Dear Chris: Good luck in Maine... Just some thoughts about your program: of course a very solid start with "The Nice Combination". This is a great starting dance, and I really like that you have included a circle dance in your program. Though, personally I am not a huge fan of a circle dance, depending on the type of crowd you are calling for, this I think will be a wonderful selection and of course "Love And Kisses"...
I would agree, that if you are going to a triplet it really has to be in the first half of your program, probably number three or four, I would recommend. As the night goes on there just will not be enough energy on the dance floor to make a triplet work. I would also consider that the first half of your program seems like it has a lot of neighbor balances and swings, which is ok, but does not offer much variety. There is "The Nice Combination", "Hey In The Barn", and "Forgotten Treasure" all within about four or five dances of eachother. Personally, I would recommend either or when it comes to "The Nice Combination" and "Forgotten Treasure". I tend to go more with "Forgotten Treasure", because there just seems to be better energy with that dance... I love Chorus Jig, as you probably know, and love that you have included it in your program... It is a great dance that really should be danced more... You might want to consider waiting to late to call this dance, because contra corner can be very differcult for new dancers. But yea!!! to Chorus Jig. Also, there are only two dances without balances in your program, I would consider, perhaps maybe adding a dance without a balance... Perhaps "Steel Anniversary" by Rick Mohr or "Roll In The Hey" by Roger Diggie, both I would consider very smooth dances. And of course different dances is always key when I am calling, I really like Mary Cay's Reel, and no doubt it is a classic, also there would be a good dance to call after a dance that has a lot of gents movement, because in a lot ways, I think this dance is a good break for the gents. Just some other dances I really like that you should consider: "Balance To My Lou" by Becky Hill, it has a great petronella balance squence in it, and it just has a partners swing. Other dance like "Chuck the Bungie" by Rick Mohr and "You Can't Get There From Here" by Carol Ormand have great balance squences... All I would recommend... Just one finally thought, I would not end a dance with the "The Baby Rose", it is great and solid dance... but I would recommend going out either with more of a bang... or something very smooth... If you are looking for bag of course there is "Trip To Lamberville" by Steve Zakon-Anderson, one of my all time favorites, and of course request the band play "Rainy Night in Montague (the only song that should be played with this dance) or perhaps something very smooth like "Comfort Deluxe" by Rick Mohr... Well, just some thoughts, a lot of thoughts actually... But good luck, I'm sure you will knock then dead... Sincerely, Jeff Petrovitch Jeffrey M. Petrovitch [email protected] "Five nights of contra dancing... through 'top-notch' style and technique, with the love and passion for the dance, the title above all others was awarded. I am an 'Iron Dancer'." - J.M. Petrovitch
