Square Dance Forum

Why Square Dance?

2012-02-09T12:14:00.001-08:00

I got to watch some regular People doing Zumba. Not the commercial. To me it's Aerobics to different music. "Exercise to Music"

I think it's great if it gets people who need exercise have a fun way to get it!

Square Dancing was not began as an exercise, or even a social dance for couples! It first came about as a way to get people on the floor who would otherwise be Wall Flowers" It was for the guys who were to shy to ask a girl to dance, knowing that she was going to say no anyway!

But, modern Square Dancing has changed all that. Even Singles Clubs are more coupled up than regular clubs. To much of it is just a puzzle game for those who are into it. It's like the Cross Word Puzzle in the Daily News Paper, 99% of the people who buy the paper find it to hard to do and it goes in the trash un tried!

But, Square Dancing is a reason to get together. And, it can be a lot of laughs! However, to be a lot of laughs you need to have a club that wants it! Sadly the Puzzle people either raid or come and become a "Wet Blanket"!

Why Does Square Dance Calling have to mean MONEY!

2012-02-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

I've heard that Square Dancing has been on a downward spiral ever since Callerlab created a list of the calls.

While it might not be the only reason it definitely could be one of them.

The lists were compiled so that Traveling Callers who got paid could draw dancers from all over to their dances.

Dancers loved this as people love to gather in big crowds. Why else, would people pay money to sit in the nose bleed section of some stadium when they could see it close and personal on the TV with replays!

Callers who did Traditional Calling were put out of business or they started charging for doing "one night stands" more than callers were getting paid to do a dance.

"One Night Stands" or Square Dance Parties as they now called used to be advertising for the callers Club. Most were done in Club members other activities, so you had a foot in the door for recruiting.

Since Callers could now call for any Club dancers ignored new callers. You either got good real quick or you gave up the idea of being a caller. People who want to have a Square Dance Party want the best they can afford. They will pick a $350 a night caller over a Free one. I've know callers who hated to do them so asked a big chunk of money. Saying, "If I have to do one I'm going to get paid!" And, on the other side, seasoned callers say, "My time is money I need to get paid!"

Square Dancing is hurt because very few Square Dance Parties happen and more than likely the person doing them is not the one giving classes.

Then comes Classes! Students are pushed as hard as they can to become members of the club "After Graduation!"

New callers find it easier to find students to teach upper levels, out of existing dancers.

Many a times, I have considered changing the names of the calls so that my dancers would be harder to steal. But, that's not fair to the people I teach who have dreams of traveling to different clubs and making new friends. (Not to mention if probably would be impossible for me to do!)

The Callerlab concept was a good one, but the human factor has turned it sour!

Sight Calling

2012-01-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

For years I have argued that Sight Calling is not a way of calling, but merely a resolution of the square. Upon discussing it, Sight Calling is probably as much a calling technic as Chicken Plucker, Windmill, or Mirror Image. The problem is the name. To many Callers think of it as shooting from the hip!

While sight calling is a few modules that will turn any group of dancers into a Box 1-4 or a 1P2P line, from there you need to know a get out module. Not just one, but many so you can add variety to your Allemande Left, or "Your Home!" While many love the surprise of "Your Home!" that term doesn't get it for me! To me it's like being 1st and 10 on the one yard line and kicking a field goal! But, then that's just me!

So what is a Box 1-4 or a 1P2P line. A man I believe his name was Lipman called the number 1 man facing his corner (Number 4 lady) with the opposite lady as his partner. (Heads Square Thru). You can call an Allemande Left. 1P2P was Number one couple and number 2 couple in the same line. (Heads Lead to the Right, Circle to a line. Technically you can also call Allemande Left. When you get the dancers there using sight calling modules (There is a Magical module that switches you from one to the other)

The real advantage of Sight Calling over Chicken Plucker is that you don't have to use Zero's or Technical Zero's. However to many callers believe they don't need modules. I believe that is the reason that callers started shifting the job of learning modules to the dancers by making every call legal from any position! Trying to eliminate the egg on the face for being a poor caller who doesn't know what flows good and memorizing the module. You can't escape learning modules by making every move a legal one! Not only should a caller know a module to put dancers in position to do a call, but also modules that shift the dancers so they get to see it from every position. It's why I like the longer moves so I don't have to think for hard. Pick a move get them to it, run them into every position and then bring them home. (I always say if you can't twinkle their toes in 3 minutes in a Patter Call, forget it and bring them home, and go back home yourself and study!)

Singing Call figures are little more than Chicken Plucker. I believe that every new caller should memorize at least 30 Songs Making sure that each song has a different figure. Once they know them like the Christmas Carols they sing every year, then start experimenting with what other figures might work in the song.

Modern Dancers who are into the Puzzle love to hear a different figure every time. But, In actuality, for dancing, having the same figure 4 times is actually as difficult to dance, in fact it may be even more of a Challenge!

You say, how can this be! I've heard it, I know it , end of story!

While Square Dancing is Symmetric it also always has two parts. While the Heads are doing something the sides do something different. If you are a head lady while the call is the same you have to do it as a side lady the next time. Same words, totally different figure! Then she has the first figure, but from across the hall, then again from the sides, but across the Hall. Granted the men have the same figure twice but, it also makes it even a bit more difficult. A man does the same thing twice and then has to shift! While the body only did it twice, it's the same words but a whole new ball game, and the mind is confused because it wants to repeat what it just did twice!

But, dancers are trained to think now instead of react. No call is executed automatically! A dancers can't be lead down the wrong path by an automatic call because there is no such Animal anymore!