50p No. 88 Winter 2008/2009 - Devon Folk

Re calling
Aillen Wills looks back at her early days as a
caller, and asks how new callers can best be
helped to develop their skills
The Devon Folk Committee is hoping to organise
a day course for Callers if there is enough support
for one. In order to strike a happy medium, we
need to know what type of Callers’ Course would
be most popular - true beginners wishing to start
and to learn the basics - a desire perhaps to call
within one’s own dance club - how to arrange a
good mixed programme - maybe understand the
rhythms, numbers of bars, etc - or a wish to call at
public dances. We must remember, however, that
we cannot run before we can walk !
I personally feel, from those people who have
spoken to me, that a general course for new callers
and for those with limited knowledge is the way
to start. The Devon Folk Committee, however,
would like to hear the wishes of everybody with
an interest in this area.
Thinking of Callers’ Courses brings me to
NOSTALGIA ! When I took an interest in calling
in my late teens, the word as such had not arrived.
“Calling” came in with the square dance boom in
the 1960’s. We went to day, residential weekend
or week long courses for “Teachers and Leaders”.
If we took a public dance we were “M.C.s”
Amplication had mostly not arrived either. Things
were different then ! The English Folk Dance &
Song Society was a very prominent organisation
with paid full time members of staff. There were
Area Organisers and at least one member of staff
in most counties. In the South West our organiser
was based in Exeter, and Devon for the most part
had two or three paid members of staff. They set
up clubs run by local organisations, e.g. Women’s
Institutes. If you hoped to do some teaching in
these clubs you had to be “approved” by the
Society. This meant attending several courses,
showing that you could teach the dance to a good
standard as well as, as we say now, calling the
gures. Shapes and rhythms were an important
factor. On these courses we were picked to pieces
by staff as well as our peers ! Finally we were let
loose under some supervision. If you wanted to
take classes for the Local Authority it was even
7
more stringent since the Society was grant aided
by them. I was sent rst to youth clubs - not such a
bad option as it might be these days ! I might add
that the same rigmarole went on with musicians,
hence we had nothing like the number of bands
and callers we now have.
Back to today. Don’t be put off ! Anyone who has
a desire to call or play can do so. The Society is
more or less just a name now in our area. There
will be no public criticism, only helpful advice,
and no formal approval. As condence grows it
will get easier and easier. Come on, have a go
if you have an urge to do so. Just let a member
of the Devon Folk Committee (details, page 19)
know if you are interested, and what type of
Callers’ Course would appeal to you most, and
we will do our best to cover it. Alternatively tell
me directly when you see me or give me a ring on
01392 258719.
Aileen Wills