For the past two years, Gaye Fifer has called the late night techno contra at Terpsichore's Dance Holiday, a family event between Christmas and New Year's in Roanoke, WV.
Gaye got started calling techno at Terpsichore's at the behest of her daughter, Rachel Fifer. As Gaye explains, "we often have a 'late night' activity, and there is a solid group of young people who were interested in techno.... The first year, Rachel provided the music. Last year, Jeremiah Seligman [a.k.a. dJ improper] (from the DC area) provided the music. I spent some time listening to the music and figuring out how many 'potatoes' I would have "
Gaye got started calling techno at Terpsichore's at the behest of her daughter, Rachel Fifer. As Gaye explains, "we often have a 'late night' activity, and there is a solid group of young people who were interested in techno.... The first year, Rachel provided the music. Last year, Jeremiah Seligman [a.k.a. dJ improper] (from the DC area) provided the music. I spent some time listening to the music and figuring out how many 'potatoes' I would have "
Still, Gaye found that "the biggest difference for me [from calling a traditional contra] is that I can't navigate as well by the phrasing of the music.... Both time I called, the DJ spent a little time with me, listening to the music [and] hearing how it fit the dance.... I don't always hear phrases of 8 [beats] in the techno music, but was able to feel the rhythm of the music and the moves.... I was somewhat nervous about my ability to call techno, but relaxed when I saw how much fun the dancers were having, and how much they created their own experience!... It's really been great fun and not as difficult as I had imagined," she says. And "Yep!" she'd do it again.
In light of some of the recent controversy over where crossover/techno contras belong in the tradition, I asked Gaye for her thoughts: "I don't see techno replacing or or competing with traditional contra, but I think it does draw a younger crowd into enjoying the movement of contra. I don't see young dancers choosing techno over [traditional] contra, but appreciating the possibility of both."
Gaye Fifer calls contra and teaches waltz with Wayne Albright. She is based in Pittsburgh, PA. Many thanks to her for answering my questions!
In light of some of the recent controversy over where crossover/techno contras belong in the tradition, I asked Gaye for her thoughts: "I don't see techno replacing or or competing with traditional contra, but I think it does draw a younger crowd into enjoying the movement of contra. I don't see young dancers choosing techno over [traditional] contra, but appreciating the possibility of both."
Gaye Fifer calls contra and teaches waltz with Wayne Albright. She is based in Pittsburgh, PA. Many thanks to her for answering my questions!
