HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: elliott@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Subject: Shoes---thanks to all who wrote me
Reply-To: elliott@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 19:48:58 GMT

Thank you all for the information on shoes for contra dancing.  I thought I
would post a summary of the findings.  (Sorry I do research for a living).  (No
crosstabs will be provided here.)

Many folks across the country add leather soles to their rubber soled athletic
shoes.  Others use inserts with their Capezios.  The best of the inserts seems
to be ones made by Birkenstock that come either in full foot and in just the 
arch support (useful since Birkenstock I think do not bend easily).

Evidently Capezios do make a shoe with support however it has a heel.  I think
they are called jazz shoes.  The heel may be hard to get use to but it is nice
to know they are out there.

Another way is to buy athletic shoes for tennis or basketball as some of the
moves in these sports are similar to contra dance spins and pivots.  If many of
us did this though, the sounds of squeaking shoes on the floor could make the
dance sound like a b-ball game (8-D  Go Celts or at least try to).

Thank you all for writing to me.  I hope posting this is helpful to others if
they are interested.  I also hope one of these solutions works for me and that
I will see you all dancing soon.

Elsa  
Institute for Health Policy (usual disclaimer)
Brandeis University

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."   Ralph W. Emerson
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: davis@garlic.IntelliCorp.COM (Nils Davis)
Subject: Re: Shoes---thanks to all who wrote me
Date: 8 Jan 93 00:06:41 GMT
Reply-To: ndavis@intellicorp.com

trb@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Andrew Tannenbaum) writes:

>I didn't respond to this thread while I was on vacation, but my
>experience doesn't quite synch with what I read here, so I'll add some
>ideas.

I didn't see my shoe selection in here either. Unlike Andrew, I don't
feel that bare feet are the ideal dance shoe, so my solution is quite
different from his (lightweight dance slippers). My favorite dance
shoes have been Capezio model 440, which are intended by Capezio for
tap dancing. They have a medium (1/2") heel and a stiff leather sole,
which I typically have covered with a Cats Paw rubber sole to make it
less slippery and harder to ruin in adverse environment conditions.
They are light and usually putting them on makes me start to dance
with no volition on part. However, because of a series of snafus, my
current dance shoe is the similar model made by Danshuz.

I can't say exactly why I require a stiff sole--I think it's mostly so
I can make significant noise in a balance. Also, it protects my feet
from my partners'. I am very conscientious about not stepping on my
partners--I rarely kick my feet up at all--so I am not concerned about
the lethality of my shoes. I also do a lot of fairly precise twirls
and highly controlled stops and starts (both in contras and in
Scandinavian). Often even the stiff shoes aren't as effective at
holding me in as I'd like. I think it would be worse with slipper-type
shoes. 

I have also done a lot of Scottish dancing, so I have worn
slipper-type shoes for dancing--I just couldn't imagine doing so at a
contra.

Nils
ndavis@Intellicorp.com


-- 
==========
Nils Davis  Intellicorp, Inc.  ndavis@intellicorp.com 
"Providing people with one hand so they can experiment with clapping
has its limits." Bob Frankston
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: htr@world.std.com (Helena T Robinson)
Subject: Re: Over-60s WSD-style Contra Dance in SF Bay Area?
Summary: Some suggestions
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:26:35 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.181254.1@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu> winston@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (Alan Winston) writes (in part):

>I am an active English, Contra, and Morris dancer, and have of course urged
>these folks to come to one of the many fine "traditional" contras BACDS and 
>other groups put on in the Bay Area.  Nope.  They want the WSD-associated kind,
>and they want a group in their own age range, which is 60+.  [Telling them that
>there are several regulars who appear to be in that age range doesn't help.]
>
>So, does anybody know of any "Contralab"-style class or dance series in the San
>Francisco Bay Area (ideally on the Peninsula, as they live in Foster City) that
>has a preponderance of older people?  

Hmm...this is indeed a challenge.  These immediately come to mind:
1. See if they get the National Square Dance Directory (see my earlier post 
   for ordering info).  As you can imagine, California's a BIG state and I'm 
   not familiar with Bay Area suburbs.  Clubs that include contra dancing are 
   noted with G (don't ask ME why!).
2. Chances are that if they're looking to dance with people close to their own 
   age, they may be associated with a Senior Citizens Center.  This might be 
   another source of info.
3. They might also want to check out the Californa Blue Book.  It normally has 
   info concerning square and round dancing, and might offer a lead concerning 
   contra.
4. They could ask other dancers who might be active in contra where they dance.
   This could well lead to one of the groups you're trying to send them to.

Although (as I now recall) WSD-associated contra is referred to as "club 
contra" in California (I've never heard the term anywhere else), I highly doubt 
they're going to find "Contralab" designations for dances.  It's just not as 
universally known/accepted/whatever as Callerlab.

Good luck!
Helena Robinson
htr@world.std.com

Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: dyck@cs.sfu.ca (Michael Dyck)
Subject: Contralab (was Re: Over-60s WSD-style Contra Dance in SF Bay Area?)
Organization: CSS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 18:04:14 GMT

In article <C0IoBt.KHs@world.std.com> jb@world.std.com (Joel L Breazeale) writes:
> I am a member of Contralab, but am not really sure if there is a
> parallel to MWSD (Callerlab).

So what *is* Contralab?  What does it do?

-Michael Dyck, dyck@cs.sfu.ca
From: charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: It's Announcement Time!
Date: 11 Jan 93 19:42:00 GMT
Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Biology

In article <18009@pitt.UUCP> Erna-Lynne.Bogue@um.cc.umich.edu writes:
> --  do you have announcements at  your dances?

Yes.

> --  how long do they take?

Rarely more than two minutes.

> --  who makes the announcements?

The guy who volunteered to. :-)

> --  what format do you use?

Jim asks for a round of applause for the caller, then he proceeds with
whatever items there are.  Usually there aren't more than one or two.

> --  what reaction do you get from the dancers?

People usually listen.  We keep them short and pertinent.  Topics are
things like upcoming dark dates, party nights, and hoedowns of
interest.

I've noticed that people are quite happy to listen to
informational-type announcements, as long as they're short; it's the
"hey, we really need someone to volunteer for this" guilt trip-type
announcements that people tune out.  We have very few of those at
Stanford Quads, anyway.  When I danced at the Sunnyvale Singles class,
the announcements were boring and self-indulgent and would drone on for
10 minutes or so, during which period the "Sheriff" and his/her posse
would wander around, chastizing people who talked.  At Quads, we don't
feel that we have to treat dancers like grade-school children.

> --  what's your own opinion about announcements?

See above.

Charleen
From: mb53@prism.gatech.EDU (BRIGGS,MARTHA S)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: Footwear for dancing
Date: 8 Jan 93 21:23:03 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


No one has mentioned my favorite dancing shoes, so here goes---
For contra and English country dancing, I've been wearing
Reiker t-straps, which I found in the LL Bean catalog.  They're 
women's shoes, with leather uppers, and softish plastic or rubber
soles.  They don't have heels, but do have plenty of support, and 
more important, plenty of toe room.  
A

-- 
BRIGGS,MARTHA S
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp:	  ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!prism!mb53
Internet: briggs@xtal.gatech.edu
From: photo@ccmail.orst.edu (Peter Freeman's Research Group)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Fatise Kolo
Date: 13 Jan 93 01:23:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: ccmail.photo.49.726888239
Organization: Chemistry Department, OSU, Corvallis, OR  97331-4003
NNTP-Posting-Host: photo.chem.orst.edu

I have a question about this dance.  I originally learned this as a circle 
with what seemed like Israeli-like moves.  Later I was shown a Macedonian-
style line dance which I was told was the "original".  Can anyone tell me 
the history of this dance?  Thanks.  If you don't want to post to the 
bulletin board reach me at Hatlevis@ucs.orst. edu.
From: dpepper@thumper.bellcore.com (David J. Pepper)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Swingin' Tern Contra Dance Schedule (NJ) --  Jan - Mar, 1993
Date: 5 Jan 93 00:00:49 GMT
Reply-To: dpepper@thumper.bellcore.com (David J. Pepper)
Distribution: nj,ny,md,pa,del,mass,ri,conn
Organization: Bellcore MRE


	Swingin' Tern Dances

Beginner's workshop 7:30 PM, Dance 8 PM. $5.00
Presented by The Folk Project.  Soft Soles Only.
Ogden Memorial Church in Chatham, NJ

Contra and Square Dancing to live music.  All dances taught.  No partner
necessary.  Located on Route 124 (Main St.) in downtown Chatham, northern NJ.
From NJTP (exit 14) or GSP (exit 142), take Route 78 West to exit 48. Take
Route 124 (old route 24) West 4.5 miles into downtown Chatham.  Ogden
Memorial on right just after 4th light, across from Bean Curd Restaurant.
Use Elmwood entrance.  From Route 287 (exit 31) take Route 124 East 6
miles into Chatham.  Ogden Memorial on left just before 1st downtown light.
By train:  Morristown line to Chatham station, go 1 block north.

