Those calling parties do sound like a good idea, and they sound similar
to 3 regular dances that we have here in NH. There are 3 regular dances
here where there is always an open mike for callers, and musicians can
join the band, or play for a dance or two themselves.
Calling is shared at these dances by all callers who attend and wish to
call a dance, regardless of experience level. The experienced callers
are always willing to help a new caller pick a dance to call, based on
the dancers present, and the caller's abilities. Then, afterwards, talk
with them about what went right, and any problem the caller might have had.
Musicians at these dances can also join in and play for a a single dance
or more, if they wish, and then dance the rest of evening. Experienced
musicians are always willing to help the new ones, as well.
These 3 dance include Dover (1st Thursday), Milford (4th Friday), and
Nelson (every Monday). In Dover and Milford, there is a single big band
that musicians may join, while in Nelson musicians usually take turns,
and seldom all play together - which can result in considerable
variations in musical styles in a single evening.
I love these dances because I get to both call and dance the same
evening. Callers will often use these dances to try out a new dance,
either one they just wrote, or one they picked up somewhere.
Experienced callers will also talk with a new caller to help them pick
a dance for the crowd, and one that will fit in the sequence of dances
that evening. Dancers are usually helpful and appreciative when a new
callers attempts a dance, and almost always a new caller will be guided
to call a dance that the experienced dancers have danced many times
before, so that failure is not a real possibility. Among the things
that happen for a new caller is that the musicians will pick a tune for
him or her, and a mentor caller will provide an "appropriate" dance, so
the new caller just needs to think about the walk through and the words
to use when calling the dance, perhaps emulating another caller they
heard recently or that evening.
We have had callers and musicians at these dances who range in age from
about 12 to 80. Actually, I think Bob McQuillen will make that 90 next
year! Experienced callers and musicians are always willing to help a
new younger caller or musician get started. And as I think about it, I
realize how much here just happens "automatically" so that a new caller
or musician can concentrate on just what he or she needs to do, while
letting others handle details that they can consider later once they've
gotten the basics. But these details that the new caller may ignore
initially, are also so important to help to keep the dances organized,
and the dancers satisfied.
Rich Hart.
On 5/12/2012 12:39 AM, Greg McKenzie wrote:
Martha's calling parties sounds like a great tool for new callers as well
as new dances.
Too often I have attended an open, public contra dance and heard a local
caller announce that they will be calling the next dance at a festival, or
dance camp, and want to "try it out" at our event before they present it to
the, more sophisticated, special event attendees.
This has always seemed so strange--that they would inflict this unknown
quantity on our local, public dance where we have welcomed non-dancers to
join us for a social event. Better that the festival crowd should be the
ones to try it out.
The "calling parties" sounds like an even better venue for this kind of
"try-out" dance.
- Greg McKenzie
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