Let's start every dance by dividing all the dancers into two teams: the "call EASY material or I'll get frustrated and QUIT" team, and the "call HARD material or I'll get bored and QUIT" team. Come to think of it, the square dance world is ALREADY divided into these two teams. :-) We may be closer to success than anyone realizes!
Make sure the players (oops, I meant DANCERS) are all wearing special attire just for this event. Hey, we already DO this!
Some teams would try to train all their OWN players. Some teams would build strength mainly by recruiting skilled players from OTHER teams. Hey, square dancing is a LOT like football!
Make the entire game revolve around clever intricate strategy, new and improved moves, and fancy maneuvers. Hey, we're just like THEM!
Start the season in September with a whole bunch of hopefuls. Gradually weed 'em out until January, when only a few of the BEST players remain. Hey, maybe THEY oughtta learn from US!
The two teams would square up in the middle of the hall, halfway between the caller and the exit door. If everyone makes it through a sequence, the two teams advance in the direction of the "call easy" team. If only the "call hard" folks make a sequence, both teams advance in the "call hard" direction. When everyone eventually reaches one end of the hall, a touchdown is scored. Then they all start over at the midpoint. The game continues until time runs out.
What happens if BOTH squares break down? The "call hard" team does not score points if their OWN square breaks down. If THEIR square breaks down, it's because the caller isn't any GOOD. :-) Everyone wants INTERESTING material. If YOUR square keeps breaking down all night, it's NOT interesting material. And if EVERY square can easily do the material, it's ALSO not interesting. Indeed, the definition of "interesting" material might be: schtuff MY square can DO while other squares CANNOT.
Still, what WOULD happen if both teams break down? THAT'S why you need referees. The referee would throw a penalty flag and blow a whistle. Then the CALLER would be moved a short distance towards the back of the stage. (Then John Madden would show up and announce what happened, and why).
John Madden: There's a flag on the play.
Caller: Penalty flags should be thrown from ALL positions.
Lee Kopman: I wrote that call.
Head Coach: What's the flag for?
Referee: (blows whistle) Roughing the Dancer!
If the caller gets moved completely back OUT of the hall, he LOSES. If he calls nothing but EASY material, the dancers inch closer and closer until they're standing on top of the caller, and the caller will suffocate, so he LOSES. If the caller calls only HARD material, the squares move further and further away until they're out the door, and again the caller LOSES.
Yes, the caller loses, no matter what. What kind of a crummy game IS this? :-) Can the RULES be changed?
Competing against each other is NOT the object of the square dance "game". The object is to bring people TOGETHER. Yet there are STILL two teams: the "call EASY or I'll QUIT" team and the "call HARD or I'll QUIT" team.
The two teams have many similarities. For example, if you don't please 'em, both will QUIT. :-) There's only one DIFFERENCE between the two teams: how well they can execute square dance sequences. An acceptable square dance sequence can either be completed by BOTH teams, or by only ONE team. Any given sequence can please ONE team or the OTHER, but not BOTH.
There doesn't seem to be ANY way to unite the two teams, as long as the ONLY play in the playbook (i.e., difficulty of material) is one and the same as the ONLY difference between the two teams.
Does the "call easy" team merely need more training? The problem with this approach is that some players have neither the time nor the desire to learn HUNDREDS of calls. It's SUPPOSED to be a pyramid-shaped distribution. We're supposed to have an enormous number of Basic dancers, a slightly smaller number of MS dancers, even fewer Plus dancers, etc. It's SUPPOSED to be that way, but it isn't. Where ARE all the missing Basic dancers?
They're not ALLOWED to exist! They either HAVE to become more proficient (so they can join the "call hard" team), or they have to sit on the sidelines! Square dancing is starting to sound more and more like FOOTBALL! :-)
If both teams are to play on the SAME field, choreography CANNOT be the answer. Choreographic skill is the only DIFFERENCE between the two teams, therefore it's the only way to make SURE they NEVER get to play TOGETHER.
For the two teams to play on the same field, don't we need to search for elements both teams have in COMMON? Maybe someone can come up with some ideas.
Nasser "handing off the ball" Shukayr