Re: [Callers] Wrist-lock Stars

Sylvia Miskoe, in rec.folk-dancing on March 4, 1999 said: Wrist grip stars became popular after the appearance at New England Folk Festival (NEFFA) of the Lithuanian Dance Group doing their dances and they all used wrist grips.  The square dancers thought it was a neat idea and adopted it. Cheers,

Re: [Callers] Dances licensed with CC or similar (Sam Whited)

Last time I checked, dance sequences were not copyrightable.   The physical description of the dance sequence is copyrightable, and you couldn't just take the author's published description and put it in your own collection w/o permission.  You, on the other hand, could describe the dance with

Re: [Callers] How to Teach a Hey

During a workshop at the DownEast Festival which discussed effective use of words, I discovered that I came up with a teaching technique for the hey that I could use if I REALLY wanted to teach the hey to a room full of newbies (which is, like, never BTW). Use hands. For instance: "Women turn

Re: [Callers] Teaching in Classroom

Arms folded in dosidos?  I don't "correct" it for three reasons: 1. I don't want to undermine the kids' model of what this dancing is all about.  In other words, I don't want the message to be "if you are doing THIS, then you are wrong". 2. The folding of their arms keeps the kids from

[Callers] Contra Academia?

Hast, Dorothea E. "Performance, transformation and community: contra dance in New England." Dance Research Journal 25.1 (1993): 21+. Schwartz, David M. "Contra dancing." Americana 7 (1979): 62+. Becker, Robin. "Contra-dancing in Nelson, N.H." The Kenyon Review 14.1 (1992): 26+. Flinn,

Re: [Callers] Progression and "Going Out"

Jeff Kaufman : >As a musician and a caller, I have mixed feelings on callers jumping >back in for the last time through.  Changing the dance to end with a >partner swing ("this time, long lines, swing your partner") can be >nice, but mostly I don't think bringing the

Re: [Callers] Taking hands four

Around hereabouts (Boston), dancers have been observed lining up duple improper.  I'd say that is a good bet upwards of 98% of the time.  Usually the cross-over makes it halfway down before some cajoling from the downstream dancers gets the cross-over the remaining way.  If you train the

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 5

I can't remember it in the NEFFA news. From: "callers-requ...@sharedweight.net" To: call...@sharedweight.net Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 12:00 PM Subject: Callers Digest, Vol 94, Issue 5 Send Callers mailing list

Re: [Callers] Duties of the Caller Role

I can think of some others: Present a program consistent with the vision of the producer. If this means for example "one chestnut per night", then so be it. Raise the dancing level of the crowd a wee bit each time. Be as prepared as you can be. Dan

Re: [Callers] When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOUR area?

The first contra dance I ever attended was in 1979 at the CDS Boston Tuesday night dance at the Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The pre-dance workshop was handled by none other than Al Olson.  Later, when Al moved to Chicago, I was one of the people who took responsibility for

Re: [Callers] Caller's Fees

In answer to questions, we give $50 to the person who provides/runs the sound. Dan

Re: [Callers] Caller Fees

Interesting! I chair the Thursday Night Dance Committee of NEFFA, which runs a weekly dance at the Concord Scout House, in Massachusetts. I would characterize our pay as good. Here are the basics: 1. We expect equal shares for all performers (musicians/callers). In only very unusual

[Callers] Help with "Coleman's March"

I don't know Coleman's March, but the transcription has a timing problem. If you want to get your sequence to work better, try: A1. LL F, W almd L 1-1/2 A2. Bal & sw pt B1. Cir L 1/2 (4 cts); gypsy pt R-sh about 3/4 (4 cts); W gypsy Lsh while M orbit clockwise to home side (8) B2. Gypsy N R sh,

Re: [Callers] Medleys

> Where, when and how do you find them most effective when incorporated in a >program? > The Medley is a special case of the "no walk-through" slot which incorporates more than one dance. For my money, a nice mini-medley is three dances coordinated with the three tunes that the band plays.

[Callers] Dances with tricky end effects

There are actually two possible cases to think about. First: what couples do when they have progressed out of the set (and the answer is USUALLY "cross over and wait"). Second: what pairs (not partners) do when they move out of the minor set at some point during the sequence, like in "Cal and

Re: [Callers] Sung contras

Tony Saletan (formerly from Boston, now in Seattle) has been known to sing lyrics of his own devising to chestnut contras. For example, for Petronella: You go 'round to the right, and you balance to your partner. You go 'round to the right, and you balance once again. You go 'round to the

Re: [Callers] Calling without a band?

While I vastly prefer using live music, I call my share of dances with recorded music, and have for decades. Some people have cited some good recordings. Listen to recordings that are *almost* suitable, but can be made suitable by lengthening, shortening, excision of an "interesting but

Re: [Callers] Unknown callers adn misicians...

Some callers are indeed referenced (like in the article on NEFFA), but have no independent articles associated with them. Examples are Ralph Page and Ted Sannella.

Re: [Callers] Calling to Quebecois Tunes

Best get some recordings of Quebecois to see what's up.   Any tune that departs from the usual 4x32 form can be called "crooked". One of the ways that I have Quebecois musicians usually make a tune crooked is by playing the introductory notes of a tune in its own measure instead of grouping

[Callers] Opinions on various topics

>I've most commonly heard four different calls for the four different >combinations of man's left/right and woman's left/right: >man  woman  figure >---  -  -- >  R    L    California twirl >  L    R    Star through >  R    R    Box the gnat >  L    L    Swat the flea This doesn't jibe

Re: [Callers] Announcing Dance Names

I wholehearted agree with Susan Elberger, and with Greg a bit as well. In general, at regular open dances I announce dance names and authors just before I begin the walk-through. It is my acknowledgement, in lieu of a license fee, to the person whose creativity I am taking advantage of by

Re: [Callers] How can we improve acoustics in a gym?

>Gretchen, >I knew a ballet group that was meeting in a large warehouse room - >they covered the walls with large grey cardboard egg flats - you may >have seen them, they carry more eggs than the traditional cartons, >though those can also be used. I think one of their members/friends >had

Re: [Callers] NYE dances and ideas for the stroke of midnight....

Well that brings me back... I was hired for a NYE dance at the Swingin Tern dance in Chatham NJ. They were paying me well, so I felt obligated to do something a little, um.., special. Before the big countdown, I stepped into the stage wing and ended the dance in progress. I donned an Old Man

Re: [Callers] Collecting Tips at dances

I have never seen this. Some dances have a fiddle case open collecting admissions, and sometimes as informal as "$X dollars in cash or barter". Some dances are "bought out" by sponsors, and an optional donation is solicited to help defray expenses. I have seen optional collections for the