[Callers] Re: Basic Beckets for Beginners

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Luke, who wrote "Pluck It"?

-Amy Wimmer
Seattle

On Sun, Sep 8, 2024, 9:50 AM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> Oftentimes at One Night Gigs, I'll do a mix of circle and longways set
> dances. With scatter mixers and specialty dances, I can fill an evening.
> But sometimes I get a group that "wants contras" or is looking to grow
> their familiarity with the dance form.
>
> I think Becket dances without lark/robin distinctions and no neighbor
> swing are AN easy option into "hands-four" contras. There are other ways
> in, but I'm looking for more Beckets that match that description. For a
> while I've had "Pluck It" in my box as a friendly option:
>
> Pluck It
> Contra/Becket-CW
>
> A1 ---
> (8) Circle Left
> (8) Circle Right
> A2 ---
> (8) Left hand Star
> (8) Right hand Star
> B1 ---
> (8) Partner Do-si-do
> (8) Partner swing
> B2 ---
> (8) Neighbor Do-si-do across set
> (8) Long lines, yearn left
>
> This is, in my opinion, pretty close to the traditional mixer Scatter Shot
> but done as a keeper in Becket. (It does have a DSD across the set, which
> in a recent thread was listed as a no-no for some callers. While I wouldn't
> use that move at a dance weekend, for One Night gigs I think it's
> accessible and acceptable). You don't have to teach ballroom swing, and if
> folks want to elbow swing and swap roles with their partner it doesn't
> really impact the dance (this is a small advantage of Becket over improper
> for this type of dance; different position on the side is less disorienting
> than different side of the set).
>
> What other Becket dances do folks have that don't rely on roles? No larks
> allemande or robins chain, etc.
>
> On the drive home from my gig last night I came up with this one (which
> may already exist), written for Naomi who organizes the community dance I
> was at:
>
> A Pillar of Weathersfield
> Contra/Becket-CW
>
> A1 ---
> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
> A2 ---
> (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing down the hall
> B1 ---
> (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples)
> (8) Return and face across
> B2 ---
> (8) Long lines, forward and back
> (8) Promenade across the Set, turn as a couple and progress
> (Go between the ones you danced with, passing by left shoulder, and the
> new couple on your right, turn to take hands with new couple)
>
> I'd be curious what else folks have that they use for entry-level contras
> when you don't have a critical mass of experience for improper dances with
> neighbor swings.
>
> Thanks!
> Luke Donforth
> Burlington, VT
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[Callers] Re: Resources to turn musicians into dance musicians? - length of a typical dance?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Can someone please help my vocabulary? I've seen "duples" mentioned here
several times. In my personal dictionary that means two people, as in a
couple, or two moves. I think the usage here may be referring to a pair of
couples, or 4 people. Either way, it's not the way I'm accustomed to
thinking.

I won't be using the term, but would appreciate understanding the word as
used here.

-Amy Wimmer
Seattle

On Thu, Sep 5, 2024, 5:43 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi John (and everyone), just catching up on the listserv and went to your
> "Callers and Music" page--
>
> very helpful info there!
> I wish I had found it last year when I was looking for resources for this
> caller-and-musician workshop that we did.
>
> In particular, I had searched all over the internet last year for some
> clue as to how many times through a typical improper duple contra dance
> would run, and had a real hard time finding that info.
>
> I had concluded that with 5 duples in a set (our usual), we might dance
> through up to 17 times, which would take about 9 minutes at 117bpm. so
> that those who started at the top would get back to the top.
>
> Do you think that's too long?
>
> I was under the impression that in the US the lines are often longer than
> 5 duples, and that the convention was to dance long enough to let everyone
> travel up and down the line the whole wayso I was thinking that in a
> seasoned contra dance group the dance might go on 15 minutes or more?
>
> Very curious about this now!
>
> Kat Kitching in Halifax NS
>
> Sep 4, 2024 3:16:24 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>:
>
> Hi Seth,
>
>   Linda Game (English Contra Dance Band) ran a session for the
> Irish musicians who were going to play for the first contra dance that we
> ran in Paris.  I have put a copy of her notes at
> https://contrafusion.co.uk/documents/LindaGameMusicianWorkshop.jpg - I
> hope Linda won’t mind.
>
>   One interesting exercise that she did was to get four
> dancers to do some Rory O’Mores to a Reel, then the same sequence to a Jig
> so that the band could see the effect on the dancers.
>
>   This is meant for callers:
> https://contrafusion.co.uk/CallersandMusic.html but you might find some
> useful points there.
>
>   I have danced (ceilidh, but same challenge) to a band who
> seemed to think that they were playing for a concert.  They put in extra
> beats and ran improvisations across  the phrases.  They went so wild that
> you couldn’t hear the phrasing.  It was fantastic to listen to, but a
> nightmare to try to dance to!
>
>   It is crucial that the band understand that the dancers are
> listening to the beat and the phrasing.  They especially want to hear the
> beginning of A1 and B1 clearly and unambiguously.
>
>   Good luck!
>
> Happy dancing,
>
>John
>
>
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England   j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
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[Callers] Re: Shadow Swings?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Exactly this.
-Amy

On Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 1:43 AM JJ via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I think there's a bit of privilege being shown in this thread that needs
> to be addressed. Those who are admonishing others for avoiding shadow
> swings clearly haven't been put in a position where they felt unsafe
> swinging with someone they didn't choose, and then being (more or less)
> forced to continue to swing with that person throughout an entire dance.
> And I'm not just talking about feeling uncomfortable with someone's
> personality, sexual harassment, or general bigotry. I'm also talking about
> unsafe dance practices like forceful/non-consentual flourishes/dips,
> improper weight given, unsafe swinging speeds without paying attention to
> the needs of the person you're swinging with, ignoring (and therefore
> exacerbating) an existing injury... The list goes on.
>
> The swing is arguably the move that requires the most trust in the other
> person, and not being able to choose someone that you're doing half the
> swings in a dance with can cause some unsafe situations for various
> reasons. A single swing with a neighbor can usually be accommodated, but
> much more than that can become dangerous.
>
> Also, people are allowed to just not like shadow-swings without giving a
> reason or explaining themself. They are allowed to find them
> confusing/disorienting. Just as others are allowed to enjoy them.
> People are also allowed to avoid dancing with certain people for any
> reason whatsoever; yes we want to be inclusive, but inclusivity to the
> point of ignoring the safety/comfort of the individual runs into the
> Horseshoe Problem (ie. pushing an issue so far that you end up causing the
> problems you set out to avoid).
>
> To bring it back to the topic at hand, I think a good rule of thumb as a
> caller (and one I employ on the rare occasion I choose a dance with a
> shadow swing) is telling people that the next dance has a shadow swing in
> it, in advance of the walkthrough. And then giving people a chance to
> choose to sit out or even join a different line if they have concerns. That
> way, those that enjoy the move can have a nice time, and those that don't
> aren't forced into an unsafe situation until they can get to the end of a
> line to drop out.
>
> On Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 10:39 Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Prompted by some recent conversations, I’m curious how folks here feel
>> about shadow swings!
>>
>> 1. As a caller, do you:
>> A) not have an issue with shadow swings, and program them freely
>> B) not tend to program them just bc they don’t come up in your
>> repertoire, but have no issue with them
>> C) not program shadow swings as a matter of principle
>> D) some secret fourth thing (feel free to elaborate!)?
>>
>> 2. How do you feel about shadow swings as a dancer?
>>
>> Will weigh in with my thoughts later, both to avoid biasing the
>> conversation from the outset, and also because I’m currently in transit 😅
>>
>> Thanks for participating in the data gathering!
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Maia
>>
>> --
>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>> 917.279.8194
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>>
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[Callers] Re: Shadow Swings?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I have a few shadow swing dances in my collection. I don't know why I keep
them because I don't call them.

There is a history of problem dancers (PDs) in my area who are typically
male presenting, and robins complain that these people stalk them, both in
the dance hall and outside, hold them too closely, are rough, etc. These
PDs also tend to make rude remarks, especially to LGBTQ+ dancers. People
avoid them at all costs. There used to be a few folks I would avoid for
those same reasons. To be sure, I always asked them to stop their
troublesome behavior, but there was a handful who refused to comply.

Forming a club of "acceptable only" dancers? No. Training those PDs is my
goal, both as a caller and as a dance organizer. My fellow organizers and I
have been taking statements from complainants, talking to the PDs about
their behavior, and suggesting alternatives. If it gets heated we ask them
to take a break from dancing until they can behave more politely.

That's why I don't call shadow swings.

To be clear, our community has, as a whole, gotten way more accepting of
gender fluidity/queer, and is a very welcoming body. That means that folks
who don't want to accept dancers they think are too different from them
don't attend as often as they used to. It's also known in the area that we
organizers don't tolerate bad behavior.

I think if you told the dancers before line-up that you're going to call a
shadow-swing dance it would give them a chance to choose their spots with
that in mind.

-Amy

On Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 7:39 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Prompted by some recent conversations, I’m curious how folks here feel
> about shadow swings!
>
> 1. As a caller, do you:
> A) not have an issue with shadow swings, and program them freely
> B) not tend to program them just bc they don’t come up in your repertoire,
> but have no issue with them
> C) not program shadow swings as a matter of principle
> D) some secret fourth thing (feel free to elaborate!)?
>
> 2. How do you feel about shadow swings as a dancer?
>
> Will weigh in with my thoughts later, both to avoid biasing the
> conversation from the outset, and also because I’m currently in transit 😅
>
> Thanks for participating in the data gathering!
>
> Cheers,
> Maia
>
> --
> Maia McCormick (she/her)
> 917.279.8194
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[Callers] Re: Join group?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Thank you!

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 9:41 PM Seth Seeger  wrote:

> Send them here:
>
>
> https://lists.sharedweight.net/postorius/lists/contracallers.lists.sharedweight.net/
>
> Seth
>
>
> On Jun 25, 2024, at 1:30 PM, Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> 
> Hi Better Memories Than Mine,
>
> How does one join this group? I know a caller who wants to join.
>
> -Amy
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[Callers] Join group?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Hi Better Memories Than Mine,

How does one join this group? I know a caller who wants to join.

-Amy
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[Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Claire,

A dear friend, neighbor, long time dancer, and volunteer passed in
November. This was not a sudden death, but many people lost contact during
the pandemic, and those who've returned (in our community ) are largely
younger, and might not know this person.

When she was sick I put out messages to the local dance groups to let folks
know how they could help. There's only so much we can do to get the word
out, and some will just not hear before what feels like a sudden public
announcement.

I put out more messages about the memorial gathering and again some folks
didn't hear, didn't get to the gathering, and were sad about that, too.
This was not a caller, band member, or prominent person, so I don't think
there were announcements made at the dances.

At any rate, I think it's really hard to reach everyone before a very
public announcement. I can't think how best to  get the word out. I tried
to let people know one-on-one, but I don't see everyone. I'm interested in
hearing what others might have to say about this.

-Amy

On Wed, May 8, 2024, 10:19 AM Claire Takemori via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

>  Hello dear callers.
>
> I have a question about when a caller brings up a recent passing during a
> public dance.
>
> When Kim Yerton passed, I heard about it the day before and grieved.  The
> next day the caller dedicated a dance to her and I almost had to leave the
> dance.  Left the line to get away from listening to the words about Kim.  I
> realize this is my own reaction and sensitivity.
>
> Wondering what y’all say on mic about a recent passing and dedication, as
> it could be a surprise to some dancers?
>
> At a recent ECD weekend, the caller dedicated a dance to Christine Robb
> and said to dance it with appreciation and joy as that is what she would’ve
> wanted instead of grief and sorrow.
>
> Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
>
> Claire Takemori (Asheville NC)
>
> > On May 8, 2024, at 1:00 AM, contracallers-requ...@lists.sharedweight.net
> wrote:
> >
> > Send Contra Callers mailing list submissions to
> >   contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or
> > body 'help' to
> >   contracallers-requ...@lists.sharedweight.net
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> >   contracallers-ow...@lists.sharedweight.net
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..."
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >   1. Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Greenleaf)
> >   2. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Mary Collins)
> >   3. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Angela DeCarlis)
> >   4. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Lisa Greenleaf)
> >   5. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Andrew Stout)
> >   6. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Luke Donforth)
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Tue, 7 May 2024 13:26:02 -0400
> > From: Greenleaf 
> > Subject: [Callers] Tony Parkes 1949-2024
> > To: Trad Callers ,
> >   call...@sharedweight.net
> > Message-ID: 
> > Content-Type: text/plain;   charset=utf-8
> >
> > Caller Tony Parkes passed away yesterday with his wife, Beth, at his
> side. He will be missed.
> >
> > At the lovely Tony Parkes tribute at this year’s Neffa Festival, Beth
> spoke of how Tony was touched and surprised that so many people were
> telling him about his impact on their lives. Well, yes, Tony! He was a true
> treasure.
> >
> > Lisa Greenleaf
> >
> > --
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Tue, 7 May 2024 14:00:35 -0400
> > From: Mary Collins 
> > Subject: [Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024
> > To: Greenleaf 
> > Cc: Trad Callers ,
> >   call...@sharedweight.net
> > Message-ID:
> >k...@mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
> >   boundary="f5d6830617e0f7e5"
> >
> > Lisa,
> >
> > Thanks for sharing this.  I am calling Friday and will certainly add a
> Tony
> > aspect to the evening.  His insights, support & dance writing will be
> > sorely missed.
> >
> > Mary Collins
> >
> > "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who
> > couldn't hear the music." - Nietzsche
> >
> > “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning
> > to dance in the rain!” ~ unknown
> >
> >
> > On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 1:27 PM Greenleaf via Contra Callers <
> > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Caller Tony Parkes passed away yesterday with his wife, Beth, at his
> side.
> >> He will be missed.
> >>
> >> At the lovely Tony Parkes tribute at this year’s Neffa Festival, Beth
> >> spoke of how Tony was touched and surprised that so many people were
> >> telling him about his impact on their lives. Well, yes, Tony! He was a
> true
> >> treasure.
> >>
> >> Lisa Greenleaf
> >> ___
> >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracall

[Callers] Re: preference for dancing with opposite gender?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I know 2 elderly dancers in our community who obviously need help while
dancing. Almost everyone knows that, and helps them. Sometimes they skip
moves, shorten and slow a swing, "swing" without turning, exit the dance at
the end of the line, or make whatever accomodations are needed to help
them. I've never heard anyone complain about them, and I regularly see them
sitting out talking with other dancers, myself included. It's another
example of what I love about our community.

On another part of that spectrum are the middle-age men who only dance with
young women, almost always new dancers who don't know how to say no. It's
been a while since I've seen it, but we used to get complaints about
stalking on the dance floor and in the parking lot. We started writing down
those complaints, dating them, and confronting the offender about it. We
had to "uninvite" a couple guys.

Word got around, and we've not seen that behavior in the 18 months since we
reopened our dance. It really helps that everyone knows dancers can come to
the organizers with a problem and we will swiftly deal with it.

Then there are the children. We've had to ask people not to pick up the
small dancers and swing them off their feet. A gentle, occasional reminder
is helpful.

-Amy

On Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 11:38 AM Richard Fischer via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Since "ageism" has been mentioned, I'd like to share an idea I've often
> had. I wonder if anyone thinks it's a good idea, or if it's already done at
> any contra dances. What if one dance per evening, perhaps in the first
> half, were done at a slightly slower tempo, and featured choreography that
> allowed for some standing around. Perhaps a dance like Chorus Jig, where
> some folks could choose to join at the end. Or a more recent dance that
> still features down time, for example one where the 1's and 2's have
> separate swings. I think that might be helpful to some elderly dancers, if
> you have them, and to others who may not have a lot of stamina, or who get
> dizzy easily, etc. It might be a way to make contra dancing even more
> welcoming than it already is.
>
> Richard
> in Arlington, MA
>
> On Mar 12, 2024, at 1:36 PM, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> I'm nodding with a lot of comments from the last couple days. Louise
> articulated some base concepts clearly, which a lot of y'all expanded on.
>
> There are some contradictory ideas about gender and sexuality with dance,
> and I think we in general tend to shy away from delving too deeply in
> public discussion. I've been accused of "shaming" people for asking why a
> man may prefer dancing with women. The thing is, I've also said what I
> think nearly everyone - including most/all of the strongest advocates for
> genderfree contra - has said: its OK to have preferences for partners. I
> think it is sometimes hard to presume these discussions are done assuming
> the benefit of good intent, given how much gender and sexuality is an
> enormous political and civil rights topic in the US and most Western
> nations. But, I presume this good intent, and I think nearly everyone here
> does, too, so, I'm taking another stab at this topic.
>
> Here's some ideas I've been chewing over in an attempt to dig into this
> more deeply:
> - dance is often a courtship ritual
> - despite this, inter-gender set dancing has a long tradition in Western
> dance, and partnering with someone hasn't really ever been a "oh, I am
> attracted to them". To use the overused example of Jane Austen novels, even
> then it's clear family dance together, friends dance together, and
> strangers dance together just to have any partner.
> - children are at our dances. So if a person is choosing partners based on
> heterosexual tradition, why, um: EW
>
> And thus is where the conversation often stops. But to break it down more:
>
> - So, when someone says they prefer to dance in non-genderfree dances,
> with a partner of a different binary-presenting gender person, in trad
> roles, there's 2 possible, non-exclusive reasons:
> 1. That their choice is about courtship, but "make exceptions" for people
> you're not attracted to. Which, I guess is fine in and of itself, but I
> think people with this preference often may not consider _just how many
> exceptions_ there are.
> 2. Their choice is more about embracing traditional gender roles. I'll get
> back to this.
>
> So, in the case of #1, the problem isn't just about "what do we do with
> the fact that about 5% of people aren't straight". (And realize the number
> being 3 or 4 times as high among surveyed youth, with numbers lower in
> areas where anti-lgbtq law and sentiment pervades).
>
> The problem is also about fat phobia. And bias against people who aren't
> "conventionally attractive". And ageism. And disability phobia. Then
> there's the even worse case of when a person both claims attraction is
> their main factor for 

[Callers] Re: preference for dancing with opposite gender?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I am super glad that in our (Seattle) dance community the vast majority of
people sitting out dances are doing so because they want to rest, or to
chat with someone who's resting. There is still a small handful of folks
who insist on never partnering with those they think are the same sex as
they.

This means that more people are having fun dancing, and fewer are sitting
out because they can't find a partner. People are dancing with _people_. No
one is forcing anyone to dance with anyone else. This is a huge win in my
book.

I'm one of the organizers of Emerald City Contra Dance. About 18 months ago
a dancer told me of a guy who was trying to split up a couple of
female-presenting dancers because he didn't want to do dance moves with
"the wrong person." He physically put his hands on them to try to move them
to the "correct" positions, and force them to dance with male-presenting
dancers. When told about this I immediately approached him, told him his
behavior was unacceptable, and that he should never try to do that again.
He hasn't been back to our dance since. I don't know about the couple he
was accosting. I apologized to them on behalf of ECCD.

The attitude in our community is mostly one of acceptance. Anyone can dance
with anyone who wants to dance with them. Anyone can turn down an offer to
dance for no reason at all. I'm constantly told our community is the most
welcoming they've ever experienced. (Can't vouch for the vastness of said
experience.) I am proud of our community. There's a lot of love in it.

I find the topic of tradition being brought into the conversation baffling.
The folk tradition has always been one of changes, evolving, moving
forward. I encourage everyone to give it a whirl.

-Amy

On Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 9:23 AM Tanya Merchant via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I’m bumping this for folks who want to talk about gender preference in
> dance partners.
>
> And while I understand the valid social and historical context that would
> make inactive roles a good thing for the social part of social dancing,
> like Jeff, I’m also really glad we don’t do that much anymore.
>
>
> Tanya H. Merchant
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 06:01 Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> "The whole point of moving away from Proper to First Couples Improper
>> or Becket was that you then had people of the opposite gender on both
>> sides of you in your minor set, so that all Neighbour and Partner
>> interactions were with the opposite gender"
>>
>> That's one advantage for some people, but another advantage of
>> Improper and Becket is that they make it much easier to have
>> equal-turn dances, where everyone is 'active' simultaneously.  No more
>> waiting fifteen times through for a chance to be a "one" and then only
>> getting to dance it twice before the music stops.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 8:54 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers
>>  wrote:
>> >
>> > On the topic of a comfortable swing that maintains the ballroom hold,
>> i'll repeat the suggestion I offered a few months back.
>> >
>> > As part of our transition to promoting a culture of "we encourage
>> everyone to dance with everyone else, regardless of gender, age, level of
>> experience or any other factor" - and also as a reaction to covid, we've
>> started designating the standard neighbour swing (and default partner
>> swing, if you don't know your partner and don't want to experiment), as a
>> "modified ballroom hold" - which we call the "elbow hold".
>> >
>> > This swing gives a little more space between the couple, without in any
>> way compromising the effectiveness of the swing in my opinion. (Though I am
>> sure there will be some other opinions out there ;). )
>> >
>> > Ballroom hands same as always.
>> >
>> > Other hand cupped around the back of the upper arm of your partner,
>> just above the elbow.
>> >
>> > Taller person's arm goes above the shorter persons arm.
>> >
>> > The more I practice this hold, the more I like it.
>> > I find it makes me more comfortable with everyone (and in fact, as a
>> cisgender woman I find it makes the most difference to me when dancing with
>> men, I have found I like having a bit of extra space between me and any man
>> who is not my spouse :) )
>> >
>> > I offer this in the spirit of "something my group finds effective".
>> >
>> >
>> > KK
>> >
>> > Mar 12, 2024 7:18:46 AM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>:
>> >
>> > Hi all,
>> >
>> >   I once called Chris Page’s dance where the dancers
>> scatter individually and find someone with whom to do a Gypsy Meltdown
>> (Gypsy & Swing).  Many of the ladies got together leaving two men alone in
>> the middle of the dance-floor.  There was absolutely no way that those two
>> men were going to Swing each other in a Ballroom Hold.
>> >
>> >   There was an article in the EFDSS magazine not so long
>> a

[Callers] Re: "Assigning" roles in the beginners' lesson?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I came here to say exactly this, but I couldn't find a nice way to say it.
Thank you, Louise, you did it.

My dance partner preference has nothing to do with sexuality, and
everything to do with fun. I won't partner with a "man" whose attitude
toward me is "Me man! You woman!"

And now this is on a thread about assigning roles. Sigh

-Amy

On Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 4:50 AM Louise Siddons via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Colin wrote:
>
>
> I wasn't going to get involved in all this, but I have to side with Ken
> Panton - I'm a man and I certainly prefer
> dancing with women.  And I very much enjoy dancing with Louise Siddons
> even though she may generally have a different preference.
>
>
> It always surprises me when people bring sexuality into this conversation,
> even though at this point I should know better. I enjoy dancing with Colin,
> just as I enjoy dancing with anyone who is a good dancer (or making a
> good-faith effort, or having a tonne of fun) and an interesting, kind,
> thoughtful human being, and I am pleased that we are friends both on and
> off the dance floor. When he (or anyone) asks me to dance, my first thought
> is not “oh good, I'm sexually attracted to this person” — it’s “oh good,
> this will be fun!”
>
> Recently at a contra dance I was separated from my partner, a woman, by
> two men who didn’t want to dance with each other and perceived my partner
> and I as acceptable alternatives. I was visibly upset by it and declined to
> dance at all; I am not a commodity). One of the men came over afterwards to
> apologise (as did my partner; older than me and not in her home community,
> I think she felt more social pressure to accede). He explained that he knew
> how I felt because he “has a daughter like you” — meaning, lesbian. I
> explained back to him that I wasn’t upset because I’m a lesbian, I was
> upset because I had asked someone to dance, they had accepted, and that
> agreement had been disregarded in deference to two men’s discomfort. To be
> honest, I am squicked out by the idea that someone looks at me dancing with
> another person and thinks first of my sexuality — that’s a creepy worldview
> in the context of contra dancing.
>
> There are dance communities determined to hold onto a heterocentric model,
> and that’s their choice — but we are, as a society, attempting to heal from
> a long — but ultimately quite recent — history of toxic gender models and
> so I think it’s a bad choice. Men being afraid or disgusted to touch other
> men is a social illness, not something to preserve or protect. Based on
> people’s comments in this discussion, gender-free dance communities
> understand, consciously or otherwise, that contra dance is a collective
> enterprise, that we are all dancing with each other, and that the community
> is healthier when it doesn’t put limits around how that happens. Friends
> can dance with each other — yes, even if they’re men! — and family members,
> and strangers, and lovers can all dance with each other, and they can bring
> different aspects of themselves to every interaction within the dance,
> whether with partner or neighbour.
>
> Louise.
>
>
>
>
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[Callers] Re: Workshop activities for helping dancers improve their skills?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Years ago Marlin Powell did that last exercise at Chehalis Dance Camp in
B.C., Canada. It was really fun. I was one of those left in the hall
learning the dance. It was a fun challenge to use our silent communication
skills with those who had not been taught. That's the only thing I remember
from that camp.

-Amy

On Tue, Jan 16, 2024, 9:27 AM Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> For the latter exercise, Sarah VanNorstrand led same sort of thing last
> June at Lady of the Lake.
>
> She had us take hands four and cross over (duple improper), then sent one
> entire side of the set out of the room. She taught the dance to the
> remaining folks while we were gone. I’m not sure whether she had them dance
> with ghosts, or compacted them to teach and then distributed them out
> again, or something else. Regardless, once they had mastered it she brought
> everyone back in, had us rejoin our places, then the band started with no
> further walk-through. We were bound to silence, using only gestures and eye
> contact for those in the know to teach the ignorant. It was a basic
> vocabulary sequence of course. With everyone primed to communicate and be
> attentive we danced it pretty much error free.
>
> -Joseph
>
> On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 8:49 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi fellow contra callers :)
>>
>> I am wondering if any of you have little activities/exercises that you
>> use to help dancers improve their knowledge/skills of contra dance?
>>
>> I know there's lots of opinions on whether this is even necessary or
>> should be offered.  However, I have a few situations where I've got dancers
>> who are keen to improve their skills and I'd like to have various fun ways
>> of doing so.
>>
>> I'd love to hear your ideas!
>>
>> One activity I remember from many years ago in Ottawa was led by
>> Adina Gordon.  She had us form up in contra lines and then she would say
>> 1-2 (maybe 3?) figures.  We weren't to dance the figure... instead, simply
>> go to the spot where we would end up after the figure(s).  I remember this
>> as being a lot of fun and a great learning experience.
>>
>> I also remember from that same session something about sending some
>> dancers out of the room and teaching the dance to others and then doing the
>> dance. (I don't remember the details.)
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> Any advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Emily in Ottawa ON
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[Callers] Re: New Terminology Question

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

It always helps to read the room first. Got a bunch of beginners? Call
simpler dances, at least the first half. Explain them well. Don't call a
complicated move that will discourage them. You want them to return, right?
Baby steps, then walking, then jogging, then dolphin heys.

Unless you have the language to clearly and succinctly teach a dance
perhaps it's too difficult for _you_ right now.

I have experience in really messing up calling a dance. Then I go home and
practice.

-Amy

On Thu, Sep 14, 2023, 8:13 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Bravo, Michael! (I’ve bolded, below, the point on which I want to agree
> wholeheartedly.) I’ve believed this for years, and had no way of knowing
> what percentage of active contra callers agreed. I dare to hope that, as
> Michael is known for writing and advocating difficult sequences, his
> opinion will carry added weight.
>
>
>
> Over the decades, I’ve seen the number of contra “basics” increase
> dramatically – from about 12 in the 1960s, when many groups got started, to
> at least 36 today. I’ve worried that the modern contra world has been going
> down the same path as modern “western” squares did. There’s always a gap
> between what a first-timer can grasp in one night and what a dancer needs
> to know to be comfortable at a dance series. But if “basics” are
> continually added, the gap gets ever wider, until a lesson or a series of
> lessons is needed. Western squares started with 6 lessons in the late
> 1940s; currently the Plus program (the prevailing club level in most parts
> of the US) contains 97 “basics” and (coincidentally) is recommended to be
> taught in 97 hours, or about 50 lessons. (Most clubs insist that their
> callers take less time, which results in new dancers not learning the calls
> adequately.)
>
>
>
> We contra and trad square callers are nowhere near the excesses of MWSD.
> But even 36 “basics” are too many for an activity that supposedly anyone
> can join in without lessons. Some sequences – maybe even some moves –
> should be reserved for workshops. I’m glad to see an influential modern
> contra caller speaking out on this.
>
>
>
> Tony Parkes
>
> Billerica, Mass.
>
> www.hands4.com
>
> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
>
> (available now)
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 14, 2023 4:11 AM
> *To:* Helle Hill 
> *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers 
> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: New Terminology Question
>
>
>
> Jeff's suggestion of "facing star" works perfectly, and merits becoming
> the standard term used for discussions about and written descriptions of
> dances. However, *such occasionally used figures must always be explained
> during walk-throughs*, so the caller can designate, for the duration of
> the dance, any appropriate name. (I think I have used "funny" or "silly"
> star in the past.) The point being that *dancers should need to
> understand the names of a dozen or so basic figures* (such as F&B,
> allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left, circle, shoulders round,
> hey, and maybe several more) and that callers should need only  basic
> figures to teach any dance.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 8:58 PM Helle Hill via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> With all the changes to the "old" terminology, I am wondering what a
> "Gypsy Star" is now called.
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> Helle Hill
>
>
>
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[Callers] Re: tune names

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

That sounds like a great idea I've never heard before! I'll see if I can
get it started in Seattle.
-Amy

On Sun, Aug 27, 2023, 8:06 PM Mac Mckeever via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> We had a conversation at our dance tonight how many of our local callers
> get tune names from the bands and pass that along to the dancers right
> before starting.
>
> Many visiting callers do not do this - is this just a local tradition or
> am I missing something?
>
> Most of our local bands are old time but a few are more contemporary.  We
> do this with visiting bands and they seem to appreciate it.
>
> We feel the music is a major part of the tradition and deserves to be
> acknowledged along with the musicians and callers. Often we find a band is
> about to play a tune they wrote.  Dancers also give a little cheer when we
> announce a tune they especially enjoy
>
> Where are the rest of you on this?
>
> Mac McKeever
> St Louis
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[Callers] Re: Travels in Canada

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

The Chehalis dance weekend is September 22-24 in Vancouver. The Stringrays
and KGB are the bands. Lisa Greenleaf and Wendy Graham are the callers.

https://www.vcn.bc.ca/vcountry/chehalis/

-Amy

On Tue, Aug 22, 2023, 3:23 AM Graham Knight via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> We will be travelling in Canada over the next few weeks and we were
> wondering what contra events might be happening? We will be in Montreal and
> Halifax, and a few places in between. Also in Vancouver at the end.
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Graham K
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[Callers] Re: AABBCC contras?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I'm pretty sure that Claude Ginsberg's tune, Oddville Cupola, is AABBCC.
Erik Weberg wrote his dance, "Ad Vielle," specifically to go with that
tune, though the dance is written in the usual AABB format. Maybe not what
you're looking for. I can't pull the dance up on caller's box right now,
but here it is:

*Ad Vielle*
Erik Weberg
Duple improper, Becket


*(Begins in wavy lines across, Larks in the middle w/R hands joined)*

A1 Wave of 4 balance forward/back
Let go, walk to new waves
Waves balance F/B, Allemande L ~3/4
A2 Partner B&S
B1 Circle L 3/4, pass through
New neighbor swing
B2 Robins allemande R 1 1/2
Partner allemande L 1 1/4 to wave across

-Amy

On Sun, Jul 30, 2023, 8:19 PM Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi there everyone, glad to join the list.
>
> I’m curious about duple minor contra sequences that are written for 3-part
> AABBCC tunes. Can anyone share or point me to any such dances?
>
> My question is partly inspired by Gene Hubert’s *Fan In The Doorwa*y,
> written for three part *slip* jigs. I’m pretty sure I’ve run across
> sequences written for AABCC tunes (no repeat on the B). I might even have
> spotted some 4–face-4’s written for full 3-part tunes on ibiblio (the
> database seems to be down as I write this so I can’t confirm). But so far
> I’m coming up empty for AABBCC duple minors.
>
> If you’ve got anything I’d be much obliged.
>
> -Joseph Erhard-Hudson
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[Callers] Re: Dances with balancing waves forward and backward?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Mad About Dancing, by Robert Cromartie, has 3 f/b waves of 4.

-Amy

On Mon, Jul 3, 2023, 2:47 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Thanks so so much for all the really interesting and helpful responses!
> This conversation has been great!!!
>
> (Apologies for my slow response.  Last week of school for our kiddo and
> then right into Canada Day long weekend meant that I haven't been on the
> computer as much as I sometimes might be.)
>
> Thank you :) :) :)
> Emily in London ON this time :)
>
>
> 
> Virus-free.www.avg.com
> 
> <#m_149469294735792865_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> On Sat, Jul 1, 2023 at 3:45 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> FWIW, here's a dance from 2002 with a different take, I guess. Reports
>> were that after the dance the women's/robin's arms were very tired. As it
>> says in the notes, the dance DID work and satisfied the original objective
>> (and sort of forced the balances to be forward and back). As I remember it
>> was pretty cool hearing the three balances all in succession. Do Make
>> Waves (billolsondance.com)
>> 
>>
>> bill
>>
>> --
>> *From:* Maia McCormick 
>> *Sent:* Saturday, July 1, 2023 5:52 PM
>> *To:* Bill Olson 
>> *Cc:* Emily Addison ;
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>; Tony Parkes 
>> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: Dances with balancing waves forward and
>> backward?
>>
>> Big fan of box circulates, which imo are best served by
>> balancing right+fwd and left+back, so you have momentum for the next move
>> whether you're traveling forward or to the right. I don't know if this is
>> exactly what you're looking for, but if so and you want my fave box
>> circulate dances, I have lots 😅 and am happy to share.
>>
>> As far as balance-and-walk-forward, I just went through my whole dang
>> collection and pulled these; turns out a lot of dances I really like have
>> this transition :D
>>
>>- Some easy/classic ones are You Can Get There From Here (Linda
>>Leslie) and 20 Below (Bill Olson)
>>- A Gift to the Grange (Steve Zakon-Anderson),  Robins on a Wire
>>(Will Mentor), Ellie's Pumpkin Show (Bill Olson) all have neat "wavy line
>>of  balance and walk forward, partner follow to cross and swing"
>>- Winter in Summerland (James Hutson & Jeff Spero) - waves balance
>>and walk fwd to hey. One of my all time fave dances!
>>- Serendipity (Chris Page) - box circulate with an extra turn;
>>includes walking forward from short waves. Also one of my fave dances.
>>- Eleanor's Reel (Bill Olson; see also, Eleanor's Twisted Reel, the
>>Luke Donforth var.) has MULTIPLE "walk forward to next wave" transitions,
>>great for visiting lots of people in a crowded hall
>>- In Cahoots (Rick Mohr) is this with shadows
>>- The Black Lake Inlet of Dr. Joe Rush (Seth Tepfer) - main hook of
>>this dance is a "right-left by" which is fun, but it also has balance
>>fwd/walk fwd to new waves
>>- Solstice '17 (Donna Hunt)
>>
>> --
>> Maia McCormick (she/her)
>> 917.279.8194
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 12:16 PM Bill Olson via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Ah Shadracks! Thanks for that one Tony!
>>
>> Anyway, I agree with Tony and I myself find balancing "sideways" (not
>> really sideways, more on right diagonal then left diagonal) more natural
>> than forward and back. Maybe this is just because of the way one's arms are
>> pointing when in the wave. When I wrote Eleanor's Reel a measly 20 years
>> ago (hah hah), I used that to an advantage as the progressions between
>> waves were on the right and left diagonal.
>>
>> Dance and notes here:   Eleanor's Reel (billolsondance.com)
>> 
>>
>> bill
>> --
>> *From:* Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Friday, June 30, 2023 2:03 PM
>> *To:* Emily Addison ;
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Subject:* [Callers] Re: Dances with balancing waves forward and
>> backward?
>>
>>
>> When I wrote Shadrack’s Delight 51 years ago (one of the first all-moving
>> contras to gain wide acceptance among trad callers), I envisioned the wave
>> balances as forward and back. Both of the balances are followed by hand
>> turns halfway around, and I dislike the feel of a hand turn following a
>> sideways balance (starting in either direction relative to the following
>> turn). In my experience, most dancers do sideways balances in Shadrack,
>> per

[Callers] Re: Putting a square in a contra medley

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

We do this in Seattle almost every time we have our annual marathon to
benefit Northwest Folklife Festival. Since I don't call squares I can't
help much, but I have a couple of the programs.

2016:
Tica Tica Timing (end w/partner b&s)
to a square, to a waltz, back to contra.

Then -
Still More O'More (end w/pb&s)
to a square, to
Treasure of the Sierra Madre

2019:
The Carousel (end w/neighbor sw)
to a square, to a waltz, back to contra.

and -
Waltz, scatter sets, contra

Sherry Nevins and Lindsey Dono are the masterminds behind the programming,
but I don't know if either is on this list.

-Amy

On Tue, Apr 25, 2023, 5:24 AM Rich Goss via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I remember Ron Buchannan doing it, but I don’t recall how he did it.
> Perhaps he went the other way, square to contra.  Might be worth a youtube
> search.
>
> Rich
>
> On Apr 25, 2023, at 1:13 PM, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> 
> *"if we had more time we'd throw in a square"*
>
> The contra dance medley at NEFFA
>  is
> normally six dances, each six times through (well, the last one is five or
> seven).  I was thinking about what you'd need to do if you actually wanted
> to include a square...
>
> The main problem is that you need to switch the dancers from groups of
> four to groups of eight, and there isn't really a great way to do this.  In
> computer science speak the issue is that it takes time linear in the number
> of dancers.  But maybe you could have the top couple sashay down from the
> top, and everyone takes hands eight as they pass, which is fast enough even
> in a long hall that it's ok (~16 beats, and you adjust the time by figuring
> out how much intro to do on the square)?  And then tell anyone left out at
> the bottom to square up?
>
> (Going back into contra lines from aligned squares should be easier: side
> couples circle left three quarters and twirl to swap, lines at the sides,
> etc)
>
> Would this work?
>
> Jeff
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[Callers] Re: Dance with petronella right and left

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Laura, I plead ignorance here. Will you please describe/define "gate?"

Thanks,
-Amy

On Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 11:18 AM Louise Siddons via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi Jerome (and all),
>
> I have heard the left-petronella referred to as a “retronella” — which may
> be a useful search term, and also produces some delight when dancers hear
> it for the first time.
>
> And although I worry US dancers would rush the gates and therefore find
> this a bit unsatisfying (not to mention, no neighbour swing! Which for some
> dancers is actually a positive...), I’ve had good feedback here in the UK
> about my dance, There and Back:
>
> There and Back
> Louise Siddons, 2022
> Becket
> A1 In a ring, balance and spin to the right; gate clockwise on the side
> (fill the music!)
> A2 In a ring, balance and spin to the left; gate anticlockwise on the side
> B1 Chain (Rh; those moving fwd out of the courtesy turn end slightly
> inside the set and look right); with the next, right shoulder 'round 1.5
> B2 With your partner, balance and swing
>
> Louise.
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[Callers] Re: Dances Crafted for a Tune

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

"Ad Vielle," by Erik Weberg, was written for "Oddville Cupola," the 3-part
contra dance tune by Claude Ginsberg.

Ad Vielle (Oddville)
Erik Weberg
Duple, improper
Start in wavy line across, Larks in middle by R, partner by L

A1 Wave of 4 balance forward & back (all drop hands, walk to new waves)
New wave balance, forward & back,
Allemande Left ~ ¾
A2 Partner balance & swing
B1 Circle Left ¾, pass through
Neighbor swing
B2 Robins allemande Right 1 ½
Partner allemande Left 1 ¼ to wave across (larks in center)

"I wrote this dance in February, 2005 because I needed an accessible,
interesting dance to fit the tune Oddville Cupola by Claude Ginsberg of the
Seattle contra dance band KGB (www.kgbmole.com/kgb).  The Portland Megaband
has played Oddville Cupola for the last couple years and this dance has
been very pleasing to dancers when danced to that tune.  Of course, it will
work with any 32-bar tune, but that one is special.  Thanks, Claude! "

-Amy Wimmer

On Wed, Mar 8, 2023 at 8:02 PM Don Veino via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I'm looking for recommendations for contras written to specifically match
> a given tune, square or crooked. Obviously, there's singing squares, the
> Chestnuts and some well known examples like David Kaynor's Cherokee
> Shuffle. I'm looking for other examples of excellent "modern era" dances
> perfectly crafted to fit an outstanding or unusual tune - such that it
> surpasses the standard "pick the dance, then a suitable tune" approach to
> foster dance floor joy.
>
> I've written a few such dances but would love to augment my repertoire
> with others.
>
> Thanks,
> Don
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[Callers] Re: Gentlespoons/Ladles (from Rompin' Stompin')

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

I find the words "men" and "women" very hard to hear or distinguish from
many other words. There's no plosive sound in them, and they have soft
vowels. The words doesn't stick out at all for me. I don't know how early
on I gave up trying to get my spouse, who's also a caller, to use words
other than "men" and "women" for the role terms. It's always been a
frustration for me. It was a great satisfaction when we switched to Larks
and Ravens. I can hear those. As someone who wears hearing aids that's a
big deal. I need to hear the words above the music, the chatter, and the
sound of feet.
-Amy

On Tue, Feb 7, 2023, 11:08 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> So you're NOT in favor of trying Oaks / Maples, then, right? :D
>
> -Julian
>
> On Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 1:08 PM Becky Liddle via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ken,
>> The non-gendered dance groups have settled (after MUCH debate and deep
>> consideration) on larks and robins. The gendered folks are attached to
>> gents and ladies. If you’re going to learn something new, I’d highly
>> recommend the “avian” labels since those are the settled non-gendered
>> terms. Introducing a 3rd (or 17th) non-gendered term would just make things
>> harder for callers who already have to be able to switch between
>> gents/ladies and larks/robins. If I had been in charge of the world I’d
>> have chosen lakes (left) and rivers (right) myself. But those aren’t
>> inherently better or worse than larks & robins. What matters is that we
>> found something we can all live with that is consistent across groups. This
>> ship has sailed! :-)
>> Becky
>>
>> On Feb 7, 2023, at 12:30 PM, K P via Contra Callers <
>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> As I was researching a response to Amy's (Wimmer) Rompin' Stompin'
>> question, I happened across dances transcribed/written by Chris Page (I
>> note Chris has slso responded Amy's thread) and renewed acquaintance with
>> the gentlespoons/ladles terms.
>>
>> E.g. https://contradb.com/dances/1372
>>
>> Does anyone use those terms while calling?
>>
>> I've not yet returned to contra (pandemic) so haven't yet faced adapting
>> to the rising avian terminology, but Chris's terms, while a little
>> humourous to my mind, seem quite logical. (I suppose there is the risk that
>> gentlespoons is, necessarily, abbreviated to... you know).
>>
>> No, I'm start trying to start a movement! :) I'm just curious.
>>
>> Ken Panton
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[Callers] Re: Rompin' Stompin'

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Thank you, Maia. Yes, this is what I'm looking for. My collection is full
of very smooth and flowing dances. I need contrast.
-Amy

On Sun, Feb 5, 2023, 10:10 AM Maia McCormick  wrote:

> I think I have a sense: high energy bring-the-house-down crowd pleasers, I
> would assume?
>
> For this niche, I tend to like super balance-y dances with everyone moving
> together. A handful of my go-to’s are:
>
>- Julian Blechner's “Playground Stomp”
>
>- Chris Page's “Serendipity” 
>- My own "Pink Martini"
> (var. with
>all the balances)
>- Susan Kevra's "Hume Fogg Reel"
> 
> (this
>one ISN'T balance-y, but a great high energy closer; the asymmetrical
>allemands in the B1 give it a great kick)
>
> Looking forward to seeing other's recs here!
>
> --
> Maia McCormick (she/her)
> 917.279.8194
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 4, 2023 at 7:10 PM Chris Page via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> What do you mean by "barn burner contra"?
>>
>> Confused,
>> -Chris Page
>> Los Angeles, CA
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[Callers] Rompin' Stompin'

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Hey All,

What are your favorite barn burner contras? I have a few, but they get old.

-Amy
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[Callers] Re: Dance invasion

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

To reiterate further I will elaborate on Meg's and Harris's points:
"invasion" is not only a poor word choice, it's a dangerous mindset. Your
attitude will be evident to _all_ the dancers, making the new folks feel
uncomfortable, and encouraging some regulars to not be welcoming. Did you
actually say the words "throw them out" if they kept being noisy? Both
these scenarios make _me_ uncomfortable, even as a white woman. Words are
very powerful. Word choice matters.

I've called dances where what I call a "bus load" of beginners showed up
after the lesson. They arrive together, they probably bused or carpooled
together, they know one another. They will want to dance with each other,
not just as couples, but in clumps of foursomes, not and necessarily with
people they don't know. It's a challenge. It would be way more of a
challenge if their cultural practices didn't allow them to touch someone
appearing to be a different gender.

For the noise, after politely asking for their attention one thing to try
is to get quiet yourself, and see if they notice and follow suit. Then ask
for their help with the noise level so everyone can enjoy the evening. Your
calm attitude will be noticed by the regulars, and it will gain their
respect. Hollering will do the opposite.

I think a demonstration of contra dance on campus might be helpful. Do it
in a public area, invite other clubs/groups to come watch. You wouldn't
need to do a lesson, but could point out how the progression works, how
contra is a very community-centered dance form, where you dance with
everyone.

Side note: this sounds like a good time to plan ahead for a similar
situation, and collect, or write, dances that might work for them.

I wish you good luck and growth for your community.

-Amy

On Sat, Jan 21, 2023, 8:36 AM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> [I don't know why, but the top paragraph and a half of my message somehow
> came through white on white in both my email readers, so I'm resending,]
>
> We had an interesting and challenging situation come up at Contra Knights,
> the UCF student contra club, last night. I’m interested in your thoughts
> and advice, in case it has come up before, which it must have. I’m going to
> relate it as I perceived it, though someone more perceptive might have made
> some observations early on that would have alerted them to the nature of
> the situation.
>
> Last night was the second dance of the semester and officer elections were
> scheduled during the break. Just at the end of my newbie lesson, a group of
> nine women dribbled in as a group. They were really enthusiastic to learn,
> and they were about 30% of the people in the room at that point, so I
> rewound the lesson a bit to at least teach them the swing.
>
> They had joined the teaching circle with their purses and backpacks.  I
> invited them to put their stuff on the chairs at the sides, including their
> jackets, as we dance to up-tempo pop music and it can get sweaty. That’s
> where it got interesting.  Some put their stuff down, but they couldn’t
> take off their jackets. That’s when I noticed some of them wearing
> headscarves. Ok, no worries, wear jackets, that’s fine. We love diversity
> here.
>
> I tried matching them with experienced dancers, which some accepted and
> some did not. Some said they just wanted to dance together and not with
> anybody else. O-kay. I explained that in this dance we all dance with each
> other in a sequence and we don’t control whom we’re dancing with. Well,
> that’s ok, as long as we don’t touch men.
>
> This, of course, explained the refused partners; they were all men.  How
> are we going to manage that in a gender-neutral dance?  It’s not like I
> could put them in the men’s role. Someone suggested they turn all moves
> into do-si-dos. I was at a momentary loss, when our club president-to-be
> (elected later in the night) suggested putting them in a line of their own.
> That made them happy, though it was a very short line.
>
> Then the rest of what turned out to be the Lebanese Student Society came
> into the room. Their meeting in a neighboring room had just ended. There
> were more women, enough to make the small line danceable. There were a lot
> of men, and they had a really difficult time taking partners. I had minor
> sets with five or six dancers (yes, experienced dancers can do it). I told
> them it would not work that way, but they said they’d make it work, and
> nothing I could say got anywhere. I was conscious of the original dancers
> who had been there 30 minutes now, had done the workshop, and were eager to
> dance.
>
> So, the men also got their own line, but things in that line got a bit
> crazy during the first walk-through. Possibly because of the discomfort
> some may have felt dancing with other men, many there were more interested
> in goofing off or boasting to one another than in paying any attention to
> me, even after I cranked the mic vo

[Callers] Re: [External] Re: mechanical sorting systems

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

My filing system is probably archaic. I have 4 main categories: simple,
smooth, medium, and percussive. Then I have several rarely used categories:
3 face 3, multiple progressions, circles, mixers, etc.

I keep them in separate, alphabetized sections in my box. Top right corner
of each card says either simple, perc., smooth, or med. At top center I
have a shorthand-ish code for the signature moves, or "glossary." At the
bottom of each card are notes for various oddities. If the progression
isn't at the end of the dance I mark where it is with "prog."

The only color I use is bright yellow to remind myself to tell the dancers
this is a Becket dance, because that's the thing that trips me up most
often.

Works for me.

-Amy

On Wed, Jan 11, 2023, 3:52 PM Isaac Banner via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Now I'm mostly just grumpy because I got all excited about Edge-notched
> Cards and spent a good 30-45 minutes frustratingly discovering there's
> nowhere to get these for a reasonable cost/scale anymore...
>
> Tossing onto the rest of the conversation, I have 9 categories in my box
> but am broadly only half-satisfied with the results:
> - Easy, sometimes boring
> - Simple, but fun
> - Full heys
> - Petronellas
> - Wave-balancey
> - Intermediate
> - Advanced 1
> - Advanced 2
> - "Garbage" (Contra Mixers, general random nonsense that I rarely call
> outside of workshops, etc)
>
> Previously I had a system where I'd add a colored stripe for different
> distinguishing moves in a dance - blue for a hey, orange for petronellas,
> green for chain->star, yellow for long lines, etc - but that rapidly failed
> to scale as I collected more dances than I had time to stripe. Like Angela,
> I did however enjoy the splash of color while it lasted.
>
> *Goes back to scouring the web for viable edge-notched card replacements
> in a sub-2.5in form factor*
> Isaac Banner
> Code Monkey, Contra Orangutan
>
> On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 1:51 PM Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Seth, I do my best to categorize difficulty by the dance and not the
>> context. I think my Section III might include minor ventures outside the
>> minor set, for example, but not big movements away. At a place like
>> Pinewoods I might never touch a dance from Sections I or II.
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 2:34 PM Tepfer, Seth  wrote:
>>
>>> Angela
>>>
>>> I love the idea of the colored stickers on the top. That sounds so
>>> colorful and enticing.
>>>
>>> When I started calling and building a collection of dances, I did a
>>> similar sorting by difficulty - Easy, Medium, Complex. And mostly, it
>>> works. However, My definition of difficulty changes in several different
>>> ways.
>>>
>>>- As I learn how to teach a dance - there are dances that previously
>>>I thought were challenging. But once I learned how to teach them
>>>effectively, it turns out there were not that challenging. It was me that
>>>was making them challenging
>>>- Context makes a huge difference as to what is an easy or
>>>challenging dance.
>>>   - A dance that might be considered easy for a regular dance might
>>>   suddenly become very challenging. We have had a huge influx of first 
>>> time
>>>   dancers in January - we call them the "New Years Resolution crowds".  
>>> "Air
>>>   pants" by Lisa G has no chain or courtesy turn, but would be far too
>>>   difficult for the first dance of the night with all these first 
>>> timers. I'm
>>>   pulling back to "Family Contra" or similar.
>>>   - On the other hand, if I'm calling in a school or for a wedding,
>>>   I MIGHT call family contra late in the session - but it would be one I
>>>   would build up to. In that context, "Family Contra" is advanced.
>>>   - Finally, at a dance weekend, a dance that in other contexts
>>>   might be considered intermediate difficulty becomes "no walk thru" 
>>> easy.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
>>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
>>> --
>>> *From:* Angela DeCarlis via Contra Callers <
>>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 11, 2023 1:48 PM
>>> *To:* Michael Dyck 
>>> *Cc:* contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net <
>>> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
>>> *Subject:* [External] [Callers] Re: mechanical sorting systems
>>>
>>> I love that Joe remembered the edge-notched sorting system I told him
>>> about and also really love Jeff's suggestion of getting spiral-bound cards
>>> and removing the spiral! I've drilled holes in index cards before as Joe
>>> described, but the results weren't clean.
>>>
>>> *I don't remember who I first heard about this sorting system from, but
>>> I recall that they said some well-known caller/choreographer organized his
>>> cards this way. Anyone know who this was?* I've always wanted to
>>> rediscover this knowledge!
>>>
>>

[Callers] Re: Caller's Insurance?

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Caller's insurance? Huh.
-Amy

On Sun, Apr 11, 2021, 3:53 PM Luke Donforth via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> In a regular year, this is about when I'd be signing up for my annual
> caller's insurance through CDSS.
>
> This year, the policy is running for the same time-frame, May to May.
> Given that there's no in-person dancing now or for months, that seemed
> sub-optimal, since they won't pro-rate it for later in the year.
>
> The policy through CDSS is apparently also explicitly NOT covering
> anything covid related. Apparently the insurance companies don't want to
> open up their liability. I can't say their policy is that inspiring if they
> won't cover the first thing I've ever actually worried about at a dance. I
> can see not starting it now, but it seemed odd that it's the blanket no-go
> for the foreseeable future.
>
> So I'm wondering if there are other options or policies that folks are
> using? Something that starts on a different calendar and/or covers for
> covid possibilities?
>
> Looking forward to safely getting back together for community dancing
> again.
> Luke
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[Callers] Re: Album tracks you can dance to

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

For what it's worth, our sound engineer used to record some of the dances,
start to finish. He used his own sound system to do it, so it was much
better than if you were out in the room trying to record. He was getting
back into the recording business, so was practicing for his own use. I'm
_pretty_ sure we asked permission. I know that some of the bands requested
it. At any rate, we have recordings of some entire evenings. Those are
really great to practice to. It may be worth asking bands if you can do
that. I am not sure the recordings are good enough to actually dance to. I
think he was able to filter out the caller's  voice, mostly.

Also, KGB's CD, Volga Notions, is specifically noted as dance-length
medleys (7-8 min). As callers we've used that for situations without a band.

-Amy

On Sat, Feb 29, 2020, 5:41 AM Mary Collins via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Rick, thanks! Just signed to lead a 6 week afterschool program. Have 2 -3
> musicians who have offered to help but just in case! And, I am always
> looking for music to practice to! Great help. Some tracks I don't already
> have.
>
> Mary Collins
>
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020, 10:23 AM Rick Mohr via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> After 25 years of calling to only live music I started a teen dance which
>> so far has a pretty limited budget. So I've found a bunch of album tracks
>> we can dance to -- see below for the ones we use.
>>
>> While I have a lot of great tracks I'd love to find more for variety,
>> especially with 11-14 times through where I don't have as many. Any ideas
>> for me?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Rick
>>
>> Here's a spreadsheet showing the tracks we use (with tempos and number of
>> times through):
>>
>> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AGHHI1hH7VJcvBRdXB_FmYeHkS-SGllL7Zp-tRY_imM
>>
>> And here's my album list (showing how many tracks we use from each.
>>
>> Airdance -- Airdance (1)
>> Airdance -- Cloud Nine (2)
>> Assembly -- Other Side Of The Tracks (1)
>> Becky Tracy, Keith Murphy, Andy Davis -- Any Jig or Reel (7)
>> Berea Castoffs -- Folk Buddha's Path to Enlightenment
>> Big Bandemonium -- The Big Bang (1)
>> Elixir -- Rampant (1)
>> Great Bear -- Magic Fantasy Dream Dance (3)
>> Great Bear Trio -- Dancing Again (1)
>> Mary Cay Brass & Friends -- Green Mountain (3)
>> Rodney & Randy Miller -- New England Chestnuts Vol. II (2)
>> Susan Kevra -- Full Swing (5)
>> Wild Asparagus -- Live at the Guiding Star Grange (3)
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[Callers] Re: Fwd: "70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo

[Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers]

Jean wrote it to celebrate her 70th birthday. 70 trips around the sun.

On Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 7:25 AM Dale Wilson via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I called this last night at Childgrove in Saint Louis.  Dancers seemed
> pleased, but I got some questions about the title -- I think some of them
> heard 70 Libra Sons and were imagining a bunch of boys born in October.
>  Where did the name come from?
>
> Dale
>
> On Tue, Sep 24, 2019 at 2:39 PM Tncontracaller via Callers <
> call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a fun dance. It is new to me.
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Sep 24, 2019, at 11:28 AM, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers <
>> call...@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hello All!  I wanted to write a dance in celebration of my stepping into
>> the Libra Sun for the 70th time.  I wanted it to be very balanced, in Libra
>> fashion.
>>
>> Anyone seen this dance before?  It is not like anything in my data base
>> that has Mad Robin in the A1, but I did not search the other figures.
>>
>> Thanks for your input!
>>
>> Jean Gorrindo
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From: *Jean Gibson-Gorrindo 
>> *Subject: **"70 Libra Suns" by Jean Gorrindo*
>> *Date: *September 24, 2019 at 8:25:56 AM PDT
>> *To: *jean gorrindo 
>>
>> 70 Libra Suns
>> by Jean Gorrindo
>> Contra/Improper/Easy
>>
>> A1 ---
>> (8) Mad Robin (Ladies pass in front moving Right
>> (8) Balance the ring and spin to the right (petronella)
>> A2 ---
>> (16) Partner balance and swing
>> B1 ---
>> (8) 1/2 Hey, Ladies passing right shoulders
>> (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2
>> B2 ---
>> (16) Neighbor balance and swing
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Insomnia is no fun, but a brain that's hard to turn off is preferable to
> one that never starts up.
>
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