The Devil's Elbow is one of my favorites - and then there are all those
neglected triple minors...
Hanny
"worm grunters folly" - google it for fun!
Hanny
Yup, I'd like that list as well!
Hanny, dancemeestersche
Pet(e)oshi Longways
They are all traditional, authored by 'Anon', except for Waterfall Waltz which
was written by Pat Shaw.
Can you share the moves to Lady of the Lake, Waterfall Waltz, Waves of Troy
and Fisher's Hornpipe as well as the authors.
Thanx
Barbara G
TomsRiver,NJ
Lady of the Lake, Waterfall Waltz,
Lady of the Lake, Waterfall Waltz, Waves of Tory, Fisher's Hornpipe - all cool,
nice and 'wet'. Just kidding
Hanny
session could have been repeated and
somewhat extended, even in an additional available hall in the same building.
Alas, no further help was offered except for the advice 'try to find an
experienced partner'.
Fortunately, the band for the evening was an absolute delight...
Hanny Budnick
And then there are Sackett's Harbor and the 3-facing-3 version of Mason's
Apron...
Hanny
Even if for you personally it may be a steep learning curve beforehand...
Consider using singing games/playparties instead.
Hanny, Danzmeestersche
Many contra events have a couple waltz during intermission or at the
last dance. BUT does anyone ever due a contra (duple or triple minor) in
waltz time?
Hanny
Amen to that, Michael! Alas, it is error prone... And the proliferation
of dances since 'then' makes it impossible to keep all of them in one's
head..
Hanny, Danzmeestersche
All the itinerant dancemasters of the 16th and 17th centuries kept their dances
in their heads.
We should strive for
Nine people, supereasy Pride of the Dingle
Hanny
Add all the inhabitants of my house: two.
Hanny
In regular dance groups often the dancers have their favorite group of
partners,
(hopefully at least three!) among whom they choose. Sure, there are always the
neighbors whom they meet along the line - but there are also the folks who are
new and/or shy and/or never chosen for partners
One of my absolute favorites, even with international folk dance groups, is this
one
which I *think* I got from Ralph Page. He commented that the tune is claimed by
the Irish,
the English, the Scots - and that therefore it most probably is French .
Mason's Apron
three facing three in big
Valid reasons indeed, Colin. But what about dances that are NOT your own and
that you call? Does anybody ever announce 'please don't call this dance without
speaking to me first' or somesuch?
Hanny
I wrote two emails to the person who definitely knew a dance (the caller)
asking the relevant questions about author, correct name and choreography. When
no answer came, I turned to this list, successfully.
Now I wonder about folks' attitude about sharing the materials they carry in
their
Thanks to all you helpful contributors! 'Major Hey' was definitely it. And
'Becket 4 facing 4' LOOKS the same as 'improper 4 facing 4', and my memory was
admittedly incomplete.
That all brings me to the next question, different subject...
Hanny
I failed to note it down immediately after dancing it... Maybe one of you can
fill in the considerable gaps, please:
1) The choreography stems from 'someone in California'.
2) Formation: two improper contra lines, close together for a double dance
across the whole set
3) there's a hey for all
Hi John,
as you know, traditional contras were always 'proper' - all men on the same side
to start the dance. In the modern urban contra environment they are rare.
Personally I don't have neighbor swings AND partner swings in each iteration of
the dance in order to enjoy the dance - there are
I wonder whether in anybody's are the "Meetup" system is active - and if so, is
your group listed in it? It seems to bring the occasional newcomer to some of
Philly's many dance venues.
Hanny
Truly an idea whose time has come! Keep me in the loop, too.
Hanny Budnick
I forgot to mention that part of my exercise is telling them that their feet are
closer together than their butts and their butts are closer together than their
heads - no bending back of the upper body at the waist. No 'sitting down'
either. The whole configuration looks like a big 'V'.
I have yet to meet the person who does not understand the principle of sharing
the weight in the swing when I practice this sequence with them individually:
with your partner: stand facing each other, hold crossed hands and then FALL
BACK. Don't move your feet apart! Feel the sensation of
Hi Bob,
I'm impressed with your perceptiveness. True, it's the second-time-comers who
take the best advantage of the pre-dance stuff!
Hanny
I have encountered these pre-dance introductions only outside of New England.
When I reintroduced contra dancing in Philadelphia in the early seventies, we
did only traditional dances which are - in my opinion - very beginner-friendly
anyway and didn't need extra introductions, not even the
I use an entirely different approach to teach dancers to swing. There's no joy -
or dancing - in this walking around with no weight given, no eye contact offered
for me...
I ask the couple to stand opposite each other, cross hands and then FALL BACK
without moving their feet. So their feet are
I'm about to start a revolution, or at least three quarters of one..
Okay, Becket formation
and then let the dance start as Richard suggests:
A 1 partners turn by the right half way and a little more, ladies take left
hands to form short waves.
etc.
On 8/13/2011 6:20, John Sweeney wrote:
In a recent post I defined a contra dance as:
- longways for as many as will
- first couples Improper, or Becket formation
- flowing choreography
- no-one stationary for more than 16 beats (e.g. First Couple Balance&
Swing, finish facing down to make
Folks,
why don't you just leave well enough alone? Play with all colors of the rainbow
if you will - but not instead of skillful calling! I don't like Jeff's idea as
stated in his link at all. But that's me... I also like triple minors and proper
dances .
Hanny
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