Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
I usually simply say "it's aerobic, it's social, and I usually love the music. Thanks, George Mercer On Tue, Sep 24, 2013 at 4:09 PM, Mary Collins wrote: > replying off list 'cause I can't get to there from here (work) sorry, > > addicted yes, I am. I have bilateral hip replacements and even when I > could not walk (pre-surgery) I could dance. the music and the rhythm of > the dance(walk) made it possible for me to move and exercise. It also > gives me the same "runner's high" that I got when I used to jog (years > ago). I've been one of the key coordinators for our local dance for over > 10 years, just so I can be sure it will be here while I still need to > dance. Selfish I know, but what better motivator? I agree with another > post that says, smiling. I've rarely met anyone in the line that is not > smiling. I smile whilst dancing as well. > > I also like the rhythm of the music and the moves, esp. the balance. The > cadence of the steps and the notes matching appeals to my sense of order. > I am also a fan of flourishes, as long as they are consensual and ON TIME. > I'm a bit of a dance snob about that. > > good luck with your event and all. > > Mary Collins > QCCD.org > > > On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 6:12 AM, Jeanette Mill > wrote: > > > Hi > > > > I am designing workshop for a dance weekend here in Australia and would > > like to crowd source some inspiration: > > > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? > > > > Looking forward to your answers > > > > Cheers > > Jeanette > > > > "The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen." Peter Barnes. > > ___ > > Callers mailing list > > call...@sharedweight.net > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
replying off list 'cause I can't get to there from here (work) sorry, addicted yes, I am. I have bilateral hip replacements and even when I could not walk (pre-surgery) I could dance. the music and the rhythm of the dance(walk) made it possible for me to move and exercise. It also gives me the same "runner's high" that I got when I used to jog (years ago). I've been one of the key coordinators for our local dance for over 10 years, just so I can be sure it will be here while I still need to dance. Selfish I know, but what better motivator? I agree with another post that says, smiling. I've rarely met anyone in the line that is not smiling. I smile whilst dancing as well. I also like the rhythm of the music and the moves, esp. the balance. The cadence of the steps and the notes matching appeals to my sense of order. I am also a fan of flourishes, as long as they are consensual and ON TIME. I'm a bit of a dance snob about that. good luck with your event and all. Mary Collins QCCD.org On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 6:12 AM, Jeanette Mill wrote: > Hi > > I am designing workshop for a dance weekend here in Australia and would > like to crowd source some inspiration: > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? > > Looking forward to your answers > > Cheers > Jeanette > > "The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen." Peter Barnes. > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
On Mon, Sep 23, 2013, Mark Stowe wrote: > > Research suggests that we humans are happiest when we are succeeding at > something that we can just barely accomplish. There may be some truth to that, but it certainly isn't true for my relationship with contra dancing and square dancing. I'm far more accomplished at contra than square due to my hearing, which was the whole point of my earlier "dance trance" comment; I suppose it might be argued that I'm in fact not accomplished at square dancing, but I doubt many people would make that claim. (In case it's not clear, I'm much happier after a contra dance than a square dance -- I'm physically exhausted after contra but mentally and often emotionally exhausted after squares.) -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
Social circle of dancers extending past dance time, after dance hangouts, making friends. On Sep 23, 2013 6:07 PM, "Mark Stowe" wrote: > Research suggests that we humans are happiest when we are succeeding at > something that we can just barely accomplish. I have been contradancing > for 38 years and I keep inventing and learning new flourishes, dips/ swing > move interjections, putting in extra spins, running between lines and > conspiring with fellow dancers to alter order and gender and create new > interactions with defacto trail buddies that 'weren't in the dance'. The > only limit to challenging yourself is not straying into being late and > staying within the bounds of what your particular fellow dancer will enjoy > which means that there is constant strategic intellectual exercise as well. > The happiness of contradancers is infective and the inclusiveness is > inspiring. > > As a biologist I believe (with all due modesty and suspicion of teleology) > that life evolved for ~4 billion years on earth precisely so that there > could be contradancing :). > > > On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Sam Whited wrote: > > > On 09/23/2013 06:12 AM, Jeanette Mill wrote: > > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? > > > > When I first started, it was probably the fact that I couldn't stop > > smiling the entire time I was dancing (or for several hours afterwards). > > I was terrible, kept breaking the line, didn't understand half the > > caller's instructions, etc. but I still couldn't stop smiling. > > > > It might also be the fact that I `just got' the swing (even if I didn't > > get most of the other moves). People asked me how long I'd been dancing, > > and told me what a great swing I had even though I'd never actually been > > to a dance before; it was nice to know that contra was actually simple > > enough that all I had to do was walk around someone and they'd think I > > was relatively good at it unlike, say, Swing dancing (my other favorite > > form of dance) which took me days and days to even get the basic down. > > I've seen this in a lot of other new dancers since then; I ask them how > > long they've been dancing only to find that this is their first time and > > they `just get' what I now know as the concept of `giving weight'. > > > > After I had danced for a while and branched out into other kinds of > > dancing, I realized that I also liked contra because no one takes it too > > seriously (well, a few people I know do, but I make a point of not > > dancing with them). You can cock about, experiment, break half the line, > > or just make something up and as long as you can run back and swing your > > partner when the caller says too it will all be okay and you'll have a > > good time (I know a lot of people will disagree with that one; but it's > > one of the things that makes me love contra, so there you are). > > > > I also love the fact that you sweat a lot. I tried ECD a couple of > > times, and while I enjoyed the people, and thought a lot of the dances > > were really interesting, I couldn't help but wonder why I'd want to do > > something that didn't leave me sweaty and breathless afterwards. Lots of > > people I know love that sort of thing, but it wasn't for me. It felt too > > `delicate' (there are also lots of other issues that made me not > > especially love ECD, but they're rather offtopic). > > > > Contra is like driving a Pagani Zonda that's thinking of new and > > interesting ways of killing you every 5 seconds, and some other forms of > > dance are like driving an old VW Bug: they don't go above 50 MPH, have > > the engine on the wrong end of the car, and were conceived by Hitler > > (that analogy made more sense in my head before I started typing it > > out...). > > > > —Sam > > > > -- > > Sam Whited > > pub 4096R/EC2C9934 > > https://samwhited.com/contact > > ___ > > Callers mailing list > > call...@sharedweight.net > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
Research suggests that we humans are happiest when we are succeeding at something that we can just barely accomplish. I have been contradancing for 38 years and I keep inventing and learning new flourishes, dips/ swing move interjections, putting in extra spins, running between lines and conspiring with fellow dancers to alter order and gender and create new interactions with defacto trail buddies that 'weren't in the dance'. The only limit to challenging yourself is not straying into being late and staying within the bounds of what your particular fellow dancer will enjoy which means that there is constant strategic intellectual exercise as well. The happiness of contradancers is infective and the inclusiveness is inspiring. As a biologist I believe (with all due modesty and suspicion of teleology) that life evolved for ~4 billion years on earth precisely so that there could be contradancing :). On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Sam Whited wrote: > On 09/23/2013 06:12 AM, Jeanette Mill wrote: > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? > > When I first started, it was probably the fact that I couldn't stop > smiling the entire time I was dancing (or for several hours afterwards). > I was terrible, kept breaking the line, didn't understand half the > caller's instructions, etc. but I still couldn't stop smiling. > > It might also be the fact that I `just got' the swing (even if I didn't > get most of the other moves). People asked me how long I'd been dancing, > and told me what a great swing I had even though I'd never actually been > to a dance before; it was nice to know that contra was actually simple > enough that all I had to do was walk around someone and they'd think I > was relatively good at it unlike, say, Swing dancing (my other favorite > form of dance) which took me days and days to even get the basic down. > I've seen this in a lot of other new dancers since then; I ask them how > long they've been dancing only to find that this is their first time and > they `just get' what I now know as the concept of `giving weight'. > > After I had danced for a while and branched out into other kinds of > dancing, I realized that I also liked contra because no one takes it too > seriously (well, a few people I know do, but I make a point of not > dancing with them). You can cock about, experiment, break half the line, > or just make something up and as long as you can run back and swing your > partner when the caller says too it will all be okay and you'll have a > good time (I know a lot of people will disagree with that one; but it's > one of the things that makes me love contra, so there you are). > > I also love the fact that you sweat a lot. I tried ECD a couple of > times, and while I enjoyed the people, and thought a lot of the dances > were really interesting, I couldn't help but wonder why I'd want to do > something that didn't leave me sweaty and breathless afterwards. Lots of > people I know love that sort of thing, but it wasn't for me. It felt too > `delicate' (there are also lots of other issues that made me not > especially love ECD, but they're rather offtopic). > > Contra is like driving a Pagani Zonda that's thinking of new and > interesting ways of killing you every 5 seconds, and some other forms of > dance are like driving an old VW Bug: they don't go above 50 MPH, have > the engine on the wrong end of the car, and were conceived by Hitler > (that analogy made more sense in my head before I started typing it > out...). > > —Sam > > -- > Sam Whited > pub 4096R/EC2C9934 > https://samwhited.com/contact > ___ > Callers mailing list > call...@sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
On 09/23/2013 06:12 AM, Jeanette Mill wrote: > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? When I first started, it was probably the fact that I couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was dancing (or for several hours afterwards). I was terrible, kept breaking the line, didn't understand half the caller's instructions, etc. but I still couldn't stop smiling. It might also be the fact that I `just got' the swing (even if I didn't get most of the other moves). People asked me how long I'd been dancing, and told me what a great swing I had even though I'd never actually been to a dance before; it was nice to know that contra was actually simple enough that all I had to do was walk around someone and they'd think I was relatively good at it unlike, say, Swing dancing (my other favorite form of dance) which took me days and days to even get the basic down. I've seen this in a lot of other new dancers since then; I ask them how long they've been dancing only to find that this is their first time and they `just get' what I now know as the concept of `giving weight'. After I had danced for a while and branched out into other kinds of dancing, I realized that I also liked contra because no one takes it too seriously (well, a few people I know do, but I make a point of not dancing with them). You can cock about, experiment, break half the line, or just make something up and as long as you can run back and swing your partner when the caller says too it will all be okay and you'll have a good time (I know a lot of people will disagree with that one; but it's one of the things that makes me love contra, so there you are). I also love the fact that you sweat a lot. I tried ECD a couple of times, and while I enjoyed the people, and thought a lot of the dances were really interesting, I couldn't help but wonder why I'd want to do something that didn't leave me sweaty and breathless afterwards. Lots of people I know love that sort of thing, but it wasn't for me. It felt too `delicate' (there are also lots of other issues that made me not especially love ECD, but they're rather offtopic). Contra is like driving a Pagani Zonda that's thinking of new and interesting ways of killing you every 5 seconds, and some other forms of dance are like driving an old VW Bug: they don't go above 50 MPH, have the engine on the wrong end of the car, and were conceived by Hitler (that analogy made more sense in my head before I started typing it out...). —Sam -- Sam Whited pub 4096R/EC2C9934 https://samwhited.com/contact
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
Jeanette asked: > I am designing workshop for a dance weekend here in Australia and would > like to crowd source some inspiration: > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? > Interesting. I am not all that sure what you mean by "addicted." Here in the USA that word has negative connotations for many people. Well, I think of a "contra dance enthusiast" as someone who attended six or more contra dance events within the last year. I fit that description. But what is a contra "addict?" What comes to mind is the image of someone who not only attends regular contra dances, but who also attends workshops, camps, festivals, or special events--particularly someone who pays air fares or drives for many hours to attend such events. (A pathological interpretation might mean someone who cannot control their urge to dance contras? Or someone who's job or family life is becoming dysfunctional because of their addiction? But I assume you do not mean that.) I, personally, don't attend weekends, workshops, or special events. (I may be an exception on this list in that respect.) I did those kind of events for about the first ten years of dancing but I have been "clean" now for over a decade. So I'm not sure I would qualify to answer your question. I suspect there are folks on this list who do not dance contras that often. Some favor squares, English Country dancing, or some other dance form. Who is the audience for your workshop? Are they, themselves, "addicts?" Just wondering. Greg McKenzie West Coast, USA
Re: [Callers] What made you contra addicted?
On Mon, Sep 23, 2013, Jeanette Mill wrote: > > I am designing workshop for a dance weekend here in Australia and > would like to crowd source some inspiration: > > Simply answer the question - what made you addicted to contra? "I'm not addicted, I can stop any time I want to. I just don't want to." More seriously, I have been doing contra, square, and folk dancing for over a quarter-century. For about fifteen years, I have primarily identified as a contra dancer, mainly because I like the energy and can "dance trance" for an extended period of time. (Most folk dances are shorter than contras; square dancing requires too much hearing concentration to dance trance.) I also like the room for flourishes (count me among the "contra cutups"). -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
