10 Feb
2014
10 Feb
'14
4:28 p.m.
Hi,
I'm a fairly new caller as well and here are some thing that have helped me. I
1 - Have a master list of dances in rough order of difficulty so I can quickly go to the
beginning, middle, or end for ideas on what to call depending on my dancers. I gave up on
a formal "program" after the first couple of dances.
2 - Code the dances for type and mix them in the list (circle, contra, mixer, starting or
main figure...) to help keep variety.
3 - Have different lists for3cpl, 4 cpl, 5-6, 7+ groupings (this probably won't
pertain to you but where I am a hall full of dancers isn't likely!)
4 - Print out eight dances per side on paper (colored paper helps organize) in more or
less the same order, easily folded and stuck in my belt pouch so I can quickly glance at a
dance to jogg my memory. My dances are small and I'm on the floor and often dancing so
quick and easy is important. The dances are also marked with 3, 4, etc cples tomake it
easier to grab a right one.
To have a "large" group of any kind would be a delight! Congratulations! But
I've learned to enjoy 3 and 4 couple nights. Again this probably doesn't pertain
to your situation but I've found it easier on me to rewrite the dances to suit
different number of couples and have each one printed that way (unless it's a very
simple change). I'm getting better at being able to do this on my feet, and have had
to do so more than I like, but I like the security of having it written out, especially if
I have a lot of new dancers to pay attention to. The same for changes that make a dance
easier or harder. I really like dances that are easily adapted and can be used in a
variety of situations.
As others have noted, new dancers continually surprise me with what they can do (and
can't) do. It depends on your dancers of course and the dance atmosphere, but I've
found as long as we laugh and have a good time even the meltdowns can add to the evening.
It's the fun that counts, not the dance.
Cheers from the snowy U.P. (of Michigan)
Sue Robishaw