[Callers] Floor Space Requirement

[Woody Lane via Callers]

Hi Rich,

Are the bride and groom actual contra dancers?

I would talk with them first. Get a feel for their comfort about 
contras, and also dancing in general. Ask them if they waltz. If you 
hear a few moments of silence -- that says a lot about their dancing. 
Assure them that everyone will have a great time.

With a 145 attendees, why assume that there will only be 40 dancers (20 
couples)? Maybe there will be only 40 if all the dances you call are 
modern contras. But if you, as the MC for that part of the event, can 
get all the attendees on the dance floor (or at least 100+), all happy 
and celebrating -- would that be an option? Would that be what the 
couple really wants but is either narrow in their perspective or doesn't 
know how to articulate it?

This weekend, I called a wedding for some folks who wanted contras. 
That's what they advertised. Well, yes, except that the bride and groom 
had really never waltzed or had done real contras.

Nonetheless, contras was what they had in their heads. There were 80 
attendees. The dance area was a relatively narrow rectangle of grass. 
But we began with a Grand March -- which everyone (and I mean everyone) 
could do, with a wind-up spiral. Even the non-dancers could walk through 
it and laugh. Then a very phrase-driven circle mixer, then a Virginia 
Reel style of dance. Nearly everyone was on the dance floor, having a 
great time. And they stayed on the floor, ignoring the free drinks. Yes, 
it was occasionally a bit crowded, but nobody cared. Actually, that's 
what I think the wedding couple really wanted -- to have lots of fun on 
their special day and share the celebration. They were absolutely 
delighted that so many of their non-dancer friends were clearly having a 
great time on the dance floor.  (and then we did more dances after a 
dessert break, ending with a simple fun mixer.) And at the end of the 
evening, they gave me an extra tip on top of my payment.

Just some thoughts. Good luck.

Woody

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Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
http://www.woodylanecaller.com
home: 541-440-1926 cell: 541-556-0054
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On 8/1/2016 6:01 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
> Friends,
>
> I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known
> contra dancers.  The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras.
>
> I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical
> requirement for a line of twenty couples?
>
> Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend?  I plan on using
> "Family Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln".
>
> Thanls,
> Rich