Re: [Callers] Medway, MA 10/1

I call frequently at the Medway, MA dance since 1997, and have worked there with Smoke and Mirrors. The band consists of Damaris Rohsenow (hammer dulcimer), Steven Cushing (fidola, or five-string viola), and Ryan Thompson (fiddle & other instruments). Look at the instruments and you can tell what kind of sound this band will produce. A hammer dulcimer produces a gentle, pretty sound. This band is not going to be a driving, powerful, modern-urban-contra drive-the-dancers-wild band. The good quality that you are looking for in their music is "lyrical." The pitfall that you watch out for is whether the music is strongly phrased enough and has enough dynamics so that the dancers can find the beat. Make your calls clear, precise, and on the mark. I enjoy calling at the Medway dance largely for personal reasons. The little, low-paying, hard-to-find Medway dance is a rare thing: a true community dance. As in the old days, most of the dancers live nearby and many of them attend no dance other than Medway. I respect and like to support that community experience. The pitfall that you watch out for is that literally any combination of skilled/unskilled, young/old dancers can be present. You select dances that are achievable for beginners, but exhibit sufficient variety so that advanced dancers don't get bored. You have some bulletproof back-up dances like "Broken Sixpence" handy in case a number of brand-new dancers have been invited, and you have some fun intermediate-level dances handy if only the core group of dancers is in attendance. Medway welcomes new callers. On March 4, 2006 I will lead the third annual Open Mike evening for callers at Medway. More info to follow; mark your calendars now. By the way, whenever you need to find information about a band or a caller, go to Ted Crane's Dance Database - http://www.tedcrane.com/DanceDB/ You can search for bands or individuals using the search functions on the right. For "band" type in "smoke mirrors" and see what you get. Switch "band" to "person," type in "golder" and there I am. Information on gigs is not comprehensive; it is only available for venues that send Ted their schedule. ... Bob ---------------------------------------------------- Robert Jon Golder 164 Maxfield Street robertgolder(a)comcast.net New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 999-2486 voice