contra video
Les Francey
Like most people who go to contra dances, I am often asked by family,
friends, co-workers, acquaintances - What is contra dancing? I do my best
to try to describe what I love doing in such glowing terms that the person
I am talking to will form an immediate desire to go to a contra dance. Of
course, the reality is that most people say Hmmmm isn't that interesting.
And then the conversation changes. So I often thought - If only I had a
video to show these people, they would see how wonderful it is and would
have an immediate desire to go to a contra dance.
Well, last week a dancer I know gave me video he had put together of
several dance weekends over the past few years. I couldn't wait to show my
family this video. And then I would take it to work and show my
colleagues. I would swell the ranks of dancers with enthusiastic
newcomers.
Well, so much for fantasy. Here is the reality. " what the hell are you
watching here?" " These people look like those cult members who committed
mass suicide last month." " God, there're men wearing skirts!!!!ACCChh"
" How can you stand that music?" ( this last in reference to Wild
Asparagus) " This doesn't make sense to me." "Why is everyone dressed
so funny?" "Why are the guys wearing shorts?"
Total viewing time by my adult family members of a two hour tape - 2
minutes.
At least my 9 year old niece liked it. She was hypnotized by the dance
and the music throughout the whole two hour tape.
Needless to say I have had second thoughts about taking this video to
work to show my colleagues.
If there is anyone who wants a two hour video of contra dancing please
let me know.
Les
Eric Praetzel
In article <5jmbpj$6...@main.freenet.hamilton.on.ca> ab...@freenet.hamilton.on.ca (Les Francey) writes:
>Like most people who go to contra dances, I am often asked by family,
>friends, co-workers, acquaintances - What is contra dancing?
like because I've almost never sat out a dance (and that was to
talk to someone) :)
My best guess is that contra (and other socal dances) are a contact
sport and can not be appreciated by spectators (unless they are in
it for the music)! Face it; most people are spectators.
>video to show these people, they would see how wonderful it is and would
>have an immediate desire to go to a contra dance.
You weren't at the Hamilton dance last week (there wasn't one) where
we were told that the "country and western" dancing was going to be
next friday, shudder. Please no association with that line "dancing".
Whenever I try to talk about contras with people in a line; people
assume that we're doing line dancing. Aieeeeee.
> Well, so much for fantasy. Here is the reality. " what the hell are you
>watching here?" " These people look like those cult members who committed
>mass suicide last month." " God, there're men wearing skirts!!!!ACCChh"
They didn't get me on film in a renaissance costume did they? :)
I imagine that your family and friends would appreciate the vintage,
Playford and renaissance balls in costume. ;)
For me the costumes add a wonderfull aire to the whole thing.
> If there is anyone who wants a two hour video of contra dancing please
>let me know.
You bet. I'll show it to my family and friends. Since I've never
gotten them out dancing, this is about as close as they'll get.
As much fun as dancing can be, it is really hard to talk someone into
a 1+ hour drive to go to a dance.
I've run across women who would like to go dancing; but their husband
doesn't so they'll hold off till he kicks off.
Eric Praetzel, http://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~praetzel http://sca.uwaterloo.ca
Peter Renzland
On 24 Apr 1997 01:08:03 GMT, Les Francey <ab...@freenet.hamilton.on.ca> wrote:
>Like most people who go to contra dances, I am often asked by family,
>friends, co-workers, acquaintances - What is contra dancing?
"What is Contra Dancing?"
A 30 minute fast-paced documentary ...
with caller Henry Morgenstern and the Good Harbor String Band,
filmed in the historic Opera House of Traverse City, MI.
... contact Cat...@aol.com
This might be useful for friends and family, since it asks and answers
some of the sorts of questions viewers might have ...
There's also the Flurry video of about 4 or 5 years ago. It covers quite
a bit more than Contra. (If I only knew who has borrowed mine;-)
-- , , ,
Peter Renzland 323-1300 Pe...@Dancing.Org \__@_ {)/' (}, 9 \@ {)/
Traditional Social Dance WWW.Dancing.Org \ /\_._,<_/ (>_/7 /\_._,<_\
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Joseph Pimentel
Peter Renzland wrote:
>
> On 24 Apr 1997 01:08:03 GMT, Les Francey <ab...@freenet.hamilton.on.ca> wrote:
> >Like most people who go to contra dances, I am often asked by family,
> >friends, co-workers, acquaintances - What is contra dancing?
>
> "What is Contra Dancing?"
>
> A 30 minute fast-paced documentary ...
> with caller Henry Morgenstern and the Good Harbor String Band,
> filmed in the historic Opera House of Traverse City, MI.
> ... contact Cat...@aol.com
>
> This might be useful for friends and family, since it asks and answers
> some of the sorts of questions viewers might have ...
that i disappear to do so many nights when i'm home visiting them (north
of boston). i've often invited them to come and check it out for them-
selves, but they've resisted.
so i brought henry and caton's video home and sat them in front of it
for 20 minutes. reactions were reserved, but they said it looked like
fun. my 8 year old nephew got a big hoot out of it, but later proudly
showed his mother a *twirly* do-si-do and taught his 5 year old brother
how to do it. my mother has since been to her first contra dance, and
is looking forward to the next scout house monday night in concord next
time i'm home.
joseph