[Callers] Callers Workshop with Carol Ormand

[Jack Mitchell]

Triangle Country Dancers (Durham/Chapel Hill, NC) is hosting a callers 
workshop with Carol Ormand April 13-14 (she is also calling for our 
Friday dance on the 12th), and we still have a few slots available.  I'm 
including the description for the workshop below.


If you are interested in attending, please let me know or register at 
http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop/  We do need to finalize the 
participant list ASAP because Carol plans to contact all participants a 
few weeks before the workshop to discuss goals for the workshop.


Jack


 Callers' Workshop with Carol Ormand - April 13-14

Madison, Wisconsin caller Carol Ormand is beloved throughout the dance 
community for her smooth and unflappable style, wickedly fun dances, and 
penchant for keeping all the dancers on the floor smiling. Carol's 
enthusiasm, paired with her clear and efficient teaching, creates a 
delightful dancing experience for beginners and veteran dancers alike. 
Carol will be in the Chapel Hill, NC area the weekend of April 12-14. 
She is calling for the Triangle Country Dancers regular Friday night 
dance on April 12th and on Saturday we will have an all day workshop 
designed to improve a specific calling related skill. Calling well can 
be a great source of pleasure. In the workshop, each participant will 
get to focus on improving one calling-related skill. By the end of the 
day on Saturday, you will know how to make progress on the skill of your 
choice and on all of the other topics covered that day. Anything related 
to calling is fair game: creating an inviting atmosphere, programming an 
evening, communicating with the band, efficient yet effective 
walk-throughs, effective use of a microphone... whatever you most want 
to work on next. On Sunday, we'll gather to reflect on what we've 
(collectively) learned and to plan our (individual) next steps in that 
work. Participants are also invited to join Carol for an informal dinner 
(probably at Weaver Street Market) on Friday evening before the dance. 
Cost for the workshop is on a sliding scale from $40-90. The Saturday 
workshop and evening dance will be held in a private home near Chapel 
Hill, NC. Meals on Saturday are included in the cost of the workshop. 
The location of the Sunday wrap-up is still to be announced. If you have 
any questions, please email Jack Mitchell at: jamitch[number three][at 
sign]mindspring.com . This event is supported in 
part by the Outreach Fund of the Country Dance and Song Society 
(www.cdss.org ).

[Callers] Callers' Workshop with Carol Ormand - April 13-14

[Jack Mitchell]

(I'm including some dance leaders from out of the area. Please send this 
out to other callers in your area that might be interested!)


I am happy to tell you that registration is now open for the callers 
workshop with Carol Ormand. I sent out information about it to a number 
of you late last year, but now is the time to register for the weekend 
so we know how many people we have. If you are unable to make a 
commitment, please go ahead and register and indicate that on the form. 
I will let you know when we need a definite answer, or if we get close 
to filling up.


Information about the workshop is below. You can register at: 
http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop


Please let me know if you have any questions!

Jack Mitchell



A Callers' Workshop with Carol Ormand

Madison, Wisconsin caller Carol Ormand is beloved throughout the dance 
community for her smooth and unflappable style, wickedly fun dances, and 
penchant for keeping all the dancers on the floor smiling. Carol's 
enthusiasm, paired with her clear and efficient teaching, creates a 
delightful dancing experience for beginners and veteran dancers alike. 
Carol will be in the Chapel Hill, NC area the weekend of April 12-14. 
She is calling for the Triangle Country Dancers regular Friday night 
dance on April 12th and on Saturday we will have an all day workshop 
designed to improve a specific calling related skill. Calling well can 
be a great source of pleasure. In the workshop, each participant will 
get to focus on improving one calling-related skill. By the end of the 
day on Saturday, you will know how to make progress on the skill of your 
choice and on all of the other topics covered that day. Anything related 
to calling is fair game: creating an inviting atmosphere, programming an 
evening, communicating with the band, efficient yet effective 
walk-throughs, effective use of a microphone... whatever you most want 
to work on next. On Sunday, we'll gather to reflect on what we've 
(collectively) learned and to plan our (individual) next steps in that 
work. Participants are also invited to join Carol for an informal dinner 
(probably at Weaver Street Market) on Friday evening before the dance.
Cost for the workshop is on a sliding scale from $40-90 depending on 
what you can afford.
The Saturday workshop and evening dance will be held in a private home 
near Chapel Hill, NC. Meals on Saturday are included in the cost of the 
workshop. The location of the Sunday wrap-up is still to be announced.

