One of the problems with calling heys and this type of timing is the *WHILE* problem:

   While a pair is passing in the middle, someone is looping at the end—a sort of “ghost” pass. New dancers often abruptly about-face actually cutting off the path of the next person they’re supposed to pass, and often try to pass with the “other” shoulder.

   Here’s the Robins (we’ve switched) as the Larks:

                Robins             WHILE             Larks

        Robins pass Right                    Larks Loop Left (often replaced by a “pause”)

Robins pass Larks by Left         Larks pass Robins by Left

Robins Loop Left                       Larks pass Right

Robins pass Larks by Left         Larks pass Robins by left

Robins pass Right                    Larks Loop Left

Robins pass Larks by Left         Larks pass Robins by left

Robins Loop Left                       Larks pass by Right

Again, it’s that X Passes while Y Loops that often leads to problems. Thus, if the teaching didn’t click, when I notice this problem as I watch the problems dancers have I might start calling to those dancers who are doing the “about-face” and call “Loop to the Left (or right) to pass Left (right) Again.”

Erik Hoffman

From: Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 6:50 AM
To: Katherine Kitching <kat.kitching@gmail.com>
Cc: contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: actual timing of calls for hey for four

I don't think there's anything special about they hey: always cue things so that they start on the beat after you finish speaking.

You might find "ravens left" etc works better than "ravens pass left", being shorter.  Otherwise it's hard to get all the words out.

Jeff

On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 6:06 AM Katherine Kitching via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

hello - first time posting to this list so i'm sorry if I do it wrong (looked in archives and couldn't see obvious answer)

 I am going to teach and call my first dance with a hey this Saturday.. (ie tomorrow)

our group takes things slow so i'd like to cue every interaction for the first few times, as our previous caller did.... I don't know how common this is but our previous caller would actually say--

 ravens pass right

neighbours pass left

larks pass right

partners left

ravens pass right

neighbours pass left

larks pass right 

 partner balance and swing

I'm wondering if someone can clarify for me about delivering the calls for this hey....normally of course I deliver instructions so the last bit of instruction ends on the beat prior to the figure starting.

But in the case of the Hey, if I remember correctly the caller actually called out  the actions *as* they were happening.... 

Am I remembering correctly and if so is this the best approach?

In essence-- do I start by calling "ravens pass right" just before they do it, or while they are doing it?

thanks muchly :)

Katherine Kitching in Hfx NS Canada 

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