Flagship Classes
from The Dugan Murphy, Contra Dance Caller School of Contra Dance Calling & Joy Emanation
Dugan teaches informative, well-designed, and experience-based playshops that teach contra dance calling and hosting skills.
Calling 101
Calling 101 is a 5-hour experience-based class that trains new callers in the basics. Topics covered include how dances are structured, how choreography fits with the music, how to teach dances, how to prompt, and best practices in calling. Ample time is provided for practice and feedback with live dancers. Limit of nine participants.
Read the article Dugan wrote for the Summer 2017 edition of the CDSS News about this class format, including more details about how Calling 101 works and how he mentors students after the class is over.
Calling 102
Calling 102 is a 5-hour experience-based class that trains emerging callers in more advanced topics, focusing on choreography choice. Participants assess different contra choreography for complexity, variables of variety, flow, and acceptability by modern contra dancers; practice putting together a planned program of dances for an event; learn methods for assessing dancers' needs and their ability to dance more or less complex choreography; and discuss working with musicians to achieve desired musical moods.
This playshop is designed for callers who have called several contra dance events. Content is focused on upskilling in calling contra dance evenings, rather than on calling family dances, community dances, or other special format events.
Themed Dance Programs
If you're hiring Dugan for a dance weekend or special event, he can create a themed program for you.