[Callers] Amm Appleing
Ann Appleing's funeral is on Monday 18th November aT 2o'c, Cheltenham Crematorium, Bouncers Lane, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL52 5JT If you are planning to go to the Gathering afterwards, please email Derek Appleing otherwise he will have no idea how much food to order. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Ann Appleing
I'm sorry to announce that Ann Appleing died on the morning of 17th October. For as long as I can remember, Derek and Ann have been a Folk Sales point. Their caravan was a familiar sight at many Folk Festivals and dance weekends in England, and they had an enormous supply of books, CDs and other items related to folk dancing and music. If you want any more information, please contact Derek Appleing: derek-...@folksales.co.uk Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy
On Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:22:00 -0400, Alan J Rosenthal via Callers wrote: > Imagine if there were a dance move entitled "Black-man swing"? (I think that > part of why "Gypsy" flies under the > radar is because many people here don't immediately perceive it as a racial > term.) There's a dance called Black Nag (Playford 1670). Should we avoid this in case people think it refers to a nagging black woman? There's a dance called The Black Boy (Ashover Book, c. 1764) Black Jack (Pat Shaw, 1964) Black Mountain Reel (Tom Hinds, 1991) - might this be a derogatory term for a place where black people live? There's a Scottish dance of the same name (Derek Haynes) This is all getting very silly and I agree with John Sweeney. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Spring Cleaning
On Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:30:10 +, Sivier, Jonathan E via Callers wrote: > I would say that rather than removing a dance from your collection you should >resolve to call it at the next > opportunity. I go through my dances from time to time and identify ones that >I enjoyed in the past, but haven't done > for a while and then use it the next time I have a chance. I agree. My Dance Organiser program has a "Neglected" option in the Dances menu, and the Help screen for this says: This sets a filter to show all Dances which have been called more than 10 times but not called in the last 18 months. You could set up this filter yourself, but you might find this command a quick reminder -- it's easy to forget about dances that you used to call frequently, and maybe it's about time you brought them back into your current repertoire. (I could make the values 10 and 18 user-specifiable if you wanted to change my settings.) Try out my Dance Organiser on any Windows machine at: http://colinhume.com/download Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Tempos for Contras (was Re: Tempo for Squares)
On Sun, 22 Sep 2019 09:02:31 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote: > http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm is an excellent tool for timing music or > videos on your computer. John - That's so useful! Thank you very much. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Tempo for Squares
On Sat, 21 Sep 2019 13:36:37 -0400, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote: > Tempo for contra is often below 120 bpm.� I learned to call squares at about > 128 bpm. > > Is this significant difference the norm, and if so why? If you're talking about unphrased squares (Southern or MWSD) maybe people can cope with a faster tempo because the caller waits until they've finished a move, whereas a contra is supposed to be fitted to the music. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] New Year's Eve Dance
Music by Ruth Rose and Thomas Bending. Colin Hume will present an evening of good dancing (American, Playford, Traditional, Scottish, etc.) for those who want to enjoy themselves and be challenged occasionally too. Not suitable for beginners! Tickets are £13.20 each from http://colinhume.com/nye Numbers are limited to 65, so if you haven't booked please check the website rather than just turning up. No alcohol or smoking on the premises, and you will need to bring finger food to share, plus your own drink. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Public Dance, Ideas Wanted
On Tue, 10 Sep 2019 04:07:27 -0400, Jonathan Janzen via Callers wrote: > I'm planning to throw in a few circle mixers, and a couple easy English > Country Dances as well. > Maybe Hole in the Wall, or even the Virginia Reel.. Who told you Virginia Reel was English? They may not have the style or control to get anything out of Hole in the Wall. You don't want them going away thinking that English is pointless. If you want some easy English dances, I recommend: https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Clopton_Bridge https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Boston_Tea_Party And how about a couple of traditional American Squares? I recommend: https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Texas_Star https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Tunnel_Through Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Brain Dead - Need Suggestions
On Sat, 17 Aug 2019 19:20:08 +, Winston, Alan P. via Callers wrote: > I'd think if you could get them to do "Lucky Seven" and count the progression > aloud (1 .. 2.. 3 ..) so that they're > hearing 2 beat or 4 beat chunks on the pull by, you'd be exceeding the > request. In my experience you can't be on the beat for every change - you lose it at about 5! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Larks and Robins
I still prefer Man and Ladies (and I'm aware this is old-fashioned and inconsistent), but I certainly prefer Robins to Ravens. I think of a Raven as a large bird, and since men are generally larger than women I get confused! I think of a Robin as a small bird (though maybe the American Robin is larger than the English Robin). Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Contra Corners Dance
My choice would be Sackett's Harbor. The experienced dancers won't be bored because they're probably not used to doing triple minors anyway. The twos and threes are in no doubt who their ones are, and unlike modern contras where the move has been condensed from triple minor to duple minor they won't have people coming at them from both sides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=KYHkGyfxBII I strongly recommend that (as in this version) you join hands in lines of THREE at the start of the figure rather than long lines. This gives people (particularly the threes) time to work out who they're going to be circling with. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] What are they thunking? (was Re: Hand Turns & Safety)
On Mon, 8 Jul 2019 15:30:18 -0700, jim saxe via Callers wrote: > 9-?. *???*: What possibilities have I missed? Put me down as a cynical Englishman if you wish, but I think they just don't care! So long as a contra has a partner swing, a neighbor swing and a few allemandes, many contra dancers in the States seem oblivious to anything else. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Dance Organiser - Gender-free
I'm calling the Boston Gender-free dance on 11th June, and in preparation for this I've updated my Dance Organiser program so that when you display the dance instructions full-screen you have the option of converting "man" to "lark" and "lady" or "woman" to "raven", etc. You can download the latest version and try it out free of charge: http://colinhume.com/download There may be one or two quirks - I noticed that the dance title "Les Manches Vertes" was displayed as "Les Larkches Vertes" but I can live with that! If you find more serious problems please let me know. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Easy flourishes or other "bonus" movements?
On Fri, 26 Apr 2019 14:44:32 -0700, Lenore Frigo via Callers wrote: > I would like to teach some of my more advanced dancers some flourishes or > other embellishments to contra dance. > I'd like to start with things that are easy and obviously that can be > smoothly integrated into a dance. How about first teaching them how to fit the dance to the music, giving weight in allemandes and circles, and doing a good buzz-step swing? Or would that not be considered politically correct? Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] colinhume.com
I've been having such trouble sending and receiving emails that my hosting company will shortly be moving everything to a new server. That means that both website and email will be down for a while. If you might want to contact me, see http://colinhume.com NOW for an alternative email address! And if you've emailed me and not had a reply, please try again using this address. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] English Dance Callers Association
On Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:34:08 -0500, Michael Dyck via Callers wrote: > Just curious: which word does "English" attach to? I.e., is it: > an English association for callers of dance or > an association for English callers of dance or > an association for callers of English dance ? A fair question! It's predominantly an English association, though Judith De Witt is American and Hazel Moir is Welsh. It's aimed at callers in dance clubs in England, who may or may not be English - at The Round in Cambridge we've recently had American, Dutch, German and probably other nationalities of caller. It's not English dance as North Americans conceive it. Callers at dance clubs in England may call Playford-style, traditional English (ceilidh) style, Scottish, Welsh, International, American Squares and Contras. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] English Dance Callers Association
A new organisation, the English Dance Callers Association, has been formed to run courses for Club Callers in England. If you're a Club Caller who would like to improve your calling and thereby improve the standard of dancing at your club, this is for you! The organisation was formed by Judith De Witt, who is not a caller but is the Chairman of the Friends of Cecil Sharp House and the Chairman of Eastbourne International Folk Dance Festival. The tutors other than myself are: Robert Moir, a well-known caller particularly of Playford-style dances. Hazel Moir, also a caller and a dance composer - her best-known dance is White Wheat. Victoria Yeomans, a well-known caller and musician. Dave Yeomans, who with Victoria forms the band "Deo Volente" which can be seen performing at festivals and dances up and down the country. Bernie Culkin, an up-and-coming young caller who co-founded the Malvern Playford Ball and has now moved up to Cheshire. Bernie, Hazel and Robert are members of the Pat Shaw Legacy Group which organised many events in the Pat Shaw centenary year. The first running of the course will be in the Nottingham area, starting on Sunday 5th January 2019. To find out more and download an application form, please visit our website at http://edca.info Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Eastbourne International Folk Festival
It's on! Same venues as last time; same prices as advertised on the flyer. Book your Early Bird tickets at http://eiff.org.uk/tickets.html Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] joke, and a request
On Mon, 24 Sep 2018 22:57:42 +, Bill Olson via Callers wrote: > Judy, I really like Sackett's Harbor. I second Bill's vote for Sackett's Harbor. Always goes down well, and it's a good introduction to contra corners because the twos and threes can only see their own active couple whereas when it's been compressed to duple minor they have to look out for people coming at them from all directions, it seems! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Easy contras for teens
Rick - Lots of good barn dance material on my "other" website, http://barndances.org.uk/ You might even introduce them to Playford with "Black Nag"! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] American tour summer 2019
In 2019 I'll be touring North America from around Thursday May 30 to Wednesday June 19. If you'd like to book me to call English or American please see http://colinhume.com/tour for more information. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Intrigued by a Photo
On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 10:30:38 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote: > Bottoms Up (Author unknown) According to https://barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up the author is Graham Spencer. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Demolition Derby, a 4 Face 4 of dubious do-ability?
