[Callers] Re: Connectivity within a dance for new dancers

(not sure how this will look as it seems shared weight admin has changed the behaviour of website posting - my email client opened up) In reply to Joe: Good on ya for being active in your new contra series. A couple of suggestions to consider: Sometimes you don't need an entirely new figure; rather, you can select a dance that modifies one previously learned. Classic example is a hey for 4. First one could be a full hey (16 beats) across and back followed by (16 beats= long recovery time) of <something: balance, etc.> + swing. Subsequent dance could be, e.g., just a half hey or full hey with a turnout at the end to meet someone new or ??? Another option is different sorts of wavy lines (longways, across). Take a look at United We Dance (pretty simple longways waves and a lovely dance). This dance was adapted by David Smukler, I believe, to replace the longways wavy lines with short waves across (don't recall the name); you probably wouldn't want to call them both on the same evening. For something a little more advanced and mood-adaptable with different kinds of music, look at Chuck the Budgie. Some degree of challenge can be added by choosing a dance that takes a dancer out of their "home" foursome. One of the simplest dances with which to introduce this is Young Adult Rose (Baby Rose growing up) which offers a simple allemande to a trailbuddy and come right back to partner. Other things to look for are the manner in which, and at what point in the dance, the progression occurs. Not sure if this helps. One last tidbit. One of the first places I look in the choreography for a dance is to see what/where the progression is and work back from there. Cheers, Ken Panton