25 Apr
2013
25 Apr
'13
1:49 a.m.
I agree that callers can affect the "energy level" of an evening. The
program of dances has a great influence. I recently danced at two dances
on consecutive nights with the same great band...but with a different
caller. The dance where the caller offered simple, well-flowing dances was
much higher energy. The other caller offered complex dances, requiring
more teaching, that left many newcomers, as well as regulars, confused.
The complex dances seemed to suck the energy out of the room.
Jill wrote:
When I think of "high energy" I think of
something I would call early on
when the dancers aren't tired, and a dance for which I would request a fast
tune, probably an unforgiving dance with timing such that you barely make
it from one move to the next, where everyone is moving all the time, like a
good contra corners dance when active.
This sounds like a program suitable for a dance weekend or festival--but
not for an open, public contra dance. What would you offer as a "high
energy" dance at an open, public contra dance with first-timers in the mix?
Greg McKenzie
Ben Lomond, CA