Hi Folks,
I'm going to be leading a series of caller discussions/workshops in the next while. (This is a new thing for me. I'm very excited as there's always so much to learn from each other. :))
I'm wondering....
-->Are there any activities that stood out as being really awesome from caller workshops you've attended/led?
-->Any discussion topics/ways to frame discussions that excited you?
I've been sketching things out and as of right now, I'm really excited to have a series of questions that prompt discussion among the group. (Maybe stickies/stickers on poster boards as part of this.) The questions range from the why of it all, presentation/performance considerations, teaching, prompting, repertoire, etc.... ... I'm trying to figure out some key questions to prompt the discussion. Here are just a few of the many prompts I'm thinking about....
What do you see as the value of trad dances/dancing?
What do you get out of dancing? What do you think others get out of it?
What is your motivation for calling? What do
you think you get/might get out of calling?
Characteristics of a great caller? Callers you
like (AND why)?
What do the dancers need in the prompting? (Anything
specific for beginner dancers in particular?)
What need to/should know
to know about a dance to call it really well?
What is key in band
communication…. At the start of the evening? Before/during/at end of each
dance? At the end of the evening? Before the day of the gig?
I'll also be creating a framework for safe feedback while we practice teaching and prompting dances.
Thanks!
:) Emily in Ottawa