I always include "Hands 4 from the top, actives cross over if you haven't already" if that's what I want for configuration (and I try to use varied configurations where possible).
FWIW, this is NOT ingrained behavior for first-timers, and surprisingly a number of experienced dancers don't do it unless prompted. Unfortunately, for those who DO do this on autopilot, it reinforces the "I can keep chatting - I don't have to listen to the caller yet" attitude that can make it a bit longer to start things. That said, I try to vary the intro instruction, a la, "take hands in a group of 4, facing up or down the line - gents, make sure your partner is on your right." It's just different enough that some people wake up who might now otherwise. With a particular noisy group, I may start with "ok, and now the 2nd figure is" and wait for someone to ask for me to restart from the beginning. :-) I'd been curious what others' experiences have been. Thanx, Ric Goldman > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Fischer > Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 4:56 PM > To: [email protected]; Caller's discussion list > Subject: Re: [Callers] Telling couples to switch at the end > of a contra set > > And a related question: when will callers stop saying "Hands > four from the top, number ones cross over"--in > acknowledgement that improper formation is the default for > modern contras? I'm curious how many callers have already > stopped saying that. Or to put the question another way, in > how many dance communities do dancers line up inproper and > not expect a reminder to "cross over" and be in improper formation? > > Richard > > On Dec 1, 2010, at 7:37 PM, Mark Widmer wrote: > > > Hey, I was wondering what other callers thought about the > following: > > often, during the walkthrough of the 1st contra dance of > the evening, > > the caller explains that dancers should trade places with their > > partner whenever they reach the end of the set > > > > However, I never do this, and have never had a problem as a > result -- > > the experienced dancers in the set, apparently, are able to get the > > new dancers to do this, and nobody has ever complained to me that I > > didn't instruct dancers to switch > > > > I have wondered what others thought about this -- my own > thinking is why take time to explain something when it isn't > necessary? > > > > Regards, > > > > Mark Widmer / central NJ > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
