Re: [Callers] 2 questions

Thanks to both Amy and Will for your comments. Amy asked: Subtext? I'm only trying to help. We all have different goals at a dance. The caller, I believe, takes responsibility for knowing the common goals of the entire hall and working toward that end. This is a big challenge, and few of us will ever excel at it. It requires leadership and an understanding of the subtle influence a caller can have on both the evening's event, and on the tradition of contras over time. That is the real challenge of calling and I hope that I will someday be good at it. I understand that there are some dancers, and many callers, who enjoy the challenge of medleys. A caller should also know that even a flawlessly executed medley will not be enjoyed by some people and that those people are likely to include new dancers and those who enjoy dancing with newcomers. When I attended NEFFA some years ago I was one of those who, during the medley, took the time to get my dinner. Will spoke of, "…novice dancers who know the basics." I think this is a self-canceling phrase. Clearly there is a role for contra medleys in the current culture of dance camps and festivals. (This may partly explain why you don't see me at such events designed exclusively for dance enthusiasts.) The question here is whether medleys have a role at regular community dances that are open to the public. The caller, in that context, plays a different role than at an event intended only for dance enthusiasts. The real question is: What is the purpose of the dance evening, and what is the role of the caller in achieving that purpose? Answering that question is the ultimate challenge of contra dance calling. Just a thought, Greg McKenzie