si-do >>>>> (8) Partner swing >>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>> (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set >>>>> (8) Long lines, yearn left >>>>> >>>>> This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter >>>>> Shot but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, >>>>> which in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I >>>>> wouldn't use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's >>>>> accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if >>>>> folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't >>>>> really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper >>>>> for this type of dance; different position on the side is less >>>>> disorienting >>>>> than different side of the set). >>>>> >>>>> What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No >>>>> larks allemande or robins chain, etc. >>>>> >>>>> On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one >>>>> (which may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community >>>>> dance I was at: >>>>> >>>>> A Pillar of Weathersfield >>>>> Contra/Becket-CW >>>>> >>>>> A1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >>>>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella) >>>>> A2 ----------- >>>>> (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall >>>>> B1 ----------- >>>>> (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) >>>>> (8) Return and face across >>>>> B2 ----------- >>>>> (8) Long lines, forward and back >>>>> (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress >>>>> (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and >>>>> the new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple) >>>>> >>>>> I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level >>>>> contras when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper >>>>> dances with neighbor swings. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks! >>>>> Luke Donforth >>>>> Burlington, VT >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Luke Donforth >>>>> [email protected] <[email protected]> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Luke Donforth >>> [email protected] <[email protected]> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>> [email protected] >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> >
_______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
