My latest venture is an interest group for the U3A
We meet twice a month in Utkinton. On Thursday afternoon.
New dancers welcome, musicians would be a bonus.
Wednesday 1 February 2023
Thursday 12 December 2013
Thinking about calling.
A conversation last night started me thinking about calling, and learning to call.
In 2010 I ran a callers workshop at Chester Festival, and in preparation started a an online discussion group.
Then in 2011 I started Have a Go, for those who wanted to play, dance or call. There were not enough dancers to keep this going regularly.
It seems to me that there are at least 3 types of dance events needing 3 types of callers.
a) Dance clubs.
b) Ceilidh series
c) Dances for the general public - weddings and fundraisers
a) Meet regularly, dance a variety of dances, maybe include Playford dances, ceilidh dances, American squares and Contras. These are where a would be caller is most likely to get a chance to call (maybe just one dance then build up), and other members will be tolerant of their friends attempts. Being a member of the club already, you will know what kind of dance is suitable for that particular club, or can call one they have already done, so that you aren't teaching everyone 'from scratch'. Usually they use recorded music - the organiser might have a club library of suitable music and instruction books that you can borrow and practice. It is a BIG advantage to have done the dance yourself, so that you know which parts might cause problems, and can word your 'walk through' accordingly.
b) These are more energetic and the dances are simpler as there might be a bigger proportion of newcomers. They usually book established callers and bands.
c) Again fairly simple dances, the caller needs to judge just HOW simple (how they line up for the first dance can give a clue). Live music is best for this, the caller needs to pay attention to the band as well as the dances.
So you need to know -
If you need a 32 or 48 bar tune or some other length.
If you need a particular type of tune (waltz, hornpipe etc.) or 'any jig or reel'
What speed - a smooth walk needs much faster music than a bouncy skip. Listen to the band play the tune through and try out a few steps.
When preparing a dance you need to work out how you will explain it in the walk through and how you will give short reminder 'prompts' during the dancing. How much you need to explain and how soon you can stop calling varies with the dancers. Even if you will be calling with a band it is good to find a suitable CD track and practise getting the words out at the right time.
The Cambridge club website has all sorts of advice.
Colin Hume's site is good for club callers, with advice that can be applied ceilidh callers.
Eceilidh is a discussion group for 'serious' ceilidh dancers, not so much for those calling for weddings etc.
I suppose the best advice is that it should be fun. So let's all enjoy ourselves.
In 2010 I ran a callers workshop at Chester Festival, and in preparation started a an online discussion group.
Then in 2011 I started Have a Go, for those who wanted to play, dance or call. There were not enough dancers to keep this going regularly.
It seems to me that there are at least 3 types of dance events needing 3 types of callers.
a) Dance clubs.
b) Ceilidh series
c) Dances for the general public - weddings and fundraisers
a) Meet regularly, dance a variety of dances, maybe include Playford dances, ceilidh dances, American squares and Contras. These are where a would be caller is most likely to get a chance to call (maybe just one dance then build up), and other members will be tolerant of their friends attempts. Being a member of the club already, you will know what kind of dance is suitable for that particular club, or can call one they have already done, so that you aren't teaching everyone 'from scratch'. Usually they use recorded music - the organiser might have a club library of suitable music and instruction books that you can borrow and practice. It is a BIG advantage to have done the dance yourself, so that you know which parts might cause problems, and can word your 'walk through' accordingly.
b) These are more energetic and the dances are simpler as there might be a bigger proportion of newcomers. They usually book established callers and bands.
c) Again fairly simple dances, the caller needs to judge just HOW simple (how they line up for the first dance can give a clue). Live music is best for this, the caller needs to pay attention to the band as well as the dances.
So you need to know -
If you need a 32 or 48 bar tune or some other length.
If you need a particular type of tune (waltz, hornpipe etc.) or 'any jig or reel'
What speed - a smooth walk needs much faster music than a bouncy skip. Listen to the band play the tune through and try out a few steps.
When preparing a dance you need to work out how you will explain it in the walk through and how you will give short reminder 'prompts' during the dancing. How much you need to explain and how soon you can stop calling varies with the dancers. Even if you will be calling with a band it is good to find a suitable CD track and practise getting the words out at the right time.
The Cambridge club website has all sorts of advice.
Colin Hume's site is good for club callers, with advice that can be applied ceilidh callers.
Eceilidh is a discussion group for 'serious' ceilidh dancers, not so much for those calling for weddings etc.
I suppose the best advice is that it should be fun. So let's all enjoy ourselves.
Friday 26 July 2013
See you Sunday
There is an article in the Chronicle about the event.
The Street entertainers will be on first at 12.30. Come and enjoy the spectacle
then on the Northgate stage, near the walls :
1 -1.30 Black Cat Band (folk songs)
1.30- 2.00 Black Cat band play for adult Maypole dancing*
2.00-2.30 Mystery Band (singer songwriters**)
2.30 -3.00 Frank will lead the musicians*** for family Maypole dancing
3.00 - 3.30 Mystery Band**
Fingers crossed for fine weather. If 'rain stops play' we may be running late and the rest will merge flexibly till they move us to let the cars in
3.30 - 4.30 'Foreign exchange' Frank will lead musicians*** for Maypole dancing and Rondez Vous? French dance tunes.
4.30 -5.30 Musicians session on and around the stage
* Although this will be advertised as adult Maypole I would not expect anyone to leave a young child alone in the crowd. Share your ribbon, or let them stand in the middle as one of our mascots.
** The event organisers are providing these bands, so I will be surprised too.
*** Musicians could you please meet me and Frank before these spots (say 2.20 and 3.20) to agree a set list. If anyone wants the latest Rondez Vous? tune-book contact me
Say hello to me when you arrive. I'll be around from 11.30 and hard to miss in a black and orange flowery waistcoat.
The Street entertainers will be on first at 12.30. Come and enjoy the spectacle
then on the Northgate stage, near the walls :
1 -1.30 Black Cat Band (folk songs)
1.30- 2.00 Black Cat band play for adult Maypole dancing*
2.00-2.30 Mystery Band (singer songwriters**)
2.30 -3.00 Frank will lead the musicians*** for family Maypole dancing
3.00 - 3.30 Mystery Band**
Fingers crossed for fine weather. If 'rain stops play' we may be running late and the rest will merge flexibly till they move us to let the cars in
3.30 - 4.30 'Foreign exchange' Frank will lead musicians*** for Maypole dancing and Rondez Vous? French dance tunes.
4.30 -5.30 Musicians session on and around the stage
* Although this will be advertised as adult Maypole I would not expect anyone to leave a young child alone in the crowd. Share your ribbon, or let them stand in the middle as one of our mascots.
** The event organisers are providing these bands, so I will be surprised too.
*** Musicians could you please meet me and Frank before these spots (say 2.20 and 3.20) to agree a set list. If anyone wants the latest Rondez Vous? tune-book contact me
Say hello to me when you arrive. I'll be around from 11.30 and hard to miss in a black and orange flowery waistcoat.
Tuesday 23 July 2013
Frank's other tunes
Non-French
Easy tunes…
Polkas – Bluebell / Jenny Lind
Hornpipes – Speed the Plough / Morpeth Rant
Hornpipes – Trumpet (Pugwash) / Portsmouth / College (Sailor’s)
Reels – Boston Tea Party set
Reels – Curly headed Ploughboy
Reels – Holmfirth Square set
Reels – Father Kelly’s set
Mount Hills
Jigs – Merrily kissed the Quaker set
Jigs – Foula Reel set
Jigs – Star above the Garter set
Hornpipes 1
Polkas 1
Tunes for Rondez vous session (3.30 - 4.00?)
French tunes - play each tune 4 times start again if people still dancing (from Helen's latest tune book)
Hanter Dro de Languidig
Hanter Dro (two parts)
An Dro 4/4
Laridé
Le Canal en Octobre / Ça ira
Bourrée des Dindes / Bourrée de Concours
Mazurka à Rigal / Mazurka Limousin
Sonny's Mazurka / Ciapa Rousa
Captain Nemo / The RSB
Robin's Waltz / Valse à Bouffard
Changes of running order
We don't want to clash with the street entertainers in the Lord Mayors pageant between 12.30 & 1.00 so the order has been changed.
There will be musical entertainment at on at 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 3.30
Maypole dancing will be at 1.30, 2.30 & 4.00
Music session 4.30 onwards. This will start in Northgate street then move to Alexander's so that the road can be reopened,
Possible detail is
1.00 - 1.30 Black Cat band
3.30 - 4.00 Rondez vous
watch this space, or make sure I have your email address for updates.
Contact me
Obviously if the heavens open there will be delays and things will run late
There will be musical entertainment at on at 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 3.30
Maypole dancing will be at 1.30, 2.30 & 4.00
Music session 4.30 onwards. This will start in Northgate street then move to Alexander's so that the road can be reopened,
Possible detail is
1.00 - 1.30 Black Cat band
3.30 - 4.00 Rondez vous
watch this space, or make sure I have your email address for updates.
Contact me
Obviously if the heavens open there will be delays and things will run late
Saturday 20 July 2013
Tunes for 28th
Suggested tunes for the first set of Maypole dance.
1.20 - 1.40
Jigs:
Oyster Girl (in G)
Moon and Seven Stars (in D)
Oats, beans and barley (48 bars) (in G)
Reels:
Bear Dance (in G)
Chinese breakdown (in D)
Maggie in the Wood (in G)
Boil ‘em cabbage (in D)
Email me if you mean a pdf of the 'dots' or a midi file to play.
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