This thread also started me thinking that.

In clubs in England there used to be a problem that for (modern American) squares a call (e.g. Ladies Chain) meant half of what the dancers expected it to mean.

Pity the dancers. Sometimes the same move has different names; sometimes the same name means different things. Maybe this is why US clubs prefer to stick to one form per club.

At a club that dances many types the callers need to be aware of all those differences, interpret the dance instructions in the right way - taking account of the type of dance and the date the instructions were written, then phrase things so that the dancers have the best chance of getting it right. OK, pity the caller too.

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 2:51 PM

Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Ever seen dancers start a square on auto-pilot?

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