Janet Bertog
Cincinnati, Ohio
Email:
Janet at Bertog.com
Phone:
513-460-4310
Contra Dance Calling Philosophy and Experience
Callers Who Call Modern Contra Dances (with definition of modern contra dance)
I have been dancing since
2005 and I try to dance three nights per week in the midwest region and travel to at least one dance
weekend per month. I started calling in
2011. I call contemporary contra dances,
or what some would refer to as “modern urban contra” (for lack of a better
alternative we will use this term for now).
All dances I call are improper (or some variation of such) and have
partner swings. I choose dances for
their flow, connection between the dancers and variation in moves. You can find a rough definition of “modern
urban contras” on Wikipedia
and is described as a dance event where most or all of the dances have these
characteristics:
·
longways for as many as will
·
first couples
improper, or Becket formation
·
flowing
choreography
·
no-one stationary
for more than 16 beats
·
containing at
least one swing and normally both a partner swing and a neighbor swing
·
95% of the moves
from a set of well-known moves that the dancers know already
·
comprised mostly
of moves that keep you connected to the other dancers
·
generally danced
to 32 bar jigs or reels played at between 110 and 130 bpm
·
danced with a
smooth walk with lots of spins and twirls
I began calling with a caller’s workshop at Contra Dancers Delight Holiday in December 2011 with Robert Cromartie. I have also taken callers workshops with Cary Ravitz, Darlene Underwood and Seth Tepfer. My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio and I have called a few nights locally. I called and organized the region’s first techno contra event, hosted by the Louisville Country Dancers in August 2012 (DJ’d and co-called by Brian Hamshar.
I maintain a Google Calendar of events that would be of interest to dancers in the region around Cincinnati, Ohio.
I also maintain/co-maintain mailing lists for dancers interested in carpooling to dances outside their hometown:
These regional dances are kept on my calendar of events, but it is always a good idea to check the websites for updates
Cincinnati, OH Every Monday, Second Saturday
Lexington, KY First Saturday, Usually Second and Fourth Fridays (sometimes varies)
Berea, KY Fourth Saturday, Third Friday Sept-May
Louisville, KY Every Monday, First Friday, Third Saturday
Indianapolis, IN Every Tuesday
Bloomington, IN Every Wednesday
Dayton, OH First Friday Oct-May except December
In the caller world, there has been a great deal of discussion on “traditional” versus “modern” contra, including what terminology, if any, should be used to distinguish a newer style of contra dancing in which all dances called are contras that are improper (including reverse improper and becket), flowing and partner-oriented. Without going into the details of this discussion, I provide here a list of callers who are interested or willing to call an evening of these “modern” contras. My definition of what constituents a modern contra is based on the definition provided on Wikipedia and can be found here. If your organization is interested in this style of contra dancing, I invite you to consult this list for callers that may suit your needs. If you are a caller who is interested in being added to this list, please contact me and let me know. This list is developed for my reference based on an open solicitation to all callers.
|
Name |
Home Location |
Email |
Webpage |
|
Barraclough, Michael |
Annadale, VA |
||
|
Bertog, Janet |
Cincinnati, OH |
Janet [at] Bertog.com |
|
|
Colestock, Dave |
Cumberland, PA |
contradancerdave [at] yahoo.com |
|
|
Goldstein, Barbara |
Toms River, NJ |
Barbara164 [at] aol.com |
|
|
Goss, Rich |
OR |
Richgoss [at] Comcast.net |
|
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Goldman, Ric |
Palo Alto, CA |
Letsdance [at] rgoldman.org |
|
|
Hamshar, Brian |
VA |
Bhamshar [at] yahoo.com |
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Hoffman, Erik |
Oakland, CA |
Erik [at] erikhoffman.com |
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Holt, Rickey |
Exeter, NH |
Holt.e [at] Comcast.net |
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Hunt, Donna |
Philadelphia, PA |
Dhuntdancer [at] aol.com |
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McKenzie, Greg |
Santa Cruz, CA |
Grekenzi [at] gmail.com |
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Mitchell, Jack |
Durham, NC |
Jamitch3 [at] mindspring.com |
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Nettleton, Andrea |
Atlanta, GA |
Twirly-girl [at] bellsouth.com |
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Parks, Tony |
Billerica, MA |
Tony [at] hands4.com |
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Ravitz, Cary |
Lexington, KY |
Cary.ravitz [at] gmail.com |
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Shafran, Perry |
Crofton, MD |
Pshaf [at] yahoo.com |
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Sivier, Jonathan |
Urbana, IL |
Jsivier [at] Illinois.edu |
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Sweeney, John |
Kent, UK |
John [at] modern jive.com |
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|
Ward, Don |
Los Angeles, CA |
Dward7 [at] earthlink.net |
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Winston, Alan |
Redwood City, CA |
Winston [at] slac.stanford.edu |
|
These are dances I have written or co-written
6-2012
Becket
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A1 |
- |
Circle left one time around (8). |
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- |
Men orbit diagonal left while ladies allemande right one time to face a new neighbor (6). |
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- |
New Neighbor Courtesy Turn
(2). |
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A2 |
- |
