{"items": [{"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472587909443456", "anchor": "fb-472587909443456", "service": "fb", "text": "Alright, this ain't exactly a contra, more of a Sicilian circle, but it's SO much fun! I have the dancers walk between couples in their most creative way. So much fun to see what people come up with! Grandmother\u2019s Cabinet
A1\t8\tPartner RH turn
\t8\tPartner LH turn
A2\t8\tPartner 2 hand turn
\t8\tPartner do-si-do
B\t32\tLead couple takes two hands and gallops through the other couples (optional arch by other couples), stops when no one left, drop hands for other couples to go through. (oh, but the B section doesn't always match the music, it depends on how many couples and how fast they move along).", "timestamp": "1358613613"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472587929443454", "anchor": "fb-472587929443454", "service": "fb", "text": "Family Contra - Sherry Nevins
Proper or improper
A1\t8\tbalance ring 2x
\t8\tcircle L
A2\t8\tbal ring 2x
\t8\tCircle R
B1\t8\tN do-si-do
\t8\tP do-si-do
B2\t16\tFace N, take hands w/ partner. Do-si-do as a couple 1 1/2, face new neighbors.", "timestamp": "1358613617"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472588429443404", "anchor": "fb-472588429443404", "service": "fb", "text": "Sicilian Circle of Fun - Linda Leslie
Sicilian Circle (couple facing couple in a circle)
A1\t8\tCircle L
\t8\tCircle R
A2\t8\tNeighbor R elbow turn
\t8\tNeighbor L elbow turn
B1\t8\tPartner R elbow turn
\t8\tPartner L elbow turn
B2\t8\tTake hands with partner, walk forward toward N and back
\t8\t2s arc, 1s duck under, all walk forward to new couple
(note: The A1 can also be changed to stars or doing two hand turns in each direction with N to add some variety)", "timestamp": "1358613759"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472588712776709", "anchor": "fb-472588712776709", "service": "fb", "text": "For kids, this one is AWESOME! Has a wonderful tune called \"Lobster Quadrille\" that I'd be happy to share! Penguin Dance - about 4 or 5 couples per line (equal number), then go through music as many times as the # of couples. (TUNE: \u201cLobster Quadrille\u201d, see attached lead sheet below)
A section starts off at half the speed! Intro (same music as coda): Bow your beak to your partner! A1\t4\t4 steps forward to partner, clap \u201cflippers\u201d w/ partner 3 x
4\t4 steps back, stomp feet 3x (optional clap own \u201cflippers\u201d) 4\t4 steps forward to partner, clap \u201cflippers\u201d w/ partner 3 x 4\t4 steps back, stomp feet 3x (optional clap own \u201cflippers\u201d)
A2\t4\tHook R \u201cflippers\u201d, turn partner 4\tHook L \u201cflippers\u201d, turn partner 4\tHook R \u201cflippers\u201d, turn partner 4\tHook L \u201cflippers\u201d, turn partner
B section double time! B1\t16\tPeel the shrimp! Lead couple runs to bottom of line, everyone else
follows. Lead couple forms an arch, everyone else goes through and runs
back up and faces partner. Coda: everyone
bow their beaks to their partner!", "timestamp": "1358613819"}, {"author": "Perry", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472590236109890", "anchor": "fb-472590236109890", "service": "fb", "text": "That's the $64,000 question, isn't it. I truly think that it depends on knowing your crowd, too. For example, the Glen Echo Friday Night Dance can draw up to 100 new dancers, but also about 200 experienced dancers, so that's the type of dance event that you probably have in mind. And then there are dance events such as Annapolis, where there are perhaps a 50/50 mix of experienced to new dancers (or even less), so dancers who go there expect to dance to the super easy dances because they WANT the new folks to get it and they are there to dance with new folks. I am programming tonight's dance for Annapolis, and it is filled with relatively simple dances, such as Mad About Dancing, Bluemont Reel, Fidelity Reel, Made Up Tonight, and some of the ones you mentioned. For a mixed crowd where you have to cater to both sets of dancers, I don't think it's verboten to try a dance of somewhat moderate difficulty, as long as the skills required are taught earlier (such as a hey, or a R&L thru) - but definitely not TOO difficult. Dances in this category might include Rock the Cradle Joe, or maybe Revolution Reel or The Reunion.", "timestamp": "1358614100"}, {"author": "Forsythe", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472592269443020", "anchor": "fb-472592269443020", "service": "fb", "text": "I usually feel like I can enjoy anything other than a circle dance.", "timestamp": "1358614571"}, {"author": "Kristin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472593659442881", "anchor": "fb-472593659442881", "service": "fb", "text": "In the \"olden days\" that's a lot of what we did -- simple, satisfying dances (which people embellished as they could... or not)", "timestamp": "1358614825"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472597026109211", "anchor": "fb-472597026109211", "service": "fb", "text": "I