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<div> <font size="3">"A picture is worth 1,000 words"</font> <font size="3">is so true. Most dances are not so large that a caller cannot get on the floor (even without a headset) and teach a move that's new or teach a style point for an old favorite. <br>
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Pick your "volunteers" carefully and be sure to publicly thank them for "volunteering". <br>
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In my opinion, callers don't teach (well) enough and rely on more experienced dancers to "instruct" the new dancers as they dance along. Personally I think that's "failing as a caller". Words and demonstrations are powerful tools for teaching and should be used together as well as separately.<br>
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<div style="clear:both">Donn<font size="3">a Hunt</font><font size="2"><br>
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-------- Original message --------
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From: Tom Hinds via Callers <<a href="mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net">callers@lists.sharedweight.net</a>>
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Date:06/19/2015 6:04 AM (GMT-06:00)
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To: Michael Fuerst <<a href="mailto:mjerryfuerst@yahoo.com">mjerryfuerst@yahoo.com</a>>
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Cc: <a href="mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net">callers@lists.sharedweight.net</a>, John Sweeney <<a href="mailto:info@contrafusion.co.uk">info@contrafusion.co.uk</a>>, <a href="mailto:callers-request@lists.sharedweight.net">callers-request@lists.sharedweight.net</a>
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Subject: Re: [Callers] How to Describe a Ricochet Hey
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I'm asking myself why not demo a ricochet? In my mind there are some
<br>
advantages to demonstrating a move instead of describing it (or doing
<br>
both with a wireless mic).
<br>
<br>
My experience is most contra callers are highly educated and have
<br>
exceptional verbal skills. Maybe some callers don't value a good
<br>
demonstration. Or is a demonstration too beneath some of us? One of
<br>
my calling students told me that I failed as a caller because I
<br>
demonstrated a move.
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My own view is that watching and learning is an integral part of
<br>
being human. We could make a long list of older skills (like
<br>
hunting) or newer ones like learning to play a musical instrument
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where watching and imitating is the key to learning.
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I recently took an informal workshop on dance history. The teachers
<br>
pointed out that when people watch something, appropriate synapses
<br>
fire in preparation for performing a task. This physiological
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response helps the person actually learn a task better.
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<br>
T
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