New subject: RPDLW

16 Feb 2006

Cynthia asked about highlights of the Ralph Page weekend and anything in
particular that we learned there.

One big highlight for me--can one have a small highlight?--was the opportunity
to dance again to Tod Whittemore's calling. Within a few minutes of his taking
the stage on Friday night, I was remembering why it was so much fun to dance to
him. He has a great sense of humor and has a lot of fun on stage; that sense of
having a good time spreads throughout the hall.

Tod does not call complex dances-- no heys for four on the left diagonal, or
multiple Petronella twirls. He sticks with simpler material. As he put it in his
callers' workshop: "I'm not Larry Jennings, and I don't think like Larry
Jennings. I'd get lost calling some of the more complicated dances." He sticks
to simple material that he likes, teaches the dances efficiently, and lets the
dancers enjoy the music. He sized up the crowd quickly and called several
no-walkthrough squares.

Between Tod and Lisa Greenleaf, we did a lot of grand square variations in the
course of the weekend, always a crowd pleaser. (Or, stated more specifically,
always a crowd pleaser for the crowd at this particular weekend.)

In his caller's workshop, Tod was encouraging us to think about why we call. He
started by posing five questions:

1. Do you habitually book dances ahead?

2. In a dance hall of six lines across, where would you choose (generally) to
dance?

3. What is your most memorable (positive) dance experience?

4. What is your most memorable (positive) calling experience? (Tod then added,
"...that had an impact on you as a caller?")

5. When you plan a program, what criteria do you focus on? What are your top
three? (Since Tod likes to call singing squares, one of his top three criteria
is to be sure to include them in every program.)

I'm indebted to David Smukler for keeping track of this information for the
syllabus he compiles every year. The syllabus from this year will be posted in
about a year at the UNH website, but you can purchase a paper copy from NEFFA
before then. They're usually available in time for the NEFFA festival. You can
find many more details about Tod's workshop, including many of the answers
shared to these questions. Lisa Greenleaf's workshop focused on calling for one
night stands; amny callers attended, and the syllabus is full of dance
directions for simple dances, in addition to some overall guidelines about
programming such events.

Another highlight, which I happened to capture on videotape, came on Sunday
afternoon, when Tod was calling one of his signature yodeling square dances,
Grandma Slid Down the Mountain. He was joined on the yodeling by Bob McQuillen.
I'll aim to have footage of that available for viewing at the RPDLW table at
NEFFA.

David Millstone

Re: [Callers] RPDLW