Contra Dance Calling: A Basic Text

by Tony Parkes

Here is the first comprehensive entry-level book on contra dance calling, newly revised and updated for the Internet age. Every aspect of the caller's work is dealt with clearly and thoroughly: music, timing and phrasing, voice technique, dance notation, teaching, programming, sound equipment, event management, and working with special groups. The book includes an in-depth discussion of the basic movements (such as do-si-do), a selection of easy-to-call dances, a complete glossary, and a Resources section listing dance titles, tunes, books, recordings, videos, software, organizations, retailers, dance events, and websites.

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I learned from, in conjunction with an amateur teacher. It is surely best to have a live teacher, but this book offers a very well considered rich on truly all aspects of calling, from a principled discussion what qualities make a good caller, the teaching work itself, to running a community dance and buying your own sound equipment.

I have never met Tony, sadly, but I am glad his teaching had been a part of mine. Fifteen years after my first read of the first edition, I read it again now to bone up for my first time calling in five years. It has been a good, reassuring and confidence building refresher, to be reminded how to teach, and to find that my ideals still align with Tony's.