My take: Ask them to play it during the sound check.
At the Concord (MA) Scout House the band used to play a “sound check polka” just before the first contra. Don’t know how widespread a custom that is. Most dancers did a Norwegian polka, though a few did a “standard” polka.
Tony Parkes
Billerica, Mass.
New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century
(available now)
From: Laur via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 3:50 PM
To: Contra Callers <contracallers@sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Callers] Need help fitting to a tune
A local band here plays Beaumont Rag As a part of their routine dance set. It’s a popular band.
I’ve never experienced a contra dance The band has chosen to play for a dance work. It doesn’t work for the dancers and it’s agonizing for the caller.
Can anyone suggest a dance that could fit? At this point I’m planning to request they don’t include the tune.
I know there’s an English dance written to match but not interested in that for this set.