3 Jul
2023
3 Jul
'23
5:09 p.m.
I might start with a circle like La Bastringue, making sure the wedding
couple knows that they and their parents (if possible) will be in that
dance - I mention that the couple would like everyone to come up and do
this first dance with them.
Longways sets, might be Virginia Reel (without the reel part),
Gallopede, or Family Dance. Even Broken Sixpence is too hard unless
close to half the group are dancers.
If I am going to do something like a contra it is better to do it as a
Sicilian Circle so they don't have to deal with the ends.
Simple squares work well.
I might end with (a Big Southern Circle Dance where they move with their
partner randomly around the floor to find other couples to do figures
with - end it with a big Promenade in a circle. I then join them and
lead them in a rip and snort or spirial, then circle left and right and
into the middle, etc.
Casey Carr
On 7/3/2023 4:29 PM, Jerome Grisanti via Contra Callers wrote:
I would release any idea that wedding guests will have
any interest in
dancing beyond this event. Keep things VERY simple. You can do an hour
with dances containing only allemandes, do-si-dos, circles and
promenades. Maybe a modified swing/2-hand turn.
On Mon, Jul 3, 2023, 3:53 PM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Any advice for calling weddings? I've been asked to call my first
one and I don't see a lot of wedding-specific advice online. What
do you ask them in advance, how do you approach it, what are good
dances to call?
I'm assuming that a workshop is impractical, so it's barn dances
and maybe working up to a contra by the end? Try to teach a
swing? Some advice I've gotten so far:
Band - can they play contras, am I DJing instead, if so what kind
of music, trad or pop?
Floor - make sure it's big enough, get length, width, and surface
Sound system - what is it and is there a sound tech?
Duration - how long they'll want to dance
Dancers - how many, any experienced guests?
Special dances - first, parents, bouquet, last?
Will the bride and groom dance? (If not, nobody will)
Will there be alcohol? (one person suggested doubling the fee if
there is)
Will many women be in high heels?
I welcome any advice! My main goal in taking wedding gigs is
recruiting new dancers to our local scene, if that matters.
Thanks,
--jh--
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