Hello Woody, I have not assumed that only 20 couples would dance, I was just using that as a way to determine how much dance floor is needed. I would love three or four lines of 20 couples. I have not yet visited the hall.
I have spoken at length with the B&G. They are indeed contra dancers. I let them know that they could have a great time with few or no contras, but they are insisting. I will include a longways and a circle mixer, if space allows, before I go to contras. I will have some easy, gender free contras to start, and a few very easy duple improper contras. It is their day, and they are calling the shots, but perhaps as the event develops, I can persuade them to be flexible. I have many ONS dances to draw from. Thanks for the advice, it will be useful. Rich Sbardella Stafford, CT On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 5:30 PM, Woody Lane via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Rich, > > Are the bride and groom actual contra dancers? > > I would talk with them first. Get a feel for their comfort about contras, > and also dancing in general. Ask them if they waltz. If you hear a few > moments of silence -- that says a lot about their dancing. Assure them that > everyone will have a great time. > > With a 145 attendees, why assume that there will only be 40 dancers (20 > couples)? Maybe there will be only 40 if all the dances you call are modern > contras. But if you, as the MC for that part of the event, can get all the > attendees on the dance floor (or at least 100+), all happy and celebrating > -- would that be an option? Would that be what the couple really wants but > is either narrow in their perspective or doesn't know how to articulate it? > > This weekend, I called a wedding for some folks who wanted contras. That's > what they advertised. Well, yes, except that the bride and groom had really > never waltzed or had done real contras. > > Nonetheless, contras was what they had in their heads. There were 80 > attendees. The dance area was a relatively narrow rectangle of grass. But > we began with a Grand March -- which everyone (and I mean everyone) could > do, with a wind-up spiral. Even the non-dancers could walk through it and > laugh. Then a very phrase-driven circle mixer, then a Virginia Reel style > of dance. Nearly everyone was on the dance floor, having a great time. And > they stayed on the floor, ignoring the free drinks. Yes, it was > occasionally a bit crowded, but nobody cared. Actually, that's what I think > the wedding couple really wanted -- to have lots of fun on their special > day and share the celebration. They were absolutely delighted that so many > of their non-dancer friends were clearly having a great time on the dance > floor. (and then we did more dances after a dessert break, ending with a > simple fun mixer.) And at the end of the evening, they gave me an extra tip > on top of my payment. > > Just some thoughts. Good luck. > > Woody > > -- > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > Woody Lane > Caller, Percussive Dancer > Roseburg, Oregon > http://www.woodylanecaller.com > home: 541-440-1926 cell: 541-556-0054 > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > > On 8/1/2016 6:01 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote: > >> Friends, >> >> I have been hire to call a wedding with 145 attendees and 15 known >> contra dancers. The bride and groom are insisting on modern contras. >> >> I have never thought about floor space, what is the typical >> requirement for a line of twenty couples? >> >> Any very easy duple improper dances to recommend? I plan on using >> "Family Contra" and "Jefferson and Lincoln". >> >> Thanls, >> Rich >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >