I'm possibly a "geezer" too, just not in a contra sense - I've been dancing since 2007 and calling for just a couple of years. However, one of the things that I was first impressed by and continue now to value is the diverse dance programming choice at our local "contra" events. Where I principally participate (the Massachusetts area, and largely the Concord Scout House) we're lucky to have squares, contra chestnuts and other folk dances frequently form part of the program. We're fortunate to have "local" and regular touring callers of greater renown that routinely program squares at our events (e.g.: Lisa Greenleaf, Bob Isaacs, Will Mentor, Nils Fredland, Steve Zakon-Anderson, Sue Rosen - and more that deserve mention but I'll leave out to be brief).
I personally enjoy this but also note that, despite being known to call squares, I see no dimunition of the crowds at these callers' dances over others at the same venues (far from it). BTW, one thing several of these callers do is offer those "out" for a first square in a double tip to "tap in" to participate and minimize the waiting out impact. Also, as a male of "advanced paternal age", I've come to drop my "first and every dance to the end" addiction and appreciate the smaller community dances that further embrace such diverse program choices. These also provide some down time for community and conversation, plus play time for our toddler so she can attend with us. There's one wonderful local dance which starts with an all-ages pot luck (where a good bottle of wine or two is regularly present) and continues to a program of diverse contras old and new plus several singing squares. We, as dancers from birth to "advanced dancing age," get to "musically" participate as we sing along, regularly belting out the refrains of If You Knew Suzie, Trail of the Lonesome Pine, etc. I'd offer there's possibly a greater diversity of values in our audiences than we perceive, and hope we are open to experiencing (and possibly fostering, in an non-obnoxious way) that within our communities. On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 5:31 PM, Erik Hoffman <e...@erikhoffman.com> wrote: > For many of us old geezers, when we started, a contra was a dance evening > that included squares, contras, circle mixers, Sicilian circles, and other > forms. Triple minors were a regular feature. Now I play, call, and dance > all. And I teach about these subjects, too. >
