18 Mar
2023
18 Mar
'23
4:47 p.m.
YES to everything that’s been said so far!
Here’s one piece that no one has overtly said: figure out ways to go dance squares called
by people who love calling squares — as much as possible.
That way you can add to your repertoire just as you probably have developed your contra
repertoire by lots of contra dancing and scribbling down the dances you like.
Also, I’d like to add to what Jonathan said about “getting off the tune” and also about
the fact that you are calling all the time: I think it’s best to just add a few squares
to your rep at a time, and call them in lots of situations. I believe it is a Kathy
Anderson quote that said you need to call a square 10 times before you have it mastered.
I always recommend people gather lots of squares, but really only work on calling 2-3 of
them at first.
And — if your dance community isn’t real hip for squares, hold a square dance practice
party in your living room. I’ve done it tons of times and it’s a great way to build your
repertoire.
All the books and web resources mentioned so far have been great. My book, Join Up Hands,
has a whole chapter about learning to call squares. The info in my book is definitely
aimed at beginning callers than Tony’s book and the others that have been mentioned, but
might be of some interest to you or to other callers in your community who are just
getting started.(www.suehulsether.com <http://www.suehulsether.com/>)
Great thread.
sue
Sue Hulsether
New Day Hoedown LLC
www.suehulsether.com
newdayhoedown(a)icloud.com
shulsether(a)mac.com
608-632-1267 Cell
P.O. Box 363, Viroqua, WI 54665
On Mar 18, 2023, at 2:08 PM, Suzanne Giradot via
Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
This thread is making my heart sing! I have called squares for years, but was actually
booed at a contra dance once when I set up a square dance. Dancers have become more
respectful since that time (20 years ago) but I don’t get to call squares too much these
days. However, at my local dance, the organizer, Sherry Nevins, is also a square dance
caller and always suggests that I call a square during the evening. So I do, and people
actually have fun!
I have found that calling phrased squares, such as the New England quadrilles, or other
western squares that have phrased moves, are best for calling for contra dancers. It’s a
bit more in their comfort zone. And I second Tony’s suggestion to look at the Square Dance
History project for lots of great ideas and amazing callers (including Tony!).
Suzanne Girardot
Seattle, WA
From: Tony Parkes via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 10:49 AM
To: Maia McCormick <maia.mcc(a)gmail.com>om>; Shared Weight Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Re: Starting to call squares at contra dances
A resource definitely worth exploring is David Millstone’s Square Dance History Project.
I didn’t mention it in my first response because it may not be the easiest place to find
specific types of dance video quickly, but it’s a must for anyone who loves squares and
has a bit of free time to peruse.
www.squaredancehistory.org <http://www.squaredancehistory.org/>
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
www.hands4.com <http://www.hands4.com/>
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)
From: Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:21 PM
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>>
Subject: [Callers] Starting to call squares at contra dances
After dancing to some of Lisa's Greenleaf's 🔥 squares at Beantown Stomp last
weekend, I'm feeling inspired to add some to my repertoire. (To be clear, I'm
looking for squares-for-contra-dancers, not MWSD squares.)
Any resources to recommend for someone learning to call squares?
Any advice to share, techniques to look into, things you wish you'd known when
starting out / wish contra callers knew about squares?
Suggestions for callers to look up on YouTube (besides Lisa ofc) / fave videos?
Favorite dances that I should add to my box?
Thanks in advance,
Maia
--
Maia McCormick (she/her)
917.279.8194
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