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Calling a square dance for a jillion high school kids

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Karen M.

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Aug 19, 2004, 8:03:19 PM8/19/04
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Hi all--
I recently had this experience. Learned a lot. Thought I'd share.

First off, this was not Interlochen (a summer band camp for
orchestral-level players). It was a summer camp for a public school
band based in the Detroit area. Their website lists lots of
accomplishments: 275 kids (that is a huge band), Bowl game parades,
Carnegie Hall, lots of awards. But still, they are teens, and they
weren't doing stage demeanor at the dance.

--Despite multiple conversations with the band parent lady who set
this up, we merely exchanged platitudes about how much they were
looking forward to the event, and could I change my schedule (the date
and time moved around). I understood the venue to be a gym, but didn't
think to ask what it was like. Turned out to have a super-high
ceiling, open-sided walls (chicken wire, a cage that kept the
basketballs in and mosquitoes wherever they wanted to be), and lots of
cinder block hard surfaces. Add 275 exuberant teenagers (on endorphins
and sugar) and the dB levels were, um, LOUD.
The sound did funny things, bounding around and reverberating. I
could have used my entire PA, and if I'd known what this open-air
pavillion was like, I would have brought it. As it was, the center set
kids could hear the music and me fine, but their compatriots further
down the hall (right under the peaked roof) could only hear themselves
screaming, so that's mostly what they did.
Earplugs are going into my dance go-bag ASAP.

--The band mom shared my mobile number with several other parents.
Once I arrived, I had to go find the person who was supposed to be
watching for me but blinked when I drove up. We headed over to the
pavillion, but no one else was notified that I had in fact arrived. So
during set-up my phone rang, and rang, and rang...but as this was a
rural area with lousy service, there was no point in answering the
calls.
I've never before had more than a couple "bosses," all wanting to
"just make sure" of events that are already a Done Deal. Will need to
think about this further so as to deal with it in the future.

--Teaching a dance to a loud & lively group is an adventure. I went
through every trick in the book: speaking more softly so they'd have
to listen harder. (I quietly said, "the reason I am here...is to
introduce you...to some traditional...country...dancing," and they all
cheered as though I'd just scored a touchdown.) Also tried doing the
upraised arm thing (from Scouts), and sitting down and waiting
patiently.
The drum major got them quiet several times, blowing her whistle
and asking them to listen and be courteous "for two minutes." They
lasted maybe 15 seconds. Someone else put them at "attention," which
was completely quiet, but before I could use the silence they were
told "at ease," and they all started talking or yelling again.
What finally worked: we had struggled through a lengthy
walk-through of the Heel & Toe polka (**), I did a quick talk-through
of the figures, and hit PLAY. They learned fast (being accustomed to
moving to phrases of music), and they enjoyed it. As soon as the music
ended several of them yelled to do it again.
Next time I do a dance for this or a similar group, I'll have an
Acme Thunderer(r)(tm) at the ready. And the band parents will be
interspersed among the group instead of sitting in the bleachers.

--Where do kids learn to dance these days, the Playboy Channel? For an
introduction I put on the Macarena, and the exuburant young lady who
initiated the dancing put on quite a show. She may well have learned
this dance as a Girl Scout at camp, but it's a good thing the venue
did not have any brass poles. The Hokey Pokey was a sight as well.
"That's what [bump] it's all [grind] about!" [thrust] They performed
this in small non-co-ed groups of friends.
And the clothing...let's just say that if I had tried to walk out
of the house dressed like that when I was in high school, I would have
been hauled back in to put some clothes on over my underwear.

--The Real Reason for having square dancing as the Tuesday night
activity gradually became known to me. (My band mom contact never told
me any of this.)
During the first dance, one of the directors sidled over and
requested that I have the kids spread out and take up more space. Huh.
No one seemed to be having personal space invasions, and for all those
arm gestures you pretty well have to be arm's length away from
everyone else. I put on YMCA and the kids leapt around to it, using up
more of the floor.
Towards the end, the big boss director got them all seated and
silent. (Man is a genius.) He mentioned "no boyfriend-girlfriend
stuff" and told them that he didn't want them touching each other.
And when I was loading out, one of the counselor kids talked about
last year. "People were on the floor," and from his description they
weren't "gatoring."
If I had known about this concern beforehand, I'd have done more
called dances and fewer play-party jump-around numbers.

--275 high school kids is a very large group. For next time I'll
suggest that we have two simultaneous activities, and switch after an
hour.
The band parents were selling the kids candy, cookies, and pop just
before the dance; I teased my band mom about the resultant behavior.
Seriously, they were on sugar, and that couldn't have helped their
attention spans. (Ritalin brownies, anyone?)
Other huge groups who've made a dance with me a recurring event
show a learning curve. By the second year they're a lot better at
listening, following directions, and getting some dancing done
(instead of having to be silenced again and again). I have high hopes
for this gang.
Several of them thanked me for my efforts, and said that they'd had
fun.

--Despite check lists and equipment staging, I always manage to forget
something. Fortunately I always load the important stuff first, so
what's left behind is reasonably expendable. For this summer camp
crowd, it really didn't matter that my "I'm the caller" denim dress
remained at home.
A lot of the kids wore T-shirts advertising one or another of
Michigan's institutions of higher education. If they have me back, I
will wear my tasteful and stylish alumni band shirt. And for next time
I'll dub together a couple of recognizable college fight songs. (Both
the local Big Ten ones are in a 64-count bouncey march format. They'll
fit right in with, say, Petronella or Jamie Allen.)

--Since this took place near a state recreation area, I got to
decompress at a beautiful dark-sky campsite.

HTH
--Karen M.

Karen M.

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Aug 20, 2004, 4:42:44 PM8/20/04
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I wrote
...
> Heel & Toe polka (**)

** Prompts follow. (You can see plenty of opportunities for Bad Kids
to be horsing around and doing extra "stuff.")

On tape I use Pincushion Polka. Live, the band usually plays Jenny
Lind.


Circle mixer. Partners are facing each other in and out (sideways to
"around the ring")


A1 In CCW direction, place foot on its heel, then toe, heel, toe.
Slide four steps that direction.

Reverse all that.

B1 Clap right hands 3x, then left, then both, then *own* knees.

Link right elbows, turn once around, disengage and ooze to the left
to a new partner.

--Karen M.

Walter Page

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Aug 23, 2004, 1:29:04 PM8/23/04
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Listen not, my daughter, to the instruction
of one so quick to instruct;
Multiplying word upon word, line upon line,
precept upon precept: heeding not her own counsel.

She shall jest, yet they shall not laugh;
For with abuse doth she humour them.

Who once sat in silence among friends,
yet is not friendly; and with stealth
hideth the music of the strong.

Did not the sages verily say,
yea, that in brevity is plenitude;
And if thy deeds offend,
of thee an apology is requited?


kmss...@earthlink.net (Karen M.) wrote in message news:<4bfcf85b.04081...@posting.google.com>...

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