Stephen’s Square Dance Blog

Happy Birthday to me!

On Sunday, Martha and I went to Tucson to call for Rick Gittelman while he was attending to family matters. It was my birthday (number 40 – but I read at a 41 year old level and my dad is very proud) but I couldn’t imagine anything I’d like to do more than call a dance or two.

We got a good start… probably 1:00 in the afternoon. Traffic was fine to start, but then consruction near Tucson took its toll. We rolled in with only 20 minutes to spare. I really don’t like being any later than 30 minutes to a dance if I can help it.

BTW, why can’t people do the speed limit or stop at stop signs these days? It is so hard to do the posted limit? I can see a few miles an hour over, but 10-20? Holy cow.

Anyway, we had not quite two squares of angels and dancers for lessons for the Rick-A-Shays. (It’s an Advanced club.) So, a few of them went to grab a bite to eat. I reviewed everything that Rick had taught to date. One exception was Cross-Over Circulate. I missed it on my review sheet. Rats. Everyone did okay with the review. One couple was struggling with a couple of circulates. That always make me nervous, however, some days it is harder than others to get one’s head in the game. It happens.

I then taught Chain Reaction, Mix, Right/Left Roll to a Wave.

The Chain Reaction teach was pretty much textbook. I didn’t mix and match the outside couple, but I did have everyone work the wave in the Quarter Tag formation. The outside couple has it easy as it is. I like to work calls to develop a muscle memory first, then start to expand the call.

As for Mix, I was calling it directionally up to that point the entire dance. So, all I had to do was put a name to it.

Right/Left Roll to a wave is also pretty easy as teaches go, so I just worked it into the dance.

After lessons, I called a few tips for the angels. (It is their regular club time.) I have a lot of written material so I don’t have to sight to strangers. Also, since I don’t call the program every week, it is hard to keep some of the “good stuff” in my brain. I had to review a couple of calls. Scoot Chain Thru and Diamond Chain Thru were causing problems. They’re just different enough to cause problems while sounding alike.

Scoot Chain Thru has an extend at the end of it where Diamond Chain Thru has a Cast-Off 3/4. Poor naming, I think.

After the Advanced portion, we had a little break (from 6-7) then the MS dance started. (The Swingin’ Singles.)  A small turnout. One square with some extras. A couple folks there were interested in being callers so we chatted a bit about being in the business.

My advice to any new caller is to be the best dancer on the floor BEFORE you start working the microphone. This was advice given to me when I started and it has served me well.  The second bit that I offer is to not expect to teach as you were taught. Learn and study the definitions so that you really understand them. Then, explaining them becomes easy.

However, I digress… the dance was fun. I tried to keep the tips on the short side so as to not tire anyone out. I think if I got a grade in this, I’d have earned an B. I needed to work on a few things to get them straightened out, but all things considered, we had a great time.

This week it will be the Desert Mainstreamers on Wednesday followed with a trip to Payson on Saturday.

Until next time, keep dancing.

Last night, Martha and I got badges for the club. Woo hoo! Trouble is, they spelled my name wrong. It’s not a big deal as people do it all the time. In writing, my name is always spelled out Stephen. I’ve never liked the look of Steve Cole. I don’t know why. (I wish I knew why nearly everyone wants to shorten people’s names.)  The story ends well as the badge maker is going to make me a new one at no charge.

We had some new people visit us last night. That is great. One second time visitor and one brand new person. (I think he may be taking lessons with another area club and just wants some extra floor time. We’re happy to help.)

At the dance, I worked a litle more of what I worked on last week (Square Thru and Zoom) and added Dixie Style.  Next week, I’ve got to work Cast Off 3/4 in mini-waves. I tried calling it a number of times and ended up with either a hinge or a trade. Practice, practice, practice.

So, next week, I’m going to work on Cast Off 3/4 from RH Ocean Waves, and Square Thru N hands where people are not facing directly when completed.

Over the weekend I worked on making a web page for the Mainstreamers. It is a rough draft based on a template on my Mac.

http://www.isquaredance.com/mainstreamers

I also created an email address that sends mail to the club president, one of the officers, and me…

mainstreamers@isquaredance.com

Until next time, keep dancing!

It’s been a busy day. We got back from Show Low. A long, but fun trip. Then, I got a call from Rick Gittelman in Tucson. His mom’s been sick and he has to head back to Pennsylvania to see her, so I’m going to fill in for him next Sunday. (It’s my birthday, but I really can’t think of anything that I’d rather be doing other than calling a dance or two.) It will actually be three dances. One Advanced class, on Advanced dance, and a Mainstream dance. It will make for a long drive home, but again, calling is something I so very much enjoy.

This evening I went over to Phoenix to call for the DVS. You can tell that the end of summer is here and people are out and about doing whatever they do to prepare for fall. We had 7 people and then, low and behold, Darren Gallina stopped in to pick up some fliers he’s putting together for a cruise, so we had 8. I squeezed 3 tips in before the evening was done. All Plus. Nothing too fancy, just some good dancing with friends. More dances should be this way.

I’m going to have to make arrangement to get the keys back to the club during the week as I’ll be in Tucson next Sunday. Happy Birthday to me!!!

Until next time, keep dancing!

Saturday was a busy day. Martha and I headed to Show Low to call a dance. The hall is down the road in Linden, but Show Low is the famous neighbor.

It took us three long hours to get there and we had some troubles finding the hall. However, we made it in the nick of time. (Though we did have a chance to grab a quick bite to eat. Whew.) The drive was beautiful and we went through Globe and the Salt River Canyon. Not as glorious as the Grand Canyon, but still very impressive. A geologists dream, I suspect.

The dance went from 7-9:00 and was mostly Mainstream with a couple of Plus tips squeezed in. I tried to work on some of my big numbers and all sorts of music for the hoedowns. I got a number of compliments.

The Plus was interesting as they had six couples dancing. I had them square up as a six couple square and we had som fun with it. I Iearned that a couple of singing call figures that I know with a Track 2 work out well. However, Load the Boat doesn’t fare as well. I’m going to see what I have to do to make Load the Boat function.

There were no rounds, but I’ll take some cue sheets next time. They also took up a collection for a “gas” fund for me. That was very nice of them.

Martha and I stayed with one of the members and we are very appreciative of their hospitality. I really did not want to make a 3 hour drive home through the Salt River Canyon. On the way to our host’s home, I did get pulled over by Show Low’s finest. I was doing 44 in a 35 zone. I gave him my license, registration, and proof of insurance, and feared the worst. However, fortune was smiling upon me as it appeared to be a busy night for the police. He gave my paperwork back and told me to slow down. Whew.

It was an adventure.

Until next time, keep dancing!

Some random stuff today.

I was talking to some co-workers today and my square dance calling career came up. One of them couldn’t stop laughing, though I’m not sure why she found it funny. Another one thought it was the coolest thing ever. So, we’ll see.

I got a call from a club in Portland. They wanted to make arrangements for my dance in January. They’re going to help out with airfare too, so that was nice. They asked me to pencil in the date for 2010 too. Man, it feels good to be wanted. The 2010 date falls on New Year’s Day, so I suggested that they consider a New Year’s Eve dance. They’ve got time to think about it and plan.

I can’t believe I’m going to be 40 in just over a week. Seems like it was just a year ago that I turned 39.

I talked to my friend Rick Gittelman in Tuscon tonight. His mom back in Philadelaphia isn’t doing to well. That’s a bummer. So, I told him if he has to fly out and needs someone to cover a dance or two, I’d help him out. It is a trek (probably 90 minutes) to get there, but that’s what friends are for.

That’s my random ramble for today.

Until next time, keep dancing!

Thursday saw the return of both Martha and me to the Valley Singles in Mesa. It is a Plus club, so I went ready with some Plus material but also with an eye to review a Mainstream movement or two. My experience the night before with Square Thru when it didn’t end with people facing directly was an eye opener, so I wanted to see what other trouble I could find.

We had three squares at the beginning of the evening, four squares in the middle, and three at the end. I figure a sign of success these days is that you end like you start. It is when people leave in droves that you have to be worried. (Though, sometimes people just leave because they have early bed times. Bummer.)

Since I saw it on Wednesday night, I was ready for a problem with Square Thru. The problem was there again, but I didn’t belabor the issue. I just made sure to call it a couple times to make people more comfortable and I put it in a singing call. At the Desert Mainstreamers, we had an issue with Zoom when people were looking away from the center of the square. So, while I was ready to work this into my choreo, I had a request to review Crossfire.

I don’t believe in the Crossfire controversy. If you don’t know what this is, you can email me and I’ll explain. The short version is that some believe that Crossfire should always end in some form of columns. I took some time to review, I discovered one of my own shortcomings. On the fly, I have a hard time setting up Right Handed 1/2 Two Faced Lines. (In caller parlance, this is code for sashayed couples.)  With my checkers (and lots of time) I’ve got no troubles, but I need to work up a few modules to that do some conversions in and out of these formations. The same is true for Left-Handed 0 and 1/2 Two-Faced Lines.

Still, we had a good turnout and I did a number of my “A” program songs. These are songs that are among my best and favorite. (Not with material from the Advanced program.)

Saturday, I’m headed to Show Low (Linden, actually) to call for the Rim Rompers. I’ll repeat some of my “hits” there. Martha and I are looking forward to it.

Until next time, keep dancing!

We had our usual suspects with one new person. Only one square, but it was a fun one. Truth be told, we had one square plus (I think) 4 people.

It was a good night, and I’d planned on working Cross Run but they had other plans for me. By other plans, it turns out that I found another call that they were struggling with and chose to work that one instead. Our emphasis call for the night was Zoom. I worked it from a Double Pass Through formation as well as a Completed Double Pass Thru.

I had the just the Boys Zoom and just the Girls Zoom. I had everyone Zoom. The confusion, I think, came from a lack of a thorough understanding of leaders and trailers. (I could be wrong.) It is one of those calls that I probably don’ use enough, so I’m going to add it into my choreography as a focus.

Next week I’m going to continue with Zoom and work both Cloverleaf and Square Thru. Square Thru caused some problems when the dancers didn’t end facing someone. For example, from a Double Pass Thru, Square Thru 4 results in the dancers in the center facing away from the center. The dancers wanted to stop when they saw someone and didn’t finish the call. It gives me more things to work on here in sunny Arizona.

I also got word that the club voted to have me teach lessons and be their regular caller. So, I imagine they’re getting into the swing of things. My big fear is that they’re going through the motions of the club hierarchy because that’s what they think they’re supposed to do. I’ve found that most people just want to dance and go home. (Or, go out to eat afterwards.) I’ve seen clubs that have more committees then they have members. That isn’t ever good.

Until next time, keep dancing!

On a personal note… there are 14 more shopping days until my 40th birthday!

Tonight, Martha and I headed over to Phoenix to call for the Desert Valley Squares. This is one of my favorite groups because of the friends we’ve made there. Their regular caller, Seth Levine, is out of town and Linda Harry, who does a lot of Advanced and Challenge calling doesn’t really enjoy the Basic, Mainsream, and Plus programs.

Seth told me it would be a mostly Plus night with the possiblity of a sole Mainsream dancer. He was close. It was a Plus floor with one brand new dancer visiting. So, I called some Plus with two beginner tips. It worked out pretty good. I normally don’t enjoy split tips, but (as I’ve said recently on the sd-callers mailing list) it is important to know your audience.

I used a mix of new and traditional music all evening and tried to keep the choreography engaging but danceable. I had a conversation this week with Callerlab’s chair of the Definitions Committee. My suggestion to him about next year’s Callerlab convention was to have the definitions session be related, in part, to knowning your limits.

This week will be busy. I’m calling on Wednesday for the Desert Mainstreamers, on Thursday for the Valley Singles, on Saturday (I think) in Payson, and Sunday I’ll be back in Phoenix for the Desert Valley Squares. Busy, busy, busy.

Until next time, keep dancing!

I got a strange call today. (Strange as in different, not bad.) There is a group in Florence that wants to start a new club in their RV park. Initially, I said yes as the person I spoke with said it was near Apache Junction. When I got home, I looked. 

Florence is nearly 60 miles away. I don’t mind traveling, but that’s just too far. I’ll but a visiting caller, but weekly? That’s just too far. As I understand it, they want to get something started before the snowbirds come south for the winter. Their goal is to be able to keep their residents active in their own park and give them something to do that is local.

We did talk salary, and I said that I’d be willing to work with them. The response I got was that senior/retirees are rather stingy. Even if I were able to take the job, I don’t know that it would have covered my costs. I’m charitable, but I am not a charity.

I was asked if I knew anyone that might be able to help, but I’m just too new in the area.

This speaks to an issue that is going to be the bane of the square dance activity. Soon we’re not going to have enough callers to go around. As more and more callers retire, we’re not going to be able to provide “coverage” in the more remote areas. Especially if clubs/groups are going to pay “as little as possible.”

So, I called back tonight and said that I couldn’t do it as it was just too far. I’m going to ask around to see if I can find someone to help them, but I doubt that I’ll be able to help very much.

Until next time, keep dancing.

The dance was a non-starter due to Hurricaine Palin.  That is, I think most everyone stayed home to watch the Republican nominee for Vice President speak. (As for me, I knew we’d hear it for months afterwards, so I wasn’t worried about missing it.

We had 8 men and 2 women. (Not including Martha.) I was planning on working some left handed material and some Cross Runs. Oh well. Next time.

We’re still not sure if we’ll be getting lessons off the ground. It might behoove us to wait until January. Start a new class with people that might have dropped out over the holidays. I’d like to get my hands on old rosters of people that didn’t make it through lessons in years past or people that graduated and didn’t come back. I’d do my best to make them feel welcome.

I’ve been reading about the “good old days” in some of the note services and “Sets In Order” books. It seems that the dance leaders back in the 1950s used a lot of written materials. It makes a lot of sense to me. While the routines were much simpler then, there was a method to their madness.

Square dance calling is very much like public speaking. Once I heard someone speak “off the cuff” at a funeral. She must have said “in conclusion” four times before she was done. I never thought she would finish. She rambled on about various things. Some were related, others not. She would have been great had she known what she wanted to say in advance. Square dance callers are the same way.

Have you ever been to a dance where the material was all over the map and it had no focus?

Those are the worst.

It is best to build your material. Jerry Story refers to it as “calling with a purpose.” He’s right. You don’t have to call every call on a program every night. You just have to choose wisely and well.

Until next time, keep dancing!