[Callers] Fewer than 6 dancers - Ideas?

[Yoyo Zhou via Callers]

On Tue, Oct 4, 2016 at 12:19 PM, Dale Wilson via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> We have something we call the "calling party progression" because we
> sometimes try out new dances with only four people present (or four + a
> caller).
>
> We form one set with "Up" being "North" (for example).   At the end of the
> dance we progress by changing "Up" to be "East." and turning to face the
> new direction.  This swaps neighbors for partners, but everyone ends up
> standing in the right place  (although not facing the right direction until
> after the turn) for the next time through the dance.
>
> I'm not sure how well this would work with inexperienced dancers, though
> (and it certainly doesn't work with out-of-set dances, diagonal chains,
> etc.) but for a lot of dances its actually quite fun.
>

Dale's set-rotation progression here is one I've used before. It's fun with
dances where not everybody swings. And you can use it on a huge number of
regular contras.

Other ideas:

- Rory O'More, Petronella, and other classic chestnuts. (It's ok if the
band doesn't know the tune. Not sacrilegious.) Proper dances make the
2-couple progression easy.

- Use other progressions (e.g. for 4 couples, promenade across the set can
become promenade to meet any other couple).

- Do 4-person dances and let the 5th person cut in wherever they please.

- The most fun I've ever had was at Camp Sturtevant where Cis Hinkle was
calling a square, and one square had only 4 dancers, all dancing the gents
role, with ghosts. Some squares can also be done with just 2 couples in
some position or other.

- Teach wacky square dance figures and use them in a simple dance.

- The Humors of Bandon and other Irish ceili and set dances. Lots of set
dances are typically done just for the heads, then just for the sides, in a
square formation; just do it for the heads.

- Call family dances, community dances, etc.

- Borrow some of the musicians, if they are willing to dance.

Try not to cancel the dance unless you all literally would rather go have
some ice cream. Dancers don't go to a dance like this expecting the contra
contra contra experience, but simply that you will lead them in dance and
help them have fun.

Yoyo Zhou
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