Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

So Bill - Are you the dance author ??  So glad to know if you are so I can 
credit you !!  

I use this at weddings, Kids gigs, community gigs, and at beginner dancers and 
it is ALWAYS my go to to see if I can progress into contras or if whether it is 
a longways set/circle/sq kind of night !

Thanks 

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Jul 24, 2018, at 7:20 PM, Bill Baritompa  wrote:

Hi Cheryl and all, 

I'm glad you like the dance, it's called  Easy Progressive Contra 3
 
http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers-sharedweight.net/2012-July/013022.html
 
<http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers-sharedweight.net/2012-July/013022.html>

I don't specify how much to move the circles or stars in A1 and A2 but just say 
to move
for 8 beats. I tell them they will end of back where they started because 
moving both
directions cancel out each time. 

Also I didn't specify the type of stars but stress the A1/A2 transition is to 
keep moving and 
put your 'inside' (left) hand in. This is to get them to learn to move the 
stars first and make the
grip on the move. Also they don't need to know which hand is left, as they 
should use the hand
closest to the center. 

If the dancer look up to it, I suggest the option to communicate with your Nbr 
in B2 and choose
to allemand 1x or 2x.

Cheers, Bill

On 25/07/2018 11:33 a.m., Cheryl Joyal via Callers wrote:
> One of my favorite is Easy Progressive Contra - I find it works better for me 
> with beginners, because the couples do-si-do 1+1/2 in Family Contra seems to 
> confuse people (or I dont teach it well!)
> 
> Easy Progressive Contra  (by ???)
> 
> A1 (8) Circle Left 1X
> (8) Circle Right 1X
> 
> A2 (8) Star Left - Hands across
> (8) Star Right - Hands across
> 
> 
> B1 (8) Women Do-si-do
> (8) Men Do-si-do
> 
> B2 (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1x
> (8) Neighbor Balance and Pull by to New Ne’s
> 
> Cheryl Joyal
> clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
> clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
> 630-667-3284 (cell)
> 
> 
 

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Re: [Callers] Folk Festival - Easy Contra dances to teach Beginners

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

One of my favorite is Easy Progressive Contra - I find it works better for me 
with beginners, because the couples do-si-do 1+1/2 in Family Contra seems to 
confuse people (or I dont teach it well!)

Easy Progressive Contra  (by ???)

A1  (8) Circle Left 1X
(8) Circle Right 1X

A2  (8) Star Left - Hands across
(8) Star Right - Hands across


B1  (8) Women Do-si-do
(8) Men Do-si-do

B2  (8) Neighbor allemande Right 1x
(8) Neighbor Balance and Pull by to New Ne’s

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Jul 24, 2018, at 5:52 PM, Martha Wild via Callers 
 wrote:

John already mentioned Family Contra, which is my favorite because the 
progression happens so easily, and it is so obvious that you are facing new 
people. In addition, it has no obvious differences in gender role - doesn’t 
matter who dances on which side, so great with piles of kids and parents 
dancing together, yet it teaches the progression concept.

Next after that I like Ellen’s Green Jig by Roy Dommett. Though it has a swing 
for the 1s, it really doesn’t matter if people open up on the “wrong” side, as 
long as they face their neighbors, all is well. 
A1) Do-si-do neighbor
Ones do-si-do
A2) Ones balance and swing (sometimes I have them balance twice because 
swinging is not very comfortable for new people, and sometimes I just have them 
two hand turn after the balance(s).
B1) Circle left with neighbors
Circle right back to place (the only time I’ve seen this go wrong was when 
people circled so they ended up doing the next move sideways to the set)
B2) Duck for the oyster/dig/Dive on through (all keep hands after circle - 1s 
take a little peek under an arch formed by 2s, then back up, 2s do the same 
through 1s, finally 1s pop through to a new couple)

If a whole pile of new people show up at the start of a dance, having missed 
the walkthrough, this is my go to dance to get things started and then into the 
regular program.

Martha


> On Jul 24, 2018, at 7:48 AM, Lorraine Sutton via Callers 
> mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> 
> wrote:
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> I am calling a 2 hour Intro to Contra dance at an Ontario Canada 
> Festival. ( more a music focus than a dance focus, at this festival)
> 
> I would appreciate hearing from you as to contra dances ( lws proper & 
> Improper) that you have found successful with very novice dancers and why you 
> think those dances work for beginners.(I love Larry Jennings definition of 
> easy vs complicated )
> 
> I do plan on doing some non progressive lws as well as a both a circle and a 
> Sicilian  circle in the program mix , to get the concept of progression.
> 
> Thanks so much.
> 
> Lorraine Sutton  ( lorrainesutt...@gmail.com 
>  )
> 
> 
> ...
> 
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Re: [Callers] Looking for a CD that would have full length contra tunes for calling

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Ordered this one and a couple others suggested from CDSS store and have been 
inspired by other response to start checking my regular CD collection for 
longer tune sets !

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Apr 7, 2018, at 11:37 AM, Rich Sbardella  wrote:

New England Dance Masters is always a good resource for dance music.  
Here is one of theirs.
http://dancingmasters.com/product/any-jig-or-reel-cd/ 
<http://dancingmasters.com/product/any-jig-or-reel-cd/>
Rich

On Sat, Apr 7, 2018 at 1:38 AM, Laur via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
Yes great


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, 1:36 AM, Karen Fontana mailto:karen_font...@yahoo.com>> wrote:

From the West: KGB (Seattle) "Volga Notions" -- " the music on this album is 
formatted for dancing or calling practice. Three tracks are waltzes, two are 
jig medleys, five are reel medleys, and one is a jig-to-reel medley."
Has the four potatoes.. 

http://www.kgbmole.com/kgb/volga.html <http://www.kgbmole.com/kgb/volga.html>




On Friday, April 6, 2018, 8:44:00 PM PDT, Laur via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:


Cheryl, It’s a great CD  DO IT. 

I am also looking for tunes that have some intro beats to use. I did find some 
thanks to friends that had collections. 

Laurie


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>

On Friday, April 6, 2018, 10:53 PM, Mac Mckeever via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:

We have one from 1998 dance weekend  - tracks are 9 to 12 min long.  They are 
strictly old-time bands and a little faster than some are used to

Might not be what you want - but let me know if  you want to try it

'Face the Creek'  $12 includes shipping

Mac McKeever
St Louis


On Friday, April 6, 2018, 7:56:15 PM CDT, Cheryl Joyal via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:


Fellow Callers - Does anyone know of a CD that would have full contra length 
tunes that I could use to call from…… Thinking it is time I called a contra for 
my work friends in Greece in May. 

(Alternately know of any contra bands in Greece ?) Thanks in advance - Cheryl


Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
 <>630-667-3284  (cell)




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[Callers] Looking for a CD that would have full length contra tunes for calling

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Fellow Callers - Does anyone know of a CD that would have full contra length 
tunes that I could use to call from…… Thinking it is time I called a contra for 
my work friends in Greece in May. 

(Alternately know of any contra bands in Greece ?) Thanks in advance - Cheryl


Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




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Re: [Callers] Another dolphin surfaces

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

This has me intrigued….   

But I don’t know what a “dolphin hey” is or how to teach ….. additional help 
appreciated.Thanks - Cheryl
Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Apr 4, 2018, at 11:21 PM, April via Callers  
wrote:

We danced this one last weekend, and it works quite well, even if the "dolphin" 
couple doesn't quite get the "switch leads without switching places" bit.  As 
long as they wind up in the center, it works.  

Passion for Dolphins
A1  Down the hall, 1s in the middle. Turn alone, come back, end with all 
facing Lady 2.
A2  Full dolphin hey by the 1s, starts with Gent 1 passing Lady 2 by the 
right.
B1  Ones swing in the middle of the set (8) (end facing down) and roll out 
to swing N (8) (progression).
B2  LL F/B.  2s (below) gate their new ones about 1.25, to a new line 
facing down. 

April Blum
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Re: [Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

I first heard Dugan Murphy use “right shoulder round” and it worked well.  I 
have adopted it and it is well received and does work well for me calling wise 

Cheryl Joyal
630-667-3284

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 14, 2018, at 11:12 AM, Angela DeCarlis via Callers 
 wrote:

Quick note to all: while "Right Shoulder 'Round" seems like a mouthful at four 
syllables, the words are easily spoken in two beats of music (or two and a half 
depending how you count). It takes only half a beat more to say than common 
moves like "Balance and Swing" or "Allemande Left," and takes exactly the same 
amount of time to say as "Go Forward and Back." Common phrases like "With Your 
Neighbor Dosido" take nearly twice as long to say. 

So before you judge a phrase as unwieldy, give it a few test runs by yourself, 
to a beat or to recorded music. :)

Angela 

> On Wed, Mar 14, 2018, 10:53 AM Bob Hofkin via Callers 
>  wrote:
> Andrea,
> 
> The discussions make it clear that: (1) there is a need to use
> terminology other than "gypsy," at least in some venues, and (2) there
> is no generally-agreed substitute term.
> 
> A lot of callers see that as an impediment to clear and concise
> teaching/calling. I have certainly experienced confusion and annoyance
> as a dancer. I believe that the folk process will provide a solution,
> but I appreciate the efforts to accelerate what could otherwise take
> many years to resolve.
> 
> I appreciate the reports of what different callers are trying and their
> degree of success. At the same time, it makes a lot of sense to avoid
> rehashing the same arguments, as you suggest. Right now, we're in an
> empirical phase--trial and error--and rapid dissemination of results
> seems like the way to go. If that process suggests a few good
> candidates, it might be time to debate their merits.
> 
> Bob
> 
> On 3/14/2018 03:31, Andrea Nettleton via Callers wrote:
> > Hi everyone,
> >  Here we are once more, sharing our likes and dislikes, our preferred 
> > term (I’ve shared and still like whimsy, but look-see got my attention) of 
> > the moment.  But why are we circling this wagon again? Though everyone is 
> > polite, and thankfully we haven’t begun to rehash whether gypsy is a slur 
> > or not, I also see no fresh approach, no new insight, to clarify for one 
> > and all a single, simple, right answer.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sure 
> > there is one.  But I’m positive we won’t get there by having more of the 
> > same back and forth we’ve already had.  While I  R eyelemande my neighbor, 
> > you’re going to R shoulder round yours, and as far as I can tell, that’s 
> > where we are and will be.  Could we please maybe back away from the 
> > specifics a bit, and see if we can generate a new way of framing the 
> > debate?  And if we can’t, just let the experiment continue without 
> > rehashing the already well trodden ground?
> > Thanks,
> > Andrea
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Mar 13, 2018, at 11:53 PM, Cara Sawyer via Callers 
> >>  wrote:
> >>
> >> Jo Mortland of the Chicago Barn Dance group here came up with Dipsy. Nice 
> >> and silly and sounds similar enough it requires no explanation. Sort of 
> >> like Kipsy!
> >>
> >> Guess what they say about great minds is true!
> >>
> >> Sent using two thumbs
> >>
> >>> On Mar 13, 2018, at 14:41, Perry Shafran via Callers 
> >>>  wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I happen to *like* right shoulder round and have liked it ever since 
> >>> three callers at a dance event used it and it went rather flawlessly.  I 
> >>> like the fact that it is actually descriptive in what you're doing.  I 
> >>> think that the more we try to invent made-up words to try to make it 
> >>> sound fun and whimsey, the more we are likely to upset dancers who don't 
> >>> like that we're changing terms as it is.  It may *sound* like a boring 
> >>> descriptor, but I feel my job as a caller is to describe the move and let 
> >>> the dancer decide what the mood is going to be for that individual 
> >>> dancer, based on their own feelings and their own connection to the 
> >>> music.  So I plan to stick with "right shoulder round".
> >>>
> >>> Perry
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> From: Martha Wild via Callers 
> >>> To: Caller's discussion list 
> >>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 2:03 PM
> >>> Subject: [Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word
> >>>
> >>> Interesting discussion on the Portland Country Dance Community Facebook 
> >>> page. Lots of great suggestions. A lot of people really don’t like “right 
> >>> shoulder round” (I’m one of them). I tried one of their suggestions last 
> >>> night - Kipsey - and it worked amazingly well. Easy to say, particularly 
> >>> when you are cutting down the calling to one word (what do you do with 
> >>> right shoulder round? shoulder? Ick.) And everyone can hear the 
> >>> similarity and knows what to do. I had tried spiral for a while and 
> >>> people just seemed confused. The other suggestion that I noticed today 
> >>> was from Susan M

Re: [Callers] Dance logs and record-keeping

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

I started doing this for the Chicago Barn Dance Company, for a few months.     Historically, I have been just writing it down at the dance, or asking the caller after the dance or by a followup email.  So to date it has been more of a personal project to help my calling.We discussed this at the last dance, and several callers and dancers were interested in trying to make this part of our group so we will be discussing this how we might do this as as community. It was initially helpful to me as I began calling more often to see others programs, and as a board member for: - Knowing the number of dances we are averaging per night  (we want to encourage local callers to work on teaching well and calling for appropriate time) - Know the dance figures that are being called (to determine if there are new figures we can work on for improving dance skills and experience) - Know if a dance was called the week prior (for callers planning when  calling the following week) - To consider how much our program difficulty level varies by attendance (we keep a new dancer sign-in sheet)I am attaching a copy of what I have been using as an initial tool…I would be interested in seeing what others are doing as well.

CBDC Callers Dance Programs History Example.docx
Description: MS-Word 2007 document
Thanks !   Cheryl
Cheryl Joyalclmjo...@aol.comclmjo...@gmail.com630-667-3284 (cell)

On Mar 6, 2018, at 7:41 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers  wrote:Dance logs, a cumulative record for a series of which dances have been called on any given evening, are very common in the English dance community but vanishingly rare in the contra community.  Why is that? They're really helpful for incoming callers, and it's probably nice for the dancers not to keep getting the same dances week after week.I've only ever known of one contra series that kept a log, and it's probably because I suggested it when they started out (the Queer Contra series in Oakland, CA).  Are there any contra organizers out there who maintain a dance log?  Those of you who do, how do you get the dance lists from the callers?  The Oakland series had a little book on the stage and the callers would write their programs down as they went or at the end of the night.Part of it comes down to record-keeping on the part of the callers.  I keep a personal log of all the dances I've called so I can avoid repeating myself when I return to a given venue.  That makes it easy for me to produce a set list after the fact if an organizer wants to fill in a gap in the log.  Fellow contra callers, do you all keep records of what you call, and if you don't, how do you avoid repeating yourself or remember what worked well (or not) the last time you called at a particular place?If you work with something like Caller's Companion, do you update the program list with what you actually danced as opposed to what you programmed?Just curious about other people's process on this.Kalia in Sebastopol, CA___List Name:  Callers mailing listList Address:  Callers@lists.sharedweight.netArchives:  https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/___
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Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Thanks Jack !  What a great list !

I like some of the ones I was stuck on where to put - e.g. basics.

Appreciate it !

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Apr 7, 2017, at 11:31 PM, Jack Mitchell  wrote:

My current set (probably due for modification / update soon).  In particular, I 
really need to improve the divisions in "smooth" dances.  But it has served me 
reasonably well for a while now  You are welcome to what of it is useful.  
Hope it helps!

Basics
Smooth (with heys)
Smooth (without)
Orbits
Stars
Eyes/Gypsy
Ring Balance
Rory O'Moore
Long to Short Waves
Waves
Allemande (without waves of any sort)
Along the set (pull by's, zig zag, big oval promenade, etc)
Down the hall
Star Promenade
Square Thru
Tune Specific
Proper
4 face 4
Contra corners
Multiple progression
Squares
Breaks
Singing Squares
Mixers
One Night Stand / Party Dances

On Fri, Apr 7, 2017 at 9:20 PM Cheryl Joyal via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better 
program an evening.   I plan to go to “categories of dance features”, and have 
listed what I am thinking for possible categories below.  

I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you 
include ?  Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from “dance 
categories”, or just note on card ?   

Or do you have another suggestion ?   

Possible Categories:

Easy and ONS Contras
California Twirl
Full Hey
1/2 Hey
Down the Hall
Petronella
Mad Robin
Short Wavy Lines
Long Wavy Lines
Zig Zag
Balance the Ring
Box The Gnat
? Four Facing Four
? Becket
? Double Progression 
? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk)

Appreciate your suggestions !!   Thanks - Cheryl

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
630-667-3284  (cell)




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Re: [Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Thanks Rich - 

I have a similar category system now and I am trying to be able to find dances 
with similar elements so that, like you said, it would be easier to find dances 
with specific elements.  

I have been using Callers Companion to program and like it, but find that I 
like to see my dance cards and look through dances with the same “types” of 
moves… that is why I am trying to decide how to go in that direction…

Will let you know what I come up with…..

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Apr 7, 2017, at 11:33 PM, Richard Hart via Callers 
 wrote:

I have 4 categorizes for my dances in my card box.:

1. Easy contras
2. Medium difficulty contras
3. Hardest contras.
4. Triplets, circles, scatter mixers, etc.

Each dance clearly states the type: proper, improper, becket, etc. at the top 
of the card.

The thing that I can't do, but sometimes might like to do is to search for 
dances with particular calls such as hey, petronella turn, etc. That might be 
easier if I kept my dances on a tablet.

As I plan for a dance, I will go through each stack and pick out the dances of 
that type that I might like to call. And depending on the crowd, I can easily 
adjust the difficulty level up or down during the dance.

On Fri, Apr 7, 2017 at 9:20 PM, Cheryl Joyal via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better 
program an evening.   I plan to go to “categories of dance features”, and have 
listed what I am thinking for possible categories below.  

I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you 
include ?  Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from “dance 
categories”, or just note on card ?   

Or do you have another suggestion ?   

Possible Categories:

Easy and ONS Contras
California Twirl
Full Hey
1/2 Hey
Down the Hall
Petronella
Mad Robin
Short Wavy Lines
Long Wavy Lines
Zig Zag
Balance the Ring
Box The Gnat
? Four Facing Four
? Becket
? Double Progression 
? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk)

Appreciate your suggestions !!   Thanks - Cheryl

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
630-667-3284  (cell)





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[Callers] How do you organize your Dance Card Boxes ? Categories or Other Suggestions ?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

I am at the point that I want to reorganize my dance box to be able to better 
program an evening.   I plan to go to “categories of dance features”, and have 
listed what I am thinking for possible categories below.  

I am wondering how others organize their boxes - if categories, what do you 
include ?  Do you file Becket and/or Double Progression separately from “dance 
categories”, or just note on card ?   

Or do you have another suggestion ?   

Possible Categories:

Easy and ONS Contras
California Twirl
Full Hey
1/2 Hey
Down the Hall
Petronella
Mad Robin
Short Wavy Lines
Long Wavy Lines
Zig Zag
Balance the Ring
Box The Gnat
? Four Facing Four
? Becket
? Double Progression 
? Unique (e.g. Wizards Walk)

Appreciate your suggestions !!   Thanks - Cheryl

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)

Re: [Callers] ???? Looking for Author of Dance - The Cows Go Marching

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Thanks - you are correct that I had written it incorrectly and Appreciate the 
update.

