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Contras
· Highly-Sought Partners (and how to become one),
or Contra Dance Style
· Finding Weight in Hidden Places
· Contra Flourishes
· Gender Role-Free Dancing
· Inter-Generational Dancing, or the Family Dance
· Wicked Contras
· Crooked Contras
· New England Chestnuts
· Cardinal Collection Contras
· Yankee Dutch Crossing
English Country Dance
· English
as a Second Language
· English for Everyone
· Modern English
· Experienced
English
· English Dances from the Goldcrest
Collection
· Dutch
Crossing
Calling & Leading
· Contra Calling 101 -- application
· Beyond the Basics -- theory
· Language
Choices for Contra Callers
· English Leading 101
Singing -- lead by Fred Todt
· Shapenote Singing from the Sacred Harp
· Rounds
Highly-Sought
Partners (and how to become one),
or Contra Dance Style
Ever wondered why some
dancers are highly-sought as partners? It probably has more to do with
their good swing than their good looks. Raise your dance consciousness
and become more attentive to partners and neighbors and their needs -- and
keep 'em coming back for more! Exciting, comfortable and safe swings,
allemandes, chains, and twirls; sharing weight; and negotiating happy
flourishes.
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Finding Weight in Hidden Places
This workshop for
intermediate to advanced dancers focuses on particular figures which have
great potential for sharing really satisfying weight. Many dancers
regularly miss these opportunities, though, perhaps because they've never had
the chance to learn about it. Rory O'More slides, Petronella turns,
contra corners, and the transition between a star promenade and a butterfly
whirl are great experiences just waiting to be had.
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Contra Flourishes
We start with the
basics: moving with the music and being on time, knowing the figures, and
being attentive to and caring of the people you're dancing with; then talk
about adding flourishes as icing if you're set with the cake. These
flourishes rely on shared weight, so we focus there -- all with a sense of
humor and in the context of dances.
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Gender Role-Free Dancing
Using armbands to distinguish the traditional
men's and women's roles liberates dancers from gender-specified dance roles
and increases the number of potential partners. Try a new role and
discover how the other half lives. Gender-free contras provide a
welcome space for LGBT dancers and intergenerational groups -- and make for a
bigger and brighter dance world.
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Inter-Generational
Dancing, or the Family Dance
What better way for people of different ages and
generations to enjoy spending time together? How better for a dance
community to invest in its future? Smalls enjoy the company of talls,
talls feel like smalls again, a new generation discovers the joys of dancing,
and everybody wins. Time-tested and parent-approved play-party games
and community dances provide fun for all.
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Wicked Contras
Wicked cool contras with mind-boggling edges to challenge the most hardy
dancers in the most delightful way. Not for the faint of heart.
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Crooked Contras
Most of the contras we
do these days match 32-bar tunes, often called "square
tunes." Any musician will tell you there are lots of
"crooked" tunes, too -- those with a different number of
bars. For a good number of these crooked tunes, there are cool crooked
contras, especially enjoyed by dancers who like to think out of the
box.
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New England Chestnuts
Many dancers have heard, "as in
Petronella" or "as in Rory O'More," but not nearly as many
have done the original classics, perhaps because they no longer fit our modern dance sensibilities of everyone moving all the
time. But these dances, with their original tunes, still pack an
exciting punch. Possibilities include Petronella, Rory O'More, Hull's
Victory, Chorus Jig, Sacketts Harbor, the Road to Californy, and Lady of the
Lake.
If there's time and
interest, we might also do modern variants like "Hull's Fantasy"
and "Almost Sacketts Harbor" to help get the 2's (and 3's) more
active.
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Cardinal Collection Contras
Joseph's own dances, drawn from his first dance
book, The Cardinal Collection.
Possible dances include: Flapjack Express, Oh Geez!, Power Pass, and
Ramsay Chase, among others.
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English as a Second Language
For those who already
love contra dancing, but aren't yet English fans. Coming from just that
place, we draw generously from the joys of contras while gradually
introducing the secrets that make English so exciting. Forget stuffy and
boring -- these dances are driving, flirty, and full of cool connections with
partners, neighbors, and others. A frequent reaction to this workshop is,
"I've never really liked English country dancing before, but this was
really fun!" Assumes some contra dance experience -- and those who
already love English are welcome, too!
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English for Everyone
Accessible English
country dances for those who already love them and those who soon will.
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Modern English
Join in a celebration
of this living tradition, exploring English dances written by modern
composers including Gary Roodman, Philippe Callens, and Fried de Metz Herman,
among others. Many of these dances have already become favorites around the
US, and many commemorate people and experiences familiar to our own dance
community. The focus is dancing -- and lots of it -- with just enough
background and styling to help bring personal connections to the dance. For
everyone.
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Experienced English
Classic and modern dances for experienced
dancers, with a variety of formations and time signatures. Familiar
favorites with minimal (or no) teaching, and more complex dances to treat old
hands.
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English Dances from the Goldcrest Collection
Joseph's own dances, drawn from his second dance
book, The Goldcrest Collection Possible dances include: The
Treasure of the Big Woods, Mile of Smiles, Mr. Millstone’s Inauguration, and Westaire
Court, among others.
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Dutch Crossing,
and Yankee Dutch Crossing
This very cool
eight-couple dance makes for a bonding experience as everyone cooperates
intensively to get the carnival-ride buzz. The original "Dutch
Crossing" was written as an English country dance by Ernst van Brakel of
the Netherlands. Joseph's "Yankee Dutch Crossing" version
includes a balance & swing for extra contra dance satisfaction.
Figure on an hour or so for learning and dancing.
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Contra Calling 101 -- application
We look at the various
roles of the caller, then focus on prompting (placing calls with the music).
We all call together as we dance, and then those who want to try calling a
dance of their own have an opportunity. The primary goal is to build skills
and confidence so that participants can work on their own and call at open
mic dances when they have a chance to do that. A supportive and
encouraging atmosphere stacks the deck so everyone is successful.
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Beyond the Basics -- theory
For those with some
experience at open mics and local dances, we think about effective ways to
choose and teach dances, program an evening, attend to the musicians and
their music, and provide a good time for all. What do dancers expect
and how to deliver that? Where do you want to lead dancers and how do
you encourage them to follow? We talk about the many pieces and how to
put them together to make everyone happy.
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Language Choices for Contra Callers
Linguists know that how
we say something conveys as much as what we say. For callers,
this means reconciling traditional phrases with modern sensibilities.
Which do we favor and how will it affect dancers? There's not a right
and a wrong way, and many different styles are equally effective.
Thoughtful consideration about the words you choose, though, will make you
more comfortable and confident using them, and dancers will feel the
difference in your words.
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English Leading 101
After talking about the various roles of the dance
leader, we look at the close connection between dances and their tunes, and
how to convey that connection as we lead. We dance a lot, and take
turns prompting as we do. If time allows, we also look at effective
teaching for satisfying dancing.
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Shape Note Singing with Fred Todt
Powerful songs from The
Sacred Harp, sung in four parts. This style of singing, which has
its roots in Revolutionary War-era New England, spread down the Appalachians
during the 19th century, and flourished in the rural South. Fred's
comfortable confidence inspires singers throughout the Midwest, encouraging
experienced and reluctant singers alike to raise their voices in boisterous
and joyful song.
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Round Singing with Fred Todt
Great harmonies from familiar favorites and interesting novelty rounds. Fred's strong voice,
great selections, and gentle guidance quickly have everyone singing and
smiling.
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