• Home
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Resources
  • Workshops
  • Street Team
  • Code of Ethics
  • Friday Flourishes
  • Contact
  Contra Syncretist
Connect with Contra Syncretist!

Contrashock, Contrastock, Content, Form, and Will Mentor (Part 2)

2/1/2012

 
Last week, I posted part 1 of a conversation I had with caller Will Mentor about calling techno contras. The conversation evolved into a discussion of Contrashock in New York City and Contrastock at Glen Echo last May, two events in which Will's role was pivotal and featured Perpetual e-Motion, Giant Robot Dance, Swallowtail, and was co-called by Nils Fredland.  Will is planning to repeat that role when Contrashock II and Contrastock II occur in September, with Elixir, Perpetual e-Motion, and Wild Asparagus.
_In addition to calling at the Washington, DC area Contra Sonic series and Contra Evolution in western Massachusetts, Will also was instrumental in planning the dual venue event and weekend comprised of New York’s Contrashock and Glen Echo, MD’s Contrastock the following day in May 2011. Perpetual e-Motion, Swallowtail, and Giant Robot Dance played, and Will co-called with Nils Fredland, George Marshall, and Tim Van Egmond.

“When I was on stage with Giant Robot Dance calling the late Saturday night set at the 2010 Dance Flurry [in Saratoga Springs, NY], I thought it would be cool to feature Perpetual e-Motion with Giant Robot Dance at the same event.”


"I watch the documentary movie on the musical event Woodstock every year because I get the sense that the festival was planned and reacting to individual circumstances. There was this kind of...it’s getting done as we go. And I just have this soft spot for the ideal of all these rag-tag people just sort of expressing this kind of idealism that is like a secular hippie religion and occasionally that comes up for me in contra dancing. There’s a kind of secular religiosity to it. It popped into my head at the same time I had the idea for an event. I don’t get to sit back and watch very much, but at Flurry [2010] I sat back and looked at the size of the crowd and the fact that Andrew VanNorstrand was wearing a top hat and I think Aaron Marcus was wearing a dress and the whole thing felt like Jerry Garcia and Woodstock to me.”

Will remembers, “I’ve got a thousand people dancing and my thought from the stage was [on how to name this event] ‘Wood-dance, Contra-wood, Contra-stock...’ The thought was about who got picked, and the idea that it was this generation’s eclectic approach....well, that and Andrew’s top hat. I just love Giant Robot Dance. I love their unpredictability.”

Will continues, “From what I can tell, Wild Asparagus and The Clayfoot Strutters are two earlier bands who paved the way for an eclectic approach to contra dance music. An approach that balances skill, tradition, and fun, with an intelligent sampling of sounds and structures from an array of musical genres. Perpetual e-Motion and Giant Robot Dance are two younger bands who update this approach more than any other I have heard. John Cote and Ed Howe, the musicians that make up Perpetual e-Motion, remind me of New Music musicians who might hang out with Brian Eno. Their precise sets -- shaped by computerized-looping sounds -- foreground the structure of sound as a compliment to the melodies. As far as I know -- no one has combined electronica, funk, old time, bluegrass, and pop with contra dance music as much as Perpetual e-Motion. Andrew VanNorstrand, Noah VanNorstrand, Andrew Marcus, Aaron Marcus, and Michael Ferguson, the musicians in Giant Robot Dance, have created a savvy jam band that features a humorous sense of juxtaposing tunes. In addition to being great musicians, they combine and quote the cultural resonance of pop tunes with traditional tunes. Perpetual e-Motion engages content while favoring form. Giant Robot Dance engages form while favoring content.”

“I next thought of Nils Fredland because he is not only a great caller, but we share a similar sense of adventure and fun as callers. Nils crowd surfed at Contrastock after hours of flawless calling. Nuff said!”

“So it was going to be those two bands....I actually thought Clayfoot Strutters, Wild Asparagus, Giant Robot Dance, and Perpetual e-Motion would have been the most perfect bands all together....[they have a] fearless eclectic approach, fearless experimentalization, and all took shit from traditionalists. So I pitched it to Penny [Weinberger, FSGW Dance Chair] and then to Merle McEldowney [with CDNY] in New York and they immediately liked it. There was no hesitation on their part at all...they did all the ground stuff. There is some footage of the guy that organized Woodstock, and I always loved that footage and was happy not to be him but anyway so yeah I was just basically pitching an event. I mean, getting Giant Robot Dance and Nils and Perpetual e-Motion all on one date was a challenge....I didn’t count the emails but it was huge. You’ve got very busy people, and so they’re not gonna respond every five minutes. I’d get answers and then I’d have to prod....so finally we came up with these dates and then Penny and Merle immediately wanted to do it. I was surprised and happy that that part was easy. I was doing something that I’m not sure had ever been done before. I created the event and then pitched the event to a venue.”

So, did Contrashock and Contrastock turn out as he envisioned? Mostly, it seems.

“There’s the ideal world where there’s this vast dance floor outside and it’s sunny....the direct quoting of Woodstock, nice sort of dreamy image I can keep in my head, but yeah, I think somehow the dances took on slightly different characters because of the halls.”

“In an ideal world, the Clayfoot Strutters would have been in it too, with the old and new bands that played around with genres in relation to the trad music the most. I actually think that this year with Wild Asparagus, it’ll be great.”

“I don’t think there’s any proof of...there’s no way to prove that that kind of [genre] mixing is better or worse for dancing, but I think it’s better. Everyone puts their own mark on a tune. I remember doing a gig a long time ago in Walpole, NH and I don’t remember the band, but I called a square and I just kind of ended it and the band guy said, ‘so much for the integrity of the tune.’ I was a newbie and that was definitely an opinion [to consider].”

“I had an art teacher in high school who instilled in me that you walk into your studio, or into situations, and you step back and get a sense of it without judging it. But when you made your own work, you have to put a judgment on it and filter it through your own lens.”

“It’s like when you go for a Ph.D., you can’t just go with someone else’s research, you filter everything through your own take on things. That’s just absolutely in my DNA. If I walk in and a band is doing something, I never say yes or no right away, I just of respond to it. I don’t have an axe to grind.”

“I am happy that within the world of contra dancing that Dudley Laufman and Giant Robot Dance can coexist. I love it. And not only that, but it’s not all New Englanders. People are going to have opinions...I mean, when I’m on stage and there’s 200 people in front of me. I could have my best night, and some people may not like that. It’s also part of the nature of performing....it’s in time, and you can’t retake it. It’s not for the faint of heart.”

This year, Contrastock II (DC) and Contrashock II (NYC) will feature the bands Perpetual e-Motion, Wild Asparagus, and Elixir, and will occur on September 21-23, 2012. Many thanks to Will for taking the time to share his thoughts!
Perry
2/1/2012 01:49:17 am

I am not sure that I would say that Dudley Laufman and Giant Robot dance "coexist". Will is great that he's that type of person that can enjoy both types of those events - but it does seem nowadays that a lot of people who would enjoy Giant Robot Dance or PeM would find a Dudley Laufman contra dance boring.

M.-J. Taylor link
6/26/2012 03:03:22 am

Interesting read. I found the combination of Giant Robot Dance and PeM compelling enough to invite Giant Robot Dance to join PeM at Summer Soirée this year (for videos of the two together at that venue see: http://www.facebook.com/groups/84107209298/) ... some dancers (of a 'certain' age) found GRD's style to be so 'alternative' as to replace the need for 'techno contra.' In any case, these two bands were clearly a killer combination and I have no clue how to follow that act in 2013.

Ryan (blogger) link
7/5/2012 12:21:56 pm

M.-J., if that's not a rhetorical thought I might have a few ideas.... Drop me a line at contrasyncretist at gmail....

If it *is* rhetorical, I'll still agree that it will be a very tough combo to follow. :)


Comments are closed.
    This project has concluded as of mid-2013 (with an epilogue posted mid-2016) but we hope to see you soon on a contra dance floor! Meanwhile, head over to our Facebook page for upcoming techno contra events and other items of interest.

    The 100+ Friday Flourish videos can still be found on YouTube.

    Author

    I dance with abandon. I play with glowsticks. I look for music that is conducive to one or both. I play behind cameras.  I write about all of the above. I'm based in Glen Echo's contra dance community outside of Washington, D.C., but I'm happy to go dance afield when I can. Lather, rinse, repeat. Always repeat.

    Archives

    June 2016
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    Aaron Marcus
    Advanced Dances
    Alan Foss
    Album Review
    Alex Krogh-Grabbe
    Allemande
    Allemande Swing
    Alternative Music Party
    Alternative Twirl Out From Promenade
    Andrew Marcus
    Andrew Vannorstrand
    Andrew Van Norstrand
    Andy Reiner
    Anna Kendrick
    Anna Rain
    Anne Midgette
    Ann Fallon
    Arlington Va
    Ascap. Bmi
    Asheville Nc
    Atlanta Ga
    Back Lead
    Backward Swing
    Backward Swing With Lasso
    Balance And Play
    Balance-&-swing Transition
    Balance Switch
    Bates College
    Beatles Contra
    Behind-the-Back Swing Variant
    Bennett Schatz
    Bev Bernbaum
    Binary Blackout
    Blaise Thompson
    Blogger
    Blogger's Soapbox
    Blogger's Soapbox
    Blogger’s Soapbox
    Blues
    Brendan Carey Block
    Brendan Taaffe
    Brian Hamshar
    Burning Man
    Cake
    California Twirl
    Caller
    Call For Submissions
    Cha-cha Slide
    Chaos Lines
    Chattaboogie
    Chelsea Co
    Choreography
    Chrissy Fowler
    Christopher Jacoby
    Christylez Bacon
    Claps
    Clark Baker
    Club Contras
    Community
    Connie's Whirl
    Consent
    Content
    Contra Evolution
    Contra Evolution.
    Contra Evolution. Greenfield Ma
    Contraforce
    Contra-phoria
    Contra Shenanigans
    Contrashock
    Contra Sonic
    Contrastock
    Cool Hip Dancer
    Copyright
    Costuming
    Courtesy Twirl
    Cover Bands
    Crabs
    Crowding
    Cuddle Swing
    Cuddle Swing Switch
    Cuddle-up California Twirl
    Culture Clash
    Cups
    Dana Parkinson
    Dance Experiment
    Dancers
    Dance Weekends
    Dancing In Small Spaces
    Dancing Switch
    Dan Kappus
    Dave Colestock
    Dave Eisenstadter
    Dead Cat Bounce
    Decadance
    Deca-dance
    Deca-dance Event
    Demon Barber Roadshow
    Diane Silver
    Dj
    Dj Fml
    Dj Gaga
    Dj Improper
    Dj Nu B
    Dj Shel D
    Dj Solar Sound
    Donna Hunt
    Do Si Do
    Double Allemande Swing
    Double Apex
    Double Twirl Under
    Doug Plummer
    Ecd
    Ed Howe
    Editorial
    Eileen Thorsos
    Elbow Swing
    Electric Camel Contra
    Electric Slide
    Electrotrad
    Elyse Marder
    Eric Harris
    Eric Johnson
    Fads
    Fiddlefoxx
    Firecloud
    Flash Mob
    Flourishes
    Flurry Festival
    Flying Swing Switch
    Follow
    Footfall
    Footworks
    Fox News
    Fremont Abbey
    Friday Flourish
    Gangnam Style
    Gate
    Gaye Fifer
    Gender Balance
    Gender Free Contra
    Gender-free Contra
    Gender Roles
    Gents Chain
    Gents Swing
    George Marshall
    Gerry Diver
    Giant Robot Dance
    Giant Swallow Motion
    Glen Loper
    Glossary
    Greenfield Ma
    Greenwood Va
    Gypsy Meltdown Twirl
    Hank Morris
    Hay For Four
    High Ceilidh Swing
    High Ceilidh Wing
    High Contrast
    Hip-hop
    Hiphop Contra33bdaf614f
    History
    Housekeeping
    Infographic
    Intergenerationality
    Jack Mitchell
    Jamie Oshima
    Jayjfresh02b2d7b2bf
    Jeff Kaufman
    Jesse Edgerton
    John Cote
    John Pranio
    Jordy Williams
    Julie Vallimont
    Ladies
    Ladies Chain
    Ladies Chained9d7891b2
    Lead
    Lewiston Me
    Licensing
    Lighting
    Lights
    Links
    Lisa Greenleaf
    Live At The Butterball
    London Bridge Hay
    Long Lines
    Louis Dow
    Low Ceilidh Swing
    Macarena
    Madonna
    Marketing
    Marlin Prowell
    Martin Hayes
    Martyn Bennett
    Medley
    Melissa Taggart
    Mel Novner
    Mens Chain
    Miami Fl
    Michael Ferguson
    Midswingc4f63a1de0
    Midswing Spinoutb14a07051c
    Midtwirl Reverse8b8dd124c4
    Mike Wilson-jones
    Miriam Baker
    Misdivine
    Money Musk
    Moral Issue
    Morris
    Mosh Pit
    Music
    New Dancers
    News Coverage
    New York Ny
    Nils Fredland
    Noah Van Norstrand
    North Carolina
    North Whitefield Me
    Organizer
    Other Syncretists
    Outreach
    Over The Head Slide
    Parallel Variant On Crabs
    Pattycake
    Paul Dalessio5fc83e8cd1
    Pawbat Twirl3677eefc75
    Penelope Weinberger
    Perpetual E Motion
    Perpetual Emotionab4aa3ee79
    Perry Shafran
    Petronella
    Phase X
    Portland
    Portland Or
    Pretzel Swing
    Principle
    Promenade
    Ray Polhemus
    Redux
    Resolutions
    Reverse Cape Position
    Reverse Courtesy Turn
    Reverse Ripcord Twirl Variant
    Rick Mohr
    Ripcord Twirl
    Road Stories
    Roanoke Wv
    Roll Away
    Rollover
    Ross Harriss
    Rss Feed
    Safety
    Sarah Dicegoldberg38fd311c67
    Scout House
    Sean Oshima
    Seattle Wa
    Sesac
    Seth Tepfer
    Seventeen
    Shiny Objects
    Simple Twirl Switch
    Singing Squares
    Skaters
    Sonny Newman
    Soulja Boy
    Sound Mixing
    Spark In The Dark
    Spider Vetter
    Spinout
    Spokane Wa
    Stanford Ca
    St Petersburg Fld35dde8e84
    Street Team
    Stretches
    Survey
    Swallowtail
    Swing
    Switch
    Technoberfest
    Techno Contra
    Technophoria
    Ted Hodapp
    Terpsichore
    Terra Price
    The Henry Road Bandits
    The Matt Blackfield Project
    The Speech Project
    The System
    The Turtle Duhks
    Things To Think About
    Tobacco Road
    Toki Oshima
    Tradeoff Twirl
    Transsiberian Orchestra6b3cf55bca
    Traveling Swing
    Tricky Swing
    Turn Under
    Twirl
    Twirl In Switch
    Twisted Swing
    Twisty Chain
    Twitter
    Two Handed Ladies Chain
    Ufo
    Uk
    Variety
    Vernals4785e4f52b
    Vicki Herndon
    Videos
    Vince Budnick
    Waltz Variant On Crab Swing
    Washington Dc
    Wendy Graham
    Whipperstomper Balance
    Whipperstompers
    Whitefield Me
    Will Mentor
    Willow Grove Pa
    World
    Xecd
    Youth Dance Weekend
    Yuja Wang

    Comments are welcome; spam-bots and disrespectful behaviors are not. Please do (nicely) point out errors if they are found.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from edwin.bautista, Cupcake KITSCHen, Ivy Dawned, Martin Pettitt, quinn.anya, LimeTech, avlxyz, Sarah and Jason, Bill Ward's Brickpile