I just survived (as a dancer) another of the first (and best) weekends of the month , Friday and Saturday nights at the Guiding Star Grange in Greenfield, MA. Friday night, one of our favorite bands (The Moving Violations) and callers - (Sue Rosen) - 200 people, including 2, 75 year old guys, 1, 79, and 1 80-year old couple, a van-load of 15 girls from Mt Holyoke, some more from Smith, Hampshire, & U-Mass. A few college guys too. Even a car load from Wesleyan Univ in CT - a 1 1/2 hour drive. This helped to offset the usual gender imbalance of 10 -20 extra guys. Of course this forced us older men to dance with younger women most of the time, but we bore this hardship cheerfully. Everyone was in high spirits - Cheers would ring out from the crowd spontaneously whenever the band changed keys or tunes. Everyone clapped on the petronella twirls, and the caller didn't even try to stop us! One medley consisted of 3 tunes of GYPSY music from classical sources. Between dances I discussed with the lead fiddler, Van Kaynor, and Sue, the caller, whether this might put them "over the edge" as to Political Correctness, but she called several dances with gypsies anyway, saying that she was not concerned - had too much to think about to worry about it. (Sue is on this message board, but seldom replies to the discussions. I told her I would report this, she was amused and said OK) During the break, to celebrate the holiday season, we were treated to a sword dance-mummer's play, and on Saturday night, to a Morris dance demonstration by a team of teens from Northern VT, who of course danced with us all night. Saturday Night was just as much fun, same attendance, plenty of cheers, gypsies, claps, even more college girls, many beginners, some high school boys AND girls. Wild Asparagus played, George Marshall called, - it was great! We are so fortunate to have such a great hall within easy reach of 5 colleges, and a vast reservoir of dancers from CT, MA, VT, and NH, and close to a major highway, with what we believe are the best bands and callers in the USA twice each week!! Ralph Sweet [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/uAiolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> The J. Appleseed Society E-Mail Discussion Lists to nurture the growth of participatory art and cultural activities. The Traditional Dance Callers List: For participatory dance callers, teachers, leaders and interested friends. Subscribe by sending a blank e-mail message (no subject, no message) to: trad-dance-callers-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/trad-dance-callers/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: trad-dance-callers-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/