<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633">Right after I sent my last message I realized I hadn't mentioned the most important point directly. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633">The goal of the beginners' workshop, and the goal of teaching during a walk-thru, is not to produce dancers with perfect technique and a complete repertory of moves. The goal is to help dancers have a successful (and safe) dance experience. That's why telling people where the restrooms are, and reminding them to drink lots of water is WAY more important than teaching them to twirl rather than courtesy turn out of a ladies' chain.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633">If you are running a special workshop focused on style or the nuances of a particular move (you can spend a lot of time discussing how-to-hey) then sure go for the gold, but for a workshop, go for the smile, and the "gee, this is fun, I think I'll come back" moment.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:#996633">Dale</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 11:34 AM, Bob Green via Callers <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net" target="_blank">callers@lists.sharedweight.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_extra"><span class=""><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">On Jun 21, 2015, at 5:44 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <<a href="mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net" target="_blank">callers@lists.sharedweight.net</a>> wrote:<br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Yes, of course I always tell dancers that they can walk instead of buzz, but<br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">the buzz-step is so much more fun that it seems crazy not to teach it when<br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">every dance is going to have a swing and usually two.<br></span></font></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><br></span></font></blockquote></span><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">I
see a workshop coming on: "The Art of the Walking Swing". While I
think it is true that it is probably easier for most people to get a
swing "up to speed" with a buzz step, a skilled walking swing has a
slightly subtly different but every bit as exhilarating feel as a buzz
step. From this discussion it appears it is becoming a lost art. I am
going to try an experiment - walking swings only for the rest of June.<br><br>To
me, what makes for a good swing is a balance of forces, and that is the
piece that is both difficult to teach and difficult to maintain. I
can't even count how many times I have gotten feedback from folks who
tried contra but didn't go back because people insisted on high speed
buzz step swings until they were so dizzy they wanted to puke. A quote
from my early dance education: A good lead can get their partner to go
where they want them to go. A great lead takes them where they want to
go."<br><br>I do think it is good to teach the buzz step for those that
want it. I got my teach-the-swing technique from Becky Hill, and it has
proven to be just about bullet proof. It starts with ring-around-the-Rosie to develop the idea of the balance of forces and negotiating the
pace with the person you are dancing with. While maintaining that balance
of forces in the traditional man's women's right, you walk into ballroom
hold. The buzz step is taught like a left-foot propelled scooter. It can
be practiced first without holding a partner to get the coordination
and timing. I have never tried teaching the buzz step out of ring around
the Rosie, but I think I will try it next week.<br><br></span></div><div class="gmail_extra"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Interesting discussion. Thanks,<br><br></span></div><div class="gmail_extra"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Bob Green<br></span></div></div>
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