I agree with 95s...@comcast.net. I very often will ask a large group
of new dancers to line up proper (and I explain what that means), for
*my* benefit. I share that when dancers line up in this way, it
signals me that they are ready to start dancing, and that it is easier
to organize the actual formation that comes next. This also leads to a
more direct understanding of what improper then means, so what we
teach/dance than takes on some logic. I also mention some history,
but never take too long doing it.
And even if I don't call an actual proper formation dance, there are
lots of times when it is useful to let dancers know that they are
"proper" and that this is the correct position to be in. A good
example would be a contra corners (cc) dance (not talking about
beginners here). It is helpful for folks to know that they are in
proper formation at the start of the cc (at least for most cc dances).
The time spent on this concept is minimal, and I believe well worth
the time. Sharing information is more inclusive, and I believe dancers
appreciate this.
Interesting thread! Thanks, Jeff!
warmly, Linda Leslie
On May 4, 2012, at 3:03 PM, 95s...@comcast.net wrote:
Without using the terminology of "proper", I find it easier when
teaching a beginner's workshop to line up all the men/women on their
respective sides, then teach 1s & 2s, then have the 1's change
places with their partners , ensuring the men have their partners on
the right and ladies on the left, whichever way they are facing. If
i do call a proper dance during the evening, it's easy enough to
have them line up that way.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Kaufman" <j...@alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <call...@sharedweight.net>
Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:32:09 PM
Subject: [Callers] Don't teach proper formation unless you need it
Contra dancing has almost entirely lost the 'proper' formation, with
gents in one line and ladies in another. For most of contra dancing's
history, however, that was the standard formation and many people,
especially callers, still think of it that way.
I was at a dance recently where the caller noticed that there were
many new dancers and that it probably wouldn't work to just wait for
people to get into position. They told all the couples to stand with
the ladies in one line and the gents in another, to take hands for
from the top, and that this was proper formation. Then they introduced
1s and 2s and had all the ones cross over. But they didn't call any
proper or assymetric dances all night! Which is fine; I think they
chose good dances for the crowd. But why introduce the terminology?
Especially when there's so many other terms we want them to be
absorbing?
Jeff
PS: I also posted this on my blog, and there are some comments there:
http://www.jefftk.com/news/2012-05-04.html
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