Re: [Callers] Callers' Workshop with Carol Ormand - April 13-14

[kanara]

Carol Ormand's workshop for callers is what Jack describes, and it's a
perfect gift to give to your 'Caller Self'. Carol is a master teacher as
well as a fine caller; you will come away having developed strength in an
area of your choosing, having learned from and given to the other callers
in the workshop, and affirmed as the caller you wish to be. What a
wonderful way to dance into spring

Karin



> Madison, Wisconsin caller Carol Ormand is beloved throughout the dance
> community for her smooth and unflappable style, wickedly fun dances, and
> penchant for keeping all the dancers on the floor smiling. Carol’s
> enthusiasm, paired with her clear and efficient teaching, creates a
> delightful dancing experience for beginners and veteran dancers alike.
> Carol will be in the Chapel Hill, NC area the weekend of April 12-14.
> She is calling for the Triangle Country Dancers regular Friday night
> dance on April 12th (in Carrboro, NC) and on Saturday will be leading an
> all day workshop designed to improve a specific calling related skill.
>
> Calling well can be a great source of pleasure. In the workshop, each
> participant will get to focus on improving one calling-related skill. By
> the end of the day on Saturday, you will know how to make progress on
> the skill of your choice and on all of the other topics covered that
> day. Anything related to calling is fair game: creating an inviting
> atmosphere, programming an evening, communicating with the band,
> efficient yet effective walk-throughs, effective use of a microphone...
> whatever you most want to work on next. On Sunday, we'll gather to
> reflect on what we've (collectively) learned and to plan our
> (individual) next steps in that work.
>
> The workshop and evening dance will be held in a private home near
> Chapel Hill, NC. Meals on Saturday are included in the cost of the
> workshop, which is based on a sliding scale between $40-$95, depending
> on what you can afford. If you have any questions, please email me at
> jamit...@mindspring.com.
>
> To register for the workshop, please fill out the registration form on
> the TCD website at http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop/
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>

[Callers] Callers' Workshop with Carol Ormand - April 13-14

[Jack Mitchell]

Madison, Wisconsin caller Carol Ormand is beloved throughout the dance 
community for her smooth and unflappable style, wickedly fun dances, and 
penchant for keeping all the dancers on the floor smiling. Carol’s 
enthusiasm, paired with her clear and efficient teaching, creates a 
delightful dancing experience for beginners and veteran dancers alike. 
Carol will be in the Chapel Hill, NC area the weekend of April 12-14. 
She is calling for the Triangle Country Dancers regular Friday night 
dance on April 12th (in Carrboro, NC) and on Saturday will be leading an 
all day workshop designed to improve a specific calling related skill.


Calling well can be a great source of pleasure. In the workshop, each 
participant will get to focus on improving one calling-related skill. By 
the end of the day on Saturday, you will know how to make progress on 
the skill of your choice and on all of the other topics covered that 
day. Anything related to calling is fair game: creating an inviting 
atmosphere, programming an evening, communicating with the band, 
efficient yet effective walk-throughs, effective use of a microphone... 
whatever you most want to work on next. On Sunday, we'll gather to 
reflect on what we've (collectively) learned and to plan our 
(individual) next steps in that work.


The workshop and evening dance will be held in a private home near 
Chapel Hill, NC. Meals on Saturday are included in the cost of the 
workshop, which is based on a sliding scale between $40-$95, depending 
on what you can afford. If you have any questions, please email me at 
jamit...@mindspring.com.


To register for the workshop, please fill out the registration form on 
the TCD website at http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop/

Re: [Callers] Callers Workshop with Scott Higgs - March 10th

[Bree Kalb]

Just to let you know: I'm on the fence about this. It's already going to be 
a very busy weekend for me. I'd like to be kept in the loop, but I can't 
commit now.



-Original Message- 
From: Jack Mitchell

Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 3:17 PM
To: trianglecon...@yahoogroups.com ; fiddle-and-...@yahoogroups.com ; 
Caller's discussion list

Subject: [Callers] Callers Workshop with Scott Higgs - March 10th

Scott Higgs is going to be in the Triangle calling for the 3/9 TCD
contra dance and for a special 3/10 English Country Dance workshop (in
the mid afternoon) and evening dance.  He has also agreed to do a
callers workshop for us while he's in town.  The workshop will be
Saturday morning 3/10, and will include a potluck brunch.  Scott has
many years of experience calling and teaching calling to others, and we
are really fortunate to have him in the area.  Possible topics for the
workshop include:

How to prepare for a dance event.

How to devise a great dance program, with flexibility to adapt as needed.

How to teach clearly & effectively.

How to prompt/call clearly & effectively.

How to integrate newcomers and less-skilled dancers.

How to communicate and collaborate with musicians.

How to set a welcoming, friendly tone, and build a sense of community.

How to build a repertoire, and what should be in it.

How to learn a new dance, and to anticipate challenges in presenting it.

How to communicate more than just the geography of a dance.

How to "listen" to the dancers.

How to adapt on the fly: when you encounter: circumstances like

30 beginners enter en masse at 8:45

the floor is too slippery to dance

the weather is too hot to dance

the hall is too crowded

the band can't play up to speed

How to practice teaching/calling.

How to "shape" an evening.

Techniques for developing advanced leading skills

What comes after the rudiments ?

What do individuals want to improve in their leading ?

How can we help each other to develop ?


I also hope to have a discussion during the brunch portion of our time
together on calling related topics.  So far, we've only had two people
sign up for the workshop.  To help with our planning, if you are
interested in attending, please fill out the registration form here:
http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop/

See you on the dance floor!

Jack




___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers 

[Callers] Callers Workshop with Scott Higgs - March 10th

[Jack Mitchell]

Scott Higgs is going to be in the Triangle calling for the 3/9 TCD 
contra dance and for a special 3/10 English Country Dance workshop (in 
the mid afternoon) and evening dance.  He has also agreed to do a 
callers workshop for us while he's in town.  The workshop will be 
Saturday morning 3/10, and will include a potluck brunch.  Scott has 
many years of experience calling and teaching calling to others, and we 
are really fortunate to have him in the area.  Possible topics for the 
workshop include:


How to prepare for a dance event.

How to devise a great dance program, with flexibility to adapt as needed.

How to teach clearly & effectively.

How to prompt/call clearly & effectively.

How to integrate newcomers and less-skilled dancers.

How to communicate and collaborate with musicians.

How to set a welcoming, friendly tone, and build a sense of community.

How to build a repertoire, and what should be in it.

How to learn a new dance, and to anticipate challenges in presenting it.

How to communicate more than just the geography of a dance.

How to "listen" to the dancers.

How to adapt on the fly: when you encounter: circumstances like

30 beginners enter en masse at 8:45

the floor is too slippery to dance

the weather is too hot to dance

the hall is too crowded

the band can't play up to speed

How to practice teaching/calling.

How to "shape" an evening.

Techniques for developing advanced leading skills

What comes after the rudiments ?

What do individuals want to improve in their leading ?

How can we help each other to develop ?


I also hope to have a discussion during the brunch portion of our time 
together on calling related topics.  So far, we've only had two people 
sign up for the workshop.  To help with our planning, if you are 
interested in attending, please fill out the registration form here:

http://www.tcdancers.org/workshop/

See you on the dance floor!

Jack

[Callers] Callers' Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf in central NC

[Jack Mitchell]

Callers' Workshop -- Beyond the basics
An intensive three-day workshop with Lisa Greenleaf
May 21-23 near Durham, NC

In this three day workshop, intermediate callers will have a chance to 
further develop as a caller and dance leader.  The workshop will include 
discussion of such things as the language of teaching, time to practice 
calling with feedback from Lisa and the other workshop participants, and 
an evening dance on Saturday night with participants doing the calling.  
This weekend will also be an opportunity for callers who are just 
getting established to network with other callers and establish ties in 
the community.


I've attached the flyer and registration information.  Please pass this 
on to others who you think might be interested.  This is being sent out 
to a number of mailing lists, so I apologize to folks who receive it 
multiple times.




2010 Workshop with Lisa Greenleaf.doc
Description: MS-Word document

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[cathy jones]

I've had a few dances recently where people with learning disabilities, mostly 
along the autism spectrum, have been present.  I've had to do some intense work 
on the spot to make sure to integrate them into the group.  As increasing 
numbers of kids who've been mainstreamed into regular education have become 
adults, they are increasingly present in the world at large, as they should be. 
 The skills we need to work with these individuals are different from the ones 
we use with dancers who are more typical learners.

For example, one of the young women at my dance tonight had real difficulties 
managing her body- her feet sometimes appeared to not be connected to the rest 
of her- but she learned figures immediately, even challenging ones such as 1/2 
figure eight and turning contra corners.  I had to focus on her spacial 
awareness without getting concerned about the rest, which bothered her not at 
all.

So, David, I suggest that while this may not be a topic of immediate need, it 
is a growing concern.

Susan Elberger
Arlington, Massachusetts

--- On Tue, 12/15/09, David Millstone <david.millst...@valley.net> wrote:

> From: David Millstone <david.millst...@valley.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Callers' workshop
> To: call...@sharedweight.net
> Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 6:48 PM
> Dear fellow dance callers,
> 
> I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a
> day-long workshop for
> dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12
> people, with a range of
> experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active
> calling while others may
> have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are
> comfortable with contras
> and with traditional squares. They will know each other
> already. They're open to
> a wide variety of topics and teaching methods. 
> 
> I've been invited to address just about any topics that are
> near and dear to me,
> so I'm relishing this prospect.
> 
> At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a
> soapbox. With that in
> mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather
> than, say, the
> trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight
> group includes some
> callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.
> 
> So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a
> workshop? Assuming that
> one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an
> evening, teaching a dance,
> and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would
> be useful to
> address?
> 
> Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
> 
> David Millstone
> Lebanon, NH
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> 

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Steve Gester]

Always interested in more ideas on teaching, both dances and workshops. 
Also, ideas on programming and the needs of musicians.


- Original Message - 
From: "Richard Hart" <r...@harts.mv.com>
To: <millst...@valley.net>; "Caller's discussion list" 
<call...@sharedweight.net>

Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 12:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop


Another topic that might be helpful is one that I know is near and dear to 
your heart - how to integrate dances that are not just duple improper 
contra sets. We have a lot of dances of slightly different shapes that 
people do enjoy if they are properly integrated and called, including 
triples (both types), proper dances, chestnuts, waltz contras, double 
progressions,  5 couple dances, couple dances, such as waltz, hambo, 
polka, schottish, etc., circles, and others. Many beginning callers avoid 
these dances for various reasons. More familiarity with these dance can 
help to make an evening of dance more varied and more interesting when 
they are included.


Rich Hart.

David Millstone remarked on 12/15/2009 6:48 PM:

Dear fellow dance callers,

I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long workshop 
for
dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a range 
of
experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling while 
others may
have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable with 
contras
and with traditional squares. They will know each other already. They're 
open to

a wide variety of topics and teaching methods.
I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near and dear 
to me,

so I'm relishing this prospect.

At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox. With 
that in

mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group includes 
some

callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming 
that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a 
dance,

and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
address?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers






___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers 

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Luke Donev]

There's been lot's of great suggestions so far, so I'm sure you'll
have a full program. Here's my two cents as a caller with only a
couple years of experience. I feel I can put together a solid evening,
but want a better connection between music and dance. Going past "any
jig or reel" to this dance wants this type of tune, or if the band
wants to close with a specific tune matching it to a dance, etc.
Deconstructing the bits to see how they mesh, and talking to musicians
about it. Getting a better handle on that is my next step as a growing
caller.

On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 1:02 PM, Tina Fields  wrote:
>
>
> As one of those callers with 3-4 years' experience, I agree with others 
> who've called for unusual formations like triplets and chestnuts. They're 
> pretty hard to figure out on your own, and local dances will only want them 
> if a caller already has them down cold.
>
> I also would benefit from training in how to deconstruct, and thereby 
> effectively teach, more difficult dances for an experienced crowd. 
> Specifically - and for any dance for that matter - when learning a dance from 
> a card, how to note points of potential difficulty and how to figure out the 
> exact clear, concise thing to say then so the dancers don't get confused.
>
> David, your class sounds like a wonderful opportunity and I'm suddenly a bit 
> sorry I don't live in the east. Break a leg!
>
> Tina
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>



-- 
Luke Donev
http://www.lukedonev.com
luke.do...@gmail.com

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Tina Fields]

As one of those callers with 3-4 years' experience, I agree with others who've 
called for unusual formations like triplets and chestnuts. They're pretty hard 
to figure out on your own, and local dances will only want them if a caller 
already has them down cold.  

I also would benefit from training in how to deconstruct, and thereby 
effectively teach, more difficult dances for an experienced crowd. Specifically 
- and for any dance for that matter - when learning a dance from a card, how to 
note points of potential difficulty and how to figure out the exact clear, 
concise thing to say then so the dancers don't get confused. 

David, your class sounds like a wonderful opportunity and I'm suddenly a bit 
sorry I don't live in the east. Break a leg!

Tina

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Lindsay Morris]

Our dance group brought along a group of half-a-dozen "cub callers" a few
years ago.

It was a bad thing.

After they got into the calling rotation at our weekly dance, they never
wanted to get off, of course.
Our really good callers got to call less often; the new callers only got to
call a dance once every 3 months, so they never got any better.  The dance
was plagued with inexperienced and not-very-great calling for years.

Sorry to offer problems without solutions, but this well-intentioned debacle
has stayed on my mind. Seem like this is the place to share the
"cub-callers" problem.


Lindsay Morris
Principal
TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lind...@tsmworks.com


On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 10:42 AM, Delia Clark <delia_cl...@comcast.net>wrote:

> David,
> Let's do one of these for VT/NH!  Aren't you just the guy to organize it!!
> ;-)  OK, I would help -- how about you put me in charge of organizing
> supplies for the schmoozing part!
> Delia
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 9:25 PM, Katy Heine wrote:
>
>  Hi, David--
>>
>> Ever since the "Ted's Triplets" marathon eight years ago, we in Central
>> New
>> York have had an annual callers' gathering on different themes. These have
>> been more an opportunity to share repertoire than for older, more
>> experienced callers to mentor younger, less experienced callers--so really
>> not a parallel to what you're talking about, but maybe of interest anyway.
>>
>> The topics over the years have included dances in unusual formations;
>> "living room dances" (i.e., dances for small numbers of people); the Gene
>> Hubert legacy; English for contra dance callers; and calling for community
>> dances, weddings, and one-night-stands. The next one (March 6) will be
>> "Zesty Contras," which will be dances from Larry Jennings' first book.
>> (Many
>> of us have the book on our shelves but have not actually mined it for the
>> gems that assuredly lie within.)
>>
>> These annual workshops are a great opportunity for the community of
>> regional
>> callers to come together to schmooze, share, and enjoy each other's
>> company.
>> I strongly encourage callers everywhere to give it a try!
>>
>> --Katy Heine
>>
>> -----Original Message-
>> From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net
>> [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of David Millstone
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 6:48 PM
>> To: call...@sharedweight.net
>> Subject: [Callers] Callers' workshop
>>
>> Dear fellow dance callers,
>>
>> I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long workshop
>> for
>> dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a range
>> of
>> experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling while
>> others
>> may
>> have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable with
>> contras
>> and with traditional squares. They will know each other already. They're
>> open to
>> a wide variety of topics and teaching methods.
>>
>> I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near and dear
>> to
>> me,
>> so I'm relishing this prospect.
>>
>> At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox. With
>> that in
>> mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
>> trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group includes
>> some
>> callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.
>>
>> So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming
>> that
>> one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a
>> dance,
>> and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
>> address?
>>
>> Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
>>
>> David Millstone
>> Lebanon, NH
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> call...@sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>>
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> call...@sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
> Delia Clark
> PO Box 45
> Taftsville, VT 05073
> 802-457-2075
> delia_cl...@comcast.net
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Delia Clark]

David,
Let's do one of these for VT/NH!  Aren't you just the guy to organize  
it!! ;-)  OK, I would help -- how about you put me in charge of  
organizing supplies for the schmoozing part!

Delia

On Dec 15, 2009, at 9:25 PM, Katy Heine wrote:


Hi, David--

Ever since the "Ted's Triplets" marathon eight years ago, we in  
Central New
York have had an annual callers' gathering on different themes.  
These have

been more an opportunity to share repertoire than for older, more
experienced callers to mentor younger, less experienced callers--so  
really
not a parallel to what you're talking about, but maybe of interest  
anyway.


The topics over the years have included dances in unusual formations;
"living room dances" (i.e., dances for small numbers of people);  
the Gene
Hubert legacy; English for contra dance callers; and calling for  
community

dances, weddings, and one-night-stands. The next one (March 6) will be
"Zesty Contras," which will be dances from Larry Jennings' first  
book. (Many
of us have the book on our shelves but have not actually mined it  
for the

gems that assuredly lie within.)

These annual workshops are a great opportunity for the community of  
regional
callers to come together to schmooze, share, and enjoy each other's  
company.

I strongly encourage callers everywhere to give it a try!

--Katy Heine

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of David Millstone
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 6:48 PM
To: call...@sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Callers' workshop

Dear fellow dance callers,

I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long  
workshop for
dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a  
range of
experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling  
while others

may
have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable  
with

contras
and with traditional squares. They will know each other already.  
They're

open to
a wide variety of topics and teaching methods.

