[Callers] Super easy dances - do they exist?

Sat Jun 17 10:36:57 PDT 2017

Your mention of the magic of demonstrating a 2-hand turn led me to wonder
how much you have used demonstration as the core of your teaching in this
situation. I remember an English caller once who taught everything from the
floor, demonstrating what she meant. Grabbing a few of the quicker or more
confident kids to demonstrate figures might make it easier for others to
learn, especially if they are in a big circle where everyone can see even
if they can't hear (or listen). It would of course help if you had a
wireless mic so you could make a noise (a funny-sounding whistle or kazoo?)
to get them to pay attention to learn the next figure. Tough gig!

David Chandler

On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 1:07 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> 2-hand turns --  one year I was teaching a dance that had a 2-hand turn --
> which I discovered was beyond their comprehension.  Lots of blank faces and
> a few tried to hold onto each other and turn under their own arches.  I
> grabbed a young fellow close by and demonstrated a 2-hand turn and there
> was a huge "ahhhh" from the group.  Who'd have thought that was a foreign
> term for 18-year olds.  Why don't they teach this stuff in school anymore?
>
> Thanks for asking the gender question.  I still use ladies and gents when
> necessary, but I add "those who are pretending to be gents" and "those who
> are pretending to be ladies".  They're just kids and no one seems to mind.
> But I've found it's easier to use mostly gender free dances.  That's why
> Grease and Glue worked fairly well this year.  Don't have to be proper,
> don't have to be improper, just have to have a partner.  Same with most
> easy longways dances -- doesn't matter which side of the set you're on.
>
> On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 11:51 AM, Linda Leslie <laleslierjg at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> I use two hand turns with groups like yours….elbow swings work, too.
>> Since there is more distance between dancers, they don’t seem to have any
>> discomfort with these moves.
>>
>> A question for you, though:  if girls are dancing with girls, and boys
>> with boys, how are you approaching the use of language to distinguish
>> positions?
>>
>> thanks! Linda Leslie
>>
>>
>> On Jun 17, 2017, at 12:31 PM, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers <
>> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> That Tony Parkes dance looks good, but I'd never be able to use it with
>> this crowd.  In years passed, I tried to teach them swings -- but I guess
>> everybody still has cooties at 18 years -- never worked -- plus, you have a
>> good number of girls dancing with girls and boys dancing with boys and it
>> makes some of them uncomfortable.  This is a crowd that, when I tell them,
>> let's make a big circle all around the room, they have trouble with the
>> concept of what a circle looks like.  Not to re-mention the acoustics.
>>
>> As a contra dancer, I understand flow from figure to figure, but Swat the
>> Flea into a right shoulder DSD wasn't a problem with this crowd.
>>
>> But thanks for sharing Tony's dance.  I don't remember ever seeing it
>> before.
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 4:55 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <
>> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Linda,
>>>         Re your Box ‘n’ Swat:  I have a somewhat similar dance in my
>>> files:
>>>
>>> Circle Mixers Are Fun (by Tony Parkes)
>>>
>>> A1)     Into the Middle & Back x 2
>>>
>>> A2)     Partner Right Hand: Balance & Box the Gnat; Partner Dosido
>>>
>>> B1)     Partner Left Hand: Balance & Swat the Flea; Partner Seesaw (Left
>>> Shoulder Dosido) 1 & 1/2 to meet your New Partner
>>>
>>> B2)     New Partner Balance (OR Gypsy) & Swing
>>>
>>>         Note that your sequence of Swat the Flea into Dosido involves
>>> passing by the right when you are holding left hands.  Tony’s sequences
>>> above allow much easier flow and connection as you can pull past with the
>>> connected hand.
>>>
>>>         Last time I had the challenge of working with a room full of
>>> noisy youngsters (most of whom didn’t speak English) I just led by example,
>>> starting with a Grand March then did:
>>> Sausage (Circle) to the Left/Right (Till I was at the top)
>>> Long Lines Go Forward & Back
>>> Top couple Gallop Down (I just took the person opposite and galloped);
>>> Next Couple; Next Couple; Next Couple
>>> Repeat
>>>
>>>         Once they has used up a bit of energy I was able to get them to
>>> quiet down a bit!
>>>
>>> Happy dancing,
>>> John
>>>
>>> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john at modernjive.com 01233 625 362
>>> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> Callers at lists.sharedweight.net
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko*
>>
>> *102 Mitchell Drive*
>>
>> *Temple, Texas 76501*
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> *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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