Talc is a mineral, in character like asbestos. Not only is it a hazard for anyone with breathing problems, it's a problem for everyone. Please, do not talc the floor!
Andrea
Sent from my iOnlypretendtomultitask
> On Jul 20, 2015, at 3:05 PM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a small area to see if it works on your floor.
>
> Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
>
> --Jerome
>
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
> "There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no point being unhappy about things you can."
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I have used cornmeal many times on many floors. Caution, a little bit
goes a long way.
As far as corn starch, well, corn starch and water (humidity) makes a
great glue (google it).
I have never noticed the floor getting noticeably scratched with
cornmeal as it is used sparingly
just on sticky spots. Have never noticed any other unpleasant after
effects either. But as mentioned
earlier think about the owners of the floor. My knees often remind me of
the effects of a sticky floor.
I also recommend using sweeping compound before and after a dance.
Before if the floor is dusty
and after to keep the owners happy.
On 07/20/2015 03:28 PM, Charles M. Hannum via Callers wrote:
> I don't think you should *ever* “put up with” a super-sticky floor. It
> damages dancers' knees and ankles. If the floor is too sticky to dance on,
> and the venue isn't allowing any options for fixing it, cancel the dance.
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 3:21 PM, Lindsey Dono via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Thoughts from the organizational perspective:
>>
>> Be very, very careful about adding anything to any floor you don't own! A
>> number of dances have lost their venues over issues such as this. Question:
>> is this floor chronically sticky, or newly so? My generic plan of action
>> would go something along these lines:
>>
>> 1. Put up with the sticky floor for the one evening (question for all:
>> What are good dances for a slow floor? I'm assuming heys and whole-set
>> promenades would work better than Petronella/Rory O'More figures). If
>> you're at the hall early enough, you can try mopping particularly awful
>> spots with JUST water. Unless you own the hall or have checked in with the
>> owners in advance, probably best to avoid adding anything to the floor.
>>
>> 2. Immediately contact the owner/rental coordinator for your hall, and let
>> them know about the sticky floor. Try to find out why the floor is not
>> danceable (spills, new finish, humidity...) and find a short-term solution
>> (mopping, adding a tiny bit of dance floor powdered wax, etc). One time,
>> our hall was used the night prior for a party, and sugary drinks had been
>> spilled everywhere! This wasn't the norm and the owners were apologetic.
>> They put a lot of effort into cleaning up, and there haven't been issues
>> since.
>>
>> 3. Make long-term plans for a danceable floor. A local grange coordinated
>> with the contra community on the best way to refinish the floor. We faced a
>> rather pungent month of dancing, but afterwards, the floor was excellent.
>>
>> 4. If the hall is unable or unwilling to work with you regarding the
>> sticky floor, probably best to start looking for a new venue. This
>> certainly isn't a pretty scenario, but the lousy floor will drive down
>> attendance, and adding anything to the floor without permission will
>> certainly put you in trouble with the owners.
>>
>> Lindsey
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Perry Shafran via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *To:* Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>; Mary Collins <
>> nativedae(a)gmail.com>; "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 11:55 AM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> I was trying to figure out which was the right one - one is good to make
>> it less sticky and the other makes it more gummy and a lot worse. Could
>> have sworn it was cornmeal. I'm not the one who usually does it but I
>> think that the people who run our dance use the right thing.
>>
>> Perry
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
>> *To:* Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>;
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 2:52 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> Not cornmeal - corn starch. Cornmeal would likely scratch the floor!
>>
>> Sent from Outlook <http://taps.io/outlookmobile>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM -0700, "Perry Shafran via Callers" <
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be
>> forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of
>> the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you
>> don't have any sticky spots remaining.
>>
>> Perry
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *To:* callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
>> *Subject:* [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming
>> sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to
>> alleviate the problem?
>>
>> thanks.
>> Mary C. - Buffalo
>>
>> --
>> “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning
>> to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I was trying to figure out which was the right one - one is good to make it less sticky and the other makes it more gummy and a lot worse. Could have sworn it was cornmeal. I'm not the one who usually does it but I think that the people who run our dance use the right thing.
Perry
From: Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
To: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>; callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] sticky floors
Not cornmeal - corn starch. Cornmeal would likely scratch the floor!
Sent from Outlook
On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM -0700, "Perry Shafran via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you don't have any sticky spots remaining.
Perry
From: Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
Subject: [Callers] sticky floors
Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to alleviate the problem?
thanks.
Mary C. - Buffalo
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
And please don't do any of this without checking with the venue!
It's never OK to put down substances on a rented floor without the owner's
permission.
On Jul 20, 2015 3:05 PM, "Jerome Grisanti via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a
> small area to see if it works on your floor.
>
> Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
>
> --Jerome
>
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
> "There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no
> point being unhappy about things you can."
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a
small area to see if it works on your floor.
Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
--Jerome
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
"There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no
point being unhappy about things you can."
Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you don't have any sticky spots remaining.
Perry
From: Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
Subject: [Callers] sticky floors
Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to alleviate the problem?
thanks.
Mary C. - Buffalo
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming
sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to
alleviate the problem?
thanks.
Mary C. - Buffalo
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning
to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
Hi Rickey,
Some of your options depend on the skill levels of your dancers and their
willingness to explore related genres. There have been lots of great
suggestions already. Here are a few more.
Many of the Playford dances are great fun and can be danced with the kind of
energy that contra dancers like to use. Have a look at this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avfqi-cjrYI
The first figure is OK, albeit a little long, but the second one, the
Shuttle (starts at 1:22), is great fun, as is the last one, the Sheepskin
Hey (starts at 1:46). If you think your dancers would enjoy that sort of
dance then there are loads of great English dances out there, from Playford
through to eCeilidh: http://www.webfeet.org/dances/index.html
Here is another sample with four different heys in three figures (watch the
top couple carefully in the last figure - they are doing a circular hey
while the others are dancing heys on the side!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmepHV5cM7k
Couple dances:
Salty Dog Rag
Swedish Masquerade
The Ideal Schottische
Two Couple Dances:
Thanks to Mr Playford
Jubilation
and lots more...
Three Couple Dances:
Too many to mention!
Four Couple Dances:
No good - if you have 10 to 14 people then too many are sitting out - I have
the same problem at some of my sessions.
Five Couple Dances:
Yorkshire Rose
Boston Tea Party
Fivepenny Piece
And I have a version of Up Tails All using modern moves, each couple going
round the circle doing the move of their choice with each other couple, with
multiple couples active at the same time - contact me if you are interested.
Six Couple Dances:
Square --- NOT!
Hexitation - and double up the Heads to turn 12 people into a square dance
for fun in the choruses:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qNy9II3OiU
Seven Couple Dances:
See the recent discussion at Cat's Calling Academy:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/110222402336603/permalink/1201075319917967/
Five Assorted Dancers:
Five Weevils (I think some weevils were mentioned already)
F-Lock
Quintilinear
SAD Dances (Seven Assorted Dancers):
Six Plus One
The Moon & Seven Stars
Nine Assorted Dancers:
Westward Ho!
Of course there are also Circle Mixers.
And Appalachian Big Set is fun as well if you have 12 people (or 10 or 14 -
one couple will be out briefly each time). Here is a sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy3mEOihRck
There are lots of two couple figures in the tradition and you can mix them
up any way you wish, with a scatter promenade between each couple of figures
to change neighbours. Each dance starts and ends in a big circle and there
are lots of fun moves for that formation in the tradition as well. This is
square dancing for when you don't have multiples of eight!
Hope that helps.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Since no one has mentioned it yet, Paul Rosenberg's book Peel The Banana is another excellent source.
I'll be getting in touch with Sister Mary Joseph after I get back home tomorrow.
Jacob
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
-------- Original message --------
From: "P. Campbell via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Date:07/15/2015 9:33 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: Colin Hume <colin(a)colinhume.com>
Cc: Sister Mary Joseph <smjmicm2004(a)gmail.com>,Callers List <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Help for a caller
I agree - the dances she's leading are what I call "community dances" and I've also emailed her separately with some suggestions of mainly whole set dances and circle, square, & other formations that are family-friendly.
Marion Rose also has some great books with CDs; the series is called Step Lively (Canadian).
Patricia
countrydancecaller(a)gmail.com
www.countrydancecaller.com
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 15, 2015, at 9:00 AM, Colin Hume via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:34:10 -0400, Sister Mary Joseph wrote:
>> I'm not sure if the dances I do know are even contras technically.
>> I am pretty much working with the families who come here to Mass
>> and am looking to add to the ten or so dances that they already
>> know. Here are a few of our dances.
>>
>> -The Virginia Reel
>> - The Bridge of Athlone
>> - Heel & Toe Polka
>> - Oh Suzanna
>
> No, they're not contras; they're English Barn Dance repertoire -
> though I'm not saying they're all dances from England; Bridge of
> Athlone comes from Ireland and Virginia Reel comes from America though
> the original was Sir Roger de Coverley which comes from England.
> Every Saturday night hundreds of callers in England will be teaching
> these at Barn Dances to people who may never have danced before:
> school PTAs, Weddings, Scout or Guide parents, etc.
>
> I recommend http://barndances.org.uk/ where Thomas Green which gives
> lots of good advice and instructions for lots of good dances.
>
> To find out what the terms mean, I recommend Hugh Stewart's book
> "Elements of English Country Dance" which you can find online at
> http://round.soc.srcf.net/dances/elements.htm
>
> Colin Hume
>
> Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://www.colinhume.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
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On Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:34:10 -0400, Sister Mary Joseph wrote:
> I'm not sure if the dances I do know are even contras technically.
> I am pretty much working with the families who come here to Mass
> and am looking to add to the ten or so dances that they already
> know. Here are a few of our dances.
>
> -The Virginia Reel
> - The Bridge of Athlone
> - Heel & Toe Polka
> - Oh Suzanna
No, they're not contras; they're English Barn Dance repertoire -
though I'm not saying they're all dances from England; Bridge of
Athlone comes from Ireland and Virginia Reel comes from America though
the original was Sir Roger de Coverley which comes from England.
Every Saturday night hundreds of callers in England will be teaching
these at Barn Dances to people who may never have danced before:
school PTAs, Weddings, Scout or Guide parents, etc.
I recommend http://barndances.org.uk/ where Thomas Green which gives
lots of good advice and instructions for lots of good dances.
To find out what the terms mean, I recommend Hugh Stewart's book
"Elements of English Country Dance" which you can find online at
http://round.soc.srcf.net/dances/elements.htm
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://www.colinhume.com
