I agree with David. My worst calling experience (quite a long time ago) was when I tried to call a contra dance at a wedding. It was not a good choice for me to make. The top couple was drunk, no one had ever done a contra dance before, and it was an unmitigated disaster. Unless it is a contra dance crowd (which it sounds like Joy will not have), I would do the easy, fun dances that David sugests. Many of those types of dances can be done in individual couples, 2-couple sets, circles, or simple longways sets that can accommodate a lot of people.
I also agree with Richard in that the edges of the dance floor can be dangerous. In addition, if people are dancing on or near grass, I would advise anyone with high heels to be quite careful (or take them off). Another thought about small dance floors is that the people who want to dance will get up first, and when the dance floor is full, the others who are less interested often just stay put, so overcrowding might not happen. Of course, we would love to have everyone get up and dance, but that probably can't happen with a too-small dance floor. Suzanne Girardot -----Original Message----- >From: David Millstone <[email protected]> >Sent: Jun 17, 2010 12:28 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [Callers] dance floor capacity > >My aim at such outdoor events is to have as many people participate as >possible, >regardless of the size of the dance floor. In fact, if it's a party of 150-200 >people, and it's going to be under a large tent, I encourage the wedding couple >not to get a dance floor if ours is the only dancing. Participants at such >events don't do a buzz step swing; they'll be just as happy to walk/hop around >their partner with an elbow swing. I'll call simple dances-- rarely any that >are >actual contras in lines-- that allow maximum participation with minimum >instruction. Having the dance floor in the center can send the wrong message >that this is only for the few people who can squeeze onto that space. > >And if that decision has already been made and there's a floor there, then >simple longways dances (such as Galopede) can and do extend off the floor >allowing many more to participate. A Sicilian circle such as Haste to the >Wedding can go all around the open space in the tent, crossing over the >official >dance floor as needed but not limited to that space. > >David Millstone >Lebanon, NH >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >[email protected] >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
