[Callers] What sets the feel of a dance? (Was: What to ask a band before the gig?)

Jumping off from the aforementioned thread, I'm sure this is quite an elementary question, but one I've never had to deal with before because I do most of my calling to a student band that has barely cobbled together a set list for the dance in question and so isn't really capable of much collaborating: what exactly sets the mood/feel of a dance? What are certain adjectives you'd apply to a dance or it's music based on the move-content? What sort of dances tend to go better to jigs as opposed to reels and vice versa? I'd love to hear what you all think! Cheers, Maia