17 Jun
2017
17 Jun
'17
11:50 a.m.
Oh how I wish that would work. I've tried that technique over the years.
They just ignore me. Shushing works, but I have to repeat the shhhhh into
the mic lots of times. A big part of the challenge is the acoustics --
it's worse than being in a gym. For instance, I get them quiet and then
teach them the first move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again --
teach the next move -- there is a roar -- I get them quiet again -- teach
the third move -- there is a roar -- ad nauseam. The musicians crank up
their music to the max for the dance, but even I can barely hear it over
the din from the dancers. Short of hiring a person who can do that loud
whistle, I'm at a loss. I've sort of grown used to it, but my temper is
short and I really have to watch myself.
On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 7:42 AM, Jeremy Child <jeremy.m.child(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
To quiet a room I use the Girl Guides technique:
I raise my hand, and anyone who sees me knows to stop talking and raise
their hand too. More notice this (other peoples hands up and slightly
diminished volume). This snowballs quite quickly as peer pressure kicks
in, and is a very effective technique. You have to teach it to them first,
of course, but they pick it up quite quickly.
Jeremy
www.barndancecaller.net
On 16 June 2017 at 20:10, Linda S. Mrosko via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
--
*Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko*
*102 Mitchell Drive*
*Temple, Texas 76501*
*(903) 292-3713 (Cell)*
*(903) 603-9955 (Skype)*
*contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>*
*www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance
buttons, t-shirts, & more)*
I lead an annual dance for 200+ 18-year olds in a
hall with terrible
acoustics. Been doing it for 15+ years. If they all whispered at the same
time, it would sound like a roar in that room. I can only do the most
basic stuff most of the time...simple circles, longways with lots of
sashaying, an easy folk dance. But I experiment every now and then, which
lead me to come up with the following dances which, for the most part,
worked. Am I stealing them from somebody? (I like to give credit where
credit is due.)
They call their dance "Swat the Flea". I searched for a long time for a
very easy dance that had a Swat the Flea and finally wrote this one --
BOX'NSWAT (Circle)
A1 Women into the middle and back; Gents into the middle & back
A2 All make a quarter turn to the right and walk single file to the right
B1 Women turn back to face partner -- all shake R hands with Partner &
Box the Gnat; change hands, Balance & Swat the Flea
B2 DSD Partner; Allemande R w/partner 1-1/2 to progress (women end
facing into the center ready to go F&B)
Since contra dances are almost impossible to teach to a loud, boisterous,
energetic bunch of 18-year olds who have never heard of or seen a contra
dance, I decided to give this a whirl -- and it worked -- mostly! It would
probably be better with a smaller more sedate crowd.
GREASE & GLUE (Contra formation -- Gender free -- all you need is a
partner)
A1 Couple 1 split Couple 2, return to places; Couple 1 DSD
A2 Couple 2 split Couple 1, return to places; Couple 2 DSD
B1 Star R; Star L (w/hands)
B2 Couples face each other -- Couples DSD 1-1/2 ending back-to-back,
facing next couple
As an aside -- how do you quiet a room with terrible acoustics full of
loud people? Thanks!
--
*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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