Impaired dancers was my original main worry. The solution we employed last
year was to have a carpeted area for freeform dancers and friendly signage
and 'fence' so dancers would take a lesson first. Turned out no impaired
dancers - in general the impaired subpopulation which is definitely a
minority is extremely well behaved - much more civilized than any football
game. Enough experienced dancers that ordinarily the callers job would have
been only a little more difficult than a local dance - except for the
turnover in the beginners. You want dances that will hook new dancers in
one dance.
On Aug 7, 2011 11:12 AM, "Dorcas Hand" <handd51(a)tekkmail.com> wrote:
I've never done techno, but this lighting plan
sounds well suited to some
of that. So interesting.
Dorcas Hand
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:
callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net]
On Behalf Of Greg McKenzie
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 10:09 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Firedancing/ Hooping while calling and other
possible future
Burning Man innovations
I can understand Jolaine's hesitation. But the "Look at ME!" part of the
caller's ego has always been a factor at contra dances. Like Jolaine I
also
feel that the caller should "fade into the
background" as soon as
possible,
but I recognize that I am in the minority of callers
and I am willing to
let
others experiment. I also recognize that burning man
is a unique venue
with
extreme considerations for anyone attempting to call a
contra dance there.
If we learn from our mistakes then those organizing the burningman contra
will learn much. I wish I could participate. I have organized four
installations at burningman and I know what an adverse environment it can
be. I have not been back for years now but I know that calling for this
venue would be one of the most difficult calling gigs I can imagine. There
will probably be 20% to more than 50% first-timers in the crowd. Combined
with the problem of many distractions (every potential participant has
about 2,999 other installations they want to see during the evening)--not
to
mention the factor of significant numbers of dancers
in enhanced mental
states--this gig will require all of the best skills of calling. That
includes careful programming, planning, training the regular contra
dancers,
and working with all other parties including the
musicians, sound, and
light
engineers. It is interesting that these folks are
using multiple
communication channels to help integrate the newcomers.
I am most intrigued with the idea put forth by the burner contra folks of
using the lighting to reinforce the calls. Every phrase in the dance (A1,
A2, B1, and B2) could have a different color or effect setting. Using the
lighting as a reinforcement to the calls could be a powerful technique for
such a difficult venue. It will require an extra caller who knows the
lighting system or a lighting technician who knows how to call contras.
This crowd will need every technique the callers and organizers can think
of
to sweep in the first-timers.
I will be very interested in hearing how things work out.
- Greg McKenzie
On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Mark Stowe <mkstowegnv(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Jolaine is a wonderful caller and I understand what she is saying
> but... There are always spectators at dances and at Burning Man
> there are also many people walking through the area and fire-dancing
> is a dramatic way to draw in that much more attention and therefore
> potential new dancers. Secondly there is the thrill of the challenge
> for the caller in succeeding in meshing two skills s/he loves.
> Finally there is probably going to be a novel thrill for the dancers
> who will getting something like that primal feeling of dancing around
> a fire - while contradancing. I think there will be plenty of
> enjoyment without taking in all the details in a way that would
> distract attention from their own dancing. They will go look at the
> youtube videos later - and admit it so will you :)
>
> On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 7:27 PM, JoLaine Jones-Pokorney
> <jolaine(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> > I applaud Mark for all his efforts to spread contra dancing. But I have
> to
> > ask what is the purpose of firedancing/hooping while calling? I would
> argue
> > that this is an unnecessary distraction and puts the focus on the
caller
> > instead of on the dancers. Am I supposed to
watch this person
> > firedance/hoop while I am trying to contra dance? I hope that
organizers
> > will ask if this "innovation" is
really making the dancing more
> enjoyable,
> > or simply for the sake of being "different." My personal opinion is
that
> > the caller should be as invisible as possible
- call clearly and get
out
> of
> > the way of the dancers. There are certainly callers who contribute
> beyond
> > the calls such as Beth Molero and Nils Fredland's with their wonderful
> > singing voices and other callers who may clog or play spoons or some
> other
> > contribution to the experience. But firedancing/hooping is a
distraction
from the dance, not a contribution to it.
May Burning Man contra grow and thrive for years to come!
JoLaine
--
JoLaine Jones-Pokorney
"We are as gods and might as well get good at it!"
- Stewart Brand
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