21 Apr
2010
21 Apr
'10
7:07 p.m.
Martha,
You've been given a lot of great advice, and there is always more to know about
calling squares. One thing I have noticed lately is that, since fewer squares have been
called at contra dances (at least in my community in Seattle), contra dancers have a
harder time with the different spacial awareness that is required to dance in a square
formation rather than a contra formation. I find that even some dances that I consider
"simple" are not executed easily by contra dancers simply because the formation
is new to them.
All this is to say that you do not need to call a square dance that you consider
complicated for it to be somewhat challenging for your dancers as they start to learn how
to dance squares. Visiting couple square dances are fun and accessible, and not to
difficult to learn to call. The timing can be forgiving, and as Tom mentioned, you can
call in fours, starting on the 1 or the 5.
One trick that has been adopted by a number of callers is to have a visiting couple figure
danced by both head couples at the same time, which allows more people to be dancing at
one time. So you would have couple 1 visit couple 2, and couple 3 visit couple 4, then the
two head couples dance together, then couple 1 visits couple 4 and couple 3 visits couple
2. It tends to work well, and there is not much standing-around time.
There are certainly a number of visiting couple square dances that you can find on YouTube
for some examples. A fellow in Tucson, Fred Feild, has put some easier visiting couple
square dance videos up on YouTube and they might be some dances that you could start with.
There are certainly lots of other resources available. I started with Sandy Brandley's
recording "Potluck and Dance Tonight" which is unfortunately unavailable. It had
the calls and music on the record (yes, "record") with the calls on an enclosed
booklet. Calling along with Sandy was how I got used to the calls, as well as some of the
timing.
Perhaps you can have a house dance with some friends to try this new skill out. At the
very least, you'll have a fun party! Hope this helps.
Suzanne Girardot
Seattle, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Hinds <twhinds(a)earthlink.net>
Sent: Apr 21, 2010 1:34 PM
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] calling squares
If you're going to start calling squares, Martha, I suggest you do
what is comfortable for you. Unless of course this challenge is
like, "how many beers can you drink", and you're a real risk taker.
I think that if you call contras, New England squares would be the
next logical type of square to call.
No matter what kind of square you call, you should have (or develop)
good skills in watching the dancers. That means no cards. For
example, when you call an allemande left, grand right and left, you
should be able to follow a couple around the set. While you are
calling a square you need to be constantly watching. Your mind will
be working much harder calling a square than when calling a contra.
If you're interested in checking out the various styles of square
dancing, I suggest reading Ralph Sweet's book, Let's Create Old Tyme
Dancing. Don't know if it's still in print.
For many non New England squares, calling in fours is the way to go.
You can start on one or start on 5. But I would suggest to be
prepared to abandon that from time to time as things happen on the
dance floor.
Tom
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