Hi Amy,

I've been calling squares for a long time. If they are western/southern squares, they are very different than contras, and the caller's role is very different, both in terms of the dancers and of the music/band. If the dances are New England quadrilles, then they are essentially contras in square-formation. My comments are primarily about the former rather than the latter, although the underlying principles are the same.

Squares are fun! Smile a lot; be playful. I would suggest that you don't spring new things on the dancers during the dance, especially if these are contra dancers, but don't hesitate to do something like (especially for an opening): swing someone in your square; now swing someone in a different square; now swing someone you've never swung before; now run back home and swing your own! Which can get lots of folks giggling like 10-year-old kids.

Call to the dancers, not to the music. I'm not saying "ignore the phrasing", but OTOH, you don't want folks standing still waiting for the phrase to come around while one other square struggles to catch up. Scan the room; do not call to the slowest square(s). You can call one move ahead of most of the dancers. Use your voice.

Most western-style and southern-style squares are not phrased to a 32-bar tune. OTOH, by keeping the phrasing in your head while you call, or at least listening to the tune, you can skillfully weave the calls so that, when the music comes around to the top of the tune, you can begin a new part of the dance. Subtle, but very satisfying all around. You can use moves like: Swing your partner, promenade, all join hands and circle left -- all which take up music and can bring the entire room together.

Not every break has to be grand-right-and-left or its variations or Alamo-style complexities. Simple breaks work, and they can be used as refreshing breathers after the main figure -- a way for the dancers to experience a reset. A variation of: join hands 8 and circle left all the way around, swing your partner, now promenade home -- will work as a simple break. (or even just "circle left all the way around" -- good for weddings, etc.).

Put laughter in your voice. Lead your friends through the dance, like at a party, not just prompt.

Good luck!

Woody

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Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
http://www.woodylanecaller.com
home: 541-440-1926 cell: 541-556-0054

On 2/4/2017 9:26 AM, Amy Cann via Callers wrote:
It's a friendly low-key local community dance, and they know I'm mainly a contra caller, so the potential for hurled tomatoes is low -- but I still want to not stink too much.

Any suggestions for dance choices or thought-habit adjustments?

Back to scribbling on my 3x5 cards and re-reading Lloyd Shaw...

Amy