Thank you David for your kind and generous words. I find many of the
discussions here to be incredibly useful in giving me a lot of
perspective on how other callers view the role of contras in
communities as well as the role of the caller in facilitating these events.
I also reference Larry Jenning's works to new callers. Jennings has
demonstrated great courage in bringing unconventional views into
wider discussion. He has given much to the contra dance tradition,
possibly even more than many of us realize.
I look forward to reading more of your own posts, and the posts of
other callers. In an activity such as dance calling, which is often
competitive and rife with petty politics, this kind of open forum
plays an important role in the evolving tradition of contra
dance. We need to encourage all participants to share their views,
experience, and techniques...even if we know they are "wrong."
I find calling, in general, to be a very humbling experience.
Regards,
Greg
*************
David wrote:
Thank you, Greg, for your thoughtful, well-stated, and caring responses to the
points folks brought up in response to your original question. I really
appreciate-- and this is something I've felt in your earlier posts-- the way
that you work at bringing different points of view together, finding common
ground without minimizing different opinions.
As you certainly recognize, this particular question comes down to
an individual
caller's personal preferences and style, and there's not One Right
Answer. Thank
goodness! We don't aim to create a coterie of certified clones, but rather to
celebrate the unique style that each caller brings to the mix. And I
agree that
through thoughtful discussions of issues such as this, callers from
all vantage
points come away with ideas to consider.
I've often told folks at my callers' workshops to get copies of
Larry Jennings's
two books. Initially, newer callers are excited by the idea of obtaining
collections of so many dances all in one volume. Useful as those dances are, I
think the greater value of "Zesty Contras" and "Give-and-Take" is found in
Larry's thoughtful essays. He was a man of many opinions and he wasn't bashful
about sharing them. Whether or not you agreed with him wasn't the
point; reading
those many essays forces callers-- established and newbies alike-- to think
about what they themselves value and to hone their own vision of
what they want
the dance to be when they're at the caller's mic.
David Millstone
Lebanon, NH
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