Long lines forward and men roll away with a half sashay (8). |
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- |
Circle left one time around (8). |
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B1 |
- |
Ladies orbit on the diagonal left while men allemande right one time to face partner (6). |
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- |
Partner gypsy 3/4 so men face across the set (2). |
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- |
Men start half a hey by the right (8). |
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B2 |
- |
Partner balance and swing (16). |
6-2011
Becket
|
A1 |
- |
Circle left 3/4 (8). |
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- |
Neighbors swing (8). |
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A2 |
- |
Right and left through across (8). |
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- |
Ladies step forward and left to start a 1/2 mad robin (4). |
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With new neighbors, men step forward and right to start a 1/2 mad robin (4). |
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B1 |
- |
Ladies pass left to start a 1/2 hey (8). |
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Ladies allemande left 1+1/2 (8). |
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B2 |
- |
Partners gypsy and swing (16). |
Reenter the dance with ladies on the left.
3-2012
Becket
|
A1 |
- |
Circle left 3/4 (8). |
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- |
Men pull to start a 1/2 pousette (4). |
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- |
Men form a long wavy line in the middle and balance (4). |
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A2 |
- |
With a new neighbor man, men allemande left 3/4 (4). |
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- |
(New) neighbors swing (12). |
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B1 |
- |
Men step forward and right to start a mad robin (8). |
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- |
Ladies pull to start a 1/2 pousette (4). |
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- |
Ladies form a long wavy line in the middle and balance (4). |
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B2 |
- |
Ladies allemande right 1+1/4 (6). |
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- |
Partners swing (10). |
While men or women are allemanding in the middle, those standing on the side should step sideways to align with the allemande.
6-2012
Becket
|
A1 |
- |
Long lines go forward and back (8). |
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- |
Ladies start half a hey by the right, Men come into the center and push off (8). |
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A2 |
- |
Neighbor balance and swing (16). |
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B1 |
- |
Men start half a hey by the left, Ladies come into the center and push off (8). |
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- |
Circle left three places (8). |
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B2 |
- |
Gypsy your partner across the set half way (3). |
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- |
Promenade one place clockwise in a single file, Men walking backwards to new neighbors (2). (men stay on home side, women cross) |
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- |
Partners gypsy on this side half way (3). |
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- |
Partners swing (8). |
Note: The sequence gypsy-promenade-gypsy sequence
of B2 is called a traveling gypsy and is derived from the dance Flapjack Express
by Joseph Pimental.
10-2012
Becket
|
A1 |
- |
On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4). |
|
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- |
Back up straight to form a set of for with this couple (4). |
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- |
Men allemande left 1+1/2 (8). |
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A2 |
- |
Neighbors balance and swing (16). |
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B1 |
- |
Ladies chain across (8). |
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- |
Ladies allemande right 1/2 (4). |
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Pick up your neighbor and star promenade across (4). |
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B2 |
- |
Ladies allemande right 1/2 (4). |
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- |
Partners swing (12). |
Note: The sequence pick up your neighbor, star
promenade, ladies allemande of B is called a revolving door from the dance
Revolving Door by Brian DeMarcus.
6-2012
Becket
|
A1 |
- |
On the left diagonal walk forward to meet a new couple (4). |
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- |
Back up straight to form a set of four with this couple (4). |
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Ladies allemande right once and a half (8). |
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A2 |
- |
Neighbor balance and swing (16). |
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B1 |
- |
Men start half a hey by the left (8). |
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- |
Mad robin, men start passing forward and to the right (8). |
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B2 |
- |
Gypsy your partner across the set half way (3). |
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- |
Promenade one place clockwise in a single file, Men walking backwards to new neighbors (2). (men stay on home side, women cross). |
|
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- |
Parrtners gypsy on this side half way (3). |
|
|
- |
Partner swing (8). |
Note: The sequence gypsy-promenade-gypsy sequence
of B2 is called a traveling gypsy and is derived from the dance Flapjack
Express by Joseph Pimental.