On squares, I agree that if the square is well prepared and up tempo and
doesn't take long to run through you will get the positive reviews. But
even then, when you only do one shortish square and it involves "losing your
partner", people grouse. I saw this at Greenfield last weekend, caller
remaining nameless. So, at least around here, the seasoned contra dancers
will go along with one set (per evening) of swing-heavey, partner-keeping
squares. Nell
----- Original Message -----
From: <jerom...@bellsouth.net>
To: <call...@sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 5:35 PM
Subject: [Callers] Calling New England Squares
David Millstone wrote:
I'd suggest
that any caller interested in investigating breaks would do well to
purchase a
copy of Ted Sannella's "Calling Traditional New England Squares," which
is full
of general comments and theory, scores of breaks that Ted used, and a CD
of Ted
callign squares. The cuts on the CD were chosen in part to illustrate
many
different breaks. Two other items that may be helpful are Tom Hinds's
recent
publication with a similar title, "Calling New England Squares" and Tom's
earlier "Give Me a Break!" All of these materials are available from the
sales
office at Country Dance and Song Society,
http://www.cdss.org/sales/index.html
I would like to throw in my own endorsement for Tom Hinds' "Calling New
England Squares" and "Give Me a Break!" I have found both to be very fine
resources as I seek to call fun and satisfying squares. I've been reading
and rereading these as I've been traveling lately.
One of the wisest nuggets is the lesson that squares I find fun to dance
may not be suitable for me to call because callers are generally more
experienced dancers. So Tom offers several ways to analyze squares for
suitability to a particular crowd.
I know that some contra dancers think squares aren't fun. It's my
judgement that when callers are very well prepared and the figures are
well-matched to the crowd's ability, I don't hear from those "squares
aren't fun" dancers. In fact, I even hear "that was a fun square!" It's
especially satisfying to get a smile from a grump.
Contrawise, if I am not well prepared on a square, I will hear it.
Jerome Grisanti
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