I want to learn to call & share family dances with more kids to spread folk
music and dancing in our area (SF bay area, near Santa Cruz).
I've got an opportunity to teach dances for my son's nature class. It will
range in age from 5 to 15 years. There's an option to work with just 8 years
At Old Srurbridge Village, a living museum, we use one penny whistle,
flute, or fiddle. We always dance Rakes of Mallow. The age of the
dancing audience ranges from 4 to 70s, and they always have fun.
Rakes:
Fwd & Bk, Fwd & Change lines
Fwd & Bk, Fwd and change back to original line
Right hand
I've done house parties with just a fiddler who was very familiar with dance music and knows how to maintain the beat and play square tunes. Not everyone can do that. Does your dance community have a list serve or Facebook page where you can ask for that kind of assistance? Unless you can find
Thanks for the compliment, Bree! If folks would like to look at other easy
dances (including Do Si Three), I have a list of some that I have put together;
you can see them at www.lindalesliecaller.website
As for the circle/spiral…..I learned it from someone a long time ago (I don’t
remember
Thank you for all the replies so far ! One other question,
What are the key elements/movements that you would emphasize teaching with
kids?
giving weight, hearing the music beats, swing, star, do si do,
allemande.. ?
And I don't think they will do ballroom swing, so which swing is
I'm an elementary music teacher and a dance caller and I run a family dance in seattle. I just do elbow swings with kids - no way would I bother with ballroom. I wouldn't explain giving weight. Children will automatically try to crack the whip and lean back. They automatically give WAY too
On 2015-08-04 1310, Claire Takemori via Callers wrote:
Thank you for all the replies so far ! One other question,
What are the key elements/movements that you would emphasize teaching with kids?
giving weight, hearing the music beats, swing, star, do si do,
allemande.. ?
Having fun.
Yes, the spiral is traditional! It is part of the Grand March which
goes back at least a couple of centuries.
I call a Grand March by leading it, with my wife. I wear a wireless head
mike so my hands are free.
We just start promenading around the dance-floor encouraging
I repeat the "have fun" suggestion. Get them moving, don't talk a lot or
explain a lot - quick demos are okay, saying what's happening as you demo.
Elbow or 2-hand swings, but tell them to look at their partner - that it's part
of the fun.
Don't explain giving weight - in fact, don't explain