I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near  
and dear to

me,
so I'm relishing this prospect.

At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox.  
With

that in
mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group  
includes some

callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop?  
Assuming

that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening,  
teaching a

dance,
and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be  
useful to

address?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
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<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>

Delia Clark
PO Box 45
Taftsville, VT 05073
802-457-2075
delia_cl...@comcast.net

Re: [Callers] Callers Workshop

[Nancy Turner]

Hi David and All --

As David knows, I'm a caller on the newer end of the spectrum.  I  
would love a workshop on triplets and chestnuts. I picked up your  
book and since I haven't danced many of the dances and the formats  
are new to me (and the crowds that I call to), a session dancing them  
and learning how to call them would be really helpful.  I don't yet  
"get" triplets, and knowing how to do them would solve an occasional  
issue of calling dances for a very small crowd.


I'm a birder. When I look at a bird and try to identify it, I'm  
parsing out the features (beak type, size, flight pattern, etc) and  
then there is that ahah moment when the bird is identified. I'm still  
waiting for that to happen for me with contras -- I can imagine that  
there is a pattern to clusters of them.  Maybe this is something that  
can only be felt and not taught, but if there are any useful tips on  
how you "recognize" a dance I would find that useful. I'm thinking it  
will help me with putting down the card and calling from memory.


Count me in!

Nancy Turner
Waitsfield VT

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Richard Hart]

Another topic that might be helpful is one that I know is near and dear 
to your heart - how to integrate dances that are not just duple improper 
contra sets. We have a lot of dances of slightly different shapes that 
people do enjoy if they are properly integrated and called, including 
triples (both types), proper dances, chestnuts, waltz contras, double 
progressions,  5 couple dances, couple dances, such as waltz, hambo, 
polka, schottish, etc., circles, and others. Many beginning callers 
avoid these dances for various reasons. More familiarity with these 
dance can help to make an evening of dance more varied and more 
interesting when they are included.


Rich Hart.

David Millstone remarked on 12/15/2009 6:48 PM:

Dear fellow dance callers,

I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long workshop for
dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a range of
experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling while others may
have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable with contras
and with traditional squares. They will know each other already. They're open to
a wide variety of topics and teaching methods. 


I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near and dear to me,
so I'm relishing this prospect.

At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox. With that in
mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group includes some
callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a dance,
and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
address?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
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Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Katy Heine]

Hi, David--

Ever since the "Ted's Triplets" marathon eight years ago, we in Central New
York have had an annual callers' gathering on different themes. These have
been more an opportunity to share repertoire than for older, more
experienced callers to mentor younger, less experienced callers--so really
not a parallel to what you're talking about, but maybe of interest anyway. 

The topics over the years have included dances in unusual formations;
"living room dances" (i.e., dances for small numbers of people); the Gene
Hubert legacy; English for contra dance callers; and calling for community
dances, weddings, and one-night-stands. The next one (March 6) will be
"Zesty Contras," which will be dances from Larry Jennings' first book. (Many
of us have the book on our shelves but have not actually mined it for the
gems that assuredly lie within.)

These annual workshops are a great opportunity for the community of regional
callers to come together to schmooze, share, and enjoy each other's company.
I strongly encourage callers everywhere to give it a try!

--Katy Heine

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net
[mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of David Millstone
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 6:48 PM
To: call...@sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Callers' workshop

Dear fellow dance callers,

I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long workshop for
dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a range of
experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling while others
may
have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable with
contras
and with traditional squares. They will know each other already. They're
open to
a wide variety of topics and teaching methods. 

I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near and dear to
me,
so I'm relishing this prospect.

At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox. With
that in
mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group includes some
callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming
that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a
dance,
and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
address?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
___
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call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Greg McKenzie]

David asked:

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, 
teaching a dance,

and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
address?


Well, here is a write up for my own workshop.  Feel free to use any 
of these topic ideas.


Generally I feel that, after callers gain several years of 
experience, most develop enough confidence that they feel they can 
ignore many of the basics of calling.  Things like using effective 
word order in calls and prompts is often dropped in favor of a more 
"natural" speaking style.  This may put the caller at ease but their 
calling always suffers for it and the results are often dramatic when 
a good number of newcomers are present.


Beyond that I would like to see more emphasis on integrating 
newcomers and inspiring a gracious, civil, and welcoming environment 
suitable to a public social event.  (It might be good to recognize 
that open and public contra dances are very different events from 
special events designed for dance enthusiasts.  The skills are 
different and the caller's job is different.)