When I called it,  I found that everyone tried to “rush the zig/zag” and next 
time I will teach as a big zig 4 steps left and then big zag back…..   


Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)




On Mar 23, 2017, at 7:30 AM, sargo...@gmail.com wrote:

You're right, Tom, about the B1, but I think the timing overall still works. 
The gents allemande and swing were shorted some time. I think the second half 
should look something like this:

B1  (4) Balance the ring
(4) Gents Roll/Sashay Partner across set
(4) Zig to Left (w/Partner), 
(4) Zag to Right and Gents catch by Left

B2  (16) Men allemande Left 1x to Partner Swing

The B1 is tight this way so there will be some people behind, but the allemande 
is forgiving and so B2 can afford to have a fuzzy start and still get a long 
enough swing. 

Cheryl -- sorry but I don't know who wrote it!

Sargon

On Mar 23, 2017, at 08:09, Tom Hinds via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:

> Cheryl, It looks like a fun dance but there's a mistake in the B1: an 
> eight-beat balance and an eight-beat roll away?
> 
> On Mar 22, 2017, at 10:32 AM, Cheryl Joyal via Callers wrote:
> 
>> I have a wonderful dance in my box that I enjoy dancing and calling - but do 
>> not know who wrote it….   can anyone tell me who wrote it?
>> 
>> Also - is this the correct name since another caller said they had a dance 
>> called “the Cows are Watching” ?
>> 
>> Anyone have any other “Cow” dances since we are on a theme ?
>> 
>> The Cows go Marching by _
>> 
>> A1   (8) Long lines, forward and back
>>  (8) Women allemande Right 1-1/2
>> 
>> A2   (16) Neighbor balance and swing
>> 
>> B1   (8) Balance the ring
>>  (8) Gents Roll/Sashay Partner across set
>> 
>> B2   (4) Zig to Left (w/Partner), 
>>  (4) Zag to Right and Gents catch by Left
>>  (8) Men allemande Left 1x to Partner Swing
>> 
>> Thanks - Cheryl
>> 
>> Cheryl Joyal
>> clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
>> clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
>> 630-667-3284 (cell)
>> Cheryl Joyal
>> clmjo...@gmail.com <mailto:clmjo...@gmail.com>
>> clmjo...@aol.com <mailto:clmjo...@aol.com>
>> 630-667-3284 (cell)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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[Callers] Looking for Author of Dance - The Cows Go Marching

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

I have a wonderful dance in my box that I enjoy dancing and calling - but do 
not know who wrote it….   can anyone tell me who wrote it?

Also - is this the correct name since another caller said they had a dance 
called “the Cows are Watching” ?

Anyone have any other “Cow” dances since we are on a theme ?

The Cows go Marching by _

A1  (8) Long lines, forward and back
(8) Women allemande Right 1-1/2

A2  (16) Neighbor balance and swing

B1  (8) Balance the ring
(8) Gents Roll/Sashay Partner across set

B2  (4) Zig to Left (w/Partner), 
(4) Zag to Right and Gents catch by Left
(8) Men allemande Left 1x to Partner Swing

Thanks - Cheryl

Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com 
clmjo...@aol.com 
630-667-3284 (cell)
Cheryl Joyal
clmjo...@gmail.com
clmjo...@aol.com
630-667-3284 (cell)

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

This is one of my favorites too!!

Cheryl Joyal
630-667-3284

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 23, 2016, at 8:33 PM, Bob Green via Callers 
 wrote:

The dance I like for introducing the ladies chain, if I have a band that will 
work with me on tempo, is Carpet Vectors by Robert Cromartie.  The tempo has to 
stay on the slow side so that the circles left and right are not rushed. The 
sequence is a circle left and chain to your partner, then circle right and 
chain back to your neighbor. 
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/344-carpet-vectors-by-robert-cromarties-duple-improper

Bob Green

> On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 10:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers 
>  wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new 
> dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies chain 
> for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific dance, 
> what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as possible?
> 
> Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back?
> Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner?
> What move best precedes the chain to set it up? 
> What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed?
> Other factors you consider?
> 
> I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I 
> think about:
> 
> I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't whoop 
> and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion would 
> snowball. 
> 
> Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced 
> dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new 
> dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new 
> dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful  dance 
> angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to 
> teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to 
> completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. 
> 
> For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not 
> convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 chain->star, 
> find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star is non-trivial 
> for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star wasn't followed by 
> the progression would work, but it's such a great progression when they're 
> ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. chain->star->left allemande 
> maybe? I do like long lines either before or after the chain as a set-up; but 
> not on both ends. I'm not sure which side of the chain the lines help more. 
> The Trip to ___ dances that end with chains and start with women walking in 
> to long wavy lines flow well, but I don't know that they're the best for 
> teaching chains, since the long wavy line is another new piece.
> 
> Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple 
> glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight have 
> to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly won't be 
> offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new thread ;-)
> 
> Take care,
> 
> 
> -- 
> Luke Donforth
> luke.donfo...@gmail.com
> 
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Re: [Callers] Solo fiddler or recorded music?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

Erik I will take you up on mailing me your book - how do
I get you a check? 

I will try to post the program I did recently for about 10 dancers and 45 
beginners - I had to abort a couple dances ( including ladies chain) but we did 
manage to get to contras and progress.I use callers companion to plan 
program and introduce on new move at a time.   Usually do a circle dance with 
couple progression to get the concept 



Cheryl Joyal
630-667-3284

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2015, at 11:10 AM, Erik Hoffman via Callers 
 wrote:

Yes, the courtesy turn is a challenge. And, in a right & left thru, finding 
your "turner" is a challenge for the women. This is because for the person on 
the right, the natural way to turn is away from your partner. And, for some 
reason, men often think they don't have to move...

But, for a room of beginners, I think, as said in an earlier email, the chain 
is a challenge, as the mere idea of progressing one way or the other...

~erik Hoffman

> On 3/27/2015 8:54 AM, Cheryl Joyal via Callers wrote:
> The courtesy turn is the hard part.   Sometimes Teaching hat first works as 
> they practice the movement prior to moving - then have them walk across and 
> do same turn.   Similar for ladies chain although I think having a dance with 
> R&L b4 chain is my new approach.  And sometimes it just doesn't 
> work with many beginners - so I apologize for not explaining well and change 
> to an easy backup dance 
> 
> Cheryl Joyal
> 630-667-3284
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Mar 27, 2015, at 8:28 AM, Jacob Nancy Bloom via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> I would absolutely believe that the dancers were completely confounded by 
> "right and left through".  I remember how surprised I was, when I called my 
> first dance, to discover how much more confusing it was than a Ladie's Chain. 
>  If you are used to both of them, then you tend to think of them as being 
> similar.  If you've never done either, then one of them has you connected to 
> other people, while the other leaves you by yourself, trying to figure out 
> which way to turn (and usually getting it wrong.)
> 
> But learning which figures are easier and harder comes quickly.  Learning 
> which dances to call for a given crowd and how to teach them efficiently is a 
> neverending process!
> 
> Jacob
> 
> On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 10:47 AM, Brooks Hart via Callers 
>  wrote:
>> So, as the original poster, I am reporting back.
>> 
>> The dance with the solo fiddler was a mixed bag.  The music was very nice, 
>> but because I am new to calling, and our dancers are 99% beginners, way too 
>> much time was spent on walk-throughs and teaching. The fiddler sat out for 
>> long stretches of time, which seemed like a waste of his time and the money 
>> spent on live music.
>> 
>> I thought I had picked easy dances, but you wouldn't believe how confounded 
>> so many of the people were at "right and left through",  and that falls on 
>> me and my lack of experience with teaching and crowd wrangling.
>> 
>> A special moment for everyone, though, was doing a circle waltz dance with 
>> the fiddler playing, unplugged, in the center of the circle. 
>> 
>> So, thanks again for everyone's input and encouragement,
>> Brooks
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> > Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 03:50:51 -0700
>> > To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Solo fiddler or recorded music?
>> > From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> > 
>> > [resting up before the CALLERLAB convention, catching up on some older
>> > messages]
>> > 
>> > On Thu, Mar 05, 2015, Neal Schlein via Callers wrote:
>> > >
>> > > So, the moral of the story is that if a caller isn't USED to working 
>> > > with a
>> > > band, live music isn't necessarily going to result in the best experience
>> > > for the dancers.
>> > 
>> > My experience as a relatively new caller is that it also depends on the
>> > caller's experience as a dancer. My hearing makes it a bit difficult to
>> > tune into the phrasing of a live band to call at the correct times, but
>> > because I've been contra dancing for so many years (almost exclusively to
>> > live music) I can roughly manage it -- and I know what it's supposed to
>> > sound like.
>> > -- 
>> > Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
>> > <*> <*> <*>
>> > Help a hearing-impaired person: http://r

Re: [Callers] Solo fiddler or recorded music?

[Cheryl Joyal via Callers]

The courtesy turn is the hard part.   Sometimes Teaching hat first works as 
they practice the movement prior to moving - then have them walk across and do 
same turn.   Similar for ladies chain although I think having a dance with R&L 
b4 chain is my new approach.  And sometimes it just doesn't work with many 
beginners - so I apologize for not explaining well and change to an easy backup 
dance 

Cheryl Joyal
630-667-3284

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 27, 2015, at 8:28 AM, Jacob Nancy Bloom via Callers 
 wrote:

I would absolutely believe that the dancers were completely confounded by 
"right and left through".  I remember how surprised I was, when I called my 
first dance, to discover how much more confusing it was than a Ladie's Chain.  
If you are used to both of them, then you tend to think of them as being 
similar.  If you've never done either, then one of them has you connected to 
other people, while the other leaves you by yourself, trying to figure out 
which way to turn (and usually getting it wrong.)

But learning which figures are easier and harder comes quickly.  Learning which 
dances to call for a given crowd and how to teach them efficiently is a 
neverending process!

Jacob

> On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 10:47 AM, Brooks Hart via Callers 
>  wrote:
> So, as the original poster, I am reporting back.
> 
> The dance with the solo fiddler was a mixed bag.  The music was very nice, 
> but because I am new to calling, and our dancers are 99% beginners, way too 
> much time was spent on walk-throughs and teaching. The fiddler sat out for 
> long stretches of time, which seemed like a waste of his time and the money 
> spent on live music.
> 
> I thought I had picked easy dances, but you wouldn't believe how confounded 
> so many of the people were at "right and left through",  and that falls on me 
> and my lack of experience with teaching and crowd wrangling.
> 
> A special moment for everyone, though, was doing a circle waltz dance with 
> the fiddler playing, unplugged, in the center of the circle. 
> 
> So, thanks again for everyone's input and encouragement,
> Brooks
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2015 03:50:51 -0700
> > To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Solo fiddler or recorded music?
> > From: callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> > 
> > [resting up before the CALLERLAB convention, catching up on some older
> > messages]
> > 
> > On Thu, Mar 05, 2015, Neal Schlein via Callers wrote:
> > >
> > > So, the moral of the story is that if a caller isn't USED to working with 
> > > a
> > > band, live music isn't necessarily going to result in the best experience
> > > for the dancers.
> > 
> > My experience as a relatively new caller is that it also depends on the
> > caller's experience as a dancer. My hearing makes it a bit difficult to
> > tune into the phrasing of a live band to call at the correct times, but
> > because I've been contra dancing for so many years (almost exclusively to
> > live music) I can roughly manage it -- and I know what it's supposed to
> > sound like.
> > -- 
> > Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/
> > <*> <*> <*>
> > Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
> 
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