HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: scotbri@flower.rosemount.com (Scott Brigham)
Subject: Hey St. Louis, what's shakin'?
Originator: scotbri@flower
Organization: Rosemount, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 15:52:51 GMT


A dancing friend of mine is hitting St. Louis for a week or so at the
end of May and is looking for some good dancin'!  She likes all types
especially Cajun, Square/Contra, and ballroom.  I'm hoping all you
good folks in the St. Louis area will email me info about your favorite,
happening spots.  Thanks in advance.  I'd also appreciate it if you could
help me remember the name of an Ethiopian restaurant there that
I enjoyed last summer.  It's in a shopping center about a mile up
the road from the Stouffer's Hotel.
=========================
 scotbri@rosemount.com  
 Scott Brigham  (AA0HU)
 St. Paul, MN  USA
=========================
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: asente@adobe.com (A Usenet Pal)
Subject: Gay and Lesbian Square Dance Clubs
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 07:06:32 GMT

Here's a list of electronic mail contacts for gay and lesbian square dance
clubs.  It also includes clubs that are not gay and lesbian but which are
receptive to gay and lesbian square dancers.

There is also a mailing list for gay and lesbian country-western and square
dancers.  Send mail to lgcwsd-request@cc.ysu.edu to subscribe to the mailing
list.

Please send additions and corrections to this list to asente@adobe.com.
Unless otherwise indicated, the clubs are Mainstream or Plus and are members
of the IAGSDC (International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs).

CALIFORNIA

Northern California
PACE (Pacific Area Challenge Enthusiasts) (Advanced & Challenge,
	gay-friendly, non-IAGSDC)
Paul Asente <asente@adobe.com>

Palo Alto/San Jose
El Camino Reelers
Paul Asente <asente@adobe.com>
Dave Decot <decot@cup.hp.com>

Palo Alto
Stanford Quads (gay-friendly, non-IAGSDC)
Paul Asente <asente@adobe.com>

Sacramento
Capital City Squares
James Ozanich <0004120870@mcimail.com>

Sacramento
Prime 8's (Advanced)
James Ozanich <0004120870@mcimail.com>

San Francisco
Midnight Squares (Advanced & Challenge)
Paul Asente <asente@adobe.com>

CANADA

Toronto
Triangle Squares
Brian Jarvis <jarvis@psych.toronto.edu>

MINNESOTA

Minnesota Wild Roses
Brian Smith <brsmith@cs.umn.edu>

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque
Wilde Bunch
Kristin Jensen <kris@stone.com>

OHIO

Cleveland
Cleveland City Country Dancers
Doug Sewell <doug@cc.ysu.edu>

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia
Independence Squares
Tom Fekete <FEKETE@VM.TEMPLE.EDU>

__   -paul asente
\/     asente@adobe.com   ...decwrl!adobe!asente   moo-bear@cs.stanford.edu

I don't think I could dance for 8 or 10 minutes straight.
						-Dave Decot
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: air@cs.cmu.edu (Alex Rudnicky)
Subject: Shoes, Floors (my own 2 bits)
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 19:29:50 GMT


I agree with Jim Saxe that floor wear is mistakenly attributed to hard soles.   
The real culprit is street grit.  You can convince yourself of this by closely  
examining a (newly refinished) floor after a dance.  Hard-soled shoes can  
certainly dent a floor, but this is not the damage that most people notice.   
Rubber soles or heels, black ones, leave the most noticable marring.  A  
significant factor, and one that is often overlooked in discussions of floor  
damage, is the quality of the finish on a floor.  An inferior finish  
(presumably a brittle one) will disintegrate under the stress of dancers's feet  
(and contribute to the 'dust' problem, often misattributed to dirty footware).   
A good finish will hardly dust.

I find that my feet get tired in jazz flats, particularly for contras.  The  
best shoe for this type of dancing seems to be one with a thin stiff sole and  
good lateral support.  I believe this is because it gives the proper support  
for moves such as buzz-step swings and otherwise allows for smoother movement.   
Jazz flats, on the other hand, are the only reasonable choice for modern dance,  
due to the movements involved.  Capezio character shoes are good, except for  
the heel, which feels too high for me (maybe because it narrows at the bottom).   
You would also want to replace the leather heels with rubber ones, since  
otherwise they buff and become rather slippery at the edges.  These problems  
manifest themselves mostly in contra dancing; for couple dancing they're fine.

I also agree with Ted Crane that Tevas are fabulous dance shoes.  They have the  
right kind of support and will stay on your foot.  I would dance all night on  
them, except that the soles of my feet eventually develop a burning sensation.   
I believe this to be a reaction to the little traction(?) bumps on the top  
surface.  Note also that Teva soles can leave ugly black streaks on certain  
floor surfaces (such as linoleum).

Alex.
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: elliott@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Subject: Footwear for dancing
Reply-To: elliott@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 21:08:14 GMT

I am looking for information on footwear for dancing which has support.  The 
Boston dancers swear by Capezio's it seems but, though these shoes are great 
twirling and swinging, they provide no arch support.  I am currently unable
to dance because dancing in shoes with no support have hurt my swinging/pivot
foot so I am in search of opinions on shoes for this very important activity
for my life.

Please send me e-mail--Unless you beleive a discussion of this would be
of interest to this group (or believe for those who learned how to spell
and use the edit function in newsrdr.)

Elsa    ELLIOTT@BINAH.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU

Thanks
From: htr@world.std.com (Helena T Robinson)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: WSD: "Get your hands off me!"
Summary: Sigh!
Date: 11 Jan 93 02:07:45 GMT
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA

In article <Jan.10.07.45.22.1993.6915@net.bio.net> charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna) writes (in part):
>Once again, I'm back from a lovely PACE dance (C-1, Mike Jacobs
>calling), and once again, I have to wonder what it is about Challenge
>dancing that makes some people think it's perfectly okay to grab a
>total stranger with both hands, by the shoulders, and try to shove her
>into place.  (Yes, "her".  I've never noticed this being done to men,
>possibly for fear of being punched out.)

Well...maybe such sexism is rampant in your area, but I once tried to get an 
incompetent gent into place and wound up (unintentionally) 
whacking him "where it hurts."

>We all have our personal space.  By dancing, we allow limited access to
>that space; it's acceptable and necessary for dancers to hold hands 
>(as long as they're not squeezing), and fine to grasp a forearm for a
>turn thru or non-pattycake allemande left.  It's true that this guy
>didn't hurt me by grabbing me, but the violation of my personal space
>where no access was granted shocked me so much that I snapped
>"Get your hands off me!"  He gasped (really, I heard him), and dropped
>his hands.  And then of course refused to take hands at all for the
>rest of the tip, which is a cute little vengeful maneuver I've seen
>before.

Unfortunately, I've put up with too many dancers over the years who hardly 
take hands at all - period.  Very frustrating and confusing, esp. at challenge.

>...  I think there wouldn't be a need for unpleasant incidents if
>there was a code of behavior, and I'm sure there is one lurking about
>somewhere, but there's no enforcement, informal or otherwise.

I believe there is a "10 Commandments" of dancing, but too many of us forget 
them by the time we reach challenge (if heard at all).

>Since this isn't the first time this has happened to me at a PACE dance
>(or the second...), I'd like to see the Board of Directors
>adopt some guidelines re dancer interaction:  The first time in an
>evening someone uses roughness (unnecessary roughness, 10 yard
>penalty), they're warned.  The second time, they're asked to leave the
>dance.  I know the last Board was aware of the problem; they were
>sincerely concerned when I reported last year that someone had grabbed
>my shirtfront (and a fold of skin) and shoved during a tip where I was
>going the wrong way.  That time, there was pain that brought tears to
>my eyes.  I don't think that an incipient mistake justifies rough and
>inappropriate "corrective" action, although clearly some people do, and
>that's the heart of the problem.  

You also want to express your concerns via letter to Zip Coder.  Since that 
publication has a wide distribution among Advanced/Challenge dancers, you 
might be able to raise some more consciousness that way.

Good luck - and feel better!
Helena Robinson
htr@world.std.com
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: mfd3k@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU (Michael Dunn)
Subject: Contra Dance - Greenwood, VA - January 10
Organization: University of Virginia Computer Science Department
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 19:37:50 GMT

  + . + . + . + . +    C O N T R A    D A N C E !    + . + . + . + . +


                       Contra Corners Presents...

                        Rob Craighurst, caller,

                             and music by

                             Cheshire Cat



   Sunday, January 10
                      at the
                             Greenwood Community Center
                                                        Greenwood, VA



                         Instruction At 5:30

                            Dance at 6:30

          Information...... (804) 295-1847 or (804) 295-6854

                         Admission... $5.00



Directions to Greenwood.......

 Take Interstate 64 west from Charlottesville.  Take Route 250 west
 from the Crozet exit of Interstate 64 for 1.4 miles to state route
 690. Turn right on 690 and continue to the intersection with state
 route 691. Turn right on 691. The community center is on the right
 in a short distance.


-- 
|  Mike Dunn                     :  "If your knees aren't green by the     |
|    University of Virginia      :   end of the day, you need to seriously |
|      Dept. of Computer Science :   re-examine your life."   --Calvin     |
From: bradl@neptune.informix.com (Brad Levy)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: Footwear for dancing
Date: 7 Jan 93 20:14:46 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

I dance in Birkenstocks - and am quite happy with them. (I wear them when I'm
not dancing, too, except when its too wet...)

I have the style of Birk that has a strap around the ankle, so I don't have
problems with them falling off when dancing.

The bottom surface (that touches the dance floor) is not leather, but is
non-marring, and a reasonable balance between too high a friction and sliding
all over the place.

I really noticed the difference the shoes made when I was at NEFFA this past
year.  The previous time I was at NEFFA (with different shoes) my feet were
killing me at the end of each day.  With my Birks, the rest of me tuckered out
first.  (Ah- but such a happy tuckered out!)

- brad
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: tedcrane@cs.cornell.edu (Ted Crane)
Subject: Re: It's Announcement Time!
Organization: Tompkins County Computing, Ithaca, NY
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 19:25:18 GMT

(In response to query about how announcements are handled)

In Ithaca we've been using a calendar-based announcement formet.
Somebody (usually me) stands up and says, 
"What's happening after the dance tonight?"
--(Ten people chorus the name of our local after-dance hangout)
"Saturday?"
--brief blurbs
"Sunday?"
--brief blurbs
and so on, followed by formal introduction of the band and caller, and the
return to the main program.

Announcements, even by this method, almost always run too long.  Some
are of limited utility, and those of importance are repeated for weeks on end.
To avoid this, announcers are encouraged to make a poster, wave it about during
a brief annoucement, and say, "Details in the poster on the table."

Has anyone had success with the "Write down the info and it will be announced"
method?
-- 
- ted crane, alias (tc)                  tedcrane@cs.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: jb@world.std.com (Joel L Breazeale)
Subject: Re: Over-60s WSD-style Contra Dance in SF Bay Area?
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 03:57:27 GMT

In article <1993Jan7.181254.1@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu> winston@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (Alan Winston) writes:
>Folks --
>
>From discussion in this newsgroup over the last several years I have gained the
>impression that there is a "Contralab" organization, paralleling the WSD
>organization, which has a special (perhaps restricted) contra program.  If I
>have this wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.
>
I am a member of Contralab, but am not really sure if there is a parallel to
MWSD (Callerlab).  Certainly, it seems that Contralab has a lot of members
who are from the MWSD culture.  For example, the terminology in the Contralab
literature more frequently (sigh) makes reference to contra dance movements
by using terminology directly from MWSD/Callerlab (this was pointed out to
me within a few seconds by a very experienced traditional caller.

To make things more interesting...  Callerlab itself has a committee (or is it
two different ones) on traditional squares and contras.

I admit it 8-).  I'm actually a member of Callerlab too.  I wanted to get their
Community Dance Program newsletter so badly I signed up; CDP looks a lot like
traditional squares/contras reinvented.

>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?  
>
In general, I believe it would be unfortunate to believe Contralab caters
to the older crowd.  In fact, Tony Parkes was on their Board and there are
many members who are leaders in the traditional communitry.

I can give you contact information for Contralab members in the SF/LA areas.

The general address for Contralab is:  CONTRALAB; c/o Glen Nickerson;
                                       606 Woodland Way; Kent, WA  98031

Enjoy!

Joel Breazeale
jb@world.std.com
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: cstacy@ai.mit.edu (Christopher C. Stacy)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: WSD: "Get your hands off me!"
Date: 12 Jan 93 01:34:59
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
NNTP-Posting-Host: sunshine.ai.mit.edu
In-reply-to: tjw+@pitt.edu's message of 11 Jan 93 20:35:18 GMT


Once a long time ago, I attended a very nice, large, regional festival in
a different part of the country from where I live.  I was there without a
partner, just picking up strangers for each session.  Also, I was 30 years
younger than most of the other dancers.  Unfortunately, when dancers see
someone they don't know, they often assume the person doesn't really know
what they are doing and needs help.  Especially if the square is having a
little trouble, and I think this tendancy may also heightened if the
unknown person is young.  So, here I was, obviously a poor lost beginner.
Well, actually I was pretty sure I could handle dancing in the Plus level
hall there - I was calling Challenge dances, back home.

The square had not been going too well, and people probably thought the
stranger was the problem.  Everybody makes mistakes, of course, but in the
particular tip I am thinking of, I wasn't the one who goofed up.  At one
point, one of the dancers (a woman) got flustered, decided that I must be
in the wrong position and switched me with someone.  I just thought to
myself, "Well, now we're wrong, but whatever makes `em happy", and didn't resist.
When the next call came a moment later, she made a slightly startled noise
and hastily switched me back to the correct place, and we did the call.
She had a kinda funny look on her face, and I just smiled and didn't say
anything, but I thought the whole thing was pretty hilarious (and never
forgot it...)  They didn't pull me around the rest of the tip, by the way.

:)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: jsivier@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Jonathon Sivier )
Subject: Re: It's Announcement Time!
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 19:13:11 GMT

Erna-Lynne.Bogue@um.cc.umich.edu writes:

>So we reach my questions:
> --  do you have announcements at  your dances?

yes

> --  how long do they take?

usually no more than 5 minutes

> --  who makes the announcements?

The president of our dance group board (or someone she desinate) usually makes
a few announcements and then we allow anyone else to make announcements if they
wish.  However we don't ask if anyone has any announcements, but if they come
up and ask to speak we let them do so.

> --  what format do you use?

We have founs that the time to make announcements is after people have lined
up for the first dance in the second half of the evening.  This ensures that
you reach most of the people present and that they will be attentive.  Or as
attentive as they ever get.

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

I think most people are very willing to listen to announcements as long as they
don't take TOO long.  Everyone has a differnent level of tolerance, but as long
as the announcements are pertinent to dance group activities I haven't heard
any complaints.  Some people just don't listen though, no matter what the
subject.  Many's the time we have made an announcement such as "Next week's
dance will be held at <a different location>" and people who were there and
thus should have heard this announcement will complain that they came to the
dance the next week and no one was there.  In my experience these tend to be
the same people everytime.  I usually veiw it as evolution in action and don't
take very serious note of their complaints.

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

I think they are a necessary evil.  While they do take time away from dancing
at the moment, they improve your ability to enjoy dancing in the future.  That
is you'll learn about the alternate location for next week's dance or that
dance weekend you hadn't seen the flyer for.

Jonathan

-------------------------------------------------------------------
|  Jonathan Sivier               |  Ballo ergo sum.               |
|  jsivier@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu      |  (I dance therefore I am.)     |
|  Flight Simulation Lab         |	        - des Cartwright  |
|  Beckman Institute             |                                |
|  405 N. Mathews                |                                |
|  Urbana, IL  61801             |                                |
|  Work: 217/244-1923            |                                |
|  Home: 217/359-8225            |                                |
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: bswetman@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Barbara Swetman)
Subject: Re: Footwear for dancing
Organization: Hamilton College - Clinton, NY
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 22:57:52 GMT

I'd like to hear discussion on this too, so please post replies to the
list. I'm interested in women's shoes.

I used to know several people who wore those black cloth shoes from
China. When I tried them on I thought they lacked arch support. I had
and lost a pair of Cappezio character shoes, they were not leather and I
did not get fitted properly. Heel was 1-2 inches. Arch support was OK
but I got corns from the tight toe. Mostly I wear athletic shoes now,
but they stick.
From: dave@monitor.larc.nasa.gov (Dave Hinde)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: "Get your hands off me!"
Date: 12 Jan 1993 18:11:43 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: monitor.larc.nasa.gov

In article <1993Jan12.150107.17453@netnews.whoi.edu>, lgolder@hoh.mbl.edu (Linda Golder) writes:
|> >> some people think it's perfectly okay to grab a
|> > >total stranger with both hands, by the shoulders, and try to shove her
|> > >into place.  (Yes, "her".  I've never noticed this being done to men,
|> > >possibly for fear of being punched out.)
|>  
|> 
|> 1)  If I find someone who is having a tough time following the segments
|> of a contra dance .............................
|> ........................ and begin using slightly exaggerated body language
|> to give non-verbal cues.  Some non-verbals:  lead strongly  with different
|> shoulders for a hay;  ladies stick that right hand *way* out for ladies chain;
|> hands together, fingers pointing forward, waist high for pass through;
|> appropriate hand up and ready to cue for allemande.

I've been using basically the same "helpful" techniques for years in WSD.  I'm usually
involved in at least one beginners group each year, and try to attend open beginner dances.
I've gotten into the habit of pointing with my free hand, and being sure to guide dancers
in the right direction when I "release" them (from turns, swings, etc.).

As for grabbing in general, I learned at my first "big" dance (Dela. Valley, Sept. 1963) 
to never "grab" hands.  An older dancer, ex-vaudevillion, gave our new group of teenagers 
some pointers on smooth dancing.  He instructed us to cup our hand slightly, but not close 
them on another's hand.  I've actually hand my thumb dislocated when someone didn't let go! 
|> 
                                              
                                          ___/,@___  Dave Hinde
                                         /_o_____o_| dave@monitor.larc.nasa.gov
From: pearl@spectacle.sw.stratus.com (Dan Pearl)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: Dance Database?
Date: 7 Jan 93 16:01:08 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Software Engineering
NNTP-Posting-Host: spectacle.sw.stratus.com

In article <1880003@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM> susan@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Susan Frontczak) writes:
>Does anyone know whether the dance database set up a year ago is still
>functioning, and if so, how to get hold of it?  The address I have is:
>
>	boris@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu
>	Boris Goldowsky
>
>I tried it, but the mail bounced.

In November, I got mail from watson@devnull.mpd.tandem.com (William Watson)
who says:

        The server has moved to Boston.  The account under which it used
to operate (boris@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu) has been closed.  Try the addresses

        "folk-dance-info@athena.mit.edu" for database server queries or
        "folk-dance-info-request@athena.mit.edu" for submissions, etc.

I haven't heard from the guys who are now running the server in some
weeks.  I don't know if they intend to start publicizing the server's
new home, or if they have changes in mind first.


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Pearl  **  Stratus Computer, Inc.  **  pearl@spectacle.sw.stratus.com
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
From: speer@alumni.cs.colorado.edu (Rick Speer)
Subject: Balkan/Bulgarian needlepoint info wanted
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 20:57:04 GMT

Does anyone know of a store in the NYC area that has
information (books, whatever) on Balkan/Bulgarian
needlepoint techniques? Something in or near Manhat-
tan would be great. Please e-mail any response direct-
ly to me. Thanks.


Rick S.
speer@cs.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing,ont.events,tor.general