Re: [Callers] Community

[rich sbardella]

I am with Michael on this.  Let it rest for a while, and if Greg comes back, 
welcome him in.  If I do not want to hear what Greg, or anyone else, has to 
say, I can delete the email.  Greg, like all of us, has some good to say, and 
some fluff.  

A dissenting voice is often good for a group, even if it is harsh to take.  A 
voice that is focused on one aspect of calling/dancing may help us all in that 
area of interest, even as we tire of the message.  

I have heard it said that even a dead clock is right twice a day.  Searching 
through these emails is often like that.  Once in a while, a gem of advice pops 
up that advances my calling skills, but I have to read a lot of emails to get 
there.  It must be worth it, because I keep doing it!

Peace and all good to you,
Rich Sbardella

P.S. "Peace and Good!", "Pax et Bonum", are words often used  by Francis of 
Assisi, one of histories most famous peacemakers.  Francis used these words as 
a salutation and/or as a valediction in many off his discourses.  



 


 From: Michael Fuerst 
To: Caller's discussion list  
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 6:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Community
  

Greg chose to leave.  He can choose to return.
 
Michael Fuerst      802 N Broadway      Urbana IL 61801   217-239-5844
Links to photos of many of my drawings and paintings are at 
www.ArtComesFuerst.com



On Monday, February 24, 2014 4:12 PM, Colin Hume  wrote:

I really don't think we should have Greg back in the group.  He chose 
to leave - let's leave it at that.

Colin Hume


Email co...@colinhume.com      Web site http://www.colinhume.com/


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Re: [Callers] ONS Plus Circle Mixers

[Aahz Maruch]

On Tue, Feb 25, 2014, Kalia Kliban wrote:
> On 2/25/2014 8:46 AM, Aahz Maruch wrote:
>>On Sun, Feb 23, 2014, Kalia Kliban wrote:
>>>
>>>And how about Levi Jackson Rag (5 cpls)?  It's not actually that
>>>hard, and uses basic figures in a fun way.  When a set gets through
>>>it for the first time it's a definite high-5 moment.
>>
>>Errrgh.  No.  ;-)  I mean, agreed on the high-5 bit, but I think of Levi
>>Jackson as being more difficult because of the pass-by-two star -- I've
>>seen way too many breakdowns there.  Combine that with the fast pace
>>(some do slow down the music, though), and just the generally odd
>>configuration, and I only recommend doing it with more experienced
>>dancers unless you want to spend a lot of time teaching it.
>>
>>The other problem with Levi Jackson is the same problem with square
>>dancing: you need exact multiples of five couples.
> 
> True, but the original poster mentioned a group of 5-10 couples, and
> also mentioned that this is a class rather than a standard social
> dance, so something that requires a bit more teaching might actually
> be a good fit.

Looks like you crossed the threads -- that's bad, very bad.  [*]

I think the thread you wanted for this bit was Ben Hornstein's "Social
Dance Club intro program".


[*] RIP, Harold Ramis, in case the joke wasn't obvious.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Social Dance Club intro program

[rich sbardella]

I think that dancers learn to put the lady on the right faster if you use 
dances with the swing followed by a promenade at the beginning of a program.   
After a keeper and a mixer with a promenade, I am more successful using a 
circle after a swing.  
I may also leave a swing out on the first dance with some variation of Circle 
left/right, Fwd & Bk, with Alle Left, with own Dosido, back to corner Alle 
Left, back to your own & promenade.   After prompting the promenade I quickly 
remind dancers Men on the inside.
Rich
 


 From: Maia McCormick 
To: Caller's discussion list  
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Social Dance Club intro program
  

On busload-of-beginner nights, I inform the dancers that "the lady ends on
the right... because... [shamefacedly] the lady is always right." Then I
apologize profusely for having said anything that corny (not to mention
gendered) and I promise never to do it again, but they always remember.

(Another good one is noting that a swing has a blunt end and a pointy end,
and showing them how it'll always end up with the lady on the correct side
if you let go of the pointy end.)


On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 1:46 AM, Alan Winston At Slac <
wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:

> We aargh at saying on the left and having to correct it to on the right.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 24, 2014, at 6:49 PM, Michael Fuerst 
> wrote:
> >
> > Alan:  Since when do we aargh on on right ?
> >
> > Michael Fuerst      802 N Broadway      Urbana IL 61801
> 217-239-5844
> > Links to photos of many of my drawings and paintings are at
> www.ArtComesFuerst.com
> >
> >
> >
> > On Monday, February 24, 2014 6:35 PM, Alan Winston <
> wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
> >
> > On 2/24/2014 2:48 PM, Alan Winston wrote:
> >> If it were me I'd be inclined to do it somewhat differently.  (The
> >> suggestions that have been made so far
> >> are just fine, though.)
> >>
> >> First night:
> >>
> >> Circassian Circle Mixer
> >>
> >> (Or some other super-easy mixer with a swing in it.  Teaches listening
> >> to the caller, doing things to the phrase, ending swings with the lady
> >> on the left,
> >
> > AARGH.  on the right.
> >
> >>    gets them used to changing partners rather than dancing
> >> only with the one they came in with.  Since it's not a one-night stand
> >> dance - that is, they're supposed to learn something - you want them
> >> doing a contra-dance swing; this gets the experienced contra dancers
> >> into the arms of as many people as possible right away.  Swings are
> >> easier to do right once you've felt them being done right.)  This is a
> >> dance that doesn't fail, so they'll feel successful right away.  Pretty
> >> much immune to tune choice so long as the band is clear about phrasing.
> >>
> >> Big Circle
> >>
> >> A1:  Forward and back twice
> >>
> >> A2:  Women to center and back to place
> >>         Men to center and back to woman originally on his left (not
> partner).
> >>
> >> B1:  They swing
> >>
> >> B2:  Promenade around, open to to big circle.
> >>
> >> [You might want to just have them swing their first partner and open up
> >> facing in, and then tell them that they're done with that person and the
> >> next partner is in their other hand]
> >>
> >>
> >> Some kind of Sicilian Circle ideally with a partner swing and a neighbor
> >> swing.  Gets them used to improper formation but without having to deal
> >> with action at the ends of the set.  (Although it's not totally ideal, I
> >> often use "Soldier's Joy", mostly because it's a Civil War era version
> >> and I use it when I'm calling Civil War dances and then I don't have to
> >> remember something else when I'm calling contras.)  Ladies chain along
> >> rather than across the set is unusual but not terribly difficult.  I'm
> >> certainly open to suggestions for better sicilian circle dances for this
> >> purpose. This give some opportunity to discuss giving weight.
> >>
> >> SOLDIER'S JOY.
> >> Sicilian Circle ("As for Spanish Dance") - that means facing the other
> >> couple, gent on the left, lady on the right.
> >> 32-bar reel.  The name tune is the best.
> >>
> >>
> >> A1: 1-4: Forward and back
> >>        5-8: Opposites turn two hands (no progression), open facing
> partner
> >>
> >> A2: 1-8: Partners balance , face other couple
> >>
> >> B1: 1-8: Ladies chain over and back (along the line).
> >>
> >> B2: 1-8: Forward and back, forward and pass through.
> >>
> >>
> >> Then  Simplicity Swing (because they already know most of the bits and
> >> the bits they don't know are circle, star, and do-si-do, which are
> >> things many people think they know how to do even before their first
> >> contra dance.)
> >>
> >> SIMPLICITY SWING
> >> (by Becky Hill)
> >> Improper contra
> >>
> >> Figs: NB:CL3/4:PS:LLF:LC:LHS:NNDSD:
> >>
> >>
> >> A1: Neighbor Balance and Swing
> >>
> >> A2: 

Re: [Callers] ONS Plus Circle Mixers

[Kalia Kliban]

On 2/25/2014 8:46 AM, Aahz Maruch wrote:

On Sun, Feb 23, 2014, Kalia Kliban wrote:


I've used the Lancashire Reel with good success and it works fine
with small-to-medium groups.  It's a double circle, gents facing
out, ladies facing in.  I can't remember where I got this dance.
Looking online, I see versions where the first dosido is the left
shouldered-one.  I've found that starting with the "usual" shoulder
works fine.

P dosido
On L diagonal, L allemande and back to place.

P seesaw
On R diagonal, R allemande and stay there (new P)

With new P, balance and swing

Promenade the ring, then gents face out, ladies face in.


That's a seesaw as in left-should gypsy?


Left shoulder dosido, actually.


And how about Levi Jackson Rag (5 cpls)?  It's not actually that
hard, and uses basic figures in a fun way.  When a set gets through
it for the first time it's a definite high-5 moment.


