[Callers] Mystery Triplet

Hi folks, Snagged the following lovely-looking dance from David Kaynor last week, only he couldn't remember the name of it. Anyone know it? Thanks! Maia by Anne Fallon (triplet, proper) A1: forward and back; partner do-si-do A2: 2’s start contracorners B1: all partners balance and

Re: [Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

EZ's Mixer is by Eric Zorn. I believe Eric is still in Chicago, which where I first met him about 30 years ago! Linda On Oct 25, 2012, at 8:40 PM, Laur wrote: I have great success with EZ's Mixer. (Thanks Meg Dedolph) I'm sorry I don't have the author. I use it at festivals, with beginners

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

Tavi wrote: > This might be a little stretch, but due to a conversation with a colleague > about "what makes a good program", i've given a bit of thought lately to > the question of integrating newcomers vis-a-vis the (common?) programming > model that suggests a caller should focus more on

Re: [Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

Yes, same for me (thanks for sharing that back when, Jo!) Laurie P   > > From: "Mortland, Jo" >To: Caller's discussion list >Cc: Caller's discussion list >Sent: Thursday, October 25,

Re: [Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

I have great success with EZ's Mixer.  (Thanks Meg Dedolph)  I'm sorry I don't have the author. I use it at festivals, with beginners during a dance as instruction, at weddings. Laurie P EZ's Mixer A1 P Rt hand turn P Lf hand turn A2 P two hand turn P do si do B1 P (Bal) Swing (leave out

[Callers] Melanie's-Microchasmic-Star Crazy?

Hi, In trying to organize my dances I have "Melanie's Triplet" and "Star Crazy" (with a note that it's also called "Six Hand Reel") that look to be the same (Circle / Star / Lowest pull out / promenade). And someone gave me yet another name. But in searching online and on this list to see

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

On 10/25/2012 1:52 PM, donper...@gmail.com wrote: On , Kalia Kliban wrote: I'm curious what you say that doesn't get said in the orientation, and if it works when you say it later, why not just say it during orientation? Lots of first timers don't arrive until after

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

On , Kalia Kliban wrote: I'm curious what you say that doesn't get said in the orientation, and if it works when you say it later, why not just say it during orientation? THere's some low hanging fruit. Lots of first timers don't arrive until after the orientation.

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

We have found the real secret is to impress on the more experienced dancers the importance of identifying and asking new dancers to dance.  The new people canot be expected to go looking for experienced dancers.  We are fortunate that our regulars are really good at this and watch out for the

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

I always say that during orientation - please dance with experienced dancers the first time through.  But I think that you can only do so much.  If they don't want to partner with other dancers, that's not the worst thing in the world - they will dance with neighbors who hopefully will guide

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

Hi Greg, Thanks for replying. Thoughts in-line. With the address of "contraron" I'm going to assume that you are talking > about a regularly scheduled contra dance series that is open to the > public. (I really appreciate when posters make the context of their post > clear. There are a lot of

Re: [Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

On 10/25/2012 9:41 AM, Greg McKenzie wrote: I use the optional newcomers orientation, explicit instructions, careful programming, clear and precise calling, as well as many implied messages to make it clear that integration of first-timers is not only essential but also fun. Very rarely I will

Re: [Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

Dear Ron, I find that circle mixers can be a great choice! There is something quite lovely about all the dancers being in the same set together. I will often use a circle mixer when there are a large number of newer dancers; there are lots of great reasons to do so! On occasion, a scatter

Re: [Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

I have had good success with Bob Dalsemer's January Mixer. Jo Mortland Sent from my iPhone

Re: [Callers] ideal contra tunes

No-one seems to have mentioned that the tempo should be appropriate for the situation. How about considering some of the following: Temperature Humidity Presence or absence of air conditioning Floor surface Number of beginners Where the dance is in the program and what went before and what is

[Callers] Integrating Newcomers ( was "Circle Mixers for newbies")

Ron T Blechner wrote: > I've been finding circle mixers extremely valuable for dances with newer > dancers. They provide a way both to expose them to many different > experienced dancers as well as to make them comfortable with the idea of > dancing with different people all

Re: [Callers] ideal contra tunes

My first real concentrated dance experiences were in the old time square dance community where tunes tend to be played much faster. As a result, I generally don't mind fast playing and tend to get annoyed with some of the more laid back contra tunes that are often well below 118...the 110 is not

Re: [Callers] ideal contra tunes

There really is no ideal tempo for contra dance. It depends on the complexity and flow of the dance, and what the dancers are looking for. Many dancers enjoy getting sweaty to fast tunes as high as 130 BPM. There may be some age correlation here, because the younger crowd is more likely to be

Re: [Callers] ideal contra tunes

Out in the Pacific northwest, we generally tend to play quite a bit lower than 120. We get complaints about 118 that we are playing too fast from the dancers and callers. Kind of depends on the dance, how many four or eight count moves, how far apart the lines are if its a big hall, the

[Callers] Circle Mixers for newbies

Hi callers, I've been finding circle mixers extremely valuable for dances with newer dancers. They provide a way both to expose them to many different experienced dancers as well as to make them comfortable with the idea of dancing with different people all night. (We've all seen The Couple That

Re: [Callers] Need help with "Mr Know It All"

Ben, Does your dance organization have a clearly stated written set of community values? Best, Ron On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 7:51 AM, Linda Leslie wrote: > Shared Weight also offers a discussion group specifically for organizers > and the issues they face running dances.

[Callers] Need help with "Mr Know It All"

Shared Weight also offers a discussion group specifically for organizers and the issues they face running dances. It might be helpful to join this group, and query about the issue below, as well as questions about children at dances. The link to the group is:

Re: [Callers] ideal contra tunes

120 bpm is generally considered normal - but one of my best dance experiences ever, with the band "Old Grey Goose" left me both feeling sublime, and realizing their tempos were on average a little lower than i was used to. Ralph Sweet has a great thought about tempo - the idea that, based on the

Re: [Callers] Increase in Youth Attendance

Bob (and everyone) This is a great observation, I think from a visitor to your dance perspective, your dance has a fairly good number of younger dancers. Our dance for instance has not as much, although we've had an insurgance of "college age" people in the last couple of years. It's been

Re: [Callers] Need help with "Mr Know It All"

On 10/24/2012 5:06 PM, Ben wrote: My concern is that we have "given someone an inch, and now he wants to take a mile." This guy, due to his occupation, is used to coming into an organization and being the new sheriff in town, and I get the distinct feeling that he sees our dance group as one