(201) 593-8475 / 228-9729 / 822-1313 (folk phone)

Sat Jan 16	SWALLOWTAIL
	Of all the contradance bands, Swallowtail is the Monarch.  Spinning
	threads from sixteen instruments from virginal and hammered dulcimer
	to fiddle and oboe, they effect a metamorphosis into a rich tapestry
	of silken medleys.  So come out of your cocoon and let your gossamer
	wings take you on a flight of fancy.  Accept no mimics.

Sat Feb 6	Tom Hinds  &  Grand Picnic
	Serving up a premium spread of Wonder-filled squares and no-loaf
	contras will be Tom Hinds from Virginia.  Hams that they are, Grand
	Picnic will show their rye humor as they sandwich in tunes as long
	as we can mustard the strength to keep up.

Sat Feb 20	Lise Romanov  &  Four Potato Stew
	Bland contras are a thing of the pasta as we carbo-load with noodles
	Romanov and Four Potato Stew.  Lise shows her starch as she calls a
	marathon dance while Four Potato Stew sprints through high energy
	medleys that will leave us wipped.

Sat Mar 6	Don Flaherty  &  Atlantic Bridge
	Currently writing swell dances that really flow, Don will have us
	dancing like a wave of the sea.  Bridging the gap between concert
	band (at the Minstrel Coffeehouse the night before) and dance band,
	Atlantic Bridge takes the tidal with oceans of tunes to tide us
	over.

Sat Mar 20	Jim Kitch  &  SPUDS
	You'ss find Jim Kitch in the kitchen when his contras get cooking
	with SPUDS.  We wouldn't chive you, this is the sour cream of the
	crop.  It doesn't get butter than this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information from the Folk Project Newsletter.  Spelling errors by:
	David J. Pepper        dpepper@bellcore.com
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: das@emmapeel.ca.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Footwear for dancing
Organization: Yet Another Graphics Project, Bellevue, WA
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 17:04:17 GMT

I have a friend who's an avid siwng and contra dancer, and has loads of 
foot problems.  He bought a pair of army boots (yes, real army boots) and
had a shoemaker put on suede dance soles.  He may also have arch supports in
them. No more foot problems.  Luckily, he's very careful about where his feet
are, so he hasn't caused any fatal injuries yet to those of us who wear 
soft dance shoes. :-)
------
Debbie Schwartz // das@voodoo.ca.boeing.com  // ....uw-beaver!bcsaic!voodoo!das
From: winkle@psl.wisc.edu (Jim Winkle)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: Shoes---thanks to all who wrote me
Date: 6 Jan 93 16:20:25 GMT
Reply-To: winkle@psl.wisc.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Physical Science Lab

In article <1icsl3INNp8d@rave.larc.nasa.gov>, dave@monitor.larc.nasa.gov (Dave Hinde) writes:
> My question is: How do you add leather soles to rubber soled
> athletic shoes?  How do they hold up? (OK, 2 questions)

     My sister added leather soles to tennis shoes several years
ago, and I believe they are holding up quite well.  Have the
cobbler slice off the bottom layer of the shoe, and glue the
leather sole onto the bare shoe.  Don't buy air filled tennies,
since they will have gaps and the leather sole won't adhere well.

                   -- Jim (winkle@psl.wisc.edu)

P.S.  Hi Elsa, from Bonnie and Jim in Madison.
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: lerner@stsci.edu
Subject: Baltimore Balkan Dance Workshop - Jan. 29-30
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 17:01:53 GMT

         The Johns Hopkins International Folk Dancers are sponsoring
         a Balkan dance workshop to take place January 29-30, in Baltimore.
         Please join us for a weekend with Ron Wixman, one of the
	 country's most well respected international folk dance
	 teachers, who has taught dance groups all over the country.
	 When he's not dancing, Ron is a professor of ethno-political
	 geography at the University of Oregon. He's considered an
	 authority on the Balkans, having written numerous books and
	 given countless presentations.

	 Friday and Saturday night events will take place at Lovely
         Lane Church which is on the corner of St. Paul and 22nd
         Streets. 

