7 Aug
2011
7 Aug
'11
11:09 a.m.
I can understand Jolaine's hesitation. But the "Look at ME!" part of the
caller's ego has always been a factor at contra dances. Like Jolaine I also
feel that the caller should "fade into the background" as soon as possible,
but I recognize that I am in the minority of callers and I am willing to let
others experiment. I also recognize that burning man is a unique venue with
extreme considerations for anyone attempting to call a contra dance there.
If we learn from our mistakes then those organizing the burningman contra
will learn much. I wish I could participate. I have organized four
installations at burningman and I know what an adverse environment it can
be. I have not been back for years now but I know that calling for this
venue would be one of the most difficult calling gigs I can imagine. There
will probably be 20% to more than 50% first-timers in the crowd. Combined
with the problem of many distractions (every potential participant has
about 2,999 other installations they want to see during the evening)--not to
mention the factor of significant numbers of dancers in enhanced mental
states--this gig will require all of the best skills of calling. That
includes careful programming, planning, training the regular contra dancers,
and working with all other parties including the musicians, sound, and light
engineers. It is interesting that these folks are using multiple
communication channels to help integrate the newcomers.
I am most intrigued with the idea put forth by the burner contra folks of
using the lighting to reinforce the calls. Every phrase in the dance (A1,
A2, B1, and B2) could have a different color or effect setting. Using the
lighting as a reinforcement to the calls could be a powerful technique for
such a difficult venue. It will require an extra caller who knows the
lighting system or a lighting technician who knows how to call contras.
This crowd will need every technique the callers and organizers can think of
to sweep in the first-timers.
I will be very interested in hearing how things work out.
- Greg McKenzie
On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Mark Stowe <mkstowegnv(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Jolaine is a wonderful caller and I understand what
she is saying
but... There are always spectators at dances and at Burning Man
there are also many people walking through the area and fire-dancing
is a dramatic way to draw in that much more attention and therefore
potential new dancers. Secondly there is the thrill of the challenge
for the caller in succeeding in meshing two skills s/he loves.
Finally there is probably going to be a novel thrill for the dancers
who will getting something like that primal feeling of dancing around
a fire - while contradancing. I think there will be plenty of
enjoyment without taking in all the details in a way that would
distract attention from their own dancing. They will go look at the
youtube videos later - and admit it so will you :)
On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 7:27 PM, JoLaine Jones-Pokorney
<jolaine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
I applaud Mark for all his efforts to spread
contra dancing. But I have
to
ask what is the purpose of firedancing/hooping
while calling? I would
argue
that this is an unnecessary distraction and puts
the focus on the caller
instead of on the dancers. Am I supposed to watch this person
firedance/hoop while I am trying to contra dance? I hope that organizers
will ask if this "innovation" is really making the dancing more
enjoyable,
or simply for the sake of being
"different." My personal opinion is that
the caller should be as invisible as possible - call clearly and get out
of
the way of the dancers. There are certainly
callers who contribute
beyond
the calls such as Beth Molero and Nils
Fredland's with their wonderful
singing voices and other callers who may clog or play spoons or some
other
contribution to the experience. But
firedancing/hooping is a distraction
from the dance, not a contribution to it.
May Burning Man contra grow and thrive for years to come!
JoLaine
--
JoLaine Jones-Pokorney
"We are as gods and might as well get good at it!"
- Stewart Brand
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