BASIC EASY SIGHT RESOLUTION 2 VERY BASIC METHODS

BASIC EASY SIGHT RESOLUTION 2 VERY BASIC METHODS 5 EASY STEPS 1 5 2 5 Easy Steps 100% RELIABLE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU 4 3 Mel Wilkerson Tumut NSW, Australia wilkerso@bigpond. net. au

SIGHT RESOLUTION AS A TOOL Sight resolution is not – Sight Calling Two Purposes 1. Eliminates new caller “self imposed stress” 2. Opens up your mind to the “real aspects of being a caller” WARNING !!! • Sight resolution can be a crutch against learning to call • Sight resolution must not replace Calling Fundamentals GOOD CALLING STARTS WITH A GOOD FOUNDATION FIRST

SIGHT RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES The two simplest sight resolution methods 1. Friends and enemies (a. k. a – the line or 2 face line method) 2. Center Box (aka the box or DPT or Ferris Wheel method) Both methods rely on: pairing up the key couple, putting dancers where you want them, and then seeing if the corner lady is with her partner. The basic process is the same for both techniques DO NOT RUSH OR SHORTCUT

SIGHT RESOLUTION – THE SPARE TYRE The choice of method is yours alone • Make sure you know it • Confirm it works and practice it • Keep it handy • Hope you never have to use it. WHY IS SIGHT RESOLUTION A SPARE TYRE? (Or tire for our North American friends)

ANALOGY TIME Caller 3 2 4 1 EVERY VEHICLE HAS A SPARE TIRE Just in case something goes wrong

SIGHT RESOLUTION IS THE CALLER’S SPARE TYRE Spare Tyre • Check it to make sure it works and put it away • Check it out every now and then to make sure it is still good • When you get a flat, use it to get back on the road Resolution Technique • Check it to make sure it works • Check it out every now and then to make sure you still know it • If calling goes to plan, you hope you never have to use it

CHOOSE THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU Once you know one from the basic foundation: 1. 90% of new caller stress disappears 2. You never have to worry about resolving pressure 3. Build your repertoire with confidence 4. Focus on more important things like – “CALLING” You will always have it to fall back on

THOUGHTS FROM THE MASTERS “I don't believe a "new caller" has any business worrying about how to Sight Resolve. From my years of experience (teaching new callers) they have plenty to learn about "How to Move Dancers. “ – 2002 • • • Lots to learn first More important things than “sight resolution” Foundation skills first. Sight resolution does not make a sight caller Once you have 1 technique – you can better focus on foundatio Sight resolution is a Pretty Tool With only one use

Foundation first: STEP BY STEP PROCESS • You must know how to move dancers where you want them • You must understand basic formation management • One method, done well, lays the foundation for building • With a technique and your tools you can concentrate on your art Paint by Numbers basics Tools and a technique Become the Artist A good foundation can support any house

SIGHT RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES Friends and enemies Method Centre Box Method

Looking at it the wrong way How many places can 8 dancers be in a square? • 31 x 31 Grid or 961 places per each dancer • Multiply: 961 X 960 X 959 X 958 X 957 X 956 X 955 X 954 = (a little over) 706, 480, 718, 267, 517, 195, 340, 800 combinations of places to stand for 8 dancers Why do we put this kind of stress on New Callers? – Lets simplify it. • Basic traffic pattern Grid only 2 X 4 and no half spots & 4 walls only • 8 X 7 X 6 X 5 X 4 X 3 X 2 X 1 = 40320 dancer positions • multiplied by the possible facing directions for each dancer • 4 X 4 X 4 = 65536 • 40320 X 65536 = 2, 642, 411, 520 dance positions aligned to head walls only Why do we do this to ourselves

Lets simplify this into something real Symmetry One dancer facing one way means another is automatically the mirror opposite That 2 X 4 Grid with symmetry reduces by 2 each time They can only be facing one of four directions They can only have one of 2 orientations (head walls or side walls) • (8 x 6 x 4 x 2) 384 X (4 x 4 x 4 x 4) 256 X 2 = 196, 608 possible combinations This is still way to much to try and figure out when you are calling. But why am I telling you all this nonsense? Why do we do this to ourselves

Foundation First Basic formation management means you really have only 5 formations to worry about – Lines, 8 -chain Thru, Double Pass Thru, Parallel Waves and Columns • Now the math reduces the amount of options to 8 X 6 X 4 X 2 = 384 possible dancer position states. Callers do not look at this like mathematicians. Formation – 1 type –lines, 8 -chain thru, double pass thru, waves and column Arrangement - 6 types: BGGB, GBBG, GBGB, BGBG, GGBB, BBGG Sequence - 4 types, Boys and girls IN, boys and girls out, boys in – girls out, girls in boys out. Relationship - 4 types, boy with partner, corner, opposite, or Right Hand Lady Orientation - 4 types – which wall are they facing. This is still too complex Calling is simple but it is not easy – Darryl Clendenin

Lets make it simple Axiom 1: Prior to any “sight calling” you need to select and remember key couples Axiom 2: All sight resolution process have the same basic process 1. Get the dancers symmetric (hopefully they already are) 2. Get to a familiar standard formation (very important) 3. Pair up one key couple (usually the primary couple) 4. Figure out where the other key couple is and choose a get-out strategy 5. Translate Formation, Arrangement or Sequence to what you need 6. Call your memorised get out. This is still too complex

What if I told you ? ? ? • Sight resolution = using 1 technique (your choice) • Identifying one person after you put them where you want • Works 100% of the time You choose the best method for you

Friends and Enemies 5 steps Step 1: Normalise to a RIGHT-HAND 2 -Face Line Simple process work and you are normally only a few moves away Box or ocean wave Swing Thru, Boys Run Facing lines of four Slide Thru, Swing Thru, Boys Run Normal column 8 Circulate, Boys Run, Veer Left Normal trade by Trade By; Swing Thru, Boys Run Normal ¼ tag Extend, Swing Thru, Boys Run Normal Double pass thru Centres Pass Thru, Swing Thru, Boys Run Examples

Friends and Enemies 5 steps Step 2: Pair up Key man and his partner (use circulates or trades) Get them facing out (left side facing out) You are never more than 2 circulates away Key Couple Be flexible and use circulates and trades • Ends circulate, centres trade • Centres circulate • All 8 circulate • Ends trade Combinations are nicer and desired

Friends and Enemies 5 steps Step 3: CALL BEND THE LINE That’s it – there is no more to this step It is easy to get to this place many ways and there are lots of short cuts Until you are ready, and have the whole process memorised – force yourself to use the full 5 step method The hardest part is forcing yourself to do it all

Friends and Enemies 5 steps Step 4: Check for Friends or enemies (friends are the corner couple) Understand this: You paired up the key couple so you know where they are The mirror aspect (symmetry) means you know where their opposites are The only two dancers that are important are the ones in front of the key couple There are only 4 options 2 Friends (the other couple you selected at the beginning) 2 Enemies (Neither of the dancers is part of the second selected couple) Friend Boy/Enemy Girl (Selected boy but he does not have his partner) Enemy Boy/Friend Girl (Selected girl but does not have her partner) Simplify – if the friend girl is not there call Pass Thru, Bend The Line

Friends and Enemies 5 steps Step 5: Call the appropriate Get out resolution ( 2 options when simplified) Understand this: You paired up the key couple so you know where they are – forget about them Symmetry means you know where their opposites are – forget about them Simplify: you know where the corner girl and her opposite are - forget about them Only one dancer remains – friend boy or not – everyone else is where you put them Position Resolution calls 2 Friends Allemande left or slide thru, square thru 3 2 Enemies Star thru, pass thru, allemande left Friend Boy / Enemy Girl Friend Girl / Enemy Boy Pass Thru, Wheel And Deal, Centers Square Thru 3, Allemande Left Pass Thru, Wheel And Deal, Centers Pass thru, Allemande Left

Friends and Enemies There are hundreds of possible resolutions to a mixed up square This system always works and is a GOOD STARTING POINT • Start small (simplified) • Add rest of technique when ready • It is essential to learn the Foundation First • Master the technique from the “one person resolution” first Start Small Build Big

Centre Box Method - 5 steps How it works – General Get to a standard Double Pass thru Formation Get the paired couple on the outside Resolve the centres – • 4 possibilities only (same as Friends and Enemies) • Also a simplified resolution based on one person resolve This method is a variation of the Friends and Enemies technique but many find it easier to work from a box rather than a line

Centre Box Method - 5 steps Step 1: Normalise the dancers in any standard arrangement and formation • Facing lines • Parallel waves or boxes • Two face lines • Columns • Double pass thru The formation you choose doesn’t really matter as long as they are in a standard boy girl arrangement.

Centre Box Method - 5 steps Step 2: Pair up the key couple in the chosen formation. • Facing lines – Flutterwheel, Ladies Chain, Pass Thru, Bend the Lines • Parallel waves or boxes – Circulates, Star Thru (lines) • Two face lines – Circulates and/or Trades • Columns – Circulates and Runs, Face In • Double pass thru, Zooms, Double Pass Thru - cloverleaf ** common movements to assist in pairing partners in those formations I recommend using Parallel Waves or Two-Face Lines to pair up key couples when starting out

Centre Box Method - 5 steps Step 3: Keep the key couple paired and get to a Double Pass Thru formation Get the paired couple on the outside (Zoom) • Facing lines – PASS THRU, WHEEL AND DEAL • Parallel waves or boxes – PASS TO THE CENTRE • Two face lines – FERRIS WHEEL - ** most common • Columns – CIRCULATE, BOYS RUN PASS TO THE CENTER • Double pass thru, BOYS ZOOM / GIRLS ZOOM / OR JUST ZOOM

Centre Box Method - 5 steps Step 4: Identify which of the 4 possibilities the centre dancers are in 1. Not paired – Corner girl facing key man – Simplified – (if not there call R&L Thru) 2. Not Paired – Corner girl not facing key man 3. Paired – Corner Girl facing key man - Simplified – (if not there call R&L Thru) Paired – Corner girl not facing key man If the dancers do not fit into one of the 4 patterns: • You have called something asymmetrical • The dancers have made a mistake If it happens choose the nearest option and let the dancers sort it Don’t waste a lot of time moving individual dancers around

Centre Box Method - 5 steps Step 5: Call a memorised get out for the situation the dancers are in.

CONCLUSION Both techniques have a simplified version – Resolve from one person • Everyone else is where you put them so forget about them • Friends and enemies – Pass Thru, Bend The Line • Centre Box – Centres Right & Left Thru Start with the simplified option first and build from there Pick the technique that works best for you Sight resolution Getting from A (mixed up) to B (home) SIMPLE BUT NOT EASY

Questions and Discussion