For me, the most important task as a caller at a wedding is to get the bride and groom dancing in the first dance.
If you make the first dance a circle (not a mixer) then you don't have any hassles in getting 'that extra last couple' to make up a set. You don't even really need to worry who is on which side. I almost invariably use Part 1 of Circassian circle (In to the middle and out twice, ladies in, clap and return, men in, clap and return, swing your partner, promenade). I don't teach it, just do it, ideally with a wireless mike so that you can show what people should be doing from the center. At the end I have been known to keep the promenade going so that I can make up some longways dances for Virginia Reel before anyone escapes. Another useful technique is to use an extended promenade to make up a sicillian circle for Haste to the Wedding. With luck, you can still keep them on the floor. At the end of Haste to the Wedding (or any other sicillian circle formation) have some fun - ask the tallest person in each couple (or the shortest, or the one without a bra, or the one who comes from furthest away ... you get the idea - to go away and bring back another person, any sex, to make up a 3-facing-3 for Dashing White Sargeant or any other 3 some you fancy. After this they will be tired so give them a reasonable break. The rest is up to you ... Michael Barraclough http://www.michaelbarraclough.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Laur Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 4:28 PM To: 'Caller's discussion list' Subject: Re: [Callers] suggestions for dancing on lawns... Thank you for all your responses. My biggest concern was for uneven ground, turned ankles and bad knees. I suppose that was based on my own experiences when I supported community dances at one or two festivals. But it is a wedding and all the slow and simple rules apply. You all helped ease my anxiety. Your helpful hints, suggestions, and links are very much appreciated. Beth, the groom just told me their rough plan is to eat, cut the cake, and while folks are eating cake have the music start. The old time band can play for a bit, and then they want to start the dancing. They are open to suggestion. In your, and others, experience, how will this plan work? I agree, cutting the cake can be the wind down point. Laurie --- On Wed, 6/18/08, Beth Parkes <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Beth Parkes <[email protected]> > Subject: RE: [Callers] suggestions for dancing on lawns... > To: [email protected], "'Caller's discussion list'" <[email protected]> > Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 11:55 AM > > Hell all, looking for support and any suggestions for > calling an > > outside wedding dance. > > > > Since I am dealing with a wedding dance I don't > have to worry about > > fast dancing. Although I keep thinking about that > unsteady dancing > > thing that is already present with non-dancers, and > their over > > exuberance. I also think about letting that caller > insurance lag this > > year. > > > > I'm open to anything anyone can offer. Wedding is > Sunday. Trying to > > rethink today and tomorrow. > > I want to agree with everyone else: grass works fine for a > ONS crowd. As > with any ONS, just keep them winning. I don't know if > you've done many > weddings, but they have a life of their own: 1. They always > run late <G>. > (Plan on it.) 2. They will have much less dancing than > other similar events. > People want to socialize and there are lots of other things > going on. 3. > Cutting the cake is the sign that people are allowed to > leave. Don't let > them do it too early. (Suggest that there is some dancing > first.) > > Don't let the insurance lag. It's an incredible > bargain. All insurance is > expensive until you need it. > > Beth _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
