Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

Many interesting comments, that caused many reactions when reading. -Amy, are those musicians dancers as well? And do any of them also call? Your discussion goal may be to discuss the synergy of the band, caller, and dancers, and where trust is needed. -I have no idea how long any of you have

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

I usually warn bands that I tend to run dances just a little shorter than other callers. My habit is about 5-and-a-bit dances an hour, 12 minutes (give or take) from the start of teaching one to the start of teaching the next, but that definitely varies. Size, energy, chattiness and skill

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

The biggest problem with this is that the leader of the band is a good friend..who is always right...and I have the honor of being this person's favorite caller. Tricky. I'll take notes and review them with the band afterward. Over a beverage. -Amy > On Apr 27, 2015, at 2:12 PM, Kalia

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

There's a band I work with on a pretty regular basis that usually follows my lead, but will occasionally ask "For this set, can we choose when to go out?" I trust them not to run it too long, and letting them choose when they go out gives them a lot of control over the musical experience, which

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

Yeesh. This sounds like a recipe for a difficult evening, unless it's one of those very rare bands where the musicians are really watching what's happening on the floor. Do you have the option of not working with this band in the future? Kalia On 4/27/2015 1:58 PM, Donald Perley via Callers

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

Just a guess.. they have arrangements for each set and feel miffed if they get cut short without getting through each variation. On Mon, Apr 27, 2015 at 4:52 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers wrote: > > I have an oddity coming up: a band for which I am calling has asked

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

My mileage varies considerably in numbers of dances I get through in an evening. The biggest factors are 1) number of beginners, 2) chattiness/inattention of dancers, 3) flexibility of band, 4) length of break. I have tried to pay attention to specific couples and track them in a dance, but

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

dance. Tim KleinKnoxville, TN From: Lenore Frigo via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> To: Maia McCormick <maia@gmail.com> Cc: "callers@lists.sharedweight.net" <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 3:06 PM Subject: Re: [Calle

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

As a dancer, I have found a lot of callers aim for 4 per hour, and this feels way too long for several reasons: - Especially in warm weather, dancers get tired - Musicians get tired, too. - People involuntarily sitting out have to suffer through a longer out time. With dances more like the 8-9

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

Generally, I expect to call 9-12 dances in a regular evening contra/community dance venue. With 10-11 being the greatest majority of the gigs. I usually prepare a program with 10-11 dances, but of course once the evening begins, things can change, sometimes quite radically. The length of

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

I usually do things basically by feel, and I also pay particular attention to tune changes and give the band enough time to play the 3rd tune enough times.  I don't have any "rules of thumb", like watching a particular couple go up the line and back, or any specific time length or number of

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

of the changes I’ll ask where they are. Ann Fallon Annapolis, Maryland From: Callers [mailto:callers-boun...@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Ryan Smith via Callers Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 10:25 AM Cc: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

"If you decide on a number of times through and actually count, you can stick to that pretty well, but if you decide a running time, it is much more difficult to stay on track of the time and warn the band three times before you want to end, etc." I couldn't disagree more. I have always used a

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

When I was learning to call, I was taught to do about 15 times through the dance (maybe 13, maybe 17). I like Victor's suggestion of 8 minutes for the dance, 2 for walkthrough, and 2 for dancers to line up and chat before the walkthrough starts. Including break and waltzes, in a three hour

Re: [Callers] Dance length/dances per evening

For me, it really depends on the size and energy level of the dance.  For a larger dance with lots of energy, I will run around 15 min per slot...so 3-4 minutes to get a new partner, 3-4 min to walk thru and 8 or so minutes to dance (around 16 times through the tune).  Square and mixers run

Re: [Callers] Dance length

> A caller up here, Byron Ricker, has been writing a few dances that > he calls "quad beckets." Quad becket dances are becket dances that > can be danced with 4 or more couples and that never leaves anyone > out (unless there are an odd number of couples). Surely this is just a double

Re: [Callers] Dance length

th his permission, of course. At a dance we rarely have that few people left, but for an informal gathering I'm always looking for ways to keep people on the floor. laur --- On Thu, 5/13/10, Richard Hart <r...@harts.mv.com> wrote: From: Richard Hart <r...@harts.mv.com> Subje

Re: [Callers] Dance length

On 12/May/10 18:02, Meg Dedolph wrote: Hi everyone, I have a question about dance length - not the length of time you run a particular dance, but the length of an evening of dancing. In Chicago, we recently went from a three-hour Monday night dance to a two-and-a-half hour Monday night dance.

Re: [Callers] Dance length

- From: "Clark Baker" <cmba...@tiac.net> To: "Caller's discussion list" <call...@sharedweight.net> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 3:28 PM Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length On May 12, 2010, at 9:02 PM, Meg Dedolph wrote: I have a question about dance length

Re: [Callers] Dance length

On May 12, 2010, at 9:02 PM, Meg Dedolph wrote: > I have a question about dance length - not the length of time you run a > particular dance, but the length of an evening of dancing. In Chicago, we > recently went from a three-hour Monday night dance to a two-and-a-half hour > Monday night

Re: [Callers] Dance length

ssage- From: Jeff Kaufman <j...@alum.swarthmore.edu> List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 15:20:24 To: <call...@sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length ___ Callers mailing list call...@sharedweigh

Re: [Callers] Dance length

Ron Nelson wrote: > > Gee, I guess you would need 6 couples to get to everyone. Thanks, > Luke, for broadening my perspective. > Six doesn't help. I believe there's no way to set up a contra dance with more than 2 couples where no one is ever out and each couple dances with all other couples.

Re: [Callers] Dance length

On 13/May/10 11:03, Ron Nelson wrote: Gee, I guess you would need 6 couples to get to everyone. Thanks, Luke, for broadening my perspective. I'd think you'd need an odd number of pairs. Adding this idea to my small numbers (of dancers) grab bag. Cheers, John J.D. Erskine Victoria, BC No

Re: [Callers] Dance length

Gee, I guess you would need 6 couples to get to everyone. Thanks, Luke, for broadening my perspective. Ron > From: luke.do...@gmail.com > Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 12:48:16 -0500 > To: call...@sharedweight.net > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length > > > Actually, no. M

Re: [Callers] Dance length

> Actually, no. Most Becketts progress in a clockwise direction. Everyone has > equal > opportunity to dance with each of the other couples. Double progression dances, becket (either direction) or improper, only let you dance with half the couples when there's an even number of couples. For four

Re: [Callers] Dance length

> > Richard Hart wrote: With just 4 couples left, I've > > sometimes called a quad becket with some success. > > > > These would be double progression, no? So couple A dances with couple > C, then couple D, but never couple B? > > Jeff Actually, no. Most Becketts progress in a

Re: [Callers] Dance length

I like to use the Bucksaw Reel with 4 couple sets. Everyone is active all the time. Ron Nelson Chula Vista, CA > From: khe...@twcny.rr.com > To: call...@sharedweight.net > Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 06:07:37 -0400 > Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length > > Gary Roodman (f

Re: [Callers] Dance length

Richard Hart wrote: > > A caller up here, Byron Ricker, has been writing a few dances that > he calls "quad beckets." Quad becket dances are becket dances that > can be danced with 4 or more couples and that never leaves anyone > out (unless there are an odd number of couples). Many, but not all

Re: [Callers] Dance length

2010 12:59 AM To: Caller's discussion list Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length I usually consider 5 couple a minimum for a regular contra dance, but triples like Money Musk require more people. A caller up here, Byron Ricker, has been writing a few dances that he calls "quad beckets."

Re: [Callers] Dance length

t;r...@harts.mv.com> wrote: From: Richard Hart <r...@harts.mv.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length To: "Caller's discussion list" <call...@sharedweight.net> List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 12:58 AM I usually consider 5 couple a

Re: [Callers] Dance length

I usually consider 5 couple a minimum for a regular contra dance, but triples like Money Musk require more people. A caller up here, Byron Ricker, has been writing a few dances that he calls "quad beckets." Quad becket dances are becket dances that can be danced with 4 or more couples and that

Re: [Callers] Dance length

>It's been a dream to go through the triplet repertoire and find the good >ones. If you do it, let us know what you find! > Find out which ones David Millstone and Tony Parkes call. :) -Amy

Re: [Callers] Dance length

What time do the dances start? Are people leaving because it's too late for them on a Monday night? Could you start earlier? At our calling parties, where space is limited, the ideal number of people is 10 - there is always eighty per cent of the people dancing, and there are never more than two

Re: [Callers] Dance length

e...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Callers] Dance length To: "Caller's discussion list" <call...@sharedweight.net> List-Post: callers@lists.sharedweight.net Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 10:09 PM Meg, My personal opinion is that 7 couples is a good minimum number for a contra l

Re: [Callers] Dance length

Meg, My personal opinion is that 7 couples is a good minimum number for a contra line. This gives 3 sets of hands 4 dancing all the time. 6 couples will leave you with 2 hands 4 and 2 couples out every other progression. Good luck, Paul Wilde