New, intermediate, and experienced dancers are invited to Contra College 2017 on 11-12th March in Palo Alto, CA. Sessions are very interactive, and everyone has the opportunity to ask questions, learn, increase skill and confidence, try other dance roles, and support others in their dancing. There is also an independent Callers’ Workshop on Sat noon for beginning to experienced callers who become guest callers at the Sun afternoon dance.
Teachers: Jacqui Grennan (soCal), Susan Petrick, and Jim Oakden
Music: Jim Oakden with Shira Kammen (Sat), and Ben Schreiber and Michael Sokolovsky (aka Uncle Farmer) (Sun)
Session - How to Hear and Dance to Contra Music : Hear how the rhythm and phrasing of the music provides as much information for dancing as the instructions and calling.
Caller: Jacqui Grennan; Music: Jim Oakden & Shira Kammen
#1 - "Virginia Reel - Abridged" by (Traditional) (Longways/Other)
#2 - "Push the Button" byunknown (Improper)
#3 - "Pooh Bear’s Holiday" by Robert Cromartie (Improper)
#4 - "Camp Harlam Reel" by Mark Widmer (Becket-CW)
Session - Being There: Learn how to be in the right place at the right time for the music, the flow of the dance, and other dancers.
Caller: Jacqui Grennan; Music: Jim Oakden & Ben Schreiber
#1 - "Anastasia" by Daniel Morse (Improper)
#2 - "Cranky Ingenuity" by Bill Olson (Improper)
#3 - "West by Midwest" by Carol Ormand (Improper)
#4 - "Coming Home to Tohollie" by Janet Shepherd (Improper)
#5 - "Pivot the Line" by Jacqui Grennan (Improper)
Session - Other Dance Formations: Go beyond the predominantly used longways contra dance sets and play in the realm of alternative contra dance forms!
Caller: Jacqui Grennan; Music: Jim Oakden & Ben Schreiber
#1 - "Microchasmic (contra corners)" by Ann Fallon (Triplet)
#2 - "Labor of Love (contra corners)" by Kathy Anderson (Improper)
#3 - "Fan in the Doorway (slip jig) (A1 thru C2)" by Gene Hubert (Improper)
#4 - "Kimmswick Express" by Gene Hubert (Square)
#4 - "Square Break (Grand R&L)" (Square)
#5 - "Fast Living - Four Face Four" by David Kirchner (Four Facing Four)
#6 - "Levi Jackson Rag - 5 couples" by Pat Shaw (Other)
Session - Beyond Choreography: Delve deeper into contra dancing with exercises that help you to experiment with dance roles, learn to participate (or not) in flourishes, and add spice and variety to your dancing while still dancing together with everyone else.
Caller: Jacqui Grennan & Susan Petrick; Music: Uncle Farmer
Dances called by Jacqui Grennan -
#1 - "Spring Break" by Nils Fredland (Improper)
#2 - "Four Have Sprung" by Yoyo Zhou (Becket-CW)
#3 - "Chinese New Year" by Chris Page (Improper)