Ruth,

This sounds like a creative solution to the challenge of a "theme 
dance."  I would love to hear more about how this tactic worked in 
practice.  How was the idea of inserting poetry into the evening's 
program received?

Another approach to "themes" is more bold but, perhaps, less 
intrusive.  That is the technique used by the musicians who insert 
parts of recognizable songs or tunes into their medleys.  This can 
often encounter some of the same difficulties of imposing a "theme" 
on the dance names--because the "theme" tune may not work as well 
with the dance.  But I see this as less risky than restricting 
yourself to a small subset of your dance collection simply because 
the names of the dances fit a "theme."

Hall decorations, costume suggestions, and special activities (such 
as door prizes) can all contribute to the "theme" of an 
evening.  These are probably preferable to restricting your dance 
collection based upon the names.

*********

At 10:10 AM 2/16/2010, Ruth Pershing wrote:
>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.
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Callers mailing list
>>>Callers at sharedweight.net
>>>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>>
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Callers mailing list
>Callers at sharedweight.net
>http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers