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

[Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

A reminder to everyone to please sign your last name to any initial email. It 
may eventually show up in the reply email address, but it’s nice not to have to 
hunt for it.

Thanks,

Lisa Greenleaf

> On May 8, 2024, at 1:09 PM, Cindy Harris via Trad Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> So sorry to hear this. Although I didn't know Tony more than to recognize him 
> and say hi, I always loved those moment at NEFFA when I got to dance to his 
> calling. 
> 
> As it happens, I'll be calling the Pittsburgh dance next Friday night. That 
> inspired me to go spelunking in my dance collection and online to see what 
> dances I might include. For those of you who are calling gender free and 
> particularly for those interested in positional (aka relational) calling, I 
> was intrigued to notice that most of the dances Tony choreographed make no 
> reference whatsoever to roles. And even for those that do, only minor changes 
> to wording are required to call them completely role-free. So if you haven't 
> yet dipped your toes into the world of role-free positional/relational 
> calling, Tony's dances are a good place to start.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> Director, Small Harmonies <http://bridgeofvoices.org/>
> 
> 2023 International Autoharp Champion
> 
> Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand <https://grayscalecontraband.com/>?
> 
> ==
> 
> 
> On Wed, May 8, 2024 at 12:28 PM Jonathan Sivier via Trad Callers 
>  <mailto:tradcall...@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>> I won't be calling at our local contra dance until early June, but I intend 
>> to include some of Tony's dances then.
>> 
>> Jonathan
>> 
>> P.S. - How are you doing Andrew?  I see your mom regularly at our English 
>> and Scottish dances.  JES
>> 
>> On 5/8/2024 8:21 AM, Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers wrote:
>> > Add me to the list of callers honoring Tony this weekend (and next) in our 
>> > programs.
>> > 
>> > -Joseph
>> > 
>> > On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 5:08 PM Andrew Stout via Contra Callers 
>> > > > <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net><mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> >  <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>> wrote:
>> > 
>> >     I wasn't able to be at NEFFA for the tribute, but I called a week and 
>> > a half ago and said a few words about Tony. I called May Day Mixer, Monday 
>> > Night Fever, and Shadrack's Delight.
>> > 
>> > --Andrew
>> > 
>> > On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 6:18 PM Lisa Greenleaf via Contra Callers 
>> > > > <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net><mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> >  <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Tony was diagnosed with a stage 4 glio blastoma late last fall. He 
>> > did an initial round of chemo and radiation before entering hospice in 
>> > early spring.
>> > 
>> > He was never in pain, and indeed, he and Beth were able to let his 
>> > community know what was going on, so he received lots of love and support. 
>> >  He had many visitors and messages these last few weeks.
>> > 
>> > Tony was the first to incorporate a square through into a contra 
>> > dance. Friday Night Fever initially had just one balance, followed by four 
>> > pull bys, but it is now widely danced with the two partner balances.
>> > 
>> > Check out Callers Box database for more ideas.
>> > 
>> > Lisa
>> > 
>> > On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 6:06 PM Angela DeCarlis 
>> > mailto:aedecar...@gmail.com> 
>> > <mailto:aedecar...@gmail.com <mailto:aedecar...@gmail.com>>> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Thank you Lisa for sharing. Sending love out to those who knew 
>> > Tony better than I did — the few interactions I had with him were entirely 
>> > lovely.
>> > 
>> > Like Mary, I'm also calling a dance on Friday. I'd love to 
>> > call one of Tony's dances — what are y'all's favorites?
>> > 
>> > Best,
>> > Angela
>> > 
>> > On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 2:01 PM Mary Collins via Contra Callers 
>> > > > <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net><mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> >  <mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Lisa,
>> > 
>> &

[Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024

[Lisa Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

Tony was diagnosed with a stage 4 glio blastoma late last fall. He did an
initial round of chemo and radiation before entering hospice in early
spring.

He was never in pain, and indeed, he and Beth were able to let his
community know what was going on, so he received lots of love and support.
He had many visitors and messages these last few weeks.

Tony was the first to incorporate a square through into a contra dance.
Friday Night Fever initially had just one balance, followed by four pull
bys, but it is now widely danced with the two partner balances.

Check out Callers Box database for more ideas.

Lisa

On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 6:06 PM Angela DeCarlis  wrote:

> Thank you Lisa for sharing. Sending love out to those who knew Tony better
> than I did — the few interactions I had with him were entirely lovely.
>
> Like Mary, I'm also calling a dance on Friday. I'd love to call one of
> Tony's dances — what are y'all's favorites?
>
> Best,
> Angela
>
> On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 2:01 PM Mary Collins via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> 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
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>>>
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[Callers] Tony Parkes 1949-2024

[Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

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
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[Callers] Re: Advanced dances gone awry

[Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

Getting back to Maia’s original question, I can say that this has happened to 
me several times.

If it’s a new-to-me group, I’ll access two different programs I’ve called 
elsewhere. I’ll start with a test dance or two and then decide which program 
I’ll use after that. If this is a group for whom I have called challenging 
programs before, it can be very frustrating having to change my program.

My initial reaction is to try to connect with the organizers to find out what 
they want me to do: Alter my program, proceed as normal, or incorporate newer 
dancers as best I can. But the bottom line is the overall experience for the 
dancers; it’s no fun being on the floor dragging people through dances that are 
too hard! 

A few tricks I employ from the mic: 
• The first dance is always a no-walk through.
• I give plenty of warnings: “The dance after this has contra corners, which 
will not be taught. If you don’t know it, maybe you’d like to watch OR find an 
experienced partner.”
 “The next dance after this is a square —you need to be familiar with squares” 
And then maybe I choose an intermediate square, not a harder one.
• My frustration with the dance level can’t leak through. So I have to teach 
how to do a roll away; OK, I’ll do it. And maybe I’ll teach it again just to be 
clear. With humor, I can get through it and help everyone have a good time.
• I remember that this is really the organizer’s issue, and not the dancers’!

If you need to alter your program drastically, the dancers will understand. If 
they are disappointed, encourage them to talk with the organizers.

At the break, I  approach the organizers to find out how beginners ended up at 
the dance. I encourage organizers PLEASE to understand how much work goes into 
planning and preparing a challenging program. Is your dance well-advertised as 
being challenging, and do you give an explanation about what that means? Do you 
have a sign at the door saying it’s for advanced dancers? (FYI: “Experienced” 
doesn’t mean much. You can be newer to dancing and be a spatial wizard who 
totally breezes through harder choreography). You can set limits and still be 
welcoming. Remind people that there are dance series geared for all levels in 
your area and where. Happily offer a refund if newer dancers are overwhelmed.

Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility.

Lisa Greeenleaf



> On Apr 17, 2023, at 12:57 PM, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> I've given this some thought. I've been a dancer in this situation, and heard 
> other organizers ask this question.
> 
> I don't like the idea of asking someone to leave. I do think this is 
> antithetical to my values as a dance organizer. 
> 
> I don't like the idea of gatekeeping and presuming I know how well a person 
> may succeed not - especially since contra is a team sport.
> 
> I also want to raise the idea of economic injustice - many folks carpool, or, 
> in NYC it may be a pain to get to a location - even by mass transit a new 
> person could really need the help of a friend. Especially if it's a person 
> from out of town; having lived in and around NYC for a decade, it can be 
> _daunting_. So I can totally see some experienced dancers wanting to bring a 
> friend, and having them come later is not an option. Forcing them to come 
> later may be easier for folks with financial means, which is why I'm saying 
> this may touch on an issue of economic justice and privilege.
> 
> An alternative I might have - and, totally with the benefit of hindsight and 
> reflection:
> 
> I think if I'm in this situation in the future, I will do the following:
> 1. Caution the dancer of the expected skill level.
> 2. Offer them to sit and enjoy the music for free / donation instead of 
> required entry fee.
> 3. Recommend that if they're set on trying it out, to do so, but if they're 
> not getting it, come hang out and stay, with fee refunded. (Like a 
> satisfaction guarantee.)
> 
> Ideally, if they do stay and sit, some dancers will need breaks and sit with 
> them and make them feel welcome.
> 
> In dance,
> Julian Blechner
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, Apr 16, 2023, 9:50 PM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers 
>  > wrote:
>> I attended an advanced dance this afternoon that was intermediate at best, 
>> and had a few raw beginners in there, and it got me wondering:
>> 
>> 1. As callers, what do you do when a bunch of intermediate and/or beginner 
>> dancers show up to an advanced session?
>> 2. As organizers, what do you do to try and keep your advanced sessions... 
>> advanced? (Either in messaging or at the dance itself?) Obviously I'm not 
>> advocating for kicking anyone out, but if a bunch of newbies show up at an 
>> advanced session, both they and the dancers who came for gnarly stuff are 
>> going to have a less-than-ideal time.
>> 3. As dancers (/organizers/callers), how do we elevate the dance level of 
>> our local communities? I'm talking about 

[Callers] Re: dance name? - Big Easy variation

[Lisa Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

The only change I’d suggest is Robins Allem R since that is the free hand after 
a swing. 

Lisa

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 21, 2022, at 11:47 AM, Julian Blechner via Contra Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I have a question about a variation on Becky Hill's Big Easy, which I see as:
> Big Easy Becky Hill
> 
> A1: Bal Ring, Neighbor Swing (often changed to N B+S)
> A2: LLFB, Robins Alle 1.5
> B1: P B+S
> B2: Circle L 3/4, Bal ring, pass thru
> 
> An easy variation I like, say, to introduce the courtesy turn early in the 
> evening and to have the Larks not have to be relegated to keeping basically 
> in one spot for 7/8ths of the dance, has:
> A2. N Prom, robins alle 1.5
> B2. Circle L 3/4, bal, cali twirl
> 
> It's enough of a change - especially for one of these easy glossary dances - 
> that I figure someone may have claimed it as a new dance, and was looking for 
> author and title. I didn't see this variation listed in The Caller's Box 
> website.
> 
> Thanks,
> Julian Blechner
> he/him
> 
> p.s. Folks may know me as "Ron". I've been using a new first name. Pronouns 
> are the same. I'm slowly trying to change my online presence, get a new 
> website, etc.
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[Callers] Re: Does anybody know of active vaccinated-only, in-person contra dances?

[Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

Those of you who are sponsoring live contra events, can you answer Becky’s 
other question:

"But it would be very useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that 
had already begun vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. 
(Do they require masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone 
gotten sick? What adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed 
to make to accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for 
verifying vaccination status?)”

For many of us, it’s the mechanics of Covid regulations that are tricky.

Thanks,

Lisa Greenleaf

> On Oct 15, 2021, at 12:39 PM, Elizabeth Bloom Albert via Contra Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> we are going to one tonite
> U of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall
> 
> On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 10:51 AM Becky Liddle via Contra Callers 
>  > wrote:
> Hi caller friends,
> 
> I’m the president of Toronto Contra Dance and we’re about to survey our 
> membership about when they’ll feel ready to return to in-person dancing, and 
> under what circumstances. We’re expecting that at first dances will be 
> vaccinated-only spaces, probably with masks required. But it would be very 
> useful to us if we knew of other dance organizations that had already begun 
> vaccinated-only dances, so we could learn how that’s going. (Do they require 
> masks? Can people enjoy the dance with masks? Has anyone gotten sick? What 
> adaptations, e.g., slowing down the music, have they needed to make to 
> accommodate mask-wearing? What systems have worked well for verifying 
> vaccination status?) 
> 
> I had hoped CDSS would be monitoring back-to-in-person dances to inform the 
> rest of us how those ventures are going, but as far as I can tell, they’re 
> not doing that.
> 
> Any information anyone can provide would be most appreciated! Back-channel 
> messages welcome! If I’m re-inventing the wheel here, please put me in touch 
> with whatever group is looking into this!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Becky Liddle
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Elizabeth Bloom Albert
> 
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[Callers] Re: is there an agreed term?

[Greenleaf via Contra Callers]

I think in MWDS it’s called mirror image star thru (Gents L, Lady’s R).  If I’m 
calling it for contra dancers, I might explain the terminology, but then just 
call it “twirl to swap”, being careful to stress the end result: Side by side, 
both facing the same direction.

Lisa G

> On Dec 2, 2019, at 2:31 PM, Diane Silver via Contra Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> A caller not on this list asked me:  Is there an agreed term for a reverse 
> star through?
> 
> I don't know of one (other than "reverse star through"), so I'm putting it 
> out there to everyone.
> 
> Thanks.
> -- Diane
>  
> ~~~  ~~~  ~~ ~~~ ~
> Diane Silver
> 
> di...@diane-silver.com
> 
> ~~~  ~~~  ~~ ~~~ ~
> 
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