[Callers] Family dance questions

[Rich Sbardella via Callers]

At Old Srurbridge Village, a living museum, we use one penny whistle,
flute, or fiddle.   We always dance Rakes of Mallow.  The age of the
dancing audience ranges from 4 to 70s, and they always have fun.

Rakes:
Fwd & Bk, Fwd & Change lines
Fwd & Bk, Fwd and change back to original line
Right hand turn, left hand turn
Top Couple sashay down.

Simplicity is the key.  Do a google search for books by the New England
Dancing Masters, and by Mariam Rose.  There are many good dances and CDs
with the tunes.

I wish you success!
Rich






On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 6:18 AM, Claire Takemori via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I want to learn to call & share family dances with more kids to spread
> folk music and dancing in our area (SF bay area, near Santa Cruz).
>
> I've got an opportunity to teach dances for my son's nature class.  It
> will range in age from 5 to 15 years.  There's an option to work with just
> 8 years and up for some or all of the dancing.
>
> My questions:
>
> 1. Can you recommend some really fun dances for starting out?  The first
> couple have be great so I can win them over with fun.
>
> 2.  I'm wondering how vital music is to the success?  I think really great
> live music is a major part of my joy of contra dancing.  We are not allowed
> to use electrical amplification.   I'm wondering if I could use a single
> fiddler?        And how do I locate a local fiddler who might volunteer
> playing?  Maybe a talented youth?
>
> 3.  I won't have a mic and will have to use a bullhorn.  Any advice?  I
> don't have a naturally loud voice, but do sing so I know about projection
> and belly breathing.
>
> 4.  They are thinking of 8 consecutive weeks, once a week for 15-30
> minutes (before nature classes head out hiking).   Is 8 weeks a good
> initial exposure?  How long should each session last, 30 minutes?
>
> 5.  We might culminate with a "field trip" to a local barn dance.  Any
> advice for the preparation for that?
>
> Thanks for any advice!
>
> claire takemori
>
>
>
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