Re: [Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

Hi Jim, Q: I said, "The only thing I focus on with respect to music is getting them to hear the eights and be ready for the next "one"." You asked, "do you say anything in particular about the structure of the music or have new dancers do any particular exercises to practice awareness of "the eights"? A: I always start by playing some music and saying, "Everything happens in eights. ONE, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ONE..." Emphasising the ONEs and only whispering the rest of the numbers. If there is time I may ask them to clap on ONE, but I often feel that some of them are just trying to clap when everyone else does and not really listening to the music. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Q: Re: [Circle Left, Into the Middle & Back, Swing your Neighbour]. Repeat... You asked, " Do I correctly understand that this is an exercise you have them do in big circle formation? Do you say or do anything in particular to teach them to hear the end of a phrase approaching and recognize when they don't have enough music left to swing another time around?" A: Yes, I get everyone in a big circle; I am usually in the circle as I wear a wireless head mike. The spiel goes something like this: = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = In this type of dancing, the lady is always right... man on the left, lady on the right. And the lady has the upper hand... the men do this, and the ladies hook over the top. Use hooks to connect with each other so that you don't have to use your thumbs - never grip anyone with your thumb. Elbows down, hands slightly raised. Now <with the music> CIRCLE LEFT, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, CIRCLE RIGHT, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, CIRCLE LEFT, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, TURN aROUND, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, TURN aROUND, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, CIRCLE RIGHT <they were already circling right!> OK that was just to see who is listening! I won't normally do that, you will usually know which move is coming next <obviously Contra Medleys, Squares and Big Set are exceptions>. You should feel connected to the people around you so that you are helping the person behind you and the person in front of you is helping you to move around the circle Now some of you are doing this <demonstrate facing left with left hand raised in a perfect position, but right hand way down near my knee>, thinking lo yourself, "look how good I am with my left hand perfect". But actually you are dragging down the hand of the person behind you. This is known as the "Nelly the Elephant Syndrome". The way to avoid it is to turn your body at the hips; keep facing the centre and turn your hips to the left and the right - try it. You always want to be facing the right way for the next move, so change direction on 7 and 8. Let's circle again, feeling connected, <with the music> CIRCLE LEFT.... 5, 6, TURN aROUND... 5, 6, TURN aROUND... <I only count the 5 and 6 so that they know the turn is coming up>. <I will throw in some INTO the MIDDLE, 1, 2, 3, STAMP, trying to persuade them not to move backwards until 5 - good practice for Long Lines Go Forward & Back.> <Then I teach the swing as at http://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging, with special focus on how to finish facing in the correct direction on the correct side.> So just like we use 7 and 8 in the circles to get ready for the next move, the same thing happens in the swing. If the man finishes facing in the right direction on 8, and you are still in ballroom hold <demonstrate that position>, then the lady is facing the wrong way. Because of the direction of the swing, the man always finishes first, so he has to stop on 6, leaving the lady two beats to open out <demonstrate, with a count>. If you go too far don't jerk back the other way, keep turning. add another quick turn and get ready for the next move. So, just like the circles, don’t think of it as an eight-beat move, think of it as a six beat move, then two beats to get ready for the next move. <Obviously as they get better they can use more of the music for a swing, and still be ready for the next move, making the moves flow together, but I usually find that they react well initially to this concept.> <Explain Neighbour/Corner> Plan ahead so that you are ready for the next move. If you find that you aren't ready then do fewer turns. You can add more as you get better. <With the music> Circle Left, Into the Middle & Back, 1, 2, 3, STAMP... Swing your Neighbour... 5, 6, OPEN OUT <wait 8 while you check everyone is ready> <repeat until they are finishing well, then flow the moves together in any order, just saying "5,6" during the swing>. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = So, I do a lot of counting, emphasising the ones and the "5, 6" so that they realise that they must use 7 and 8 to finish the move and get ready for the next. And I emphasise the 4 in Into the Middle and Forward & Back. If there is time then I will do a simple dance. If there is time for two then I will do Family Contra and East Litchfield Volunteers. If there is only time for one then I will do East Litchfield Volunteers. It adds the very useful Allemande and Dosido, but otherwise only uses moves we have done already, and provides an easy progression. The prime swing is a Neighbour Swing so that there is more chance of them swinging with experienced dancers and not messing up the progression. East Litchfield Volunteers by Jim Gregory Contra; Improper A1: Circle Left; Circle Right A2: Neighbour Allemande Right; Neighbour Allemande Left B1: Neighbour Dosido; Neighbour Swing (to progress) B2: Long Lines Go Forward & Back #1s Swing, finish facing down to the next couple Sometimes instead I will teach the first dance and maybe run it a couple of times so that they get a heads-up before we start the dance. I hope that helps.             Happy dancing,                    John John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs