Here's the third or fourth iteration of the order of the dances Wade and I worked out. Your comments are welcome!
1. Dog Branch Reel by Bob Dalsemer - Martha
2. Reel Easy by Cary Ravitz - Joe
3. Al's Safeway Produce by Robert Cromartie - Chrystal
4. Dancing at the Rest Stop by Bill Olson - Kay
5. Right Hand Lady - traditional Square - Wade
6. Al's HeyDay#2 by Al Olsen - Joe
Waltz
Break
7. Blue Persuasion by Chrystal Gallacci - Chrystal
8. You Can't Get There From Here by Carol Ormand - Wade
9. XYZ by Bob Green - Bob
10. Thanks to the Gene by Tom Hinds - David
11. Delphiniums and Daisies by Tanya Rotenberg - Martha
Waltz
We'll have to be pretty efficient to get through six dances in the first half, but it seems pretty doable, I think.
Ideas? Thoughts?
M
E
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3 comments:
Hey everybody,
I sent a fairly lengthy reply to Martha's email, realizing that I probably should have placed it here (and made it shorter).
Anyway, I propose for your consideration that we enact the two walk through rule, and that we start each dance from where the last walk through ends. Please indulge me by letting me practice my two dances this Wednesday.
See you all then,
Joe
The two walkthrough then start from here tactic is a good one for lots of dances, but I'm not sure it's always the best one.
For example, at the beginning of the evening, when the bottom of the line is filled with new dancers, a new couple in the last foursome would dance the first walkthrough as a one, then be out the second walkthrough, and have to start the dance in a completely new role.
Perhaps going back is better then. I don't know.
Similarly, at the end of the evening, a dance could be perfectly easy to do, hardly requiring even one walkthrough. So doing one walkthrough and then going back could be the best option. It's faster than two walkthroughs and there's no one out at the top when you start.
Anyone have any other thoughts on this?
M
E
I'd have to agree with Martha here: at least at the beginning of the evening, 2 walkthroughs and go back to place gives a certain amount of familiarity for new dancers. As callers, and especially as new callers, I think we owe it to the new dancers in the hall to make it as easy as possible for them at the beginning of the evening. After 2 or 3 dances, they should see how the whole thing works and with luck be at ease with the process. Then, after that, 2 walkthroughs and start from place is fine, and it will keep the evening running smoothly. I've been in the left-hand line at the beginning of the evening too many times when we didn't do 2 walkthroughs and back to place and confusion reigned from the get go!
Finally, I don't think we should impose strict rules on how the individual caller goes about teaching and calling his or her dances, simply for the fact that the caller must learn to use their own judgement in assessing whether the dancers will be able to do their dance. When I called last Sunday, I allowed myself to be distracted when I "taught" (hah!) a half a hey. I really was not able to tell if the back of the center line got it or not, so I felt obligated to walk through it again. One more time through showed me they could do it, so I felt fine about proceeding with the dance, but if they hadn't gotten it, it would have been a big problem caused by ME! Did the walkthrough take too long? Yes, it did (over 5 min, I think), but it wasn't unbearable.
So my thoughts are that for the first 2 dances, 2 walkthroughs and go home is highly recommended, after that its up to each caller to decide.
Wade
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