Re: [Callers] New dances

Waler - I called Nail the Catfish one night last month, right after your post, in fact. The band was excited about playing the tune since they typically have only played this informally, in a jam, not for a dance. (Steve Rosen is someone familiar to us.) Although other tunes could have worked, whenever I called they kept asking - do we play it this time? I'd say no, it's the second to last dance IF there's time.. but because we had a more intermediate crowd, and the other caller and I did efficient walk throughs, I was able to fit it in before break! I did ONE walk through (not usual in this community in West MI). told me, the dance went into memory easy. And as confirmation, I felt little need to do more than prompt every so often after a few times through the dance. The dance was "tight" or not flexible with timing - so if someone was 'late' it really tossed a cog in the flow. I made a very big point of the four steps and why in the walk-through, and I prompted the first few dances specifically about when to turn and when to arch. Unfortunately, in that community there are long time dancers without any sense of music or timing... and so - The feedback I got was positive in terms of flow. And some felt that they could relax into the dance because of the physical memory. one caller felt that it became boring to him because he didn't have time for flourishes. But there's the old push and pull - does florishability make a dance? I'm quite annoyed by those dancers, young or old, that loose the sense of timing and flow to get an extra twirl or swing extraordinaire or swap the neighbor. Do ALL that and more - but be ON TIME. Although I'm cautious about associating a dance with one tune, its a good measurer. If the band knows the tune then they can play it or anything similar to it. I trust the band. I'd say, this tune was written for Nail the Catfish, and if they know that tune they can get the feeling for the flow, playing it or not. And the author IS correct, it is a tight fit for four down the hall, and I'd say that they have to prepare to lift at four so the ends can turn in to pass through as they walk back up the hall. I'd call it again, (and again). People were smiling. Folks applauded. Full credit to the author awarded... Laurie --- Walter Daves <walterdaves(a)alltel.net> wrote: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545433 _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers