[Callers] Calling to a square dance crowd

[Jeremy Gmail via Callers]

Hi Joseph

 

I do a lot of cross-calling between contra and MWSD with mixed crowds of varying experience, and whilst agreeing with everything that’s been said so far, I think there’s one thing it’s important not to lose sight of.

 

You said “and had such a fun time they have invited me, and the band”.  Since they invited you after coming to one of your dances, then one of your dances is what they both want and are expecting.  Whilst you may need to make minor adjustments due to the age and dance experience of the dancers, it would IMHO be a mistake to try to make it feel like MWSD.

 

Jeremy

 

 

On Sat, Feb 20, 2016 at 6:28 PM, Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

 

I've been pretty low-key on calling for several years now, just a few local dances a year. Years ago I did close to one gig a month at home and around my local region, but cut back due to busy life. Now I've accepted an invitation for a regular gig that's going to be a bit different, so I'm back on this email list, and I seek your advice.

 

A few people from the nearby Western Square Dance group came to one of our local contra dances where I was calling, and had such a fun time they have invited me, and the band from that evening, to come and do a monthly series in their hall, promoted and sponsored by them. The band and I decided we'd give it a shot.

 

I've had barely any exposure to Western Square Dance, but I know their education system is formalized, calling is improvised, and the music is mostly recorded; whereas in contra dancing the education is more by assimilation, the calling is mostly fixed within a given dance, and the music is live and improvised. I anticipate we may feel like strange cousins to each other. Do any of you have any experiences or thoughts about crossing over into this parallel universe of traditional dancers? I'm particularly concerned about how I can best help them feel comfortable with the way Contra Dance is done, and how I can be a gracious presence in their space.

 

Bonus question: they want to know how to split the gate, since they don't have experience paying bands. Your thoughts?

 

Best regards,

Joseph


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