[Callers] "Limited Views" on Dorky Dances

Well. Yes. I can see how many folks feel. Many of us encounter rolling eyeballs when we tell our friends about contras and we feel compelled to assure them that: "No. Its NOT like the goofy square dancing you learned in Jr. High. It's NOT about bouncing up and down, waving your arms, and making foolish animal sounds. Its actually very cool and you'll feel comfortable doing it." Then, when we finally drag these folks to a contra dance, the caller does one of "those" dances. Is this being "limited" or "close-minded" (as one caller once referred to me)? Maybe. If you want to see real "closed mindedness" just try fitting one simple mosh pit slam dance with recorded screaming rock music--for just ten minutes--into your contra dance program. The point is that "folk dancing" is an extremely "limited view" of what dancing should be. Contra dance is an extremely "limited view" of what folk dancing should be. And "folk music" is an extremely "limited view" of what music should be. On the whole, I would venture to say that in many ways contras are more open to variation than most "folk dancing." We have seen electronic instruments sneak in along with non-traditional percussion (such as trap drum sets), and many variations of dance figures. Personally I think that the beauty, magic, and sustainability of contra dance comes precisely from the limits of the tradition that governs it. It is within that rigid traditional structure that people feel safe, and free enough to open themselves to others and to connect in extraordinary ways. This is not to say that I am a "traditionalist" by any means. But we should not try to "change the direction" of that tradition without a clear idea of what our common purpose is. The real question is: What is your purpose? And what is the purpose of the majority of those who attend? Are you trying to "preserve a tradition," to "open folks to other dance traditions," or simply "to offer an open community social dance with live music," or a combination of all those. ...Or are we doing something else entirely? The answer will surely vary for each dance series or event. This is a question seldom discussed yet it seems to be a central issue regarding how we organize dances and what the role of the caller is. I think that discussion would be very useful. What is the purpose of our event and what is the caller's job in realizing that purpose? Perhaps if we answered that question we might come to a better understanding of why we sometimes get "hairy eyeballs" when we wander off into some more "limited" goal. Just a thought, Greg McKenzie ********* Winston Wrote: