#technocontra

In the last two years, if you've been dancing on the east coast, you've probably at least heard of technocontra. For those who haven't, it's a fusion of mixed original and sampled dance music usually with live instruments played on top. It's done usually under low lighting with disco lights and black lights. Some bands I've seen and enjoyed perform technocontra include Phase X, Firecloud, and DJ Improper. I've had the pleasure of calling with Phase X at a couple of small parties, and a couple of guest spots. Phase X is Chris Jacoby's mixed music with both he and partner Ross Harriss layering on live instruments of a great variety. Last Saturday, I was thrilled to join them onstage at Princeton, NJ, for a double-dance evening, with regular contra for two hours, and technocontra for three. Laura Winslow split the night of calling with me, and was a pleasure to work with and a talented caller. From a calling perspective, technocontra is challenging. I've been actively working to make this one of my specialties, and since this is such a new type of contra dance, I'd like to offer some advice based on my experience. First, the main reasons why technocontra is challenging: 1. It's dark. 2. It's loud. 3. The music isn't always as clear for the dancing. Sometimes, the A and the B may sound similarly. Other times, the musicians may drop out the beat in the music, as is common with the style. My recommendations: 1. I bought a small music stand to hold my cards, and clipped a book light to it. 2. Call longer. 3. Be ready to count, even if that means tapping off the beat on your leg. 4. Communicate ahead of time with the musicians about their music. Find out if there's any particularly difficult musical challenges. 5. Keep your dances a bit more simple than a regular contra. 6. Give your dancers a bit more time to rest, and make sure to insert some dances in there with some rest time for each gender. My dances from that evening: (I'll hopefully have video to post soon!) Regular Contra Dance:

(1-5: Laura called the first 5) 6: Chuck the Budgie, by Rick Mohr 7: Pedal Pushers, by Bob Dalsemer 8: Camp Harlam Reel, by Mark Widmer 9: The Missing Piece, by Bronwyn Woods 10: 20 Below, by Bill Olson

Technocontra:

1. Appetizer, by Scott Higgs 2. Rockin' Robin, by Rick Mohr 3, 4 (Laura Winslow called)

5. 30 Minute Technocontra Medley: (Alternating me and Laura, with the usual 1-time-through overlaps) 1. Friday Night Fever, by Tony Parkes 2. Cascades, by Orace Johnson 3. A Nice Combination, by Gene Hubert 4. Al's Safeway Produce, by Robert Cromartie 5. Cetrifugal Hey, by Gene Hubert 6. Chama River Reel, by Merri Rudd 7. Heartbeat Contra, by Don Flaherty 8. Butter, by Gene Hubert

(break)