[Callers] Positive values on the mic

[via Callers]

I like to say, at the end of a dance and moving on to the next one,  "Ask someone else to dance... Or let them ask you!"

Ben Allbrandt

---- James Saxe via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: 
> I like to say things to promote the custom of frequent partner
> changes.  So after a dance, I would say at least
> 
>      Thank your partner and find a partner for the next contra
>      [or "... for a waltz" or whatever is next].
> 
> and more likely
> 
>      ... and find someone new for ...
> 
> or
> 
>      ... switch around ...
> 
> and perhaps at some point early in the evening
> 
>      ... and as usual [or "as is our custom"*] find someone new ...
> 
> [*When I first heard "as is our custom" said by Ted Sannella, it
> struck me that by injecting those four words, said in a relaxed
> tone and taking about two seconds to say, he'd gotten the point
> across as effectively, and far more pleasantly, than somebody could
> with a two-minute harangue on the subject.]
> 
> To be clear, if I see some dancers (new or experienced) who came as
> a couple and seem glued together, I will not by any means attempt
> to *pressure* them to separate and dance with different partners.
> But I do want to empower people to feel comfortable mingling.  In
> particular, I don't want dancers who are new and unfamiliar with
> the prevailing customs to have the agony of wondering
> 
>     "If I don't keep this partner for the next dance, will (s)he
>     think I didn't like dancing with her/him?"
> 
> or conversely
> 
>     "My partner just thanked me and then ran off to dance with
>     someone else.  Did I do something wrong?"
> 
> Also, if new dancers are worried about imposing their klutziness on
> experienced dancers, they will perhaps be less timid about making
> or accepting an offer to dance if they understand that it's only
> expected to be for one dance.
> 
> And finally, if someone asks a member of one of those glued-together
> couples for a dance, I hope that even if they say "No", awareness
> that most people are mingling will keep them from being affronted
> by the invitation.
> 
> --Jim
> 
> On Oct 31, 2016, at 7:28 AM, Ron Blechner wrote:
> > I'd like to hear some examples of things you as a caller (or you as an organizer encouraging callers) say on the mic during a dance to promote positive dance values.
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers at lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net