Re: [Callers] Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???)

I assune a big difference is the quantity and complexity of dances involved.  I know some of the rural community dances around here only dance a few dances over and over.  It not only allows the caller / dancemaster to memorize the dances - but so do the dancers and that eliminates wasting a lot of time teaching. Most communities we deal with have very different expectations.  I do enjoy memorizing dances so I don't have to bother with reading from cards when I am calling - but I don't memorize my entire collection - just the ones I might want to call that evening and a handful of really good ones I will always remember.  It came in handy once when the scheduled caller did not show up and I got nominated to call 5 min after the dance was supposed to start. I encourage our newer callers to try memorize some dances because I think they are too reliant on the cards to the point they teach by simply reading the cards. I think this exercise would help their confidence so the cards would become more of a reference or security blanket rather than their main focus when at the mic. So far, I have not had any takers - but continue bringing it up when the opportunity presents itself.  Surprisingly, we have had some new callers write some really nice dances - but they aren't even interested in trying to memorize ones they wrote themselves. Mac McKeever ________________________________ From: Aahz Maruch &lt;aahz(a)pobox.com&gt; To: Caller's discussion list &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 11:28 AM Subject: Re: [Callers] Memorizing dances (was cards - writing in pencil vs pen???) On Sat, Jan 12, 2013, Michael Fuerst wrote: Why?  Seriously.  Calling is a hobby for me, it's something fun for me, I get to help other people have fun.  There are literally hundreds of contra dances out on the Internet, why should I restrict myself to the ones I have time to memorize? -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6                        http://rule6.info/                       <*>          <*>          <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers