Re: [Callers] How to devise a program

Yes, as Lynn says, several minutes could be saved if people took hands four right away. And even more if they'd just shut up. Then again, often, in that moment between dances, while people are lining up, it is the chance to meet and talk a bit -- an important time in our community. So, I honor that chance to chat, and don't worry about trying to squeeze more dances in. I'm sure there's a gradient: some callers push the next dance, squeeze more dances in, some cut dances shorter, squeeze more dances in, and some are a bit looser. And, I'm sure there are some dancers who favor one approach and others who favor the other... Which reminds me: a while back there was a discussion on getting worried about programming a dance. I think: A good program tends to build confidence in dancers while providing a variety. In some ways this was easier to do back in the days when a contra dance meant contras, squares, circles, Sicilian circles, and more. (But then callers had to know how to call squares, a bigger challenge than calling contras...) But there are enough figures, forms, and the like to create a wide variety with just contras and 4 face 4s. Confidence is gained when one concept leads to the next. So, it's worth considering what you have to teach to get from one dance to the next, and how it varies. But, and this is a big BUT: Dancers come to the dance to have fun, enjoy the movement to the music, and interact. For many of us, you could call the same dance five times in a row, and with different partners, and different music, we may not notice. (Ok that's a slight exaggeration.) More important is the sense of joy projected. After all, it's only a dance! ~erik hoffman oakland, ca On 9/28/2013 12:05 PM, lynn ackerson wrote: