14 Aug
2017
14 Aug
'17
4:36 p.m.
I don't know about a possible connection, but there's early evidence of calling in
the African-American community in one of the poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar was an
African-American poet, born in Ohio, who lived from 1872 to 1906. He wrote poems in
standard literary English and also in dialect. He has a wonderful description of a dance
in one of his dialect poems, "De Critters' Dance." Many of his observations
could be made at a dance today! You can read the whole poem here:
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/192/lyrics-of-love-and-laughter/4025/de-critters-…
<http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/192/lyrics-of-love-and-laughter/4025/de-critters-dance/>
And here's the part most relevant to our discussion:
"‘Fessah Frog, he play de co’net, Cricket play de fife,
Slews o’ Grasshoppahs a–fiddlin’ lak to save dey life;
Mistah Crow, ‘he call de figgers, settin’ in a tree,
Huh, uh! how dose critters sasshayed was a sight to see."
Richard Fischer
Princeton, NJ
On Aug 14, 2017, at 7:45 AM, Stig MALMO
stigmalmo(a)gmail.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com>
wrote:
Well If you think about it - Patter calling is actually Rappin so maybe the Black rappers
Got some inspiration from Square Dance calling-has anyone looked into this?
Stig Malmo-Denmark
Den mandag den 14. august 2017 skrev john(a)modernjive.com
<mailto:john@modernjive.com> [trad-dance-callers]
<trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com
<mailto:trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>>:
There is an interesting article on JSTOR entitled "Square Dance Calling: The
African-American Connection":
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41446577?mag=the-slave-roots-of-square-dancing…
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/41446577?mag=the-slave-roots-of-square-dancing&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents>
It suggests that:
"calling might have evolved in the black culture as an alternative to the formal
instruction that white dancers received at dancing schools" with the earliest
reference of someone calling a dance being a ball in New Orleans in 1819.
However back in England...
Thomas Wilson "The Complete System of English Country Dancing" 1816
Page 172.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The persons who take upon themselves the
CALLING OF THE DANCE,
Should possess the necessary prerequisites for performing the duty they have to execute,
in setting the company an example, and directing them (when required) in the performance
of the Dance. Such a Dance should be called, as they thoroughly understand, and are able
to perform with facility. When part of the company are indifferent Dancers, the persons
forming the Dance should be selected and placed according to their talent and knowledge of
Dancing; the best couples at and near the top, that by their performance the others may
become instructed in the Figure, previous to their having to lead off, otherwise it
frequently happens, that the Dance is obliged to be changed.
CROWDING TO THE TOP,
Is too frequently practised, and should be prevented by those whose province it may be to
see that due respect if paid to the person calling the Dance; it being impossible to
perform the Figure of the Dance with effect, or correctly, when the couples stand too near
to each other.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
But what did Wilson's caller actually do? I doubt it was calling as we know it
today, but it probably contained some of the elements of it.
I guess calling evolved in parallel in many places.
Does anyone have any other insights?
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England <>john(a)modernjive.com
<mailto:john@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk
<http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/> for Dancing in Kent