Don - I don't understand why Americans are so keen on this "Mad Robin" move. Instead of staring at your partner the whole time, why not interact with other people and just do a hey for four? Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Glossary dances with promenade, no chain/RL through?
On Mon, 13 Aug 2018 09:18:36 +0100, John Sweeney via Callers wrote: > Just take any dance with a Right & Left Through and change it to a Half > Promenade. Brilliant! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New 4x4 composition with a tunnel, and related questions
On Thu, 2 Aug 2018 18:40:51 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote: > interesting - the a1 looks pretty ambitious - but if they don't finish in > time, the a2 is forgiving I agree with Mac, but I also don't think contra dancers will be willing to take 4 steps to go forward and then 4 to box the gnat - they'll do the whole thing in 4 steps. So I wouldn't worry about the phrasing for the rest of A1 - one couple duck through to the other end, and as soon as they're clear the other couple go. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Circles, Crazy Circles
On Tue, 10 Jul 2018 10:23:02 -0400, Maia McCormick via Callers wrote: > Re: g&t -- that's totally fair, and an experience I've had on the floor as > well, but oh man when it's done right it's > lovely! Maybe worth spending some time teaching the right way to do it from > the mic? In my experience, a lot of callers teach Give and Take wrongly. They do it with long lines going forward, whereas you should be going forward with one person in a shoulder-waist hold. That makes it much more satisfying - in addition to the resistance, of course. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] What is a contra?
I'm in Germany, and I'm speaking for the next few days at a Conference run by the European Callers and Teachers Association. Several of my sessions are about Contras, and speaking to the Contra Coordinator as we drove to the hotel I realised we had very different ideas about what a contra is. I say it is an American (or American-style) dance, longways duple or triple. He classes three-couple dances (such as Ted's Triplets), four-couple dances and circles as contras. He even classes my dance "Sting in the Tail" as a contra. This is for two three-couple sets side-by-side and involves siding into line, set and turn single. I would regard this quite definitely as "Playford"-style, and I think Americans would categorise it as English. But what is a contra? I know the hot-shots would say that it's longways duple improper or Becket with a partner swing and preferably a neighbor swing, but is that your definition? What about an early American dance such as "The Young Widow" - is that a contra? Can a dance in waltz time be a contra? I think of a contra as mainly danced to reels or jigs, though I know there are a few to slip-jigs. Within reels I would include marches and American hornpipes, which are smooth, but not English hornpipes which I would dance to a step-hop. And not Strathspeys. I would say contras are done to a walking step, apart from the swing which is often a buzz step. But do you agree with me? Answers fairly quickly please! Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Cinco deMayo dances
On Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:49:07 +, Mary Collins via Callers wrote: > Looking for dance ideas. Either with May or '5' idea in title. Thanks! The Fifth of May - Bernard Chalk Longways duple 32 bar jigs A1: Right-hand star. First corners right-hand turn half-way, continue outside neighbour, home. A2: Cross right, left round partner, home. Left-hand star. B1: Second corners left-hand turn half-way, continue outside neighbour, home. Cross left, right round partner, home. B2: Circle left. Circle right half; two-hand turn partner half. Originally danced to jigs, this was the first dance performed by English Miscellany - Bernard was briefly their first director. It has been published (wrongly notated) set to rants. The 29th of May - Playford Now is the Month of Maying - Jenny Beer The Bunch of Fives - Colin Hume Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Great dances for learning how to dance with ghosts?
On Sat, 7 Apr 2018 12:07:55 -0400, K Panton via Callers wrote: > Thanks to Yoyo for setting me straight, it looks like "treat P as N" does > work on The Hobbit. I stand corrected. I'm relieved that I don't have to introduce a 6th rule! I'll certainly try this dance out when I get a chance. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Great dances for learning how to dance with ghosts?
On Thu, 05 Apr 2018 23:08:43 +, Jack Mitchell wrote: > That works a lot of the time, but it really doesn't work in dances like Ken > is talking about. Dance like song in > the night (gene Hubert), or for other dances where you go out and then in and > then out, not necessarily with your > partner. "Song in the night" was the second dance I called in my End-effects workshop, and you're right that "Treat your partner as a neighbour" doesn't work here. I do mention "dancing with ghosts" a few lines later, and generalise the rule to "Keep doing as much of the dance as you can", and I agree that here you need to do a star three-quarters with ghosts. On Thu, 5 Apr 2018 23:34:02 -0400, K Panton via Callers wrote: > "Happy as a Cold Pig in Warm Mud" would be another where a star with ghosts > would be on offer. Here I think it's easier to do a left-hand turn with your shadow. The really important thing is to get dancers _thinking_ about end-effects, rather than just reaching the end of the set and switching their brains off! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Great dances for learning how to dance with ghosts?
I'm not sure that dancing with ghosts is the best way to deal with end-effects - I prefer "treat your partner as a neighbour". I have a whole section of notes on End-effects at https://colinhume.com/dtendeffects.htm Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
On Wed, 4 Apr 2018 19:09:58 + (UTC), Mac Mckeever via Callers wrote: > I have called hey mania several times and it is not hard to stay with the > phrasing - as long as you use the swing > after the heys to let everyone catch up I agree with that - and I add a promenade after the final partner swing, so that once through the figure is 3 x 32 bars. Someone suggested it would be more logical to use 4 x 24 bar reels, but I'm not going to subject any band to that! Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
On Tue, 3 Apr 2018 22:27:19 -0400, Luke Donforth wrote: > I'd appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and > how you'd teach it. I think the "Bent 4x4" is an unnecessary complication. People expect to finish the figure facing the next line, not facing into the centre of the next set, so I would say: A1: Lines of four forward; gents roll partners away as you fall back. Do-si-do the next. I agree with Rick that the star figure will take longer than a regular half hey, so just let it flow into B2 with a partner swing - leave out the balance. > I'm especially curious if something similar exists in the square dance > repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1 People have mentioned two great dances: Hey-mania and Dutch Crossing. I'm sure there are others. There's also a nice dance by Frances Richardson, which I'm planning to call at the final session of Lichfield Folk Festival in June. She wrote it when a friend gave birth to female quadruplets, and around the quads' 13th birthday they all danced it in the same set (very successfully). The Dixon Quadrille Frances Richardson, 1993 Music: 4 x 48 bar reels A1: Allemande left corner, grand chain all the way. A2: Finish the chain. Swing partner. B1: Men left-hand star three-quarters to corner (new partner). Right-hand turn once, and face (in a cross formation, men in the middle). B2: Interlocking reels of four with hands (making a left-hand star in the middle each time). C1: Finish the reels (still in cross formation), give right hand to new partner, balance forward & back and swing. C2: Promenade to the _lady's_ place. (naturally) And here's one of mine. "Reel" is English for "Hey". A Reel Challenge Colin Hume, 1995 Music: 48-bar reels Figure: A1: Heads forward and back. Head ladies chain across. A2: Head ladies start a reel of four. B1/2: Sides the same. C1: Gipsy right new corner. Swing. C2: Promenade to the man's place.[Ladies have moved one place left.] Double Figure: A1: All in to the middle and back. All four ladies chain. A2: Ladies start interlocking reels of four. B1: Extra time to finish the reels, and two more changes. Swing partner at home. B2: Promenade. Suggested sequence: Break, Figure twice for Heads, Break, Figure twice for Sides, Break, Double Figure, Final Break. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Politically Correct?
I'm going to be controversial, so please think hard about what I'm saying - and why you're reacting to it the way you are - before replying. I think "Political correctness" is mainly an American problem, though it seems to be spreading to England too. The word "nigger" was not originally a pejorative term, just a description - it's the Latin word for "black" with the "g" doubled. Since then it has become "black", "negro", "coloured", "of colour" and "African-American" (not much use in England, that last one), and possibly others that I don't know about. But this "political correctness" is treating the symptom, not the disease. If we look down on black people, or women, or homosexuals, or gypsies, or people with mental or physical disabilities, then any word we choose to label them with eventually comes to mean "those people we look down on", and has to be replaced by another euphemism. It wouldn't surprise me if in a few years' time the word "gay" was seen as "inappropriate" (a word I hate as much as "politically correct") and had to be replaced by another term. And different people like to refer to themselves in different ways. Some women in the USA object to being called "ladies". But some ladies in England object to being called "women"! Similarly some gypsies like being called "gypsies", and I'm guessing that they would object to the word "travellers" because that would include people who chose to follow a travelling way of life but were not real gypsies. So I'm with Tom Hinds - always be respectful, not intentionally disrespectful. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Dance logs and record-keeping
On Tue, 6 Mar 2018 17:41:55 -0800, Kalia Kliban via Callers wrote: > 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? I work with my Dance Organiser, and yes, I always update the list afterwards. I usually call a mix of Playford-style, English traditional, Contra, Square and the occasional Scottish, so I'm not a typical contra caller. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" -- does this dance exist?
Amy - I replied to you directly with some suggestions, but possibly to the wrong address! Please contact me. Colin Hume ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Nerdy dances
On Mon, 12 Feb 2018 13:51:14 -0500, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > Thank you for the shout out to Entangled in Monte Carlo :-) Luke - I'm not likely to call contras with swing dance moves, but I noticed that in typical Becket fashion yours finishes with a partner swing. It then starts again with "Long lines yearn forward on the left diagonal, then Gents take new neighbor home and swing". Surely this is a "Give and take", which works better if you keep your arm round your partner when going forward on the left diagonal rather than joining hands in long lines. That's how Larry Jennings defined the figure, though many callers don't seem to know that. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Waltz-Time Contra Choreography
On Tue, 8 Aug 2017 14:02:07 -0400, Dugan Murphy via Callers wrote: > Do you have a favorite contra dance written to fit a waltz tune? Depends what you class as a contra! Here's one of mine - at least it's longways duple improper. http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#HeidisWaltz Colin Hume ___ Callers mailing list Callers@lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Re: [Callers] contras for modern square dancers
On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 05:45:53 -0700, Aahz via Callers wrote: > Putting it another way, if they can't enjoy what makes contra different from > square dancing, why bother? I was going to make exactly the same point. It's like people who want to introduce contra dancers to English, and therefore choose English dances which are as close to contras as possible. The contra dancers go away thinking "English is just like contra but without the swings - why bother?" Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com ___ Callers mailing list Callers@lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Re: [Callers] Looking for a particular sort of becket dance
On Thu, 29 Jun 2017 15:50:26 -0700, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers wrote: > Hi Kalia (and all)! Here is a fun one you might not have. Jon wrote it just > after Thanksgiving - hence the �play on > words� title! There's already a contra called "Trip to Phan Reel", by Susan Kevra in 1993. And as it happens, it's a Becket dance which doesn't start with circle left three-quarters (though that does sneak in later). A1: Allemande left corner (shadow), swing partner. A2: Circle left 3/4. Swing neighbour. B1: Circle left all the way and face up or down facing neighbour. Roll away with partner; pass through and give right to new neighbour in a wave, ladies in middle. B2: Balance the wave; gents trade while ladies left-hand turn once (6 steps), allemande right partner (6 steps). Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Poise points (WAS: Does this dance already exist?)
I agree with Andrea about not liking a ladies chain up and down. Colin Hume --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com
Re: [Callers] Advanced Contras
Here's my favourite: Abnormality - http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#Abnormality Below this on the page you will also see two of mine which will also baffle people: Blackmore Gardens Contra Colin's Back Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Four face fours
On Sun, 8 Jan 2017 00:11:36 -0800, Martha Wild via Callers wrote: > A1 Lines forward and back > Dip and dive around the square* > A2 Continue the dip and dive > Women chain up and down the set I'd prefer the ladies' chain after the forward and back. That means the dip and dive fits into A2 instead of being the second half of A1 and the first half of A2. It also means you get to do the dip and dive with a different person each time instead of with your partner every time - I don't know whether Americans would consider this a good thing or a bad thing. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] suggestions for dances
On Tue, 1 Nov 2016 18:39:38 -0400, via Callers wrote: > Wanted to know if anyone has dances with days of the week in the title. Thursday Night Flash! Longways duple improper 32 bar American jigs A1: Men right-hand turn 1�, to face partner in a diagonal line of four. Do-si-do partner. A2: Diagonal hey for four, passing partner right to start. B1: Right hand to partner, balance F and B; swing (6 bars). B2: Half promenade, finishing opposite the other couple. Ladies chain across. Written at 5 to 7 one Thursday evening, while planning "Beginners" - I needed a dance with a diagonal reel of four. The whole dance came to me in a flash - so Andrew Coates gave me the title. There's even a jig called "Thursday Night". Colin Hume, 1993 -- DWAD5, 1998. Saturday Special Circle 32 bar waltzes A1: All join hands: four waltz steps in. Four out. A2: Right-hand turn partner. Left-hand turn corner. B1: Give right hand to partner: balance forward and back; pass on. Give left hand to the next: balance; pass on. B2: Take ballroom hold with the next: two chass�es in; two out. Waltz. (I don't know who it's by.) Tuesday Contra Longways duple improper 32 bar lively American reels A1: Right-hand star. Do-si-do partner. A2: Balance to neighbour (Ken says twice). Swing. B1: Down in a line of four (4 steps), California twirl. Lead back, bend the line; circle balance. B2: Circle left. Left-hand star. Ken Bonner -- Ken's Contras No. 2, 1993 Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Wrist-Lock Stars
On Tue, 11 Oct 2016 00:14:48 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote: > go back far enough (1700s) and you get "moulinet" in French sources, "mill" > in some English sources,f or what I'm > pretty sure are hands-across stars. In the Netherlands it's called "molen" which means "windmill". That's for English though; I don't know what they say in contras. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
[Callers] Dance Organiser version 4
The latest version of my Dance Organiser program (which runs on Windows, including a Windows tablet) has extra features which may appeal to contra callers. Now you can see a grid of which figures appear in which dances of your event, and you can change things to give more variety of figures. I realised the necessity of this while calling in the States in June! Download a trial copy from http://colinhume.com/download.htm and experiment with some of my existing program(me)s. Apologies to those of you who subscribe to two or three lists and will see this two or three times. Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Culture Club "Erlanger Tanzhaus"; spear phishing, or legit?
I'll reply off-list tomorrow Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] New (?) dance, B1 balance, B2 balance and partner swing
(Sending to the list this time!) On Mon, 9 May 2016 18:37:23 -0400, Bob Isaacs via Callers wrote: > With a neighbor swing and a single progression, this is objectively better. Bob - That depends on your objectives! The original Becket Reel was a double progression and I generally prefer that. And in England the swing isn't seen as the main part of a contra and contras don't go on nearly so long, so I (objectively) prefer your first version and will call that! Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Role Scramblers dances with balances
On Tue, 5 Apr 2016 06:19:43 + (UTC), Lindsey Dono via Callers wrote: > I'm working on a themed contra workshop called "Role Scramblers," Lindsey - I'm not sure this fits your theme, but you could try my dance "Women in Charge": http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#WomenInCharge Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Favorite Triplet ?
On Sat, 26 Mar 2016 11:22:05 -0400, Bob Isaacs via Callers wrote: > A1. 1s cast to bottom, 1s up the center and 1/2 figure 8 below (2s move up) > A2. 1s turn contra corners Bob - I don't see what you mean. 1/2 figure 8 would leave the ones improper for contra corners. One possibility is: A1 1s cast to bottom, lead up the center and cast off with the 2s. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] Dances with multiple swings- Trinity?
My dance Alterations Swing has three swings (double progression). http://colinhume.com/instl.htm#AltSwing Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Recognize this dance?
On Fri, 11 Mar 2016 08:27:19 -0500, Bree Kalb via Callers wrote: > B1Women allmd Left 1/2; Ptr Swg Bree - I like the dance, but I would make the allemande left one and a half - I think that fits the music better. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] Choreography and Copyright
On Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:47:04 -0500, Tom Hinds via Callers wrote: > My understanding is that here in the US choreography can't be > protected by law but the written word or the description of it can > be legally copyrighted. > > It would be interesting to know what the law is in the UK. My understanding is that it's the same here. But when we've discussed copyright on lists the usual conclusion is that there just isn't enough money in it for anyone to make a fuss no matter what happens! Colin Hume
[Callers] East Coast tour 2016
I've been booked to teach/call at the New London Assembly in Connecticut, Sunday July 17 to Sunday July 24, 2016. I'd love some other bookings before or after this - I usually do 4 weeks when I travel to the States. I call English, Squares and Contras - if you don't like Squares you probably won't want me calling your contra dance! I would of course prefer several gigs in the same area rather than spending all my time and money flying around. As bookings are finalized they will appear on my Bookings page, http://www.colinhume.com/bookings.htm Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] As in Petronella
On Wed, 16 Dec 2015 06:20:58 + (UTC), Michael Fuerst via Callers wrote: > "Mad Robin" became part of contra in the last ten years or so. > Unless someone comes up with more succinct and descriptive words, > we are probably stuck with "Mad Robin" I use the word "shuttle" (though in the walkthrough I say that some people call it "Mad Robin" or "Sliding Doors"). Three reasons: Shuttle is very descriptive whereas Mad Robin is just jargon. Very few dancers in England have danced the Playford dance "Mad Robin" (whereas "English" dancers in the States dance it regularly). It's nothing like the original move in "Mad Robin". There it is done by one couple only, and there's none of this "locking eyes" stuff that many Americans love. Cecil Sharp's description (starting with the ones below the twos and both couples proper) is: "First man moves up the middle and casts down to the same place; while his partner casts up and moves down the middle to her place." "Cast" starts with turning away from your partner, not doing a crab movement. Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] Advice about "gypsy"
On Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:48:00 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote: > I didn't know morris dancers used "gypsy" rather than "gyp", as you > say on the web page. Alan - I don't believe I say that. I say that Sharp's handwritten notes use the word "gipsies", and I give links to prove it. I agree that morris dancers use "gyp". Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Advice about "gypsy"
Well, now we've moved on from political correctness to dance interpretation (reconstruction) I have some interest in the matter. On Mon, 26 Oct 2015 01:40:18 -0700, Alan Winston via Callers wrote: >�Basically, Cecil Sharp made up *and named* the Gypsy figure. Are you sure he didn't get it from the Morris dancers he collected the dances from? >�In Spanish Jeepsie - reconstructed at the link you have above- the >�figure isn't a gypsy, and it isn't called a gypsy. �It's a back to >�back. That's their interpretation, but I'm not sure it's correct. I've been working on a web page about this figure, and the discussion has inspired me to do more to it. See what you think. http://colinhume.com/degipsy.htm Colin Hume
Re: [Callers] Help for a caller
On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:34:10 -0400, Sister Mary Joseph wrote: > I'm not sure if the dances I do know are even contras technically. > I am pretty much working with the families who come here to Mass > and am looking to add to the ten or so dances that they already > know. Here are a few of our dances. > > -The Virginia Reel > - The Bridge of Athlone > - Heel & Toe Polka > - Oh Suzanna No, they're not contras; they're English Barn Dance repertoire - though I'm not saying they're all dances from England; Bridge of Athlone comes from Ireland and Virginia Reel comes from America though the original was Sir Roger de Coverley which comes from England. Every Saturday night hundreds of callers in England will be teaching these at Barn Dances to people who may never have danced before: school PTAs, Weddings, Scout or Guide parents, etc. I recommend http://barndances.org.uk/ where Thomas Green which gives lots of good advice and instructions for lots of good dances. To find out what the terms mean, I recommend Hugh Stewart's book "Elements of English Country Dance" which you can find online at http://round.soc.srcf.net/dances/elements.htm Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://www.colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] Transgressive contras
On Fri, 1 May 2015 04:44:13 + (UTC), Lindsey Dono via Callers wrote: > (Based on a YouTube video, Colin Hume's Kim's Game looks like a > 4x4, but contains this "pass through to a new line" concept...) And the YouTube video is correct (though naturally the band aren't playing the tune I wrote for it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URKq4xSqDtc Colin Hume Email co...@colinhume.com Web site http://www.colinhume.com
Re: [Callers] Why is teaching a repeating 30-32 second sequences of relatively simple dance moves so complicated?
Maybe these guys actually LISTEN to the caller! Colin Hume ___ Callers mailing list Callers@lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
