31 Jan
2016
31 Jan
'16
2:51 p.m.
I haven't had dancers preempt the calls, but I as a (contra) dancer have sometimes
anticipated a square figure sequence. I see dancers who dance with swing, scottish,
English, or square "accents." Perhaps the challenge is when the dancers are used
to the habits of another form (eg dancing with a contra accent) and have to quickly switch
to another form (eg squares).
I think we have to train dancers on our expectations for squares the same way as our
expectations for contras or other forms.
I like how some callers say just before the music starts that, in square dancing, there is
the figure that's taught, and then "there are other things that may come out of
my mouth as well, so be alert." This gives the dancers a heads up that they have to
really listen for the calls. Starting with a break reenforces that concept that the caller
may throw various untaught calls into the mix. I also like the Ted Sannella example of
throwing in unexpected calls just to keep the dancers on their toes. "Circle to the …
right, right, RIGHT."
Joy
Durham, NC
On Jan 31, 2016, at 9:20 AM, Colin Hume colin(a)colinhume.com [trad-dance-callers] wrote:
On Sun, 31 Jan 2016 12:20:22 +0000, Hugh Stewart
hugh.stewart.cambridge(a)gmail.com [trad-dance-callers] wrote:
Yes. Often enough that I can give two cases that
tend to induce
it.
One is where the caller lets the music start without saying
anything (typically because he is going to wait four bars and then
call honour partners, honour corners)
The other is where the caller has walked a figure, but not a break,
and then starts with a break as the dancers confidently launch into
the figure.
I agree with Hugh - and with Mo who said it's ultimately the caller's
fault. I don't usually walk through breaks, but having walked through
the figure (usually for heads and then sides) and got them back to
their original partners I say "And it starts with a break - which
bears no resemblance to any of that". I still occasionally get people
leaping into the figure as soon as the music starts, in which case I
say "Wait a minute - I haven't said anything yet".
And I occasionally get people going ahead of the call for the figure -
usually because it's unphrased and I've slowed down to help the square
at the bottom of the hall while the square at the top is forging
ahead. In that case I threaten to change the figure!
Colin Hume
Email colin(a)colinhume.com Web site http://colinhume.com