[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Donna Hunt via Contra Callers]

When I started calling in 1989, NY state and NJ had several women callers who 
traveled at least in NY, NJ, and Ct dances.  Becky was all that's been said 
about her, I met her at a small folk festival and participated in a callers 
workshop that she ran.  She was very gracious about chatting, answering 
questions and sharing dances.
DonnaEmail: dhuntdan...@aol.com
Cell:  215-565-6050


 

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 02:16:28 PM EDT, Cindy Harris via Contra 
Callers  wrote:   

 It may have been true that Becky paved the way. But by the time I started 
calling in 1998, I don’t think it ever occurred to me that there were more men 
than women. I recall not only Becky, but also Kathy Anderson, Cis Hinkle, and 
Lisa Greenleaf making regular stops in Pittsburgh. And probably more women than 
those who come immediately to mind. 

Cindy

Director, Small Harmonies
2023 International Autoharp Champion
Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand?

==


On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 12:09 Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra Callers 
 wrote:

I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my favorites. 
Sandy Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I remember hearing & 
wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They mostly called 
squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in the PNW, I don't 
think she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too early.
~ Masha Goodman Crawford ~ 209.402.1943 ~ facebook.com/oldsoles
. Amanda wrote:"...Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, 
that Becky paved the way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were 
few (or none?) women callers before her. ..."
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
  ___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Diane Silver via Contra Callers]

I started contra dancing in the Cleveland area, where Becky lived, so 
she and Carol Kopp were my first local callers -- the ones I heard week 
after week. I have so many memories of her as a caller, dancer, and 
leader but what stands out to me is that when I started calling myself, 
she was so supportive. The first time I had a gig for a family dance, I 
had a question about something and emailed her, and she called me and 
spent, like, an hour on the phone, and gave me an entire program. It was 
so generous. She had no sense of proprietary ownership. Dances and 
programs were to be shared and replicated and spread as far and wide as 
possible. In addition to all that, she was, as you have noted, a really 
great choreographer and wrote a slew of terrific dances that have stood 
the test of time.  And besides all that, she was funny, and friendly, 
and down to earth, and friends with everyone. I could go on and on. She 
left us way too soon!


-- Diane

~~
Diane Silver
Asheville, NC
di...@diane-silver.com

On 5/15/2024 11:08 AM, Emily Addison via Contra Callers wrote:

Hi folks,

Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky 
Hill I absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this 
one! ) whom I admire thinking that it 
was her who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time 
square dance leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote 
the contras and square that I have in my dance box.


So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
And this is all I've been able to find 
.


Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many 
folk.


Thanks,
Emily Addison in Ottawa ON

___
Contra Callers mailing list --contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email tocontracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Emily Addison via Contra Callers]

Thanks so much to those of you who have responded to my inquiry about Becky
Hill. SO neat to learn more about her. :)
I love some of the stories about her personal philosophy about calling.  So
great. :)

And yes... lovely to also hear what other women were also calling in the
1980s and 1990s.

Emily



On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM Jerome Grisanti 
wrote:

> The very first callers workshop I ever attended was lead by Becky. She
> encouraged us to take responsibility for whatever happened on the dance
> floor. "Own it. Win an Academy Award for sincerely saying, 'oops, I
> misjudged, let's try this a different way.' "
>
> Years later, for a full-weekend event in which I was the lead organizer,
> the scheduled caller had to drop out suddenly and I was scrambling to find
> a substitute. I left Becky a message but meanwhile found someone else
> available. Becky called back that evening and was happy to chat a bit. She
> was a soothing voice and assured me that the caller I had found would do a
> great job. She said she would have thrown her stuff into her car and made
> the long drive if necessary, though, "cause that's what we do."
>
> I still hear her voice when I use some of my favorite teaching tips. Rest
> in peace.
>
> — Jerome Grisanti
>
> On Wed, May 15, 2024, 11:09 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I
>> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one!
>> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her
>> who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance
>> leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and
>> square that I have in my dance box.
>>
>> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
>> And this is all I've been able to find
>> 
>> .
>>
>> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
>> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many
>> folk.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
>> ___
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Jerome Grisanti via Contra Callers]

The very first callers workshop I ever attended was lead by Becky. She
encouraged us to take responsibility for whatever happened on the dance
floor. "Own it. Win an Academy Award for sincerely saying, 'oops, I
misjudged, let's try this a different way.' "

Years later, for a full-weekend event in which I was the lead organizer,
the scheduled caller had to drop out suddenly and I was scrambling to find
a substitute. I left Becky a message but meanwhile found someone else
available. Becky called back that evening and was happy to chat a bit. She
was a soothing voice and assured me that the caller I had found would do a
great job. She said she would have thrown her stuff into her car and made
the long drive if necessary, though, "cause that's what we do."

I still hear her voice when I use some of my favorite teaching tips. Rest
in peace.

— Jerome Grisanti

On Wed, May 15, 2024, 11:09 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I
> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one!
> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her
> who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance
> leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and
> square that I have in my dance box.
>
> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
> And this is all I've been able to find
> 
> .
>
> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many
> folk.
>
> Thanks,
> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers]

(Make that late aughts. I forgot my own age.)

On Wed, May 15, 2024, at 3:01 PM, Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers wrote:
> People who knew her better can say more than me, but I'll just add that she 
> taught me to call when I was a student at Oberlin College in the early 
> aughts, so she's really the one who started it all for me, for which I'm very 
> grateful.
> 
> Harris Lapiroff
> 
> Dance Caller and Organizer
> Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
> Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
> https://chromamine.com/contra/
> 
> On Wed, May 15, 2024, at 12:55 PM, Cindy Harris via Contra Callers wrote:
>> We knew Becky well here in Pittsburgh. She was the heart and soul of the 
>> Cleveland contradance community and often came our way to call dances in 
>> Pittsburgh. And as some have said, she was a lovely and gracious caller. 
>> 
>> Do any of you remember the week when the World Trade Center was destroyed? 
>> I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers what happened in Pittsburgh a 
>> few days later. That Friday there was a regularly scheduled dance in 
>> Pittsburgh, and Becky was the caller. As we lined up for the first dance, 
>> Becky looked out at the floor and realized that we were all experienced 
>> dancers, there to dance with our community after a rough week. So she put us 
>> in Becket and started to teach a dance that was a bit more challenging than 
>> she would have taught at a usual community dance. She was about two figures 
>> in when a group of 10 or so newcomers who she did not recognize as regular 
>> dancers entered the hall. So she asked us all to promise our partners that 
>> we would dance with them later, and to take one of the new dancers as a 
>> partner. And, of course, we all did. We lined up again in duple improper, 
>> and Becky taught a simple dance that she knew we could help inexperienced 
>> dancers through even though there had been no lesson. So we all danced, and 
>> that’s how the rest of the evening went. 
>> 
>> It was a very sad thing when Becky developed dementia and stopped coming to 
>> call for us. The Cleveland community can probably tell you more about that 
>> time, and since she traveled so much I’m sure there are many other stories 
>> like ours out there. 
>> 
>> Cindy
>> 
>> Director, Small Harmonies 
>> 
>> 2023 International Autoharp Champion
>> 
>> Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand ?
>> 
>> ==
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:09 Emily Addison via Contra Callers 
>>  wrote:
>>> Hi folks,
>>> 
>>> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I 
>>> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one! 
>>> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her who 
>>> wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance leader 
>>> Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and square that 
>>> I have in my dance box.
>>> 
>>> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
>>> And this is all I've been able to find 
>>> .
>>> 
>>> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
>>> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many folk.
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
>>> ___
>>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>> ___
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>> 
> 
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
> 
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Harris Lapiroff via Contra Callers]

People who knew her better can say more than me, but I'll just add that she 
taught me to call when I was a student at Oberlin College in the early aughts, 
so she's really the one who started it all for me, for which I'm very grateful.

Harris Lapiroff

Dance Caller and Organizer
Boston Intergenerational Dance Advocates Board (Cambridge MA)
Pinewoods Camp, Inc Board (Plymouth MA)
https://chromamine.com/contra/

On Wed, May 15, 2024, at 12:55 PM, Cindy Harris via Contra Callers wrote:
> We knew Becky well here in Pittsburgh. She was the heart and soul of the 
> Cleveland contradance community and often came our way to call dances in 
> Pittsburgh. And as some have said, she was a lovely and gracious caller. 
> 
> Do any of you remember the week when the World Trade Center was destroyed? 
> I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers what happened in Pittsburgh a few 
> days later. That Friday there was a regularly scheduled dance in Pittsburgh, 
> and Becky was the caller. As we lined up for the first dance, Becky looked 
> out at the floor and realized that we were all experienced dancers, there to 
> dance with our community after a rough week. So she put us in Becket and 
> started to teach a dance that was a bit more challenging than she would have 
> taught at a usual community dance. She was about two figures in when a group 
> of 10 or so newcomers who she did not recognize as regular dancers entered 
> the hall. So she asked us all to promise our partners that we would dance 
> with them later, and to take one of the new dancers as a partner. And, of 
> course, we all did. We lined up again in duple improper, and Becky taught a 
> simple dance that she knew we could help inexperienced dancers through even 
> though there had been no lesson. So we all danced, and that’s how the rest of 
> the evening went. 
> 
> It was a very sad thing when Becky developed dementia and stopped coming to 
> call for us. The Cleveland community can probably tell you more about that 
> time, and since she traveled so much I’m sure there are many other stories 
> like ours out there. 
> 
> Cindy
> 
> Director, Small Harmonies 
> 
> 2023 International Autoharp Champion
> 
> Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand ?
> 
> ==
> 
> 
> On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:09 Emily Addison via Contra Callers 
>  wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>> 
>> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I 
>> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one! 
>> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her who 
>> wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance leader 
>> Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and square that 
>> I have in my dance box.
>> 
>> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
>> And this is all I've been able to find 
>> .
>> 
>> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
>> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many folk.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
>> ___
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
> 
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Jonathan Sivier via Contra Callers]

This past weekend I attended a dance called by Martha Tyner, who was 
celebrating 40 years of calling.

Jonathan
-Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!


On 5/15/2024 1:15 PM, Cindy Harris via Contra Callers wrote:

It may have been true that Becky paved the way. But by the time I started 
calling in 1998, I don’t think it ever occurred to me that there were more men 
than women. I recall not only Becky, but also Kathy Anderson, Cis Hinkle, and 
Lisa Greenleaf making regular stops in Pittsburgh. And probably more women than 
those who come immediately to mind.

Cindy

Director, Small Harmonies 


2023 International Autoharp Champion

Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand 
?

==


On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 12:09 Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra Callers 
mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:

I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my favorites.

Sandy Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I remember hearing 
& wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They mostly called 
squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in the PNW, I don't think 
she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too early.

~ Masha Goodman Crawford
~ 209.402.1943
~ facebook.com/oldsoles 


. Amanda wrote:
"...Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky paved the 
way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or none?) women callers 
before her. ..."

___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net 

To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net 



___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Cindy Harris via Contra Callers]

It may have been true that Becky paved the way. But by the time I started
calling in 1998, I don’t think it ever occurred to me that there were more
men than women. I recall not only Becky, but also Kathy Anderson, Cis
Hinkle, and Lisa Greenleaf making regular stops in Pittsburgh. And probably
more women than those who come immediately to mind.

Cindy

Director, Small Harmonies 

2023 International Autoharp Champion

Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand 
?

==


On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 12:09 Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my favorites.
>
> Sandy Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I remember
> hearing & wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They
> mostly called squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in
> the PNW, I don't think she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too
> early.
>
> ~ Masha Goodman Crawford
> ~ 209.402.1943
> ~ facebook.com/oldsoles
>
> . Amanda wrote:
> "...Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky
> paved the way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or
> none?) women callers before her. ..."
>
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Mac Mckeever via Contra Callers]

Kathy Anderson was also calling in that time frame



On Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 11:31:12 AM CDT, steveholl via Contra Callers 
 wrote: 





Cindy Greene from New England was also a caller in the 80's as was Susan Kevra.



Sent from Samsung Galaxy smartphone.


 Original message 
From: Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra Callers 
 
Date: 5/15/24 12:09 PM (GMT-05:00) 
To: Amanda Setili via Contra Callers , 
Gregory Frock  
Subject: [Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the 
choreographer 

I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my favorites. 


Sandy Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I remember hearing & 
wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They mostly called 
squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in the PNW, I don't 
think she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too early.

~ Masha Goodman Crawford 
~ 209.402.1943 
~ facebook.com/oldsoles


. Amanda wrote:
"...Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky paved 
the way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or none?) 
women callers before her. ..."

___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Cindy Harris via Contra Callers]

We knew Becky well here in Pittsburgh. She was the heart and soul of the
Cleveland contradance community and often came our way to call dances in
Pittsburgh. And as some have said, she was a lovely and gracious caller.

Do any of you remember the week when the World Trade Center was destroyed?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers what happened in Pittsburgh a
few days later. That Friday there was a regularly scheduled dance in
Pittsburgh, and Becky was the caller. As we lined up for the first dance,
Becky looked out at the floor and realized that we were all experienced
dancers, there to dance with our community after a rough week. So she put
us in Becket and started to teach a dance that was a bit more challenging
than she would have taught at a usual community dance. She was about two
figures in when a group of 10 or so newcomers who she did not recognize as
regular dancers entered the hall. So she asked us all to promise our
partners that we would dance with them later, and to take one of the new
dancers as a partner. And, of course, we all did. We lined up again in
duple improper, and Becky taught a simple dance that she knew we could help
inexperienced dancers through even though there had been no lesson. So we
all danced, and that’s how the rest of the evening went.

It was a very sad thing when Becky developed dementia and stopped coming to
call for us. The Cleveland community can probably tell you more about that
time, and since she traveled so much I’m sure there are many other stories
like ours out there.

Cindy

Director, Small Harmonies 

2023 International Autoharp Champion

Have you experienced GrayScale ContraBand 
?

==


On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:09 Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I
> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one!
> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her
> who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance
> leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and
> square that I have in my dance box.
>
> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
> And this is all I've been able to find
> 
> .
>
> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many
> folk.
>
> Thanks,
> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[steveholl via Contra Callers]

Cindy Greene from New England was also a caller in the 80's as was Susan 
Kevra.Sent from Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
 Original message From: Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra 
Callers  Date: 5/15/24  12:09 PM  
(GMT-05:00) To: Amanda Setili via Contra Callers 
, Gregory Frock  
Subject: [Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the 
choreographer I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my 
favorites. Sandy Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I 
remember hearing & wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They 
mostly called squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in the 
PNW, I don't think she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too early.~ 
Masha Goodman Crawford ~ 209.402.1943 ~ facebook.com/oldsoles. Amanda 
wrote:"...Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky 
paved the way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or 
none?) women callers before her. ..."___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Masha Goodman Crawford via Contra Callers]

I call several of Becky's dances, they're still among my favorites. Sandy 
Bradley and Kate Charles were two women callers that I remember hearing & 
wanting to emulate back when I started calling in 1978. They mostly called 
squares, with a very musical, fun style. Sandy lives up in the PNW, I don't 
think she calls much these days. Kate we lost way too early.~ Masha Goodman 
Crawford ~ 209.402.1943 ~ facebook.com/oldsoles. Amanda wrote:"...Bob 
Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky paved the way 
for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or none?) women 
callers before her. ..."
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Amanda Setili via Contra Callers]

I'm so glad you asked that, Emily, and thanks for your reflections, Greg.

I love Becky Hill's dances.

Bob Isaacs told us, during his calling workshop at CDH, that Becky paved
the way for women to get into calling. Apparently there were few (or none?)
women callers before her. Bob might have more info to share about Becky.

Amanda



On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:25 AM Gregory Frock via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi Emily,
>
> I knew Becky (although I am sure there are others lurking here who knew
> her better). She was a very good natured and gracious person and dance
> leader, who worked tirelessly to support and promote dancing in the
> Cleveland, Ohio area. She published three (I think) books of dances, the
> last with Sue Rosen. In the 1990s, she was a choreographic giant,
> considered on par with contemporaries Gene Hubert, Carol Ormand, and Rick
> Mohr. When I was starting out calling in the 1990s, we had her in the
> Washington DC area hosting a session on calling skills. What I remember
> most was her advice to respond to negative criticism with an even tempered,
> "Thank you for that." It was sad to hear when she was diagnosed with
> dementia, and even sadder to hear she had passed.
>
> Greg
>
> On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:09 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
> contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I
>> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one!
>> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her
>> who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance
>> leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and
>> square that I have in my dance box.
>>
>> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
>> And this is all I've been able to find
>> 
>> .
>>
>> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
>> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many
>> folk.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
>> ___
>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>>
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net

[Callers] Re: Wanting to learn more about Becky Hill - the choreographer

[Gregory Frock via Contra Callers]

Hi Emily,

I knew Becky (although I am sure there are others lurking here who knew her
better). She was a very good natured and gracious person and dance leader,
who worked tirelessly to support and promote dancing in the Cleveland, Ohio
area. She published three (I think) books of dances, the last with Sue
Rosen. In the 1990s, she was a choreographic giant, considered on par with
contemporaries Gene Hubert, Carol Ormand, and Rick Mohr. When I was
starting out calling in the 1990s, we had her in the Washington DC area
hosting a session on calling skills. What I remember most was her advice to
respond to negative criticism with an even tempered, "Thank you for that."
It was sad to hear when she was diagnosed with dementia, and even sadder to
hear she had passed.

Greg

On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 11:09 AM Emily Addison via Contra Callers <
contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> Over the past year, I'm realizing how many dances written by Becky Hill I
> absolutely adore.  So, naively, I wrote to Becky Hill (this one!
> ) whom I admire thinking that it was her
> who wrote dances.  Turns out that flatfooter and old time square dance
> leader Becky Hill is not the same Becky Hill who wrote the contras and
> square that I have in my dance box.
>
> So... I naturally became curious ... who is the other Becky Hill???
> And this is all I've been able to find
> 
> .
>
> Did any of you know Becky?  Any further information on her?
> I know that many of her dances are super popular and called by so many
> folk.
>
> Thanks,
> Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
> ___
> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
>
___
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net