[Callers] What Makes A Program Varied

OK all, What determines if a program is varied? I originally thought that the number of times a figure occurred in an evening was a pretty good clue, but now ???????????? Here are dances that feel different, in programs that feel varied, yet look at how many times some figures are repeated in an evening. VARIETY IN PROGRAMMING What is it? What is variety in programming determined by? I find that I can include many dances that have the same figures and still feel that I have a varied program. Below are three of my recent programs and the number of times in that evening that a given figure occurs. I arbitrarily started with the idea that more than five occurrences of a figure in an evening might be a problem. Obviously, I excluded swings and balance and swings. By accident no Circle left ¾’s were included. I have also not considered here where in the dance the figure occurred. Despite several figures occurring very frequently in an evening, the programs still felt very varied to me, and some dancers expressed that as well. What do you think????????????? All programs had 14 dances in each. Some of the names are approximate. Most dances were contras, a few were circles, a few were set dances. Program 1 for Beginners – Circles were in 9 dances, at least 1 do-si-do in 7, Stars or hands across in 7 dances. Program: Pride of the Dingle, Jolly Roger, No Dos, Family Contra, Fiddle Hill Jig, Ease, Green Jig, Fancy French mixer, Flutterbys, Midwest Folklore, Reading Reel, Yankee Reel, Handsome Young Maids, Greenfield 2 hand Program 2 for Beginners – Balance the ring in 5, Circles in 8, Do-si-do in 8, Down the Hall 4-in-line in 6, Star or hands across in 10 dances. Program: Cincinnati Reel, Haste to the Wedding, Family Contra, Anne’s Visit, Fiddle Hill Jig, Belles of Auburn, Malden Reel, Handsome Young Maids, Midwest Folklore, Bride and Groom, Road to Boston, St. Lawrence Jig, New Friendship Reel, Ease Program 3 for Intermediate dancers – ladies chain in 12 of the 14 dances. Program: The Baby Rose, Summer Sunshine, Dancing Bear, Betty Mac’s Reel, A Rollin’ and A Tumblin’, Slapping the Wood, Fisher’s Jig, Box-the Gnat Contra, Weave the Line, Ben’s Brilliance, That Special Someone, 40 Mohr Years, Flowers of April, Trip to Lambertville. Rickey Holt, Fremont, NH