The sidecar swing hold can also be walked instead of buzz-stepped, if folks want a little more elegance and a bit less gym class. and I agree with whoever suggested waiting on the cake: people think their job as a guest is done once they eat it. I like to lead from a toast, with everyone gathered round standing, to taking hands in a circle for the first dance, and then having the cake after the third or fourth dance. Background music during the cake eating, then a few more dances for the die-hards. just my 1/50 of a buck. -Amy

For me, the most important task as a caller at a wedding is to get the bride and groom dancing in the first dance. If you make the first dance a circle (not a mixer) then you don't have any hassles in getting 'that extra last couple' to make up a set. You don't even really need to worry who is on which side. I almost invariably use Part 1 of Circassian circle (In to the middle and out twice, ladies in, clap and return, men in, clap and return, swing your partner, promenade). I don't teach it, just do it, ideally with a wireless mike so that you can show what people should be doing from the center. At the end I have been known to keep the promenade going so that I can make up some longways dances for Virginia Reel before anyone escapes. Another useful technique is to use an extended promenade to make up a sicillian circle for Haste to the Wedding. With luck, you can still keep them on the floor. At the end of Haste to the Wedding (or any other sicillian circle formation) have some fun - ask the tallest person in each couple (or the shortest, or the one without a bra, or the one who comes from furthest away ... you get the idea - to go away and bring back another person, any sex, to make up a 3-facing-3 for Dashing White Sargeant or any other 3 some you fancy. After this they will be tired so give them a reasonable break. The rest is up to you ... Michael Barraclough http://www.michaelbarraclough.com -----Original Message----- From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Laur Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 4:28 PM To: 'Caller's discussion list' Subject: Re: [Callers] suggestions for dancing on lawns... Thank you for all your responses. My biggest concern was for uneven ground, turned ankles and bad knees. I suppose that was based on my own experiences when I supported community dances at one or two festivals. But it is a wedding and all the slow and simple rules apply. You all helped ease my anxiety. Your helpful hints, suggestions, and links are very much appreciated. Beth, the groom just told me their rough plan is to eat, cut the cake, and while folks are eating cake have the music start. The old time band can play for a bit, and then they want to start the dancing. They are open to suggestion. In your, and others, experience, how will this plan work? I agree, cutting the cake can be the wind down point. Laurie --- On Wed, 6/18/08, Beth Parkes <ebay(a)hands4.com> wrote: <callers(a)sharedweight.net> _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers