Contra Callers

contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net

8 participants
4417 discussions

by Richard Hopkins

I called community dances regularly in North Florida for almost 30 years (1990-2018), mostly in Tallahassee but also in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Melrose, and at the Florida Folk Festival. It probably won’t be news to you that it gets hot in Florida, and stays hot for a long time. Some of my favorite dance venues were not outdoors, or not air conditioned, or not strongly so. Desired dance tempo interacts strongly with how hot and humid the dance space is and how long you run the dances. My own preferred tempo for contras is always in the range of 115 to 118, but in addition to the other factors mentioned here (agility and age of dancers, mix of experience levels, etc) the temperature of the hall modifies that desired tempo. Some of these same dance venues were not heated in the cool months either, and keeping up the tempo and keeping the teaching succinct are welcomed by the dancers under those conditions. Sorry if this is belaboring the obvious. RSH Richard Hopkins hopkinsrs(a)comcast.net 850-544-7614

2 years, 2 months

Canadian border and U.S. callers

by Sue C. Hulsether

Cross-posting to Callers and Trad Callers lists, please excuse the duplicates. Friends and Colleagues, I am seeking wisdom from U.S. callers who’ve recently crossed the border into Canada to do a gig. Words to say or not say? Documentation of gig needed? Problems or ease you have had? thanks in advance, sue Sue Hulsether www.suehulsether.com shulsether (at) mac (dot) com Cell: 608/632-1267 Home: 608/629-6250 P.O. Box 363, Viroqua, WI. 54665

2 years, 2 months

Dance Tempos

by Roberta Kogut

Thank you for all of your thoughtful replies! Roberta Kogut ⁣Get TypeApp for Android

2 years, 2 months

Dance Tempos

by Roberta Kogut

Just wondering what tempos your bands are playing for contra dancers. Thank you! Roberta Kogut Western North Carolina ⁣Get TypeApp for Android

2 years, 2 months

Re: New Terminology Question

by John Sweeney

Hi Mo, Yes, as with Petronella, the move used by contra dancers is very different from the move in the dance Mad Robin! Happy dancing, John From: mjw(a)mowaddington.plus.com <mailto:mjw@mowaddington.plus.com> <mjw(a)mowaddington.plus.com <mailto:mjw@mowaddington.plus.com> > Sent: 17 September 2023 20:23 To: John Sweeney <john(a)modernjive.com <mailto:john@modernjive.com> > Subject: RE: [Callers] Re: New Terminology Question I partly agree, having contorted my brain listening to a well known caller (“sh!”) describe a move then realise that he was describing a ladies chain. But I always wonder about mad Robin because that wasn’t how we did the move when I first learned the dance. Colin, did you learn it sideways?

2 years, 2 months

Ceilidh dances at a contra

by Rich Goss

Does anyone slip in a ceilidh style dance at a contra? Some of the mixers work well at contra dances. Also, it’s an opportunity to give new dancers brains a break. I suspect this practice is more common in the UK. Colin, feel free to chime in. Rich

2 years, 2 months

Re: New Terminology Question

by Katherine Kitching

ah yes that is very good too, Ben, thanks! I think your suggestion merits copying to the list.... Sep 17, 2023 11:51:03 AM Ben Werner <benknobi89(a)gmail.com>: > What about “facing do si do”? > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Sep 17, 2023, at 8:12 AM, Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> ok good point re it not being quite a mirror reflection... hmmm... >> >> maybe i'll try "side-slide do-si-do" >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

2 years, 2 months

Fwd: Re: New Terminology Question

by Rich Goss

My first response may have just gone to Katherine. Forwarding to list. > From: Rich Goss <rich(a)richgoss.com> > Date: September 17, 2023 at 7:00:06 AM PDT > To: Katherine Kitching <kat(a)outdooractive.ca> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Re: New Terminology Question > > I might add that I never use the terms petronella or Rory O’More. I will always say “balance the ring and spin to the right” or “balance and slide right/left past this neighbor.” More descriptive and less confusing to new dancers. I can use fewer words after teaching and calling it two of three times, like “balance, spin right” or “balance, slide”. > > Regarding Petronella, it sort of bugs me that it’s sometimes called as the the name of a move instead of “as in the dance Petronella.” Same with Rory O’More. Since those dances are rarely called and generally unknown, it makes more sense to me to just call and teach it like the previous paragraph. I do occasionally call the actual dance Petronella so folks know where the move came from. I’m pretty sure those dances get called more frequently in New England. > > I’ll continue using California Twirl. Seems to be universally understood and easy to teach. Kudos to the “facing star” term. I love it. > > Rich > >> On Sep 17, 2023, at 5:41 AM, Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> What interesting timing for Michael to write "Some terms, such as Rory O'More, petronella and California twirl should be banished for more descriptive phrases--in this case "balance and slide/shift". " >>

2 years, 2 months

A little self congratulations

by Mary Collins

A few weeks ago I called some squares and simple old longways sets for an equine group I am a member of. This was their yearly 3 day camp out and trail ride their horses. A big event. I make it a practice to set up and call for free for groups I am a member of outside of dance groups. Today I received a notice that one of the members had such a good time she is going to the Meadville dance with Toppish and Gaye Fifer, and is looking for others to join her!! A new recruit, looking to recruit others! Yeah!!!! It's not often we get actually mentioned that we have such influence. Just had to brag a wee bit, I knew you all would understand. Smiles, Mary Collins

2 years, 2 months

Small challenges for experienced dancers, but easy for newbies

by sargondj＠gmail.com

New subject line because Dale’s comment reminded me of a question that’s been on my mind: what are some favorite dances, sequences, or figures that are slightly challenging for experienced dancers but don’t register as preferentially more challenging for beginners? In other words, these are movements that play off our biases/expectations from years of dancing, but are not actually technically complex. Some examples: - pretty much any well-structures circle right - there’s a dance I have that does a left-hand pull by up/down the set directly out of a R-L through courtesy turn, which I think qualifies. I find these occasionally useful for dances with lots of beginners, but which also have a small group of experienced dancers who happen to be there. Does anyone else have ideas that fit this theme? Sargon > On Sep 14, 2023, at 13:29, Dale Wilson via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > Jeff says: > I'll bite that bullet: callers generally shouldn't be calling a dolphin hey at a regular evening dance. > > And Amy says: > > It always helps to read the room first. Got a bunch of beginners? Call simpler dances, at least the first half. Explain them well. Don't call a complicated move that will discourage them. You want them to return, right? Baby steps, then walking, then jogging, then dolphin heys. > > So I say: > > Exactly right, Amy. I always have a challenging dance on tap ready to call toward the middle of the second half of the evening. If there are too many beginners (including our perpetual beginners) when the time comes, I simply skip the challenging dance. If the walk-thru doesn't go well, I'm ready with an easy replacement. But when it works our experienced dancers love conquering a [small] challenge -- at least that's what they tell me later. > > Dale > > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net

2 years, 2 months

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