Just a thought.

Greg

**

An Instructional and Participatory Workshop for Contra Dance Callers

In Caller Lab I and II participants will learn many of the basics 
skills and techniques useful in calling dances and in dance 
instruction for groups of mixed skill levels.  In Caller Lab III 
Participants will have the opportunity to try calling dances and will 
receive constructive feedback on their calling techniques from the 
entire group.  This lab will be taught in three Tuesday evening 
sessions of 2-3 hours each during January and February of 
2008.  Topics in the sessions will include:


Caller Lab I
- The Purpose Of Social Dance
- The Purpose Of Contras
- The Purpose Of The Contra Dance Caller
- The Caller's Responsibility
- Integrating Newcomers Into the Community
- Inspiring Confidence In The Dancers
- Explicit and Implicit Messages
- Voice Clarity and Projection.
- Crafting Precise And Unambiguous Instructions
- Effective Word Order
- Know Your Audience (The Bell Curve)

Caller Lab II
- Earning And Holding The Attention Of The Dancers
- Planning Your Dance Program
- Gaining The Support Of Experienced Dancers
- Setting a Tone of Decorum and Mutual Regard
- Maintaining A Safe And Supportive Environment
- Putting All Dancers at Ease
- The Newcomer's Orientation Session
- Proven Instructional Techniques and How to Avoid Them
- 12 Common Mistakes made by Callers
- Fool-Proof Dance Cards

Caller Lab III
- Using The Music Effectively
- Working With Live Musicians
- Working With PA Systems And Sound Engineers
- Effective Use Of The Microphone
- Microphone Etiquette
- Recognizing Problems
- How To Handle Difficult Situations
- Recovering From Mistakes
- How to Generate an Atmosphere of Graciousness and Goodwill


This workshop series will cover techniques useful for dance callers, 
instructors, masters of ceremony, and workshop facilitators who use a 
public address system.  The core program, however, is designed for 
callers of contemporary New England style contra dances, which 
involve a caller-led evening of intensely social dancing to live 
music in which newcomers are integrated without prior 
instruction.  Whatever background or interest, all participants in 
Caller Lab should have attended at least one contra dance to 
understand the context of the lab instruction.


Greg McKenzie has been dancing and calling contras for more than 20 
years.  He has a B.A. in Speech Communication and graduate course 
work in instructional design.  He has managed and programmed contra 
dance series and has served on several Boards of Directors.  He has 
also organized citizen-diplomacy contra dance tours of Eastern Europe 
where locals were invited to dance with visiting Americans traveling 
with a live band and a Russian-speaking caller.  In this workshop 
series McKenzie applies his communication and instructional 
background to the traditional, contemporary, and remarkable public 
ritual that we call a contra dance.

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Jack Mitchell]

   Also agree.  Was just at the board meeting for our local dance group,
   and one of the things we were talking about was the need for the caller
   to reinforce good dancing.  Have had a number of folks recently
   complain about dance floor injuries from people dancing out of their
   space.  Strangely enough, we had more issues at a dance that was well
   attended, but not overcrowded than we did at a really crowded dance.
   Theory was expressed that people possibly felt that they had more space
   and expanded to fill it (and didn't really have as much space as they
   thought).  Then theres issues with allemandes, late twirls,
   cranking.
   Would love to hear what you come up with (or other people's ideas) for
   ways to get things like that across without being preachy or just
   having the dancers stop listening to you.
   Jack
   At 07:48 PM 12/15/2009, you wrote:

 Agreed!
 I would also add - how to do the same with "community-building": how
 to make
 people feel welcome, glad to be there, relaxed with the other
 dancers,
 friendly, and full of good humor, all without being preachy.
 M
 E
 On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 6:22 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central
 Computing <
 wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
 > David wrote:
 >
 >
 > > So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop?
 Assuming
 > that
 > > one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening,
 teaching a
 > dance,
 > > and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be
 useful to
 > > address?
 >
 >
 > How to teach/sell 'good dancing' without seeming like a pedant.
 (It seems
 > like
 > it's an easy trap for callers in all country dance genres to aim
 for
 > competence/efficiency in teaching _dances_, and neglect teaching
 _dancing_.
 > You pretty much have to slip that style/skill instruction in while
 teaching
 > dances, and that's a skill in itself.)
 >
 > -- Alan
 >
 >
 > --
 >
 >
 
 ===
 >  Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
 >  Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:
 >  650/926-3056
 >  Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park
 CA
 > 94025
 >
 >
 
 ===
 >
 > ___
 > Callers mailing list
 > call...@sharedweight.net
 > [1]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
 >
 --
 For the good are always the merry,
 Save by an evil chance,
 And the merry love the fiddle
 And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats
 ___
 Callers mailing list
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   2. http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Martha Edwards]

Agreed!

I would also add - how to do the same with "community-building": how to make
people feel welcome, glad to be there, relaxed with the other dancers,
friendly, and full of good humor, all without being preachy.

M
E

On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 6:22 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing <
wins...@slac.stanford.edu> wrote:

> David wrote:
>
>
> > So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming
> that
> > one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a
> dance,
> > and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
> > address?
>
>
> How to teach/sell 'good dancing' without seeming like a pedant.  (It seems
> like
> it's an easy trap for callers in all country dance genres to aim for
> competence/efficiency in teaching _dances_, and neglect teaching _dancing_.
> You pretty much have to slip that style/skill instruction in while teaching
> dances, and that's a skill in itself.)
>
> -- Alan
>
>
> --
>
> ===
>  Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
>  Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:
>  650/926-3056
>  Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA
> 94025
>
> ===
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>



-- 
For the good are always the merry,
Save by an evil chance,
And the merry love the fiddle
And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

Re: [Callers] Callers' workshop

[Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing]

David wrote:


> So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming that
> one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a 
> dance,
> and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
> address?


How to teach/sell 'good dancing' without seeming like a pedant.  (It seems like
it's an easy trap for callers in all country dance genres to aim for
competence/efficiency in teaching _dances_, and neglect teaching _dancing_. 
You pretty much have to slip that style/skill instruction in while teaching
dances, and that's a skill in itself.)

-- Alan


-- 
===
 Alan Winston --- wins...@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu
 Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL   Phone:  650/926-3056
 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA   94025
===

[Callers] Callers' workshop

[David Millstone]

Dear fellow dance callers,

I have an opportunity coming up next spring to lead a day-long workshop for
dance callers. It'll be a small group, perhaps 10-12 people, with a range of
experience. Some will have had only 2-4 years of active calling while others may
have had 20 years or more. These will be folks who are comfortable with contras
and with traditional squares. They will know each other already. They're open to
a wide variety of topics and teaching methods. 

I've been invited to address just about any topics that are near and dear to me,
so I'm relishing this prospect.

At the same time, I'd like not to spend an entire day on a soapbox. With that in
mind, I'm soliciting opinions from this group-- rather than, say, the
trad.dance.callers listserv-- because this Shared Weight group includes some
callers on the less experienced end of the spectrum.

So, what are topics that _you_ would like to see in a workshop? Assuming that
one already has the nuts and bolts of programming an evening, teaching a dance,
and delivering the calls in good fashion, what skills would be useful to
address?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

David Millstone
Lebanon, NH

Re: [Callers] Callers workshop in June

[Chris Weiler]

   Wouldn't miss it!
   Chris

   -callers-boun...@sharedweight.net wro= te: -

 To: Shared Weight <call...@sharedweight.net>
 From: Seth S= eeger <s...@seeger.ws>
 Sent by: callers-bounces@sharedweight.netDate: 02/22/2006 03:58PM
 Subject: Re: [Callers] Callers workshop in Ju= ne
 Me too!
 -Seth
 <= br>On Feb 22, 2006, at 3:53 PM, Lisa Sieverts wrote:
 > So who's g= oing from this group? I'll be there!
 >
 > Lisa Sieverts
 ><= br>> On Feb 22, 2006, at 3:50 PM, Seth Seeger wrote:
 >
 >>= Just to let you all know... there are still six spaces
 available for
 = t;> the Callers Workshop in June with Lisa Greenleaf and Brad
 Foster. = bsp;At
 >> this point, registrations will be accepted on a first co= me,
 first
 >> serve
 >> basis.  More info here:
 = t;>
 >>[1]http://www.= cdss.org/workshop.html
 >>
 >> -Seth
 >>
 >= ;>
 __ 5F __ 5F_
 >> Callers mailing list
 >> call...@sharedweight.net
 >= >[2]http:/= /www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
 _ __ 5F__= _
 Callers mailing list call...@sharedweight.net
 [3]http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers<= /a>

   
References

   1. 3D"http://www.cdss.org/workshop.html;
   2. 3D"http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers;
   3. 3D"http://www.sharedweight.net/mail