13 Mar
2018
13 Mar
'18
6:14 p.m.
I like to have a program of dances selected and laid out for my gigs.
Of course I know that sometimes the prepared program has to be
departed from, or completely replaced, but I like to at least start from
the point of having a prepared program.
For a typical contra dance I will spend an hour or so selecting
dances and getting them in order. This may be a bit longer if I'm
trying any new dances that need to be written up. Then I always
practice all of the dances, even old familiar ones and especially any
new ones. I practice both the walk-through and calling to music. This
usually takes an hour or so as well. I usually do the preparation a day
or two before the day of the dance. Extra time, and more advanced
planning, may be needed if I'm coordinating with the band on any of the
dances.
The process is similar for English dances, but often takes more
time. It also needs to be done well in advance so that the band can be
informed of the dances.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 3/13/2018 12:58 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
I am curious how much time you all plan programming a
dance before
arriving at a venue. If you do not preprogram, what is your approach
for on the fly programming?
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
13 Mar
13 Mar
9:28 p.m.
New subject: [Callers] Programming a Dance
This is why they pay us the big bucks!
My process is very much like Jonathan. My calling took a big leap forward when I started
paying more attention to what I would say during the walk-thru, and practicing saying it
out loud as concisely as possible (Lisa Greenleaf influence!).
Jean
On Mar 13, 2018, at 11:14 AM, Jonathan Sivier via
Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I like to have a program of dances selected and laid out for my gigs. Of course I know
that sometimes the prepared program has to be departed from, or completely replaced, but I
like to at least start from the point of having a prepared program.
For a typical contra dance I will spend an hour or so selecting dances and getting them
in order. This may be a bit longer if I'm trying any new dances that need to be
written up. Then I always practice all of the dances, even old familiar ones and
especially any new ones. I practice both the walk-through and calling to music. This
usually takes an hour or so as well. I usually do the preparation a day or two before the
day of the dance. Extra time, and more advanced planning, may be needed if I'm
coordinating with the band on any of the dances.
The process is similar for English dances, but often takes more time. It also needs to
be done well in advance so that the band can be informed of the dances.
Jonathan
-----
Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
-----
Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!
On 3/13/2018 12:58 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
I am curious how much time you all plan
programming a dance before arriving at a venue. If you do not preprogram, what is your
approach for on the fly programming?
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ 
10:04 p.m.
New subject: [Callers] Programming a Dance
As a new caller I spend way too many hours preparing. I used to start weeks in advance,
just so I could read all the choreography books I have. Now I’m down to 1 or 2 weeks. LOL.
Where I’m spending most of my time nowadays is developing a sense of “story” and
“biorhythm” to the program, and not just a logical progression of complexity. I look
forward to getting it down to an hour!
By now I have been through my library enough and called enough that I have a couple
special folders of fallback easy/fun/low-turnout dances to rely on when I need them.
Having fallbacks makes programming simpler (thus faster) so I don’t need an absurd
flowchart. (Yes, I tried that once.)
On Mar 13, 2018, at 17:28, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via
Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
My calling took a big leap forward when I started paying more attention to what I would
say during the walk-thru, and practicing saying it out loud as concisely as possible (Lisa
Greenleaf influence!).
I do this as well. Saying the teaching aloud, alone, helps me test and pare the words
down. Walking a couple positions as well helps me aware of the dancer perspectives as
well.
\Bob Peterson
http://contracorner.com/caller/ <http://contracorner.com/caller/>
10:15 p.m.
New subject: [Callers] Programming a Dance
I usually start thinking about the program as soon as I book. Then as far
out as two weeks I pull and practice dances, determine suitable music,
refine a day or two before and then once at the dance change the whole
program. Lol. Not really but once I get there I end up changing order or
some dances. I've been pulling my similar yet substituting dances itn
advance lately too.
On Mar 13, 2018 6:04 PM, "Bob Peterson via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
As a new caller I spend way too many hours preparing.
I used to start
weeks in advance, just so I could read all the choreography books I have.
Now I’m down to 1 or 2 weeks. LOL. Where I’m spending most of my time
nowadays is developing a sense of “story” and “biorhythm” to the program,
and not just a logical progression of complexity. I look forward to getting
it down to an hour!
By now I have been through my library enough and called enough that I have
a couple special folders of fallback easy/fun/low-turnout dances to rely on
when I need them. Having fallbacks makes programming simpler (thus faster)
so I don’t need an absurd flowchart. (Yes, I tried that once.)
On Mar 13, 2018, at 17:28, Jean Gibson-Gorrindo via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
My calling took a big leap forward when I started paying more attention to
what I would say during the walk-thru, and practicing saying it out loud as
concisely as possible (Lisa Greenleaf influence!).
I do this as well. Saying the teaching aloud, alone, helps me test and
pare the words down. Walking a couple positions as well helps me aware of
the dancer perspectives as well.
\Bob Peterson
http://contracorner.com/caller/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
Bob Peterson -
Jean Gibson-Gorrindo -
Jonathan Sivier -
Mary Collins