The following information is published with ROUNDALAB's permission from the ROUNDALAB Reference Manual compiled by Richard & Jo Ann Lawson, 1987.

The Not So Silent Partner

George & Joyce Kammerer
McHenry, Illinois

How many times have you read articles telling how the non-teaching partner of a round dance team should act? Smile, make pleasant conversation with dancers, make dancers feel at ease, take care of the door at lessons. That's fine, but what's the matter with both partners teaching and sharing the cueing job? Does there always have to be a "silent partner?"

We've found that in making up our team we are just what the word implies. We both teach and we both cue, and it works out well for us. When we go to teach lessons we each have our own jobs to do. George sets up his equipment: speakers, turntable, records and remote mike; Joyce sets up her equipment: coffee put, tea and cookies.

Time for dancing comes and we share in the cueing. No set patter, we just both cue the dances we want from our program, and it usually works out about half and half. When it comes to teaching time, we have, of course, decided previously who will do that. Here we try to take turns, teaching a new dance about every two weeks or so, depending on the class level. At this point, we do try to adhere to the idea that the non-teaching partner is the silent partner, unless there is a need to clarify a part for someone. There is nothing worse than having both leaders trying to teach at once— very confusing.

As square dances where we cue, there is always a two by two program and there we also share in the cueing, each of us dong one dance every set. The last dance of the evening we generally share the mike, just as the square dance callers do. If they can do it, why can't round dance leaders?

Well, we do all this sharing and that's fine, but the real advantage of both learning everything is that we are both able to go out on our own and do a full evening by ourselves when necessary, be it at our round dance club, lessons or a square dance. No last minute calls saying the "teaching" or "cueing" partner is sick or working late. The "Not-so-silent partner" just packs up the equipment and goes to the job and says, "Here I am to carry on." More round dance leaders could do this if they wished, and be a real team, instead of one with a "silent partner."

Square Dance April, 1983