[Callers] Seeking contras for a crowded hall

James Saxe via Callers callers at lists.sharedweight.net
Sun Oct 11 13:25:36 PDT 2015


In a couple weeks, I'm scheduled to call at a contra dance series
whose usual hall is unavailable for that evening.  The alternative
hall where I'll be calling is smaller than the usual one, so may
be rather crowded.  I'd like to have anyone's suggestions of
contras suitable for a crowded hall.

Being more crowded than usual might also mean that it will be
hotter than usual, especially in the later part of the evening,
when we'll need to close windows on account of noise restrictions.
So I'd like to the program to include some dances that give people
a chance to relax a little, and that can be done at moderate tempo
without feeling draggy.

The series is well established series of the "modern urban contra"
sort.  While I don't want to have people crashing into each other
if it's crowded, and I don't want to wear them out if it's hot, I
also don't want to stray too far from dancers' expectations of
most dances having both partner and neighbor swings, etc.

[In case anyone's wondering, I do have a copy of the CDSS booklet
"Dances for a Crowded Hall"m which talks about stuff like avoiding
expansive figures.  The specific dances listed in that book,
however, are English Country Dances.]

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

--Jim




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