Re: [Callers] Walk-throughs

I know it's sometimes necessary, but I think more than 2 walk-throughs is not a good strategy. If the group as a whole still isn't getting it after the second walk through, I prefer to switch to a simpler dance. My reasoning is that people come to a contra dance primarily to dance, not listen to the caller's instruction. I also prefer not to focus on individual dancers, or small groups of dancers, even if it's obvious that everyone in the room except that *one couple* (we all know what that's like) still hasn't gotten it. I know it's sometimes necessary, but it also makes that one couple, or one individual, more self-conscious about their dancing skills. I think it's better, after that second walk-through, to focus on calling as clearly as possible. For rank novices, I try to include in the instruction reminders about where they can reconnect with their partner if they become completely lost. A partner's balance and swing, for example. Finally, in the newcomers instruction before the dance, I encourage the newcomers to dance with other people, not just each other, and I ask the more experienced dancers to dance with someone they don't know at least once during the evening. Frankly, this often doesn't work since those newcomers are grimly determined to dance only with each other, and the more seasoned dancers often insist in dancing with their own little cliques they're familiar with, but I keep trying to hammer that advice home. -Lewis Land ---- Barbara Groh <barbaragroh(a)bellsouth.net> wrote: