If the head is on the long side, three contra lines with five couples (one extra for the progression). If the head is on the short side, I don't see how you can get more than one line. I usually figure 10 feet across for a pretty compact contra line, and I'd hate to do English in anything less than 15 feet across.
If you're in a long line, holding hands in that "w" sort of way which spaces everyone out nicely, I think most of us take up about four feet up and down the line. So, 35 feet would be 8 or 9 couples long. M E On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 8:38 AM, Joy Greenwolfe < [email protected]> wrote: > A space conundrum for you all. > > I'm calling a wedding reception for approx 150-170 guests with a designated > dance dance space of 35 feet x 16 feet. No options for expanding or last > minute venue switches. > > (Also note that the band rather than myself was consulted on venue space. > I've seen the diagram, and the space is at least well-used. The dance space > is arranged lengthwise at the end of the large hall next to the tables. ) > > How many people (non dancers) would you realistically expect to get onto > this floor at once? > > I'm contemplating some circle dances, some scatter mixers and some longways > sets. Maybe a single file spiral around the perimeter of the room. The > guests are mostly non-dancers, occasional contra dancers and a few > Scottish/ceili dancers thrown in for spice. I don't think I can get all > 150+ people into that space at once. > > Thoughts? Calculations? > > Joy Greenwolfe > Durham, NC > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > 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
