Yes....but To my mind a lot of the pleasure of dancing is the music and being in time with it. So if I am calling for non-dancers I often start with Galopede and ask the band for something with an obvious rhythm – Winster Gallop is 2 bars, 2 bars 4 bars for the forward, back, cross, polkas are also good. Gets them moving to the music. But when I call Barley reel (a simple strip the willow dance) or Waves of the Sea (my simplified random progression dip-and-dive dance) it takes as long as it takes. Not that dip-&-dive is ideal with elderly shoulders And for any other dance that gets out of time, so be it. In the UK I often find that the older the dancers the more likely they are to remember the basics from school. Couple dances (non-progressive) like the (Canadian) barn dance, Gay Gordons, St Bernard Waltz etc. are good, people can come onto the floor when they like, dropout when they’ve had enough. Also, give them permission to adapt. “There may be time to swing”. “If it goes wrong stand opposite your partner”. “When in doubt, cheat” Our club had a lot of members in our 70s + . We find our own ways. Some don’t like turning single. Some go forward and back instead of do-se-do. And on dances that are likely to be rushed I tell people which bits can be skipped. Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Robert Livingston rlivngstn(a)yahoo.com [trad-dance-callers] Sent: 08 May 2018 05:53 To: trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Dances for Elderly Dancers   Ridge and all, Certain groups are comfortable with their own timing at any age.  Community dance is a social dance.  It's not a performance or a re-creation. It belongs to those on the floor.  Patricia Campbell's - main thing remark - is well taken.  Dudley Laufman has reiterated this point in these discussion groups.  I was at a Dudley dance Saturday night.  It's a community dance held monthly.  Folks drift in from 7 till 7:45 or so, and it can end early, some time after 9, or go till 10pm.  It's not large.  Saturday's dancers were younger but "never done this before" types to seniors to a core of regulars.  There was good music, there was rhythm and cadence in the caller's voice.  There was NOT the strictest phrasing - nor even in the couple of singing calls.  The dancers were still there at 10:00pm Bob Livingston Middletown, CT On Monday, May 7, 2018, 10:57:33 PM EDT, Patricia Campbell countrydancecaller(a)gmail.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:   Hi Ridge, The main thing I'd suggest is to not worry about going over a phrase of music -  Fail-safe ones that I've used:  Any La Bastringue-type dance - with do-si-do and either short or no swing and then promenade - lots of built-in time to finish a figure. Visiting couple square dance - again - forget staying on the phrase - great when it happens/fine when it doesn't. Circassion Circle Virginia Reel (tell them they can walk, they don't have to sashay if it's not safe for them); reeling the set it optional (you can demonstrate and see if any want to try it). Email me if you'd like a few more that I've used at senior centers. Patricia Patricia Campbell, Dance Caller p ​atricia(a)countrydancecaller.com On Mon, May 7, 2018 at 10:26 PM, Ridge Kennedy srk3nn3dy(a)gmail.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:   Dear All, I'm doing a dance for folks in a retirement community.  I'd appreciate any thoughts about the "bulletproof" dances you use for an older and I suspect slower group.  Please share. Sincerely, Ridge -- Ridge Kennedy [Exit 145] www.ridgekennedy.com When you stumble, make it part of the dance.  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Another that's bullet-proof is Do-Si-Three by Linda Leslie. I especially like it as it doesn't require couples. Bev Young * Ridge * Longways dances like Galopede, Rural Felicity, or Rakes of Mallow work * well. * Perhaps even Family Contra would work. * Rich * * On Mon, May 7, 2018 at 10:26 PM, Ridge Kennedy srk3nn3dy(a)gmail.com * [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote: * *> *> *> Dear All, *> *> I'm doing a dance for folks in a retirement community. I'd appreciate *> any *> thoughts about the "bulletproof" dances you use for an older and I *> suspect *> slower group. Please share. *> *> Sincerely, *> *> Ridge *> *> *> -- *> Ridge Kennedy [Exit 145] *> www.ridgekennedy.com *> *> When you stumble, make it part of the dance. *> *> *> *

My experience is that women outnumber men at senior events so I avoid partner dances with male-female roles.  The ladies will take the man's role, but I think it's better if they are equals.  Here are 2 of my Go-To gender-free dances: Rick's Mixer -- a partner dance has only elbow swings and hand clapsSolomon Levi Square - gender-less, and you can do singing calls if want. Dancers can sing on chorus. Originally tune of same name, tho' it works well with Nelly Bly or Golden Slippers, surely other tunes. Annette Kirk Northport NY 11768 On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, 1:56:40 PM EDT, 'Linda S. Mrosko' elmerosko(a)gmail.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:   A circle waltz or two is always nice between active dances to catch your breath. I like Circle Waltz Mixer.  I think it's by Peter Amidon.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivg4OsR3OeI     Bal F&B - Roll Away 4x     4th time, take both hands w/new P & step in & out, release hold & twirl (ML/WR) 1x around     Join hands again & step out & in & twirl again (MR/WL) 1x round     2-hand turn this P 1-2x round & open like a book Or Spanish Waltz.  Always a good dance. The Traditional Dance Callers List: Subscribe by sending a blank e-mail message (no subject, no message) to: trad-dance-callers-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com Visit Your Group • Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . -- Looking forward, Linda S. Mrosko 102 Mitchell Drive Temple, Texas 76501 (903) 292-3713 (Cell) (903) 603-9955 (Skype) contradancetx..com www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)

Hi I run a group every Monday morning between 10 and 12 where the 30 or so dancers who attend are all over 60 with several approaching 80 (including my wife and I). We use many ECD dances from Playford to many of the modern dance composers (both European and American) as well as many from social dance publication.. We don't do contra but trad squares are included. There's some leeway in how we dance but it's always in phrase with the music. The major concession is to change set and turn single to set R & L moving forward and then fall back in four steps. We attract experienced dancers as well as absolute beginners and have several who have health issues. The general approach is "if you can walk, you can do it!" We've been going now for 14 years and I can see no reason why we should ever stop. Barrie Bullimore (UK) On Wed, May 9, 2018 at 2:25 PM, Tom Hinds twhinds(a)earthlink.net [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote: