Contra Dancing - Atlanta Dance Weekend - Will Mentor & Nova - Mad Slice

[@kineticallyme]

I'm so impressed by the formations

[@TweetyPAK7]

They look like they are having so much fun! I've tried contra once. I liked it but there were SOME people who would dance with a "newbie" but you also could tell the majority of people that wanted nothing to do with you because you'd mess up their fun. I didn't feel encouraged to go back.

[@phd_angel]

That's absolutely true in any ballroom dance scene around the world.

[@rogerforsberg3910]

I'm VERY sorry to read this. I grew up in a folk dance family in which my parents were international & Scandinavian dancers, and my father became a contra dance caller when I was not yet in my teens. He told me more times than I care to remember that at a contra dance we "men" (I was a teenager at the time) always MUST dance with women who have not been asked to dance. Why? Because we need people to have fun at contra dances, and the only way for them to have fun is for them to dance. Thus, we need to ask them to dance. Alas, I fear that this sentiment may be too old-fashioned for the current generation of dancers.

[@TweetyPAK7]

@@rogerforsberg3910 I enjoy watching the KZbin dances though. That is so cool your dad was a caller.

[@rogerforsberg3910]

@@TweetyPAK7 My parents were both immigrants to the US from Sweden & Norway just before WW II started in Poland (they didn't know each other). I've always felt blessed that they fell into a Scandinavian folkdancing group where they met each other -- and continued this eccentric activity into their late adult years. Wherever you are located, I hope that you will give contradancing one more shot. It's a wonderful social activity. Best of luck!!

[@TweetyPAK7]

@@rogerforsberg3910 Won't be any time soon...fractured vertebra. 🥺 Maybe one day. :-) I also love the diversity of ages and people brought together by the joy of dance!

[@alexanderbrewis1859]

Gotta love a contra

[@3lackdog]

This dance is genius.

[@danielmchenry1000]

Love the Star Trek at 3:13

[@phd_angel]

Red shirt is a bad omen though... haha

[@whip8]

Amazing music

[@danielmchenry1000]

Well they got a lot of nerve. Going around having fun. (kidding, looks like a good evening).

[@Reincarnation111]

i did this for the first time last night, found it confusing as the instruction was not good and i became dizzy after an hour of it but still glad that i went and want to try again so i can learn it properly.

[@rajinevin7273]

Like any real dance, it takes practice.

[@erniea4424]

Don't give up!! There is a HUGE amount of information to learn, but it will come - sooner than you think.

[@donnadaisy333]

Reincarnation, keep going. ASK someone to help you. There always are folks totally willing and very happy to help. Don’t feel shy about asking. I promise - you will be helped. Enjoy!

[@Blogzer]

What a cool dance. I'm going to do my best call it locally in a month. I'm thinking this variant is just that much more accessible to less-experienced dancers than Rick Mohr's original choreography and there is a clear & apparent progression of figures to introduce earlier in the program. I'm assuming that, at the ends, couples sliding in at A2 will still be facing their shadows even though the couple coming in is with their partner. (Math seems to suggest it cannot be otherwise)

[@cmwillisful]

That looks like 😊 fun

[@43jimcr]

Agreed. It was fun.

[@itspoffy]

Definitely Pre-Covid. Haha. Let's touch every person's hand in the room.

[@danielmchenry1000]

no purell in sight.

[@chloec7532]

I wish I could do that!

[@jimcrawford7446]

Here's how. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGLSaKeaqa2Nr6c Like most things new, there are some challenges when starting but with fewer and fewer problems each time that you dance.

[@Blogzer]

If one is able to walk to a simple rhythm at a good pace, then there's a good chance you have the technical skill to contradance! Once the virus is dealt with, you can search for a location, perhaps nearby, at www.contradancelinks.com. It's very fun, you can come out on your own or with friends. In my experience, it's a very friendly crowd in whichever location you choose.

[@phd_angel]

What’s the name of the song by Nova please? I found this band on Spotify but Shazam can't recognize this song. It's really cool.

[@alexanderbrewis1859]

I thought I recognised that caller's voice at Sidmouth...

[@jamesyoung1022]

One problem... The caller calls the sequence for a few times and then assumes everyone has memorized it and knows whats coming next. If the sequence is complicated, when the caller stops calling, some people get lost because they can't remember the sequence. Also, some callers don't call loud enough to be heard over the music.

[@Reincarnation111]

you're so right...yesterday i went to my first contra and it was confusing with very poor instruction.

[@dancingq1729]

Most callers are pretty good at telling when a group has got it: this lot look pretty clued up. Depends a bit on the caller but I've not often found it an issue. usually theres someone to catch you anyway

[@missmerrily4830]

I think too, that, when looking at this many sets dancing, you can become confused about how complicated a particular dance really is. If it was broken down to one set, it would become much clearer, much quicker what the moves are, as they are repeated over and over. If I have an issue, as a beginner, it's that I sometimes get confused by the very specific terms for dance moves, like 'ladies chain' which if suddenly thrown at me, confuse me.

[@kevrask]

Re: "some callers don't call loud enough to be heard over the music." As a caller, when I hear complaints about not being heard, it's frustrating. We have no control over our volume, and we don't know what it sounds like on the floor since the mix on stage isn't the same as what's being heard on the floor. You can certainly sense if dancers can't hear you, and try to flag down the sound person, but if you're tethered to a wired mic, this can be tricky. Bottom line: talk to the sound person.

[@Blogzer]

Understood. Calling is an art which, when done well - such as Will Mentor is doing here - really helps the dancers enjoy themselves. As other mentioned, the caller attempts to continue for as long as is needed but no longer. Inevitably, that ends up being too short a time for some, in which case the community expects more experienced dancers to continue helping out dancers with that "deer in the headlights" look. :) It helps being able to shrug off mistakes -- we all make them, regardless of our years of experience -- and carry on. This dance crowd is experienced, taking the various figures in stride, and attending an entire weekend of contradance; you might arrive at such a weekend as a novice but you'd be amazed at how fast one's skills develop over 2 days!

[@KingofGeo]

So why was this such a conflict in the 80s?

[@clintmeyer7346]

is this considered dance or just synchronized moving around ... ?

[@43jimcr]

If you can hear & feel the music then it is dance. If you can't hear the music, then you assume the 'dancers' must be crazy to move around like that.

[@rogerforsberg3910]

I believe that I can state without fear of contradiction, Herr meyer, that this is legitimate "folk" dance.

[@jlmaddog487]

Does the first song have a name?

[@KathleenFownes]

jlmaddog487 It’s a tune I wrote called Filling the Knot!

[@lamarcusgrayson8923]

@@KathleenFownes where can I find this song?

[@keekovillaveces9718]

@@KathleenFownes I also would really like a way to listen to this song! Where can I find your music?

[@whip8]

@@KathleenFownes iTunes?

[@sandyriddle-weekes1190]

Great dance. Name? Who? Seems like I have reached this dance several times.

[@43jimcr]

Not sure of name or compose as the talent did not supply this info. Callers who view this video and know this info often comment to supply the missing tune and dance title. My suggestion would be to copy the Link and send it to a knowledgeable caller and contra musician to get their feedback. Once supplied, I can change the title, description info and update the tag info to give the tune, dance and composer credit. Having this info included in the video description and meta data makes it easier for folks to find in an online Search. Win - win.

[@ccpage19143]

(This may be a variant of "Mad Slice" by Rick Mohr.)

[@sandyriddle-weekes1190]

Jim Crawford Thanks, Jim Crawford. Probably George Marshall. Thanks for response. Great dance. Dancers in groove with the band and caller.