Re: [Callers] How much is too much? How little is too little?

Hi Martha! My thought is 5 times through with full calls and 3 times thru with short prompts.  If the band is playing a 2 tune set I might stick around after the tune switch.  Sometime the excitement of a new tune will wonderfully "distract" the dancers.  In an ideal world in a 3 tune set I plan on calling as much as needed thru the first tune and do short prompts a couple times through after the second tune.  I like to get out as early as possible but still need to monitor how things are gathering after  for example an "intoxicating" swing.  The next move might be prompted with 1 word  i.e. "Gents".   That could be the only prompt that time thru the dance. --- On Fri, 2/11/11, Martha Edwards <meedwards(a)westendweb.com> wrote: From: Martha Edwards <meedwards(a)westendweb.com> Subject: [Callers] How much is too much? How little is too little? To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 8:58 AM We had a discussion the other night - not about how many walkthroughs, but about how many times the caller should call before dropping out. Obviously, it depends. So, for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume a new-dancer to intermediate dancer to experienced dancer ratio of 1:2:1. If everyone were evenly scattered by  dance level, each group of four would have two intermediate dancers, one beginner and one very experienced dancer.  Let's not assume that the dancers are evenly scattered, but are slightly clumped, so that beginners do encounter each other occasionally, sometimes with only a couple of intermediate dancers to help them. Let's further assume that the dance is in the part of the country where two walkthroughs is considered appropriate - where, even if the first walkthrough goes just fine, the second one cements the learning and leaves you in a position to "dance it from here."  Let's further assume that the dance lasts about nine minutes (17 times through). Here's the question: If you have taught an easy dance clearly, *and the dance appears to be going well*, how many times through the dance should you call? Once or twice with full calls ("join hands and circle to the left"), once or twice with shortened calls ("circle left") and then nothing? Or five times through with full calls, three times with shortened calls, then nothing? How much is too much? How little is too little? M E -- For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers