Re: [Callers] calling New England squares : intro and break

The "bow to partner, bow to corner" is indeed one time-honored way of starting a square--I've seen references citing this as a particularly New England styling, harking back to more genteel times--but even that isn't a given. I'd suggest that any caller interested in investigating breaks would do well to purchase a copy of Ted Sannella's "Calling Traditional New England Squares," which is full of general comments and theory, scores of breaks that Ted used, and a CD of Ted callign squares. The cuts on the CD were chosen in part to illustrate many different breaks. Two other items that may be helpful are Tom Hinds's recent publication with a similar title, "Calling New England Squares" and Tom's earlier "Give Me a Break!" All of these materials are available from the sales office at Country Dance and Song Society, http://www.cdss.org/sales/index.html