From: SEFAN [admin_at_sefan_dot_org_dot_uk]
Sent: 24 March 2008 14:56
Subject: SEFAN 2008-03-24_02 Re: Square Dance Caller Training


Begin forwarded message:
From: RPMsquaredancing_at_aol_dot_com
Date: 6 March 2008 17:58:40 GMT
Subject: Square Dance Caller Training

I am on a joint committee of square dancers and callers who are promoting caller training in the UK. We would like to hear from experienced teachers of English (or possibly Scottish or Welsh) country dancing who would like to cross-train as callers. A good knowledge of the Playford repertoire would be helpful. We can provide caller schools and all the basic training in square dancing that you need to teach at Mainstream level, and will provide a mentor if required. We are especially short of women in this line of work but everyone is welcome.
 
If interested, please e-mail Zoe at RPMsquaredancing_at_aol_dot_com or call me on 0115-928 2896.
 

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Begin forwarded message:
From: RPMsquaredancing_at_aol_dot_com
Date: 8 March 2008 12:46:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Square Dance Caller Training

Dear Penny,
 
There are two sets of costs involved: weekly fees for dance classes, which usually run to £2-£3 including refreshments and any charges that are made for Caller Schools. The last major caller school in the UK was funded by Grand Square Incorporated (www.grandsquareinc.com), a Chartered foundation based in the USA, which provided the whole course for 40 students free of charge. I'm not sure we can manage to arrange this level of funding again but I am looking out for opportunities to provide at least some form of subsidy for students (plese let me know of any possible sources of funding).
 
The Caller Schools are usually five days long and run on a residential basis but some flexibility is possible, for example spreading the course out over 3 weekends or over 5 or 6 individual days. We are also looking into the possibility running accelerated Mainstream courses for experienced teachers of English country dancing since anyone who is used to teaching Playford dances will automatically know about 1/3 of the Mainstream syllabus anyway (the syllabus can be found on www.callerlab.org under Dance Programs). Certainly the first 21 items on the syllabus will be familiar but I think some of the others further down the list will also be).
 
According to our latest Directory, we have 2 clubs in Beds., 4 in Berks., 10 in Bucks. (and a new one just set up by Susie Kelly in Milton Keynes, which she has named Shape Changers), 7 in Essex, 6 in Herts., 1 in Kent, 5 in London and 5 in Midd'x. One of the clubs in Herts, Tudor Squares (Hemel) runs five classes, four of square dancing and one of round dancing. Many of the others, although listed as square dance clubs, also teach round dancing.
 
Unfortunately, we only have one Callerlab-accredited tutor in the UK, Paul Bristow. The good news is that he lives in Ruislip and runs several clubs in Midd'x and Bucks. His club Rockin' 8s is to be relaunched later this year as a beginners' club so as to attract some new dancers. The club meets in New Denham. Please contact him if you have any questions about the actual training programme: BRISTOWPAUL5_at_aol_dot_com. He is very much open to new ideas and new ways of teaching so I am sure he'd like to hear from you.
 
Best wishes,
 
Zoe Bremer
Tel. 0115-928 2896
 
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Penny Allen  -    General Manager
Anthony John Allen - Chair of the board


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