Re: [Callers] Calling for dancers with disabilities

My band, the Racket Factory, played for a dance at a home for developmentally disabled adults last summer. Hank Washburn did the calling for us that night, and worked up a number of dances that could work for dancers in wheelchairs pushed by staff from the home. I have been meaning to type them up and post them, but am swamped at work at my day job this season and have not gotten to it. I do, however, have his notes for the evening in a scanned pdf and that would probably help you. I will email them to you offline. The dance was supposed to be outside under a tent or in the parking lot, but the evening of the dance brought not just rain but wild thunderstorms. Because of the metal in the chairs, the residents are not allowed outside in thunderstorms and so we ended up doing the dance in the cafeteria, which was carpeted. The carpeting provided sufficient extra resistance for the pushers, not to mention the more cramped space, that we had to modify the dances as we went but it worked out very well and I'm sure Hank's notes will give you some ideas from which you can modify to meet your needs. -cynthia -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Dave Colestock Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 11:32 PM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling for dancers with disabilities Thanks Linda.  I remember attending it several years ago, and I am at work now so I could not look it up in my copy of the past years schedules.  Thanks for pointing Chrissy in the right direction (and me too!).  But I do remember the session I attended as being presented by a woman - I can't recall her name, and maybe she was a sub or something.  Or. maybe I am just having a "senior moment".   Dave Colestock Harrisburg, PA --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net> wrote: From: Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling for dancers with disabilities To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:22 PM Actually, Dave, we continue to have this session at NEFFA! It has occurred every year for the last 4 or 5 years, and will happen again this Festival. It is called Seated Squares. Fred Wersan and the Assabet Ramblers present the dance. You can look up Fred's email information at the NEFFA website. I am sure that he would respond to individuals who get in touch with him. Linda Leslie On Apr 11, 2011, at 10:52 PM, Dave Colestock wrote: not require actual dancing.  This was for wheelchair bound and other disabled people.  Involved a lot of hand motions, clapping and such.  I forget who gave the session, but you may be able to look it up if you attended and/or have your program from then.  Maybe it was 3 years or so ago?  Maybe someone else on the list remembers the session?? mentors adult artists with varying developmental disabilities.  A high proportion of the dancers will be their clients, or other similarly-disabled clients of their parent organization.   The mentors and other agency staff will be on hand to dance as well.  We're all very excited that this is happening, and I want to be sure it's a successful experience for the dancers, especially those with disabilities. specific suggestions as I prepare?  (On or off-list.  Content or approach.) _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers