We in Western New York, well some of us, just attended a callers' workshop. The focus was specifically on the "lesson", a term I avoid since we advertise "no lesson needed".
The attendees each gave figures that should be taught during the 15 - 30 min. "lesson". They ranged from 4 - 15 + moves. I was actually surprised and dismayed at how much information (and talking at) is shared by some. I think that the KISS idea is applicable here. I attend and absorb the George Marshall introductory sessions as often as possible and use his as my model. Giving weight in circle, alemande, do-si-do, star, circle, right & left through (to get courtsey turn), swing and now I have added positions of Lark & Robin. There are techniques that are not outlined here such as how I teach partnering & progression that are incorporated within the others. Much of what some wanted to teach IMHO belongs in the dance line where it actually makes sense. I also, when there are beginners in the lines, actually teach a new harder move during the walk through, much I must say to the chagrin of experienced dancers. My belief is that those that don't know, learn, those that do get to help which is what they want to do and those that think they know, may get better. So now having used many words let's dance! š Mary Collins On Thu, Sep 14, 2023, 11:14 AM Tony Parkes via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Bravo, Michael! (Iāve bolded, below, the point on which I want to agree > wholeheartedly.) Iāve believed this for years, and had no way of knowing > what percentage of active contra callers agreed. I dare to hope that, as > Michael is known for writing and advocating difficult sequences, his > opinion will carry added weight. > > > > Over the decades, Iāve seen the number of contra ābasicsā increase > dramatically ā from about 12 in the 1960s, when many groups got started, to > at least 36 today. Iāve worried that the modern contra world has been going > down the same path as modern āwesternā squares did. Thereās always a gap > between what a first-timer can grasp in one night and what a dancer needs > to know to be comfortable at a dance series. But if ābasicsā are > continually added, the gap gets ever wider, until a lesson or a series of > lessons is needed. Western squares started with 6 lessons in the late > 1940s; currently the Plus program (the prevailing club level in most parts > of the US) contains 97 ābasicsā and (coincidentally) is recommended to be > taught in 97 hours, or about 50 lessons. (Most clubs insist that their > callers take less time, which results in new dancers not learning the calls > adequately.) > > > > We contra and trad square callers are nowhere near the excesses of MWSD. > But even 36 ābasicsā are too many for an activity that supposedly anyone > can join in without lessons. Some sequences ā maybe even some moves ā > should be reserved for workshops. Iām glad to see an influential modern > contra caller speaking out on this. > > > > Tony Parkes > > Billerica, Mass. > > www.hands4.com > > New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century > > (available now) > > > > > > *From:* Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Thursday, September 14, 2023 4:11 AM > *To:* Helle Hill <helleh...@yahoo.com> > *Cc:* Shared Weight Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Subject:* [Callers] Re: New Terminology Question > > > > Jeff's suggestion of "facing star" works perfectly, and merits becoming > the standard term used for discussions about and written descriptions of > dances. However, *such occasionally used figures must always be explained > during walk-throughs*, so the caller can designate, for the duration of > the dance, any appropriate name. (I think I have used "funny" or "silly" > star in the past.) The point being that *dancers should need to > understand the names of a dozen or so basic figures* (such as F&B, > allemande, promenade, star, chain, right and left, circle, shoulders round, > hey, and maybe several more) and that callers should need only basic > figures to teach any dance. > > > > On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 8:58āÆPM Helle Hill via Contra Callers < > contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > With all the changes to the "old" terminology, I am wondering what a > "Gypsy Star" is now called. > > > > Thank you. > > > > Helle Hill > > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
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