Errrgh.  No.  ;-)  I mean, agreed on the high-5 bit, but I think of Levi
Jackson as being more difficult because of the pass-by-two star -- I've
seen way too many breakdowns there.  Combine that with the fast pace
(some do slow down the music, though), and just the generally odd
configuration, and I only recommend doing it with more experienced
dancers unless you want to spend a lot of time teaching it.

The other problem with Levi Jackson is the same problem with square
dancing: you need exact multiples of five couples.


True, but the original poster mentioned a group of 5-10 couples, and 
also mentioned that this is a class rather than a standard social dance, 
so something that requires a bit more teaching might actually be a good fit.


Kalia

Re: [Callers] Social Dance Club intro program

[Maia McCormick]

On busload-of-beginner nights, I inform the dancers that "the lady ends on
the right... because... [shamefacedly] the lady is always right." Then I
apologize profusely for having said anything that corny (not to mention
gendered) and I promise never to do it again, but they always remember.

(Another good one is noting that a swing has a blunt end and a pointy end,
and showing them how it'll always end up with the lady on the correct side
if you let go of the pointy end.)


On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 1:46 AM, Alan Winston At Slac <
wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:

> We aargh at saying on the left and having to correct it to on the right.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 24, 2014, at 6:49 PM, Michael Fuerst 
> wrote:
> >
> > Alan:  Since when do we aargh on on right ?
> >
> > Michael Fuerst  802 N Broadway  Urbana IL 61801
> 217-239-5844
> > Links to photos of many of my drawings and paintings are at
> www.ArtComesFuerst.com
> >
> >
> >
> > On Monday, February 24, 2014 6:35 PM, Alan Winston <
> wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
> >
> > On 2/24/2014 2:48 PM, Alan Winston wrote:
> >> If it were me I'd be inclined to do it somewhat differently.  (The
> >> suggestions that have been made so far
> >> are just fine, though.)
> >>
> >> First night:
> >>
> >> Circassian Circle Mixer
> >>
> >> (Or some other super-easy mixer with a swing in it.  Teaches listening
> >> to the caller, doing things to the phrase, ending swings with the lady
> >> on the left,
> >
> > AARGH.  on the right.
> >
> >>gets them used to changing partners rather than dancing
> >> only with the one they came in with.  Since it's not a one-night stand
> >> dance - that is, they're supposed to learn something - you want them
> >> doing a contra-dance swing; this gets the experienced contra dancers
> >> into the arms of as many people as possible right away.  Swings are
> >> easier to do right once you've felt them being done right.)  This is a
> >> dance that doesn't fail, so they'll feel successful right away.  Pretty
> >> much immune to tune choice so long as the band is clear about phrasing.
> >>
> >> Big Circle
> >>
> >> A1:  Forward and back twice
> >>
> >> A2:  Women to center and back to place
> >> Men to center and back to woman originally on his left (not
> partner).
> >>
> >> B1:  They swing
> >>
> >> B2:  Promenade around, open to to big circle.
> >>
> >> [You might want to just have them swing their first partner and open up
> >> facing in, and then tell them that they're done with that person and the
> >> next partner is in their other hand]
> >>
> >>
> >> Some kind of Sicilian Circle ideally with a partner swing and a neighbor
> >> swing.  Gets them used to improper formation but without having to deal
> >> with action at the ends of the set.  (Although it's not totally ideal, I
> >> often use "Soldier's Joy", mostly because it's a Civil War era version
> >> and I use it when I'm calling Civil War dances and then I don't have to
> >> remember something else when I'm calling contras.)  Ladies chain along
> >> rather than across the set is unusual but not terribly difficult.  I'm
> >> certainly open to suggestions for better sicilian circle dances for this
> >> purpose. This give some opportunity to discuss giving weight.
> >>
> >> SOLDIER'S JOY.
> >> Sicilian Circle ("As for Spanish Dance") - that means facing the other
> >> couple, gent on the left, lady on the right.
> >> 32-bar reel.  The name tune is the best.
> >>
> >>
> >> A1: 1-4: Forward and back
> >>5-8: Opposites turn two hands (no progression), open facing
> partner
> >>
> >> A2: 1-8: Partners balance , face other couple
> >>
> >> B1: 1-8: Ladies chain over and back (along the line).
> >>
> >> B2: 1-8: Forward and back, forward and pass through.
> >>
> >>
> >> Then  Simplicity Swing (because they already know most of the bits and
> >> the bits they don't know are circle, star, and do-si-do, which are
> >> things many people think they know how to do even before their first
> >> contra dance.)
> >>
> >> SIMPLICITY SWING
> >> (by Becky Hill)
> >> Improper contra
> >>
> >> Figs: NB:CL3/4:PS:LLF:LC:LHS:NNDSD:
> >>
> >>
> >> A1: Neighbor Balance and Swing
> >>
> >> A2: Circle left 3/4;
> >>partner swing
> >>
> >> B1: Long lines forward and back;
> >>ladies chain
> >>
> >> B2: left hand star;
> >>next neighbor do si do
> >>
> >>
> >> And then you can do the rest of the  evening with easy to intermediate
> >> longways dances.
> >>
> >>
> >> Repeat this pattern (with different mixer and different Sicilian Circle)
> >> the next time to get the brand new dancers swung and sweaty before they
> >> have to learn much.
> >>
> >> -- Alan
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> On 2/24/2014 8:50 AM, Ben Hornstein wrote:
> >>> Greetings fellow callers,
> >>>
> >>> My graduate school's social dance club is going to be having a Contra
> >>> night, which I will be calling. I was hoping to get some advice on how
> to
> >>> structure 

Re: [Callers] ONS Plus Circle Mixers

[Aahz Maruch]

On Sun, Feb 23, 2014, Kalia Kliban wrote:
>
> I've used the Lancashire Reel with good success and it works fine
> with small-to-medium groups.  It's a double circle, gents facing
> out, ladies facing in.  I can't remember where I got this dance.
> Looking online, I see versions where the first dosido is the left
> shouldered-one.  I've found that starting with the "usual" shoulder
> works fine.
> 
> P dosido
> On L diagonal, L allemande and back to place.
> 
> P seesaw
> On R diagonal, R allemande and stay there (new P)
> 
> With new P, balance and swing
> 
> Promenade the ring, then gents face out, ladies face in.

That's a seesaw as in left-should gypsy?

> And how about Levi Jackson Rag (5 cpls)?  It's not actually that
> hard, and uses basic figures in a fun way.  When a set gets through
> it for the first time it's a definite high-5 moment.

Errrgh.  No.  ;-)  I mean, agreed on the high-5 bit, but I think of Levi
Jackson as being more difficult because of the pass-by-two star -- I've
seen way too many breakdowns there.  Combine that with the fast pace
(some do slow down the music, though), and just the generally odd
configuration, and I only recommend doing it with more experienced
dancers unless you want to spend a lot of time teaching it.

The other problem with Levi Jackson is the same problem with square
dancing: you need exact multiples of five couples.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Community

[Aahz Maruch]

On Mon, Feb 24, 2014, lynn ackerson wrote:
>
> This reminds me a lot of a situation in one of the nearby communities.
> There was a dancer who was openly rude to the other dancers and the
> callers in particular. An example would be from the floor calling
> the caller a Nazi. He was extremely disruptive, and I went to their
> board to request they do something about it since I would not feel
> comfortable calling there any more. They admitted that they had had a
> number of complaints about this dancer, but because contra communities
> are so inclusive, they couldn't ask him to leave. My question to them
> was whether it was more important to be inclusive to a very disruptive
> dancer and in turn lose many dancers (both new and long-term) due to
> his behavior; or ask him to leave for a period such as 6 months and
> subsequently building their dance community or at least reducing the
> probability of people (including callers) not returning.

Sounds like you're talking about the Geek Social Fallacies:

http://plausiblydeniable.com/opinion/gsf.html

However, what you're talking about is sufficiently different in degree
from what Greg was doing as to be different in kind (particularly with
the example of "Nazi"), and I think it is unfair to bring that up in
relation to Greg.

(I have some thoughts about Greg, still debating with myself whether to
post them. ;-)
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Social Dance Club intro program

[Alan Winston At Slac]

We aargh at saying on the left and having to correct it to on the right. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 24, 2014, at 6:49 PM, Michael Fuerst  wrote:
> 
> Alan:  Since when do we aargh on on right ?
>  
> Michael Fuerst  802 N Broadway  Urbana IL 61801   217-239-5844
> Links to photos of many of my drawings and paintings are at 
> www.ArtComesFuerst.com
> 
> 
> 
> On Monday, February 24, 2014 6:35 PM, Alan Winston 
>  wrote:
> 
> On 2/24/2014 2:48 PM, Alan Winston wrote:
>> If it were me I'd be inclined to do it somewhat differently.  (The
>> suggestions that have been made so far
>> are just fine, though.)
>> 
>> First night:
>> 
>> Circassian Circle Mixer
>> 
>> (Or some other super-easy mixer with a swing in it.  Teaches listening
>> to the caller, doing things to the phrase, ending swings with the lady
>> on the left,
> 
> AARGH.  on the right.
> 
>>gets them used to changing partners rather than dancing
>> only with the one they came in with.  Since it's not a one-night stand
>> dance - that is, they're supposed to learn something - you want them
>> doing a contra-dance swing; this gets the experienced contra dancers
>> into the arms of as many people as possible right away.  Swings are
>> easier to do right once you've felt them being done right.)  This is a
>> dance that doesn't fail, so they'll feel successful right away.  Pretty
>> much immune to tune choice so long as the band is clear about phrasing.
>> 
>> Big Circle
>> 
>> A1:  Forward and back twice
>> 
>> A2:  Women to center and back to place
>> Men to center and back to woman originally on his left (not partner).
>> 
>> B1:  They swing
>> 
>> B2:  Promenade around, open to to big circle.
>> 
>> [You might want to just have them swing their first partner and open up
>> facing in, and then tell them that they're done with that person and the
>> next partner is in their other hand]
>> 
>> 
>> Some kind of Sicilian Circle ideally with a partner swing and a neighbor
>> swing.  Gets them used to improper formation but without having to deal
>> with action at the ends of the set.  (Although it's not totally ideal, I
>> often use "Soldier's Joy", mostly because it's a Civil War era version
>> and I use it when I'm calling Civil War dances and then I don't have to
>> remember something else when I'm calling contras.)  Ladies chain along
>> rather than across the set is unusual but not terribly difficult.  I'm
>> certainly open to suggestions for better sicilian circle dances for this
>> purpose. This give some opportunity to discuss giving weight.
>> 
>> SOLDIER'S JOY.
>> Sicilian Circle ("As for Spanish Dance") - that means facing the other
>> couple, gent on the left, lady on the right.
>> 32-bar reel.  The name tune is the best.
>> 
>> 
>> A1: 1-4: Forward and back
>>5-8: Opposites turn two hands (no progression), open facing partner
>> 
>> A2: 1-8: Partners balance , face other couple
>> 
>> B1: 1-8: Ladies chain over and back (along the line).
>> 
>> B2: 1-8: Forward and back, forward and pass through.
>> 
>> 
>> Then  Simplicity Swing (because they already know most of the bits and
>> the bits they don't know are circle, star, and do-si-do, which are
>> things many people think they know how to do even before their first
>> contra dance.)
>> 
>> SIMPLICITY SWING
>> (by Becky Hill)
>> Improper contra
>> 
>> Figs: NB:CL3/4:PS:LLF:LC:LHS:NNDSD:
>> 
>> 
>> A1: Neighbor Balance and Swing
>> 
>> A2: Circle left 3/4;
>>partner swing
>> 
>> B1: Long lines forward and back;
>>ladies chain
>> 
>> B2: left hand star;
>>next neighbor do si do
>> 
>> 
>> And then you can do the rest of the  evening with easy to intermediate
>> longways dances.
>> 
>> 
>> Repeat this pattern (with different mixer and different Sicilian Circle)
>> the next time to get the brand new dancers swung and sweaty before they
>> have to learn much.
>> 
>> -- Alan
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 2/24/2014 8:50 AM, Ben Hornstein wrote:
>>> Greetings fellow callers,
>>> 
>>> My graduate school's social dance club is going to be having a Contra
>>> night, which I will be calling. I was hoping to get some advice on how to
>>> structure the evening. Here's what I'm expecting:
>>> 
>>> Two 2 hour events, on March 3 and 10
>>> 20-30 people, with maybe 5-8 who have danced contra before at all, 1-3 who
>>> I would consider experts
>>> The second week will most likely have people who did not come the first week
>>> Minimal live band (who I have worked with before)
>>> 
>>> Here's what I'm thinking so far:
>>> 1st dance: something simple without any swing to teach a few of the most
>>> basic moves
>>> 2nd dance: teach the swing, do an easy dance
>>> remaining dances: teach one new move before each dance, then do a dance
>>> that incorporates that move
>>> 
>>> 2nd week: plan a generally easy program, but review moves as they come up
>>> (for those who missed the first week)
>>> 
>>> I'm hoping for