I've never done techno, but this lighting plan sounds well suited to some of that. So interesting. Dorcas Hand
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Greg McKenzie Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 10:09 AM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Firedancing/ Hooping while calling and other possible future Burning Man innovations I can understand Jolaine's hesitation. But the "Look at ME!" part of the caller's ego has always been a factor at contra dances. Like Jolaine I also feel that the caller should "fade into the background" as soon as possible, but I recognize that I am in the minority of callers and I am willing to let others experiment. I also recognize that burning man is a unique venue with extreme considerations for anyone attempting to call a contra dance there. If we learn from our mistakes then those organizing the burningman contra will learn much. I wish I could participate. I have organized four installations at burningman and I know what an adverse environment it can be. I have not been back for years now but I know that calling for this venue would be one of the most difficult calling gigs I can imagine. There will probably be 20% to more than 50% first-timers in the crowd. Combined with the problem of many distractions (every potential participant has about 2,999 other installations they want to see during the evening)--not to mention the factor of significant numbers of dancers in enhanced mental states--this gig will require all of the best skills of calling. That includes careful programming, planning, training the regular contra dancers, and working with all other parties including the musicians, sound, and light engineers. It is interesting that these folks are using multiple communication channels to help integrate the newcomers. I am most intrigued with the idea put forth by the burner contra folks of using the lighting to reinforce the calls. Every phrase in the dance (A1, A2, B1, and B2) could have a different color or effect setting. Using the lighting as a reinforcement to the calls could be a powerful technique for such a difficult venue. It will require an extra caller who knows the lighting system or a lighting technician who knows how to call contras. This crowd will need every technique the callers and organizers can think of to sweep in the first-timers. I will be very interested in hearing how things work out. - Greg McKenzie On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Mark Stowe <[email protected]> wrote: > Jolaine is a wonderful caller and I understand what she is saying > but... There are always spectators at dances and at Burning Man > there are also many people walking through the area and fire-dancing > is a dramatic way to draw in that much more attention and therefore > potential new dancers. Secondly there is the thrill of the challenge > for the caller in succeeding in meshing two skills s/he loves. > Finally there is probably going to be a novel thrill for the dancers > who will getting something like that primal feeling of dancing around > a fire - while contradancing. I think there will be plenty of > enjoyment without taking in all the details in a way that would > distract attention from their own dancing. They will go look at the > youtube videos later - and admit it so will you :) > > On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 7:27 PM, JoLaine Jones-Pokorney > <[email protected]> wrote: > > I applaud Mark for all his efforts to spread contra dancing. But I have > to > > ask what is the purpose of firedancing/hooping while calling? I would > argue > > that this is an unnecessary distraction and puts the focus on the caller > > instead of on the dancers. Am I supposed to watch this person > > firedance/hoop while I am trying to contra dance? I hope that organizers > > will ask if this "innovation" is really making the dancing more > enjoyable, > > or simply for the sake of being "different." My personal opinion is that > > the caller should be as invisible as possible - call clearly and get out > of > > the way of the dancers. There are certainly callers who contribute > beyond > > the calls such as Beth Molero and Nils Fredland's with their wonderful > > singing voices and other callers who may clog or play spoons or some > other > > contribution to the experience. But firedancing/hooping is a distraction > > from the dance, not a contribution to it. > > May Burning Man contra grow and thrive for years to come! > > JoLaine > > > > -- > > JoLaine Jones-Pokorney > > > > "We are as gods and might as well get good at it!" > > - Stewart Brand > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
