[Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

Sat Jun 17 09:50:50 PDT 2017

Oh how I wish that would work.  I've tried that technique over the years.
They just ignore me.  Shushing works, but I have to repeat the shhhhh into
the mic lots of times.  A big part of the challenge is the acoustics --
it's worse than being in a gym.  For instance, I get them quiet and then
teach them the first move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again --
teach the next move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach
the third move -- there is a roar -- ad nauseam.  The musicians crank up
their music to the max for the dance, but even I can barely hear it over
the din from the dancers.  Short of hiring a person who can do that loud
whistle, I'm at a loss.  I've sort of grown used to it, but my temper is
short and I really have to watch myself.

On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 7:42 AM, Jeremy Child <jeremy.m.child at gmail.com>
wrote:

> To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique:
>
> I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise
> their hand too.  More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly
> diminished volume).  This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks
> in, and is a very effective technique.  You have to teach it to them first,
> of course, but they pick it up quite quickly.
>
> Jeremy
> www.barndancecaller.net
>
> On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers <
> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a hall with terrible
>> acoustics.  Been doing it for 15+ years.  If they all whispered at the same
>> time, it would sound like a roar in that room.  I can only do the most
>> basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of
>> sashaying, an easy folk dance.  But I experiment every now and then, which
>> lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part,
>> worked.  Am I stealing them from somebody?  (I like to give credit where
>> credit is due.)
>>
>> They call their dance "Swat the Flea".  I searched for a long time for a
>> very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one --
>>
>> BOX'NSWAT (Circle)
>> A1  Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back
>> A2  All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right
>> B1  Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner &
>> Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea
>> B2  DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end
>> facing into the center ready to go F&B)
>>
>>
>> Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous,
>> energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra
>> dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly!  It would
>> probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd.
>>
>> GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a
>> partner)
>> A1  Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD
>> A2  Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD
>> B1  Star R; Star L (w/hands)
>> B2  Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back,
>> facing next couple
>>
>>
>> As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of
>> loud people?  Thanks!
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko*
>>
>> *102 Mitchell Drive*
>>
>> *Temple, Texas 76501*
>>
>> *(903) 292-3713 <(903)%20292-3713> (Cell)*
>> *(903) 603-9955 <(903)%20603-9955> (Skype)*
>> *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>*
>>
>> *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance
>> buttons, t-shirts, & more)*
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>

-- 

*Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko*

*102 Mitchell Drive*

*Temple, Texas 76501*

*(903) 292-3713 (Cell)*
*(903) 603-9955 (Skype)*
*contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>*

*www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance
buttons, t-shirts, & more)*
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