Ron T Blechner <contraron(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> I've been finding circle mixers extremely valuable for dances with newer
> dancers. They provide a way both to expose them to many different
> experienced dancers as well as to make them comfortable with the idea of
> dancing with different people all night. (We've all seen The Couple That
> Shows Up And Dances Just With Each Other that doesn't come back because
> they don't really meet anyone ...)
>
With the address of "contraron" I'm going to assume that you are talking
about a regularly scheduled contra dance series that is open to the
public. (I really appreciate when posters make the context of their post
clear. There are a lot of different kinds of callers on this list and what
works in one setting may be inappropriate in another. We need to know what
we are talking about to have a useful discussion.)
Circle mixers can certainly play a role at open, public contra dances but
your comment seems to make some assumptions about the dancers and the local
dance culture. Are you using any strategies or techniques--other than
mixers--to integrate first-timers into the hall?
Your comment assumes that at least some of the newcomers will not be aware
of the tradition of switching partners after each dance and that the
regulars will not take any action to proactively integrate these folks.
When I call at public contra dances I always follow each dance with the
instruction: "Please find a new partner and form ___ contra dance lines."
I use the optional newcomers orientation, explicit instructions, careful
programming, clear and precise calling, as well as many implied messages to
make it clear that integration of first-timers is not only essential but
also fun. Very rarely I will see a couple of first-timers dancing
exclusively with each other. But this occurs only after they have ignored
multiple explicit and implied instructions and have fended off several
attempts by regulars to partner with them. In that case I will intervene
myself, personally, on the dance floor, approach the couple, and explain
the nature of our dance event. That has always had the desired effect.
Integration of newcomers is at the heart of these open, public social
events. I do use mixers occasionally, but tend to reserve them for other
types of events. If I do use a mixer at an open, public contra dance I
take care to announce it well in advance. I do this because an unexpected
mixer will derail the efforts of regulars to partner with first-timers. I
want to encourage the integration efforts of the regulars so I warn them of
an upcoming mixer to facilitate their cooperation.
Mixers do have a place but I see them as part of an overall integration
strategy.
- Greg McKenzie
Hi all
Just wondering about a transition in Nathaniel Jack's "Walk the Plank."
It looks like a nice bouncy dance with good rebound, but there's a
transition from a petronella twirl into a LH star at the end, and in the
absence of a group of guinea pigs here at the house I thought I'd ask if
anyone's tried this and what they think. Here are the notes:
Walk the Plank Duple Imp.
A1 4,4 Neighbor balance, Al right 3/4
8 Men Al left 1-1/2
A2 16 Partner Bal + Swing, end facing down
B1 8 Down the hall in lines of 4, turn alone
8 Come back up, bend the line to a circle
B2 8 Balance the ring, spin right one place
8 Star left 1ce around.
Is it comfortable to come from that twirl into catching L hands for a star?
Kalia
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:57:45 -0500
> From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Walk the Plank
> Message-ID: <20121115145744.GB19857(a)melfpelt.swarpa.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Chris Lahey wrote:
>> I specifically told them that usually I encourage clapping and
>> talked about how nice it felt and actually got most of them to clap
>> for the first petronella and not for the second.
>
> I think presenting yourself as being on the pro-clapping side is
> probably key to why that worked for you. Many callers don't like
> clapping on petronellas and dancers who like the clapping know that
> callers think this. So when a caller says "don't clap", even if it
> really is specific to this particular dance, a lot of people think
> "don't tell me how to dance" and ignore them.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:06:25 -0800 (PST)
> From: Richard Mckeever <macmck(a)ymail.com>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Walk the Plank
> Message-ID:
> <1352991985.42870.YahooMailNeo(a)web120404.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> In my opinion - this is getting too regimented again.
>
> I never tell dancers if they should clap or not.? I have been known to let them know how I feel about it in light hearted way.
>
> Just let them dance and focus on the important stuff
>
> Mac
What always amuses me about the clap is how people clap during the walk through - of course at varying times since there is no musical phrase.
This may have been discussed before, but why does the idea that they
should take hands four seem to come as a complete surprise to at least
half the dancers, every single freakin' time?
It's not hard. You can do it while you're talking. It's a complete and
total no-brainer for contemporary contras. And yet...
Anyone have successful strategies for helping this process along that
doesn't involve specially-trained dogs?
Kalia
Once I was calling at a festival in Denmark. As the dancers were
milling around I announced that the first dance would be a contra.
INSTANTLY contra lines were formed (literally 3 seconds). I asked
them to take hands four and it was done in a maybe 4 seconds. I
thought maybe I was dreaming.
T
These days a Floor Manager (or Venue Manager) might also be responsible
for, or delegate the responsibility for:
- ensuring someone is one the door, greeting and taking money
- making sure first timers know what is going on
- health and safety
- heating, lighting, power, etc.
- organising refreshments
- etc.
That is as well as what Alan mentioned:
- making sure that sets get formed
- making introductions
- ejecting the disorderly
In other words, making sure that the dance is running smoothly, leaving
the caller free to handle the dancing.
My worst experience as a floor manager was handling a fatal heart attack
in the middle of the dance floor!
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Around hereabouts (Boston), dancers have been observed lining up duple improper. I'd say that is a good bet upwards of 98% of the time. Usually the cross-over makes it halfway down before some cajoling from the downstream dancers gets the cross-over the remaining way. If you train the dancers to take hands four in improper circle as they join the set, then the sets will be comfortably spaced out, as well. Worth trying, I think.
As a dancer or floor manager, I sometimes have done what the Scottish Country Dancers do: An individual from the top couple walks down the set and counts people off. Instead of "1, 2, 3, 4: end of set; 1, 2, 3, 4: end of set; ..." it would simply be 1, 2, 1, 2...
On Nov 13, 2012, at 7:32 AM, callers-request(a)sharedweight.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Taking hands four (Kalia Kliban)
> 2. Re: Taking hands four (Paul Wilde)
> 3. Re: Taking hands four (Andrea Nettleton)
> 4. Re: Taking hands four (Donald Perley)
> 5. Re: Taking hands four (Richard Mckeever)
> 6. Re: Taking hands four (Lewis Land)
> 7. Re: Taking hands four (Richard Hart)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:38:59 -0800
> From: Kalia Kliban <kalia(a)sbcglobal.net>
> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Taking hands four
> Message-ID: <50A1A4B3.5050705(a)sbcglobal.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> This may have been discussed before, but why does the idea that they
> should take hands four seem to come as a complete surprise to at least
> half the dancers, every single freakin' time?
>
> It's not hard. You can do it while you're talking. It's a complete and
> total no-brainer for contemporary contras. And yet...
>
> Anyone have successful strategies for helping this process along that
> doesn't involve specially-trained dogs?
>
> Kalia
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 8:10 AM, Andrea Nettleton <twirly-girl(a)bellsouth.net
>> wrote:
>
>> I like to think of it as meaning the dancers are happy, because they are
>> chatting instead of fussing. I say hands four, as you line up, consult the
>> band re tunes, say it again. If they still appear disorganized, I'll pick
>> a random move like N Allemande L , or Cir L all the way. They think I'm
>> teaching the dance, so scramble to get hands four. Then I can say, OK, now
>> that you have hands 4, here's what you really do. Usually they are a
>> little quicker after that. Will they ever just take hands four
>> automatically? I seriously doubt it. Not in this country. The Danes are
>> rumored to line themselves up silently. We are more unruly in general.
>> Best luck
>> Andrea
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>
>
I also use Andrea's approach if the lines have formed and it's time to get going and the "hands four" request continues to fall on deaf ears - Do-si-do your neighbor is my choice - suddenly there is a great scramble - and she's right, after that people seem to notice hands four more. Martha
Is this spam??
Donna
"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should
dance." -unknown
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