Once quite a while back in order to create a Valentine's theme for the  
evening, I put together a program as I usually would, looking for good  
pacing, balance of figures and interaction, appropriate to the  
expected crowd, etc.  Then, I wrote a series of light-hearted verses  
like limericks, roses are red..., and little couplets that I read as  
folks got ready for each dance.  That way, I could call just what  
seemed right, and create a festive atmosphere at the same time.

Now, if I could just find those verses...;-)

~Ruth


On Feb 16, 2010, at 12:00 PM, callers-request at sharedweight.net wrote:
>
>
> From: "Barbara Groh" <barbaragroh at bellsouth.net>
> Date: February 15, 2010 12:06:12 PM EST
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers at sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Valentine's theme dance - followup/aftermath
> Reply-To: Caller's discussion list <callers at sharedweight.net>
>
>
> I agree, Greg....a theme should never carry more importance than the  
> actual programming.  However, if a caller has a large enough  
> collection of dances to choose from, and enough experience to know  
> what will work and what won't, then a theme can add a little fun to  
> the evening.   In other words, having a theme is not NECESSARILY a  
> recipe for disaster.  But it certainly requires extra care to avoid  
> getting in over one's head.
> ~Barbara
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg McKenzie" <gregmck at earthlink.net 
> >
> To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers at sharedweight.net>; <callers at sharedweight.net 
> >
> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 11:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Valentine's theme dance - followup/aftermath
>
>
>>
>> At 05:20 AM 2/15/2010, Andy Shore wrote:
>>> The program was a bit overly-ambitious for the crowd we got, but it
>>> was fun and we made it through.  There were more "new to me" (marked
>>> with the + above) dances than I like to present in an evening,
>>> mostly because I was determined to stick with the theme.  In
>>> retrospect that wasn't the best idea.
>>
>> Thank you Andy for this cogent and self-critical analysis.  We need
>> more of that.  It is clear that you are learning from your  
>> experience.
>>
>> I admit that I view dance program "themes" with considerable
>> dread...as soon as I become aware that the caller is embarking upon
>> one.  As your analysis reflects, the selection of dances for a
>> "theme" evening often veers far from the course of what program would
>> "work" best for the crowd, the hall, and the music...all for the sake
>> of keeping the names of the dances in character with some
>> "theme."  This idea is a recipe for a difficult evening of
>> over-teaching and long walk-throughs and "theme evenings" should be a
>> signal of danger to all in the hall.
>>
>> I wish callers would consider any "theme" to be the developing
>> story-line of all of the dances considered from the perspective of a
>> mixed crowd of dancers looking for an enjoyable social evening.  This
>> is how any good evening of contra dance should be programmed and the
>> name of the dance is seldom a useful indicator of where the dance
>> would best be positioned in the evening's program, or if it should be
>> included at all.
>>
>> Just a thought.
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>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------