Re: [Callers] Spreading out the "Inexperience"

I recently had the following exchange on a different list with Michael Shapiro (guitarist with U4): Michael wrote: was Barbara Groh. She did something that I think most callers should do, but I haven't seen before. After the sets were formed and people had done the hand four, she then broke up the beginners sets that had formed at the end of the lines. She asked then to move forward and intersperse themselves with the more advanced dancers (so that they were more toward the beggining of the line and the foursomes were not all beginners). She was also good at letting the music be heard ... I wrote: experienced dancers throughout the hall, much tact is required. Generally, callers strive to avoid calling attention to particular dancers other than when asking people to watch a demonstration, but asking people to change sets can have the effect of making them feel like there is attention on them. In addition, newish dancers want to dance with people they know, even if those friends may also be newish dancers. share their experience by asking someone they've never met to dance at least once in the evening, and praise the community for being so welcoming to newcomer dancers. So while I might be thinking "let's break up this clump of confusion," it would not be good to say something that draws attention to "you people right here." repartner with a set of inexperienced dancers down the line. To this list, I ask: I'd be interested in the wording that Barbara Groh used (which I'm assuming was quite gentle). I'm also guessing other callers on this list have developed tactful ways to address this issue. Thanks, Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers