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.

www.hands4.com

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. 

 

Laurie 

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone