[Callers] Family dance questions

Tue Aug 4 10:07:41 PDT 2015

Thanks for the compliment, Bree!  If folks would like to look at other easy dances (including Do Si Three), I have a list of some that I have put together; you can see them at www.lindalesliecaller.website

As for the circle/spiral…..I learned it from someone a long time ago (I don’t remember now who it was). My impression is that the dance is surely traditional, and so I never take credit for it, but admire the probably folk process that put it together.

Linda

On Aug 4, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Bree Kalb via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I've done house parties with just a fiddler who was very familiar with dance music and knows how to maintain the beat and play square tunes. Not everyone can do that. Does your dance community have a list serve or Facebook page where you can ask for that kind of assistance? Unless you can find someone with those skills, it might be best to have no music.
> 
> Linda Leslie's DoSiThree is one of my favorite beginner dances, but usually after they've done some simple circles. Linda posted here a week or so ago her excellent strategy for getting people dancing and into a spiral that turns into a partner-less circle. I thought I 'invented' that approach, but it seems at least 2 of us came up with the idea. It works really well, especially if you enlist some helpers to get it started and to urge their friends to join. When I call at weddings I make it a condition of my contract that the bride and groom will play that role for at least the first dance. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 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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> Bree Kalb, LCSW
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