Re: Request starter squares ("Of course everybody knows this dance")

Several mentions of "First Night Quadrille" inspired me to look it up. Squares by Bob Dalsemer http://www.bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Squares.html Squares by Bob Dalsemer http://www.bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Squares.html Ashley's Star A1: Allemande right partner 1 and 1/2, hold on, give left to the next to form a wavy circle with men facing out (8); balance (4), allemande left person on left once around (4) View on www.bobdalsemer.com http://www.bobdalsemer.com/Bob_Dalsemers_Web_Pages/Squares.html Preview by Yahoo Squares are more forgiving for both the dancers and the caller. If things aren't going optimally, you can have them locate the partner du jour, swing, promenade home, and then just have them do various figures that "close." Ladies chain over & back. Circle, star, etc. Also, you aren't locked into the musical phrasing. Precision dancing on the beat is great, but sometimes it doesn't work. Just add a couple folks with mobility challenges, height differentials, or self-esteem stuff, and they'll be well into the next measure of music. (I enjoyed a dance the other night where several new dancers were not comfortable standing *next to their partners, let alone holding hands.) Think of a square as a combination of figures and breaks (choruses), and these can vary in complexity. You can do the same chorus all night, thereby providing a sense of accomplishment to everyone. If you do the same figures, they will notice. Work up to a grand square chorus. It's not simple to teach, and most dancers won't "get it" on the first time they try it. (Memo to self: next time I do a dance society event...) If you have an odd number of dancers, say, a round multiple of 8 plus six or seven more, limit the number of squares. If you have a hundred people, go for it. I might do a tip of two in a row followed by several other dances that are very different. If you do onezies, be prepared for lots of instruction on how to "square your set." If they have trouble with the concept of eight dancers, or four couples, standing next to their partner and facing (into the middle) one of the four walls in the room, you might want to ditch the tightly-phrased singing call. Report back! --Karen D.