Re: [Callers] mentorship

Ron wrote, "One of the biggest challenges is learning dances. A library of shared dances would be invaluable." I'll call folks' attention to a resource that's been mentioned here before, the detailed syllabi from the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend: http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/ralph-page-dance-legacy-weekend The whole collection contains hundreds of dances-- mostly contras, as well as squares, triplets, dances in odd formations, chestnuts, new compositions. Each dance is carefully notated, and there is frequently backgroun information to round out the interested caller's knowledge. Some dances are easier, suitable for mixed crowds, and some are more complex. (Occasionally, the syllabus editor, David Smukler, will add a cautionary note that clues in the reader that this particular dance may be more complicated than it appears.) All in all, this is a superb resource for callers both experienced and those newer to the mic. I think it's the best collection available on the web. Don't think you'll find the "policies toward callers" but there are several excellent resources that do the rest: * http://www.contradancelinks.com/ * http://www.neffa.org/Top/Folk_Dancing/Contras/Dances/index.shtml * http://tedcrane.com/dancedb/ * http://www.thedancegypsy.com/ * http://www.contracorners.net/contra/links/dancemap.html Hope this helps. David Millstone