[Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California
Years ago at NEFFA, I was teaching a buzz swing. I said "Don't look at the room going around; look at your partner's eyes... and if that makes you dizzy, for any reason, just look at something on your partner that does not appear to be moving." Five minutes later the room quieted down and I was able to continue the workshop. Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (coming December 15) -Original Message- From: Amy Cann Sent: Tuesday, December 7, 2021 8:43 AM To: Tony Parkes Cc: Ted Sims ; John Sweeney ; contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California On 12/6/21, Tony Parkes via Contra Callers wrote: > I actually accepted a gig at a “naturist” resort in New England. >I had to come up with patter Since mostly all humans are pretty asymmetrical, how 'bout: "Promenade and don't be slow, Right (x) high and left (x) low" :) ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California
And if you like thinking about this stuff, note that the book
*Give-and-Take* by Larry Jennings has some deeply thought through
sections on the mathematics of contra with one section devoted to
shadows, including the concepts of near-shadows and far-shadows. I found
it all illuminating and it definitely helped me as a caller.
[Books by Larry Jennings –
NEFFA](https://www.neffa.org/books-by-larry-jennings/)
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
l...@lisasieverts.com
On 6 Dec 2021, at 20:35, Diane Silver via Contra Callers wrote:
It may be more than you want to go into for a walk-through, but it can
be a good opportunity to teach (or remind) dancers that /a shadow is
always a dancer in another set who is in *the same position as your
partner* is in, in your set. /Usually, the shadow with whom you
actually do something is just one set adjacent, so you can ID shadows
at the beginning of the dance by facing your partner across the set
(if it's improper) and looking to the diagonal (either left or right
diag --
you have to predetermine that as the caller and have it in your notes)
and wave at that person on the diagonal. "Note what they're wearing.
You're going to meet them later." Your idea ("your shadow is the
person across and two to the left of you") is the same thing, but just
a little harder to process the words. Seth's method is more immediate,
and therefore probably a bit more effective; it's just not universally
applicable. As you astutely noted, if you're on the end and don't have
a diagonal, then your shadow happens to be your current neighbor. I
would say it that way, rather than "if you don't have anyone in your
left hand"
(If the dance is Becket, then your partner is in the same line as you,
and therefore, your shadow is also in your line, usually in the other
hand (or across the set if on the end).
Also note: you can help dancers find their shadow successfully in
the first walk-through if you break down the allemande. Many dancers
don't REALLY know how far 3/4 is. So I would say, "Robins allemande
right 1/2-way, over to your partner; Partners allemande left *halfway
to change places, then go two steps more* --
the next one along the line is your shadow!" And I would call it that
way as well, the first few times through. I often use "1/2-way and
two steps more" rather than "3/4" (for allemandes) or "3 places and
2 steps more" rather than "7/8" (for circles or stars).
Hope this helps.
--
Diane
~~
Diane Silver
Asheville, NC
da...@diane-silver.com
On Dec 6, 2021, at 4:03 PM, Tepfer, Seth wrote:
Ted,
Great questions. Here's the dance: https://contradb.com/dances/951
1. Finding shadow: Here's what I'd do. "Neighbor swing. Robins
allemande right to in front of your partner. give left hand to
your partner. Everyone freeze. Look over your left shoulder -
there is someone looking at you - wave at them with your right
hand. That's your shadow." Now, with your partner, Allemande
Left
3 places. There's your shadow!"
2. When you are out, your shadow is across the set from you. Your
choices are to either wait out at top until partner swing or
allemande shadow, then slide back to P for swing. Teaching end
effects is always a crap shoot. What percentage of the room will
remember all those words you said after the music starts and
they
have been having fun for 6x through the dance?
3. Yep, standard progression (technically) in the neighbor swing of
A2. Or B2.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP
Manager of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment: oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking
Pronouns: he, him, his
*From:* Ted Sims via Contra Callers
*Sent:* Monday, December 6, 2021 2:54 PM
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] teaching Naked in California
Hi everyone
This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In
California [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to
teach it. I think I've mostly figured it out, but I welcome your
comments on my thoughts below:
(1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight
away. I think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long
lines then "If you are on the end and your left hand is free, your
shadow is the person in your right hand (introduce yourselves).
Everyone else, your shadow is the person across and two to the left
of you". Is there a better way?
(2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no
one in the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put
(there is no wrap around etc.). Is that correct?
(3) It
[Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California
On 12/6/21, Tony Parkes via Contra Callers wrote: > I actually accepted a gig at a “naturist” resort in New England. >I had to come up with patter Since mostly all humans are pretty asymmetrical, how 'bout: "Promenade and don't be slow, Right (x) high and left (x) low" :) ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
[Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California
It may be more than you want to go into for a walk-through, but it can
be a good opportunity to teach (or remind) dancers that /a shadow is
always a dancer in another set who is in *the same position as your
partner* is in, in your set. /Usually, the shadow with whom you actually
do something is just one set adjacent, so you can ID shadows at the
beginning of the dance by facing your partner across the set (if it's
improper) and looking to the diagonal (either left or right diag -- you
have to predetermine that as the caller and have it in your notes) and
wave at that person on the diagonal. "Note what they're wearing. You're
going to meet them later." Your idea ("your shadow is the person across
and two to the left of you") is the same thing, but just a little harder
to process the words. Seth's method is more immediate, and therefore
probably a bit more effective; it's just not universally applicable. As
you astutely noted, if you're on the end and don't have a diagonal, then
your shadow happens to be your current neighbor. I would say it that
way, rather than "if you don't have anyone in your left hand"
(If the dance is Becket, then your partner is in the same line as you,
and therefore, your shadow is also in your line, usually in the other
hand (or across the set if on the end).
Also note: you can help dancers find their shadow successfully in the
first walk-through if you break down the allemande. Many dancers don't
REALLY know how far 3/4 is. So I would say, "Robins allemande right
1/2-way, over to your partner; Partners allemande left *halfway to
change places, then go two steps more* -- the next one along the line is
your shadow!" And I would call it that way as well, the first few times
through. I often use "1/2-way and two steps more" rather than "3/4"
(for allemandes) or "3 places and 2 steps more" rather than "7/8" (for
circles or stars).
Hope this helps.
-- Diane
~~
Diane Silver
Asheville, NC
da...@diane-silver.com
On Dec 6, 2021, at 4:03 PM, Tepfer, Seth wrote:
Ted,
Great questions. Here's the dance: https://contradb.com/dances/951
1. Finding shadow: Here's what I'd do. "Neighbor swing. Robins
allemande right to in front of your partner. give left hand to
your partner. Everyone freeze. Look over your left shoulder -
there is someone looking at you - wave at them with your right
hand. That's your shadow." Now, with your partner, Allemande Left
3 places. There's your shadow!"
2. When you are out, your shadow is across the set from you. Your
choices are to either wait out at top until partner swing or
allemande shadow, then slide back to P for swing. Teaching end
effects is always a crap shoot. What percentage of the room will
remember all those words you said after the music starts and they
have been having fun for 6x through the dance?
3. Yep, standard progression (technically) in the neighbor swing of
A2. Or B2.
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP
Manager of Software Engineering, Oxford College
Schedule an appointment: oxford.emory.edu/SethBooking
Pronouns: he, him, his
*From:* Ted Sims via Contra Callers
*Sent:* Monday, December 6, 2021 2:54 PM
*To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers
*Subject:* [External] [Callers] teaching Naked in California
Hi everyone
This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In
California [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to teach
it. I think I've mostly figured it out, but I welcome your comments
on my thoughts below:
(1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight
away. I think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long
lines then "If you are on the end and your left hand is free, your
shadow is the person in your right hand (introduce yourselves).
Everyone else, your shadow is the person across and two to the left
of you". Is there a better way?
(2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no
one in the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put
(there is no wrap around etc.). Is that correct?
(3) It looks like people out on the ends need to swap in the usual way.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Ted
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[Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California
Thanks for the laugh, Tony. On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 3:14 PM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I actually accepted a gig at a “naturist” resort in New England. Most of > the dancers wore at least something, though there was one lady who > conspicuously didn’t. I had to come up with patter like > > > > Promenade that girl named Rose > > She’s the one without no clothes > > > > and > > > > Promenade and keep in motion > > Don’t forget the sunburn lotion > > > > > > Tony Parkes > > Billerica, Mass. > > www.hands4.com > > New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century > > (coming Dec. 15) > > > > > > > > *From:* Ted Sims via Contra Callers > > *Sent:* Monday, December 6, 2021 3:09 PM > *To:* John Sweeney > *Cc:* contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > *Subject:* [Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California > > > > Really? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > On Dec 6, 2021, at 3:04 PM, John Sweeney via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > > I was asked to run a dance for a nudist colony in the south of England, > but they said I wouldn’t have to be naked. > > > > I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch all the wobbly bits bounce around though, > so I declined. > > > > Happy dancing, > >John > > > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > > http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music > Ceilidhs > > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs > > > > > > *From:* Ted Sims via Contra Callers > > *Sent:* 06 December 2021 19:55 > *To:* Shared Weight Contra Callers > *Subject:* [Callers] teaching Naked in California > > > > Hi everyone > This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In California > [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to teach it. I think I've > mostly figured it out, but I welcome your comments on my thoughts below: > > (1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight away. I > think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long lines then "If > you are on the end and your left hand is free, your shadow is the person in > your right hand (introduce yourselves). Everyone else, your shadow is the > person across and two to the left of you". Is there a better way? > > (2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no one in > the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put (there is no wrap > around etc.). Is that correct? > > (3) It looks like people out on the ends need to swap in the usual way. > > Thanks for any help you can provide. > > Ted > > > > ___ > 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: teaching Naked in California
I actually accepted a gig at a “naturist” resort in New England. Most of the dancers wore at least something, though there was one lady who conspicuously didn’t. I had to come up with patter like Promenade that girl named Rose She’s the one without no clothes and Promenade and keep in motion Don’t forget the sunburn lotion Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (coming Dec. 15) From: Ted Sims via Contra Callers Sent: Monday, December 6, 2021 3:09 PM To: John Sweeney Cc: contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] Re: teaching Naked in California Really? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Sent from my iPhone On Dec 6, 2021, at 3:04 PM, John Sweeney via Contra Callers mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: I was asked to run a dance for a nudist colony in the south of England, but they said I wouldn’t have to be naked. I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch all the wobbly bits bounce around though, so I declined. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com<mailto:j...@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs From: Ted Sims via Contra Callers mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Sent: 06 December 2021 19:55 To: Shared Weight Contra Callers mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> Subject: [Callers] teaching Naked in California Hi everyone This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In California [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to teach it. I think I've mostly figured it out, but I welcome your comments on my thoughts below: (1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight away. I think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long lines then "If you are on the end and your left hand is free, your shadow is the person in your right hand (introduce yourselves). Everyone else, your shadow is the person across and two to the left of you". Is there a better way? (2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no one in the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put (there is no wrap around etc.). Is that correct? (3) It looks like people out on the ends need to swap in the usual way. Thanks for any help you can provide. Ted ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto: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: teaching Naked in California
Really? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 6, 2021, at 3:04 PM, John Sweeney via Contra Callers > wrote: > > > I was asked to run a dance for a nudist colony in the south of England, but > they said I wouldn’t have to be naked. > > I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch all the wobbly bits bounce around though, so > I declined. > > Happy dancing, >John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 > 574 > http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs > > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs > > > From: Ted Sims via Contra Callers > Sent: 06 December 2021 19:55 > To: Shared Weight Contra Callers > Subject: [Callers] teaching Naked in California > > Hi everyone > This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In California > [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to teach it. I think I've > mostly figured it out, but I welcome your comments on my thoughts below: > > (1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight away. I > think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long lines then "If you > are on the end and your left hand is free, your shadow is the person in your > right hand (introduce yourselves). Everyone else, your shadow is the person > across and two to the left of you". Is there a better way? > > (2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no one in > the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put (there is no wrap > around etc.). Is that correct? > > (3) It looks like people out on the ends need to swap in the usual way. > > Thanks for any help you can provide. > > Ted > > ___ > 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: teaching Naked in California
I was asked to run a dance for a nudist colony in the south of England, but they said I wouldn’t have to be naked. I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch all the wobbly bits bounce around though, so I declined. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs From: Ted Sims via Contra Callers Sent: 06 December 2021 19:55 To: Shared Weight Contra Callers Subject: [Callers] teaching Naked in California Hi everyone This is kind of a newbie question. I've never called Naked In California [Nils Fredland] before and I'm thinking about how to teach it. I think I've mostly figured it out, but I welcome your comments on my thoughts below: (1) I would like for everyone to identify their shadows straight away. I think the best way is to have everyone take hands in long lines then "If you are on the end and your left hand is free, your shadow is the person in your right hand (introduce yourselves). Everyone else, your shadow is the person across and two to the left of you". Is there a better way? (2) After the partner allemande, if the dancers on the ends have no one in the right hand, it seems to me that they have to stay put (there is no wrap around etc.). Is that correct? (3) It looks like people out on the ends need to swap in the usual way. Thanks for any help you can provide. Ted ___ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net
