--- Martha wrote:
This is probably a regional or specific community thing. In our village, St Louis,
Missouri, we just line up improper
--- end of quote ---
I'd agree that what Martha describes is increasingly the norm, especially in relatively
new series and outside of New England. There are still dance series and callers
where dancers enjoy a wider variety of dances in an evening than duple improper
or Becket, including a mix of contras, squares and other formations. And even
within the contras-only format, one might encounter proper dances or-- gasp!--
triple minors, both old favorites or new compositions in that "hands six" formation.
/entering soapbox mode/
Myself, with a strong curmudgeonly streak, I think that such variety adds richness
to a program as well as helping dancers become more experienced by exposing them
to more choreographic possibilities. (Take, for example, dip and dive; that's
a common square dance move and there are triplets and triple minor contras that
use it, but only one contra that I know of, David Smukler's Frog in the Well.)
As as a long-time New England caller, I admit to a special fondness for the so-called
chestnuts, most of which are in proper formation; I think that dancers can appreciate
having these in their repertoire as a connection to the long traditions of music
and dance we inherit, and a community does well to foster those connections.
/stepping off soapbox/
David Millstone