think the ideal is dances that are easy, but have something interesting about them. Something that you wouldn't necessarily notice as a new dancer, but keeps it interesting for experienced dancers. I think it comes down to planning an evening where you have these simple dances in the beginning where you teach 1-2 new moves per dance, and it builds into a second half where you're doing \"more real\" contras where the new people feel they are getting the hang of hard dances. That being said, I have 2 suggestions (following comment). The first is a good one early on to teach the Hey, the second is one I wrote that is a good closer because it's meant to be \"fooled\" around with, so experienced dancers can have extra fun with it.", "timestamp": "1358615426"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472597699442477", "anchor": "fb-472597699442477", "service": "fb", "text": "The Carousel (Tom Hinds):
A1) Long lines fwd&bk
W allemand L 1 1/2
A2) Hey (start passing P by R)
B1) P bal&sw
B2) circle L 3/4
N sw
Company of Fools (Ben) [anyone who reads this is welcome to call it], {beckett}
A1) P bal&sw
A2) M allemand R 1 1/2 (and/or swing)
N sw
B1) balance ring, petronella (x2)
B2) star R 4/4 (look for new couple)
star L 3/4 (W turn over to find P)
*easiest to start teaching in improper with star L", "timestamp": "1358615561"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472598026109111", "anchor": "fb-472598026109111", "service": "fb", "text": "@Ben: \"planning an evening where you have these simple dances in the beginning ... builds into a second half\"
This often is a good strategy. The event that prompted this had people coming and going a bunch, especially between halves, because it was a contra at a con, and so that wouldn't work as well.", "timestamp": "1358615617"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472598666109047", "anchor": "fb-472598666109047", "service": "fb", "text": "P.S. for the easy dances I listed above I often switch up figures, like do-si-do instead of allemande, or swing instead, things like that. Sort of makes it more like a medley of dances! Good thing is beginners can do that as well if they've done the figures before.", "timestamp": "1358615734"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1358616808"}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472604776108436", "anchor": "fb-472604776108436", "service": "fb", "text": "I understand I'm joining the folks who are hijacking the thread by answering a different question, sorry. I'm not going to answer the \"what are simple dances question,\" that's just a matter of sifting. But if the question is how to make the dance work for all dancers, I don't think \"simpler choreography\" is the answer.
I think you can solve that with attention from caller, musicians, and experienced dancers. Call clearly, play music with moderate tempos and clear rhythmic cues, and dance clearly, leaving your partners and other dancers pointing in the right direction, moving at the right speed at the right time, eliminating confusing twirls, jarring stops, distracting dips, and so forth. And dance with new dancers, including encouraging them to split up if they pair off with each other. If the experienced people are \"doing their jobs,\" the new dancers should be able to dance to most contra dance choreography.", "timestamp": "1358617024"}, {"author": "Perry", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472606542774926", "anchor": "fb-472606542774926", "service": "fb", "text": "I think that, at least early on, simple choreography is the way to go and then build up into more moderate contras. The key is building on the success and confidence of the new dancers. I've been told time and again, as an example, to not call contras (at least early on), with a move that makes you leave the minor set, as an example. 8 count moves rather than 4 count moves, where the timing has to be precise. For an 8 count move, or even a 16 count move such as a full hey, the timing doesn't have to be so precise. Dances where there is a lot of forgiveness (meaning that they are easily corrected). And Andrew is right that a lot depends on whether the experienced dancers make an effort to take care of the new dancers.", "timestamp": "1358617434"}, {"author": "Kristin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472607252774855", "anchor": "fb-472607252774855", "service": "fb", "text": "I offered you quite a few back in September. You want them now?", "timestamp": "1358617643"}, {"author": "Becky", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472611359441111", "anchor": "fb-472611359441111", "service": "fb", "text": "Andrew, in my experience your suggestions work well at a dance that is majority experienced dancers with just a small minority of new ones (and \"new\" is relative - 1st night vs. 3rd night of dancing matters). There is a certain threshold above which the concentration of beginners is too high - the experienced dancers simply can't take care of them all. Of course, experienced dancers should always be courteous when there are many beginners around, but sometimes that's just not enough to solve the problem. As an experienced dancer at the kind of event Jeff describes, I would much rather dance a compelling yet simple dance that everyone can learn than have to expend a lot of effort helping my beginner set-mates struggle through complex choreography and possibly have the dance still fall apart anyways.", "timestamp": "1358618344"}, {"author": "Maureen", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472620409440206", "anchor": "fb-472620409440206", "service": "fb", "text": "I agree with Andrew, adding that the fancy variations are OK, but only long as you pay excellent attention to who is dancing anywhere near you. If newer or less similarly inclined folks are in your close proximity, adjust your actions. Our tradition is that you are dancing with the the whole line, or even whole floor, not just you partner or immediate neighbor. Your enjoyment will be enhanced by being part of the whole group, even if you sacrifice what feels like a fun move that actually makes dancing less satisfactory or even impossible for others.", "timestamp": "1358620165"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472626159439631", "anchor": "fb-472626159439631", "service": "fb", "text": "Justin-- try http://ravitz.us/dance/mrd.php. I haven't played around with it much, though.", "timestamp": "1358621313"}, {"author": "Melissa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472645032771077", "anchor": "fb-472645032771077", "service": "fb", "text": "A side note: IIRC, Tony Parkes' book has a graph that suggests that the last dance of the first half should be the hardest dance of the evening, and the level of excitement and difficulty should build over the course of both halves (but the difficulty in the 2nd half should not reach the ultimate difficulty of the first half; brains are more tired). I've greatly appreciated callers who have followed these basic ideas on more than one occasion!", "timestamp": "1358625116"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472823286086585", "anchor": "fb-472823286086585", "service": "fb", "text": "@Kristin: \"I offered you quite a few back in September.\"
My memory of the ones you were showing me in September is that they were a bit more complex than the average for my repertoire, which is the opposite of the way I want to go here.", "timestamp": "1358656328"}, {"author": "Frank", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472824166086497", "anchor": "fb-472824166086497", "service": "fb", "text": "I have been contradancing since 2000 but still like the simple calls the best because the tempos can be faster and it's easier for the beginners so everyone has fun. Plus I can add my own complex embellishments in there if I want it more challenging.", "timestamp": "1358656630"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1358659673"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472981519404095", "anchor": "fb-472981519404095", "service": "fb", "text": "@Justin: \"What makes a dance hard?\"
Writing a program to classify dances by difficulty level would be a lot of work. Either you need to give it a large number of labeled dances for it to learn from, or you need to really understand dance difficulty to encode it in a program. I doubt introducing a computer makes the problem of finding these dances easier.", "timestamp": "1358689167"}, {"author": "Don", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=472999752735605", "anchor": "fb-472999752735605", "service": "fb", "text": "A human could do the computing, if that's easier. One still gets a list of dances arranged by difficulty.", "timestamp": "1358692706"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/472586046110309?comment_id=473025932732987", "anchor": "fb-473025932732987", "service": "fb", "text": "@Don: a human can't do the computing because even the best callers aren't going to be that good at looking at a dance they've never seen before and telling you how well that dance will work with various crowds. Sure, they'll be better than me at it, but not nearly as good as actually trying the dances with various crowds.", "timestamp": "1358696239"}, {"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100889104013874738334", "anchor": "gp-1358771216574", "service": "gp", "text": "I did \"Jacob Potato\" for the first time this past Sunday, when 30 brand new dancers joined a dance that had only 12 contra dancers present. It worked very well for that situation. Probably simpler than what you're looking for, though.\n
\n
\nJacob Potato - by Jacob Bloom\n
\nLongways set\n
\n
\nStart by joining hands along the line and at top and bottom, thus forming \"the potato\"\n
\n
\n1&2. Form a 'potato\" and Circle left and right (end across from partner)\n
\n
\n3. Long lines forward and back\n
\n4. Do-si-do partner\n
\n
\n5&6.Top couple sashay down and back\n
\n
\n7&8. Top couple only cast off to bottom of line while all others swing partner!", "timestamp": 1358771216}]}