Re: [Callers] Circle left 3/4

On Jun 6, 2013, at 12:19 PM, Chris Lahey wrote, on the subject of getting dancers to complete the sequence "circle left 3/4, pass through" in 8 beats: Could you prompt the pass through with more emphasis? Maybe I think that this sequence is one for whihc it can be useful to prompt a figure--namely "pass through"--with the last beat of the call falling earlier than the beat just before the first beat of the action. Specifically, I often time the words "pass through" so the word "through" falls on beat 4 of the circle, not beat 6. You can hear some examples of other callers doing the same in these videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=s_-uD_-nV6g<http://www.youtube.com/watc… (Steve Zakon-Anderson calls a contra medley at the Concord Scout House. Notice his timing on the third sequence in the medley, Lisa Greenlef's "After the Solstice", wich starts around 5:40.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?**v=MMInHQo4mJY<http://www.youtube.com/watc… (Maggie Cowan calls "Black Bird in the Night" by Don Flaherty.) The idea is that if you say the word "through" by beat 4, it will implicitly encourage slow circlers to pick up the pace. If you say "pass through" on beats 5 and 6, it's already too late to help any dancers who haven't already gotten their circles turned 3/4 of the way around by the time you say "through". You could also try to explain the timing during the walk-through, either by using numbers of beats (six to circle left 3/4; two to pass through), or just by remarking that the time dancers have to circle left 3/4 and pass through is the same time that some dances allow for the circle 3/4 alone, so they (dancers) had better make the circle a little brisker than they might expect. Beware that when you speak in declarative sentences or ask dancers to picture a move that they're not doing right now (e.g., talking about the timing of the circle while dancers are lined up after the walk-through and waiting for the music to start), there are likely to be some who won't be paying attention or who won't be able to visualize whatever part of the dance you're blabbing about. On the other hand, a few dancers who already the basics of timing might pick up on your words and be a little more attentive about politely (I hope) helping their less experienced neighbors to be on time. It can also be helpful to have music that clearly telegraphs when it's coming around to the first beat of the figure after 'Pass Through". --Jim ______________________________**_________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<http://www.shared…