THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE BY John & Carolyn Melstrom

Transcription

1 Oct/Nov, 2006 Volume XXV Number 5 THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE BY John & Carolyn Melstrom JOHN & CAROLYN MELSTROM The second half of the 2006 Trailblazer dance year has begun to heat up as the summer temperatures begin to cool down. Darryl Lipscomb treated us to a great dance in August. He showcased many of the fractional parts of calls, reminding us of the importance of knowing all the parts of a particular call. A lot of neurons were firing on overdrive as the dancers were recalling the necessary definitions of the calls. There were many positive comments from the dancers. We look forward to Darryl s next visit. In September, Rob French and CJ Smith came south to call for us. It is always a special occasion when they call, because we have the opportunity to dance to two different callers. They always call a strong dance that gives the dancers new variations of familiar calls. I think that I even discovered a new square dance rule, one that I m sure applies only to me: It seems that when I break down during a call, the next six calls are ones that I can do instinctively, but I am standing and just watching. I think that the rule show be reversed: Execute six calls flawlessly and then break down on the last call. Unfortunately, I don t write the rules. 2006/2007 Oct 6, 7, 8 Coming Trailblazer Dances Friday C-3A Saturday A-2 Sunday 1st Session C-1, 2nd Session C-2 See the last Page for Locations Bronc Wise When I was teaching, I found parallels between school and square dancing. In past Trailblazer articles I have tried to show some of these parallels. Styles of learning, student-teacher interaction, cooperative learning, teamwork things that occurred on a daily basis in teaching could be extended to square dancing and provide a new perspective. Of course, it worked both ways. Aspects of square dancing, from classes, to (Continued on page 3) Nov 3, 4, 5 Dec 1, 2, 3 Jan 5, 6, 7 Feb 2, 3, 4 Mar 4, 5, 6 Apr 6, 7, 8 Anne Uebelacker Vic Ceder Dave Wilson Bill Haynes Saundra Bryant Vic Ceder

2 Page 2 TRAILBLAZER Oct/Nov, 2006 Nov 17-19, 2006 Nov 24-26, 2006 Jan 18-20, 2007 Feb 23-25, 2007 March 16-18, 2007 SPECIAL EVENTS!! NOVEMBER SHUFFLE Hemet, CA Featuring: Romney Tannehill and Jerry Story A-2 & C-1 in two halls Golden Village Palms Resort, Hemet, CA PACE EXTRAVAGANZA Oxnard, CA Featuring: Lee Kopman, Rob French & CJ Smith, Ross Howell, Ben Rubright C-1 thru C-4 Info: (805) grever@dslextreme.com SOUTHERN ARIZONA DANCE FESTIVAL Tucson, AZ jimgeny@aol.com LAS VEGAS WINTER CLASSIC Las Vegas, Nevada Featuring: Lee Kopman, Steve Kopman C1 with * tips s.kopman@juno.com BAKERSFIELD FIESTA Bakersfield, CA Featuring: Bob Baier, Michael Kellogg, Larry Letson, Mike Sikorsky, Bronc Wise MS thru Challenge ELGlines@aol.com For more EVENTS check out our new website Http: // President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President 3rd Vice President Secretary Treasurer A Square D Rep President Emeritus TRAILBLAZER BOARD MEMBERS John & Carolyn Melstrom John & Barbara Marshall Connie Thousand & Roger Byelick Vacant John & Peggy Martin Robert & Vickie Morris Jeff Overbey Craig Shucker STATEMENT OF POLICY TRAILBLAZER is published by Trailblazers Square Dance Club for the purpose of providing a means for dissemination square dance information to the Advanced and Challenge Community. The Editor and Publisher reserve the right to exercise their discretion in the acceptance, rejection or editing of any proffered information, listings or advertising based upon their determination of the best interest of square dancing. The opinions which may be expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editor, Publisher or Trailblazers. Your views are encouraged. Any article herein may be reprinted with credits to TRAIL- BLAZER and the author. PUBLISHING DATA TRAILBLAZER is published six times a year: February, April, June, August, October and December. MAILING ADDRESS Address all correspondence to TRAILBLAZER st Street, Manhattan Beach, CA STAFF Editor/Publisher Mickey & Steve Klinger (310) , klingersrmk@earthlink.net Photographers Open Webmaster Karl Springer, Bi434@hotfootspin.com DANCE, CLASS & WORKSHOP LISTINGS No charge for listings. Regular dances will not be listed under special events. Call schedules will not be included in regular dance listings. However, if a schedule of callers is sent, we will include a listing on our website. ADVERTISING Full Page (8 x 10) = $30 Half Page (8 x 5) = $20 Qtr. Page (3.75 x 5) = $10 Bus. Card (3 x 2) = $ 6.50 Advertising must be camera ready copy, black ink on white paper. Full page originals cannot be reduced to a half-page. REMITTANCE Make all checks for advertising or listings payable to TRAIL- BLAZER. Payment must accompany all orders for advertisements and listings.

3 Page 3 Oct/Nov, 2006 TRAILBLAZER (Continued from page 1) [President s Message] dances, to board meetings, could provide fresh ideas to apply in the classroom. I found that articles became more relaxed if a few sayings and a dose of humor were included. I recently was perusing a large number of Quotable Quotes that I have collected and categorized over the years. Since I no longer have teaching to draw upon, I thought that a few pertinent quotes could be used to draw parallels to square dancing. So, here goes. When taking that class at a higher level, and wondering what ever possessed you to attempt anything so difficult, you might recall: Most of the things we think we can t do are the things we have never tried to do. You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. If all else fails, read the directions. It counts not where you are today, but where you will be tomorrow. Only when we continue to raise our goals, do we give ourselves room to grow. All things are difficult before they are easy. When in a square, hoping to make it through the tip without breaking down, you might remember: If you don t think cooperation is necessary, watch what happens to a wagon if one wheel comes off. If you re not failing now and again, it s a sign you re playing it safe. Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily. An error doesn t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. When you think of the many friends you have made through square dancing, don t forget: Friendship doubles our joys and divides our cares. If you want a friend, be a friend. It is well, when judging a friend, to remember that he is judging you with the same godlike and superior impartiality. It s impossible to give a hug without getting one back When you have finally finished the new list of calls, you might say: The more I learn, the less I know. Life has no obstacles only challenges. [Square dancing] is a journey, not a destination. The foundation of understanding is the willingness to listen. Men are born with two eyes and two ears, but with one tongue, in order that they should see and hear twice as much as they say. It s better to wear out than rust out. When speaking to others, don t forget the most important words: The six most important words are I admit I made a mistake. The five most important words are You did a good job. The four most important words are What is your opinion? The three most important words are If you please. The two most important words are Thank you. The least important word is I. And finally, when preparing this article for publication, I must remember my Writing Checklist: Don t use no double negatives. About them sentence fragments. Try to not ever split infinitives. Verbs has to agree with their antecedents. Between you and I, case is important. Correct spelling is essentail. When dangling, watch your participles. Use your apostrophe s correctly. Avoid clichés like the plague. Don t use commas, that aren t necessary. Proofread you writing. With these sayings to entertain you, I will say no more and heed the old adage A closed mouth gathers no feet. Carolyn and I urge you to put the following dates on your calendars: Bronc Wise joins us from October 6-8; November 3 5 brings Anne Uebelacker. Both dances promise to be very entertaining, and everybody is guaranteed a great time. See you on the dance floor.

4 Page 4 TRAILBLAZER Oct/Nov, 2006 DANCE REVIEW by Craig Shucker Darryl was the featured caller for the August Trailblazers weekend. At the Friday C-3A dance session, Darryl presented a good dance featuring interesting applications of concepts: (1) from parallel two-faced lines -- Exchange The Boxes; (2) from parallel two-faced lines -- Link Upper's Perk Up; (3) from facing twin diamonds -- Centers Start Single Cross & Wheel; (4) from a double pass thru -- Do Your Part, 3 By 1 Checkmate; (5) from a formation formed from parallel two-faced lines and having everyone Triple Box Circulate 2 -- Triple Box Reach Out; (6) from parallel ocean waves -- Once Removed Counter Rotate; (7) from a formation formed from outfacing lines and having the beaus Quarter Right -- Own The Trailers, Wind The Bobbin by Finish Perk Up; (8) from a tidal wave with girls on the end of each wave -- Own The Girls, Spin The Top by Swing Along; (9) from a mini-wave -- Initially Stable, Shazam; (10) from a tidal two-faced line -- Initially Cross Concentric, Cross & Wheel; (11) from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Initially Stable, Swing Thru; (12) from parallel ocean waves -- Initially Stable, Recycle; (13) from a tidal wave -- Initially Twice, Recycle; (14) from a tidal two-faced line -- Initially As Couples, Cross The K; (15) from parallel ocean waves -- Finally Stable, Spin The Top; (16) from a formation formed Darryl Lipscomb from right-hand interlocked diamonds and having the centers Tag The Lines -- Outpoint Triangles Reverse Single Rotate 1/4; (17) from a tidal eight chain thru -- Stable Tandem Touch 1/4. At the Saturday A-2 workshop session, Darryl taught a few diamond-related concepts from higher levels: Interlocked and Commonpoint. The difference between twin diamonds and interlocked diamonds is that those who Circulate to a very center position work to the farthest very center position rather than the nearest, and those who Circulate from a very center position work to the farthest point position ahead rather than the nearest. Darryl used the calls Interlocked Diamond Circulate, Switch To An Interlocked Diamond, and Interlocked Diamond Chain Thru. To explain commonpoint diamonds, I will use an example. We will start from right-hand twin diamonds and in the center wave have the centers Run. Now all the dancers Diamond Circulate. This results in a center wave and offset mini-waves. If the caller now specifies to work in commonpoint diamonds, those in the center line or wave are still the centers of a diamond, those in the mini-waves are sharing a point position, and there is a phantom point position on the other side of the centers from the commonpoint. All dancers follow the definition of the call and work using these four position. Darryl used Commonpoint Diamond Circulate and Commonpoint Diamond Chain Thru. Darryl also used quite a few higher-level calls successfully, but he cued them rather than using the names. These calls included 1/4 Mix, 3/4 Mix, Jay Right & Left Thru, Jay Reverse The Flutter, Jay Square Thru 3, All 8 Counter Rotate, Split Recycle, Pass & Roll Your Cross Neighbor, Chase Your Neighbor, Turn To A Line, Cross Trade & Wheel, Wheel The Ocean, Change Lanes, and several calls using the Checkpoint concept. Dancers also had some difficulty with Spin Chain the Gears But Turn The Stars A Full Turn and from a static square with Heads (or Sides) Box The Gnat and Square Thru 4. On the latter the dancers kept trying to work split for the Square Thru. At the A-2 dance session, Darryl used some of the calls and ideas from the workshop session, but also include a few more interesting calls: (1) from a double pass thru or a completed double pass thru -- Checkmate The Column; (2) from facing samesex couples -- Pass, Boys The Ocean, Girls The Sea; (3) from asymmetric parallel ocean waves (one right-handed, one lefthanded) -- Relay The Deucey; (4) from a formation formed from a right-hand 1/4 tag and having the ends of the center wave Reverse Single File Promenade 1/4 -- Those Facing Start A Finish Chain Reaction; (5) from twin or interlocked diamonds -- Flip The Interlocked Diamond (same as Flip The Diamond except that the very centers Interlocked Diamond Circulate). The Sunday C-1 session was primarily a dance session. Some of the more interesting calls Darryl used involved concepts: (1) from a formation formed from outfacing lines and having the centers Face In -- Shakedown; (2) from twin diamonds -- All 8 Counter Rotate; (3) from a left-hand 1/4 Tag -- Plenty; (4) from left-hand 1/4 Tag -- Linear Action; (5) from asymmetric parallel ocean waves (one right-handed, one left-handed) -- Relay The Top; (6) from a formation formed from outfacing lines and having the right-hand couple Single Wheel -- Siamese Recycle; (7) from a single-file column O -- O Peel & Trail; (8) from parallel two-faced lines -- Stretch Wheel Around; (9) from parallel righthand ocean waves -- Vertical Left 1/2 Tag; (10) from a tidal wave -- Concentric Hinge; (11) from a tidal wave -- Triple Wave Explode The Wave; (12) from a formation formed from parallel right-hand two-faced lines and having everyone 1/2 Press Ahead -- Triple Line Turn & Deal; (13) sequence: from a formation formed from parallel left-hand two-faced lines and having everyone 1/2 Press Ahead and then Triple Line Center Run -- Triple Wave Switch To A Diamond; Center Wave Swing Thru; Triple Diamond Cut The Diamond. The Sunday C-2 session was also primarily a dance session. Some of the more challenging calls included: (1) from parallel three-and-one lines with outfacing centers -- Ah So; (2) from a T-bone box formed from a same-hand box and having the trailers Quarter In -- Criss Cross Your Neighbor; (3) from parallel inverted lines with outfacing ends -- Split (Continued on page 5)

5 TRAILBLAZER Page 5 Oct/Nov, 2006 (Continued from page 4) [DANCE REVIEW] Counter Rotate; (4) from a 1/4 tag -- Scoot & Plenty, Interrupt Before The Split Circulates With A Reverse Single Rotate 1/4; (5) from a formation formed from parallel singlefile columns and having everyone 1/2 Circulate & Roll -- Grand Follow Thru; (6) from a formation formed from parallel single-file columns and having everyone 1/2 Circulate - - Center Six 2 By 1 Checkmate; (7) from magic columns -- Magic Transfer & Follow Thru; (8) from parallelogram facing lines -- Parallelogram Square The Bases; (9) from parallelogram facing lines -- Parallelogram Chisel Thru; (10) from a trade by -- Stretched Box Stack The Line; (11) from a formation formed from parallel right-hand single-file columns and having everyone Grand Extend and then having the infacers in the outermost pairs Run -- Center 6 Ramble; (12) from parallel ocean waves with girls as trailers -- 1/2 Crazy End Girls Ripple 1 & 1/2; (13) from a formation formed from right-hand twin diamonds and having the centers Lockit & Spread -- 1/2 Reverse Crazy Turn & Deal. Rob French and C J Smith Rob French and CJ Smith were the featured callers for the September Trailblazers weekend. At the Friday C-3A dance session, Rob & CJ presented an interesting mix of calls from unfamiliar positions and challenging applications of concepts: (1) from outfacing line parallelograms with the righthand couples in the center box -- All Right Loop 0; (2) from a facing hourglass -- Unwrap The Hourglass; (3) from parallel ocean waves -- Explode The Top, Turn The Star An Extra 1/4; (4) from a formation formed from parallel left-hand ocean waves and having everyone 1/2 Press Ahead and Quarter Right -- Triple Columns Right Roll To A Wave; (5) from a tidal column with all dancers facing in -- Tandem Single Recycle; (6) from parallel two-faced lines -- Once Removed Recoil; (7) from a formation formed from outfacing lines and having all the belles Face In -- Checkerbox Pass The Sea; (8) from a 1/4 line -- Front Jay Catch Lock 3; (9) from outfacing lines -- Initally Funny, Pass The Ocean; (10) from parallel ocean waves -- Initially Tandem, Recycle; (11) from a tidal wave -- Initially Twice, Recycle; (12) from a Siamese right-hand box with boys as tandem leads -- Own The Girls, Tag Bag To A Wave by Invert The Column 1/2; (13) from a formation formed from parallel right-hand two- faced lines and having the centers Counter Rotate -- Own The Centers, Expand The Column By Swing Thru; (14) from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Own The Leads, Swing Thru by Scatter Circulate; (15) from parallel righthand ocean waves -- Own The Leads, Switch The Wave by Scatter Circulate; (16) from a completed double pass thru -- Own The Leads, Left Roll To A Wave by Track 2; (17) from a formation formed from outfacing lines and having everyone Split Phantom Line Swap Around -- Split Phantom Column Mini Chase; (18) from parallel ocean waves -- Split Phantom Column Transfer The Column; (19) sequence: from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Split Phantom Wave Exchange The Boxes 1/4; Split Phantom Columns Latch On; Split Phantom Waves 2/3 Recycle. At the Saturday A-2 workshop session, Rob & CJ concentrated on calls that are normally called from facing dancers but can be called from other positions and on working with fractionalization of calls: (1) from a right-hand tidal wave -- Pass The Ocean/Sea; (2) from a right-hand tidal wave -- Load The Boat; (3) from a right-hand tidal wave -- Cross Trail Thru; (4) from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Pass & Roll; (5) from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Pass To The Center; (6) from parallel right-hand single-file columns with same sexes as partner -- Slide Thru; (7) from facing lines -- Half Sashay 1 & 1/2;(8) from facing lines -- Rollaway 1 & 1/2; (9) from facing lines -- Do The Last Part As Couples, Right & Left Thru; (10) from parallel single-file columns -- Do The First Part Twice, Coordinate; (11) from parallel ocean waves -- Do The First Part Twice, Motivate; (12) from parallel ocean waves -- Do The First Part Split, Motivate; (13) from parallel ocean waves -- Only The Ends Do The First Part, Motivate; (14) from parallel ocean waves -- Only The Centers Do The First Part, Scoot & Weave; (15) from an eight chain thru -- Do The First Part As Couples, Pass The Ocean/Sea; (16) from an eight chain thru -- Do The Third Part As Couples, Pass The Ocean/Sea; (17) from an eight chain thru -- Don't Do The First Part, Pass The Ocean/ Sea; (18) from right-hand point-to-point diamonds -- Do The Last Part As Couples, 1/4 Thru. Other calls used during this session included: (19) from parallel ocean waves -- Peel Off; (20) from parallel ocean waves -- Trail Off; (21) from facing couples -- Left Fan The Top; (22) from a left-hand 1/4 tag -- Ping Pong Circulate; (23) from a left-hand 1/4 tag -- Chain Reaction; (24) from a formation formed from a right-hand 3/4 tag and having the outside beaus Run -- Chain Reaction. At the A-2 dance session, Rob & CJ used some of the calls and ideas from the workshop session, but also included a few more interesting calls: (1) from parallel right-hand ocean waves -- Cross Trail Thru; (2) from parallel ocean waves -- Spin Chain & Exchange The Gears But Turn The Star 1/4; (3) from parallel ocean waves -- Spin Chain & Ex- (Continued on page 7)

6 TRAILBLAZER Page 6 Oct/Nov, 2006

7 TRAILBLAZER Page 7 Oct/Nov, 2006 (Continued from page 5) [DANCE REVIEW] change The Gears But Don't Turn The Star; (4) from parallel ocean waves -- 1/2 Inroll/Outroll Circulate; (5) from parallel left-hand ocean waves -- Centers Pass & Roll; (6) from twin diamonds -- Acey Deucey; (7) from same-hand point-to-point diamonds -- 6 By 2 Acey Deucey; (8) from a thar -- All 8 Switch The Wave; (9) from a thar -- All 8 Switch To A Diamond. The Sunday C-1 session was primarily a fast-paced dance session with a wide mix of calls and concepts. Some of the more challenging calls included: (1) from twin diamonds -- Regroup; (2) from a formation formed from right-hand single-file columns and having everyone Press Ahead and Quarter Right - - Triple Box Flutter Wheel; (3) from facing lines -- Square Thru But On The 3rd Hand Concentric Recycle; (4) from a same-hand interlocked diamonds -- Interlocked Inpoint/ Outpoint Triangles Circulate; (5) from a same-hand galaxy -- Interlocked Wave-/Tandem-Based Triangles Circulate; (6) from outfacing lines, parallel two-faced lines, or parallel single-file columns -- Concentric Hinge; (7) from a 1/4 tag -- Swing And Circle 1/2, Interrupt After Each 1/4 With Scoot & Plenty But Don't Turn The Stars (Do The Split Circulates). The Sunday C-2 session was similar in format to the C-1 session. Some of the more challenging calls included: (1) from a completed double pass thru O -- O Track 2; (2) from a completed double pass thru butterfly -- Butterfly Track 2; (3) from parallel single-file columns -- Funny Magic Column Circulate; (4) from a formation formed from a completed double pass thru and having the beaus/belles Face Out -- Funny Split Counter Rotate; (5) from an eight chain thru -- Pass The Axle, Interrupt Before The Final Part With A Split Trade Circulate 1 & 1/2; (6) from an H with the centers in a two-faced line and all the other dancers facing in -- 3 by 1 Triangle Funny Circulate 2; (7) sequence: from a single-file column butterfly -- Butterfly 3 By 1 Transfer; Butterfly Concentric Walk & Dodge. Candid Quotes (Quotes from the August Trailblazers weekend) Darryl Lipscomb: "Please remember, I'm only laughing with you." Darryl Lipscomb (referring to John Melstorm): "Here's some words of wisdom." From the floor: "Not from John!" [note: John suggested that this quote be included.] (Quotes from the September Trailblazers weekend) Rob French: "Are you having fun?" From the floor: "Yes!" Rob French: "What am I doing wrong?" Rob French: "The centers in the middle Swing Thru." [Can you say "redundancy"?"] Dancer on the floor: "You're in my square, right?" Rob and CJ also used quite a few calls using Triple Lines, Offset Lines and Parallelograms. The only ones I was able to recall were: (8) from offset outfacing lines -- Offset Lines Wheel & Spread; (9) from a parallelogram double pass thru -- Parallelogram Grand Chain 8. Tommy says: Check out our new website at Http: //

8 * * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, ALL FRIDAY NIGHT C-3A DANCES WILL BE HELD AT Temple City Women s Club 9704 Woodruff Avenue (626) st Street Manhattan Beach, CA ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED FORWARDING AND POSTAGE GUARANTEED