	      Friday night   8:00 - 11:00  -  party
	      Saturday      10:00 - 12:00  -  teaching session
	                     2:00 -  4:30  -  teaching session
	                     7:30 - 11:00  -  party

	       Prices for each teaching session or party
	            members of JHUIFD    non-members
	                  $4.00             $5.00

	                or for the whole weekend
	            members of JHUIFD    non-members
	                 $15.00            $18.00

         Ron will give a talk on Sunday titled, "Current ethnic conflict in
         Bosnia-Herzegovina". The talk is free and will start at 1:00 p.m. 
         in The Great Hall in Levering Hall, on the Homewood Campus of JHU.

	 Commitments from musicians as of January 10 are as follows:

	      Friday's party   - Luk na glavata (Macedonian)
	                         Judy Meyers and Fred Jacobowitz (Balkan)
                                 Judy will also do some Scandinavian.
	      Saturday's party - Scandinavian fiddlers (Andrea Hoag, 
                                 Ellen Jacobs, Robin Lerner, David Kantor,
                                 and others)
	                         Judy Meyers and Fred Jacobowitz (Balkan)

         There's a good possibility we'll have live Greek music from
         Karpouzi for Saturday night, but this is not definite yet.
         Recorded music will also be played at the parties.

         No advance registration is necessary, but call Robin and David 
	 at (410) 366-2742 ASAP if you need housing or are interested
         in playing for the parties.
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: jb@world.std.com (Joel L Breazeale)
Subject: Re: Contralab (was Re: Over-60s WSD-style Contra Dance in SF Bay Area?)
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 04:50:38 GMT

In article <C0pLG6.KHI@world.std.com> htr@world.std.com (Helena T Robinson) writes:
>In article <C0KuCz.CFp@world.std.com> jb@world.std.com (Joel L Breazeale) writes(in part):
>>In article <1993Jan8.180414.29971@cs.sfu.ca> dyck@cs.sfu.ca (Michael Dyck) writes:
>
>Although Joel may be much more attuned to this than I - after all, HE actually 
>attended last year's Contralab meeting - I've noticed that several Contralab 
>members also belong to CDSS and Lloyd Shaw.
>
I was going to go, but had a major last-minute conflict and aborted
attending.  It is good to hear some Contralab members are CDSS members -- or
are the CDSS members also members of Contralab  8-].  Suppose it depends on
whether they use records or live music, on the average (sigh).

>Since there was a big discussion last year over live music at WSD events, I
>won't even think of resurrecting it here.  If anyone's really interested, 
>I can tell you whom to contact.  ;-)
>
I've found that making a case for live music at MWSD events is tough to
justify.  More to the point:  Live music at a mainstream/plus dance, where
lessons are required, restricts the dance to experienced dancers.  When
those dancers are mixing with the larger masses then they only compare the
music to what they've heard before.  At it's best it will not sound much
better than a record.  When one uses traditional squares and beginners are
allowed to participate (what MWSD callers sometimes call a "one night stand")
then I believe a rise in the popularity of live music will be assured.

>>Someday I should put together a list of organizations.  [Hey Helena, how about
>>LEGACY?  8-)]
>
>Who me???  ;-)
>
>Well, if anyone's interested, I could work on something while recuperating from 
>my next hospital visit ("off the air" message to follow in a few days)...
>
Please do!  Good luck with the visit!

--Joel
jb@world.std.com
From: gajicki@cerritos.edu
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: <None>
Date: 11 Jan 93 14:31:50 PST
Organization: Cerritos College, Norwalk CA

In response to Kiran re: folk dance footwear.  Have you tried Balkan style
"opanke"?   Available from Folk Motif, Long Beach, CA  310.439.7380
From: Erna-Lynne.Bogue@um.cc.umich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: It's Announcement Time!
Date: 11 Jan 93 17:57:14 GMT

Most contra and English dances have an announcement time. In my travels
I've found this to vary in length, in number of people making the 
announcements,  in detail-level of the announcements, in what kind are
made (just dance vs song vs music vs need/give rides to events) etc.
 
As a caller, I've noticed that many dancers aren't much interested in
the actual announcements; where I've been in charge, I've tried quite
hard to make sure they stay very short and to weed out things that 
could be handled without involving the whole group.  I found out recently
that I've been so firm about this that some people have been scared to
ask me if they can make an announcement. (How someone can be intimidating
at 5'1" tall, I don't know, but seemingly I do it occasionally!)
 
So we reach my questions:
 --  do you have announcements at  your dances?
 --  how long do they take?
 --  who makes the announcements?
 --  what format do you use?
 --  what reaction do you get from the dancers?
 --  what's your own opinion about announcements?
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: davis@hplabsz.hpl.hp.com (Jim Davis)
Subject: WSD Dance Difficulty (Was: "Get your hands off me!")
Summary: One dancer's meat is another's vegetable.
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 23:41:20 GMT
Organization: Who, me?

David J. Pritchard <djp@ecs.soton.ac.uk> writes:
djp>	Strangely, opinions as to the level of a dance vary.  This year our
djp>	club has been joined by an American teacher over here on an exchange
djp>	program.  One night the caller threw in a few Contras for variety - we
djp>	hardly noticed and just did them, but the American visitor said that
djp>	that particular dance (which he recognized) would be regarded as
djp>	difficult back home.  He has called some dances for us, which he
djp>	regarded as easy but most of us (not me of course) had difficulties.

    Those exposed to different callers often have very different rankings
of the difficulty of dances.  I recall one festival (Golden State Roundup)
where two callers were alternating tips.  Those who learned Challenge
from the first caller seemed to think that he was calling easy material
while they had trouble with the material called by the second caller,
and yet those taught by the second caller generally held the opposite
opinion.

    I know that the parts that I have the most problems with
are those that I have been least exposed too, even though
they tend to be easy.

-- 
Jim Davis (James W. Davis)      Palo Alto, CA (415)       857-4036
davis@hplabs.hp.com             {any_of_the_biggies}!hplabs!davis
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: saxe@src.dec.com (Jim Saxe)
Subject: Re: Footwear and floor wear (was Re: Footwear for dancing)
Organization: DEC Systems Research Center
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 03:09:49 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.024524.1692@src.dec.com>, I wrote:

>While some kinds of footwear--metal taps, hard spike heels, and the
>kinds of shoes that leave hard-to-clean black streaks--are clearly bad
>for dance floors, ...

I forgot to mention nails.  Some kinds of shoes have the heels held in
with finishing nails that are driven in flush to the bottom of the
heel.  Flush, that is, until the heel starts wearing down faster than
the nails.  Also, some people like to use those little plastic things
that you tack into the bottoms of your shoes to preserve edge of the
heel.  Keep these off the dance floor!  One nail protruding from one
dancer's shoe heel by 1/32 of an inch can trash a dance floor in no
time flat.

				--Jim Saxe <saxe@src.dec.com>
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: anyone familiar with contact improvisation?
From: dkiecker@next-1.gac.edu (Denise A Kiecker)
Date: 7 Jan 1993 22:18:31 GMT
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College
NNTP-Posting-Host: next-1.gac.edu

i just recently began learning some of the techniques behind contact  
improvisation.  i was wondering if anyone else out there is interested in  
this unique dance form and if there are any sort of organizations one can  
join.  my class will be over in about a month and i would like to continue  
to share this dance with others.
if you have any insight please email me at dkiecker@nic.gac.edu
thank you and have a truly magical day 

enjoy the simple things in life
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: saxe@src.dec.com (Jim Saxe)
Subject: Footwear and floor wear (was Re: Footwear for dancing)
Organization: DEC Systems Research Center
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 02:45:24 GMT

The way I got my dance shoes was by starting out with some sturdy old
rubber-soled shoes that I liked for everyday use, and that were
already well broken-in, and having a shoemaker grind the soles down
just a little and add a layer of leather.  Stay away from shoes with
synthetic-leather uppers; they'll never break in and will give you
abrasions and blisters in the same places for as long as you are
foolish enough to wear them.

On a related topic, how do people keep the soles of their dance
shoes clean?  I've been using a metal brush of the kind intended for
cleaning barbeque grills.  This seems to be fairly effective at
removing the gunk and grit that they pick up on the dance floor, but
perhaps is shortening the life of the soles.

While I see a lot of dance announcements that include requests for
"soft-soled shoes only," I have come to believe that main cause of
wear on dance floors is not hard-soled shoes but dirt and grit, which
must be controlled by keeping the dance floor well swept and by
getting dancers to keep their shoe soles clean.  Even shoes that are
never worn outdoors will tend to pick up grit tracked in by others.
While some kinds of footwear--metal taps, hard spike heels, and the
kinds of shoes that leave hard-to-clean black streaks--are clearly bad
for dance floors, I think that in most cases the difference between
hard soles and soft soles is essentially irrelevant compared to the
difference between clean soles and dirty ones.  This is just a
personal impression, not the result of a scientific study; perhaps
someone can shed more light on the subject.

				--Jim Saxe <saxe@src.dec.com>
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing