[Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 20, Issue 7
Emily Addison via Organizers
organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
Fri Apr 22 19:40:11 PDT 2016
Hi All,
Thanks for such great feedback regarding the first-timer handout.
Totally agreed that there are lots of influences on what would make a
beginner come back, the biggest being in my mind, the welcome/encouraging
feel of the dance community. We've been working on all sorts of aspects
the last number of years from the hall decor, ensuring really strong
music/callers, and encouraging the welcoming nature of the dancers. This
handout is one of those little extra bonus projects we'd like to try to see
if it will help ===> but we want to make sure it's done well!
I realllllly appreciate all the suggestions for content/links/etc.
Especially interesting to see Larry Jenning's handout. (Jim -- thanks so
much for all that info -- that must have taken you a while!)
I'm seeing some echos of ideas across the feedback I've seen so I'll work
on digesting all that info and wordsmithing to pull something together. If
I'm lucky, I'll be done by August ... will definitely share what we end up
with.
Much thanks again!
Emily
On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 9:51 AM, via Organizers <
organizers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
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> 1. Re: suggestions for a beginner contra (Greg Allan via Organizers)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:51:23 -0500
> From: Greg Allan via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> To: organizers at lists.sharedweight.net,
> organizers-request at lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Organizers] suggestions for a beginner contra
> Message-ID:
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> CAEd_4OWH49SQaxYY943SSc4kVuNiuTpnF2EPLgjSbG0cxtvGYQ at mail.gmail.com>
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> I agree with Takemori's comments and with the echo provided by Saxe. I you
> take it to be true in anyway then I would go one step further and advise
> that you put your efforts into making a flyer for experienced dancers,
> reminding them how important their role is, and how they might accomplish
> it better. As leaders in a community, you'd be surprised how much authority
> you have to set those kinds of standards, to good outcome.
>
> Greg
>
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 8:45 AM, via Organizers <
> organizers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to
> > organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
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> >
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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> >
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> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > (Mac Mckeever via Organizers)
> > 2. Re: suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > (James Saxe via Organizers)
> > 3. Re: suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > (Stephen Moore via Organizers)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 21:33:49 +0000 (UTC)
> > From: Mac Mckeever via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > To: Emily Addison <emilyladdison at gmail.com>,
> > "organizers at lists.sharedweight.net"
> > <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Organizers] suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > Message-ID:
> > <1952693951.4636010.1461188029913.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Emily,
> > We give first time participants a flyer that is focused on marketing our
> > various events.? We have talked about changing to something more like you
> > describe but haven't moved in that direction yet
> > One thing we do include on it is an offer that if they bring the flyer
> > back for their second dance they get in free (we mark the flyer so we
> know
> > it has been used and they still keep it).
> > Mac McKeeverSt Louis
> >
> >
> > From: Emily Addison via Organizers <
> > organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > To: organizers shared weight <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 1:43 PM
> > Subject: [Organizers] suggestions for beginner contra handout
> >
> > Hello shared weight organizers,
> > I just posted the following idea on the shared weight callers list as I
> > thought it would be of interest to callers but I really wanted to include
> > it here too as it has to do with organizing.
> > Ottawa Contra is working on a 1-pg handout to give to first time
> dancers.?
> > The goal of the handout is to provide tidbits that will help convince
> first
> > timers ?to come back, that contra's accessible/they can be
> successful/climb
> > that learning curve, and that contra's a great fit for them.? Who knows
> if
> > the handout will actually work but we want to try as part of our focus on
> > increasing the retention of all the beginners we get.
> > I have a few examples of other handouts but they often focus on
> explaining
> > the specific moves.?
> > We're thinking more along things that speak to the spirit of contra/are
> > inspiring PLLLUS great technical tips (nuggets!) that can make a huge
> > different to their experience as beginners. Things for them to reflect on
> > and absorb. ?
> > If you have any ideas, please pass them along. They may be little
> messages
> > you feel every beginner should know, or even tips you you've heard
> callers
> > provide in beginner/intro lesson before the actual dance.
> > I've heard some real nuggets in the past but they don't stay in my brain
> > and I think their hard for beginners to absorb as well!
> > With much thanks :)Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
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> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 14:58:20 -0700
> > From: James Saxe via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > To: Emily Addison <emilyladdison at gmail.com>
> > Cc: organizers shared weight <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Organizers] suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > Message-ID: <682C4F6F-48DF-46CB-8666-CB4D98522408 at gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> >
> > Emily Addison asked for ideas about a handout for new dancers.
> >
> > First, I wanted to echo Claire Takemori's remarks that no printed
> > document can have much effect compared to aspects of a new dancer's
> > actual experience: the quality of the music; the clarity of the
> > teaching and calling; the energy and excitement level of the crowd;
> > and especially the way new dancers are treated by the experienced
> > dancers.
> >
> > That said, I guess there are still some folks who may want a
> > written document. So here's info on some documents I know about.
> >
> > The Bay Area Country Dance Society home has these two pages on
> > its web site:
> >
> > Welcome, Newcomers!
> > http://www.bacds.org/newcomers/
> >
> > What To Expect at a Dance
> > http://www.bacds.org/expect
> >
> > Links to both are near the top of the righht hand column of our
> > home page
> >
> > www.bacds.org
> >
> > The New England Folk Festival Association's home page
> >
> > www.neffa.org
> >
> > has a link to
> >
> > "Contra Dancing in Greater Boston"
> > http://www.neffa.org/invite.shtml
> >
> > When I visited the Boston area in the early 1980's, I came across
> > two handouts for new dancers. One was by Larry Jennings's "Almost
> > All You Need to Know to Enjoy a New England Style Dance". The other
> > was Tod Whittemore's "blue card", titled "Welcome to Tonight's
> > Dance".
> >
> > Larry's handout filled the front and back of a letter-sized
> > typewritten sheet. You can find a slightly edited version here:
> >
> > http://www.neffa.org/docs/how.html
> >
> > In her query to this list, Emily lamented:
> >
> > > I have a few examples of other handouts but they often focus on
> > explaining the specific moves.
> >
> > and indeed Larry's handout fits that description. Note that in
> > the prefatory remarks to the online version, Larry writes:
> >
> > ... I emphasize: today I would talk about connection,
> > phrasing, and customs, not about figures.
> >
> > Tod's "blue card" was a much shorter document and much more about
> > customs, etc. It fit on one side of a 4.25" x 5.5" card. Tod
> > had it printed 4-up on 8.5" x 11" sheets of blue card stock,
> > which were then cut into quarters.
> >
> > Below is the text of a handout that I created years later based
> > on Tod's blue card. My version is the same 4.25" x 5.5" size
> > as Tod's, but has text on both sides. The front of my version
> > is basically a lightly edited variant of Tod's text. (For
> > example, I write "TRADITIONAL AMERICAN COUNTRY DANCE" where Tod's
> > card had "NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY DANCE".) The back has whatever
> > additional information I though might be useful and could cram
> > into the available space without shrinking the font and the line
> > spacing.
> >
> > In the transcription below, I've used asterisks to indicate
> > text in *boldface* (the asterisks don't literally appear in the
> > printed version), slashes to indicate text in /italics/, and
> > indentation to indicate lines that are centered (though some mail
> > handling software between my fingers and your eyes may take the
> > liberty of trashing the indentation). I haven't attempted to
> > indicate the exact line breaks.
> >
> > =================================================================
> > [FRONT:]
> >
> > *WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S DANCE*
> >
> > *You are in for a good time!* For many years Americans have
> > been dancing Contras and Squares to great live music.
> >
> > Here are a few guidelines to get you started.
> >
> > *Line up and try it.* Learn by doing; watching doesn't help!
> > Be sure to get into the first few dances, which are usually
> > the easiest.
> >
> > *Mistakes are part of learning.* Everyone goofs at one time
> > or another -- experienced dancers, too! After a while it will
> > begin to make sense.
> >
> > *Singles are welcome!*
> >
> > *Couples:* Part of the tradition is dancing with many people.
> > Please, split up at the beginning of the evening. Dancing with
> > other folks will help you to learn faster and have more fun
> > dancing with each other later on.
> >
> > *Questions?* Ask someone! Everybody remembers their first
> > dance. You will find many experienced dancers eager to help.
> >
> > An evening of dancing will include easy, not-so-easy, familiar,
> > and unusual dances. Most dances are taught; some are not.
> > Staying alert and listening to the caller will make it easy
> > to learn.
> >
> > In a short time you will be swept into the wonderful
> > web of people, motion, and music that is
> > *TRADITIONAL AMERICAN COUNTRY DANCE.* over-->
> >
> > =================================================================
> > [BACK:]
> >
> > *A FEW MORE TIPS on style, etiquette, and advancing
> > your dancing.*
> >
> > *Choosing partners:* THis is the 21st century; men or women
> > may offer or accept an invitation to dance. /The most
> > valuable advice on this card:/ Don't fret that you'll be
> > imposing on experienced dancers by asking to dance with them.
> > We were all new at this once. Besides, it's only a ten minute
> > dance, not a lifetime commitment.
> >
> > *Eye contact:* Don't be surprised by dancers making a lot of
> > eye contact. It's friendly acknowledgment, not necessarily
> > flirtation.
> >
> > *Feet:* For almost all figures, use a simple, smooooth,
> > brisk walking step -- one step to each beat of music. Let
> > the spring in your step propel you forward, not up and down.
> >
> > *Arms/hands:* Keep arm connections firm but not rigid, with
> > comfortably bent elbows. Hold fingers slightly curved, with
> > some muscle tone (no "dead fish" hands) but not gripping
> > or grabbing. THis will let experienced dancers guide you
> > gently through the figures, but also allow an easy release
> > when you need to go in different directions.
> >
> > *Music:* In general dance figures fit the music, like the
> > lines of song lyric. As you learn to listen, the music will
> > tell you when to end one figure and start the next one.
> >
> > *Missed a move?* Don't worry about scrambling to make it
> > up. Just try to get where you need to be for the next part.
> > /Hint:/ Look around for someone looking for you.
> >
> > *Contradancing is more fun than reading about it.* It's an
> > amusement park ride we make for ourselves. So put this card
> > away right now, find a partner, and step aboard!
> >
> > [Sideways in right margin on back, in small print:]
> >
> > Bay Area Country Dance Society www.bacds.org
> > with acknowledgments to Tod Whittemore
> > =================================================================
> >
> > In the text above, I tried to stick to things I thought might
> > be of use to first-timers who were already at the dance. For
> > example, I didn't include advice about shoes, figuring that
> > people already at a dance were unlikely to go home to change
> > shoes. Similarly I figured that dancers who came too warmly
> > dressed would realize on their own that they should wear cooler
> > clothing next time. I also left out remarks aimed at shaping
> > up the etiquette of experienced dancers.
> >
> > I think I first heard the amusement park ride metaphor from
> > Sandy Bradley.
> >
> > Under "Missed a move?" I considered drawing an analogy to
> > forgetting a line while singing in a group. You catch up
> > by joining in with whatever line everyone else is singing
> > now, not by finally remembering the missed line and trying
> > to sing it really fast while everyone else is already
> > singing the next line. But I couldn't think of a way to
> > state the analogy clearly and effectively in the space I
> > was willing to allow.
> >
> > I also considered adding a suggestion along the lines of
> >
> > Reread this after the dance. Some things may make
> > more sense then.
> >
> > based on a similar remark in Larry Jennings's handout. But
> > again, it wouldn't fit in the available space, and I didn't
> > have good ideas about how to shorten or eliminate something
> > else to make room.
> >
> > I hope some of this is helpful.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > --Jim
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:45:08 -0400
> > From: Stephen Moore via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > To: Donna Hunt <dhuntdancer at aol.com>
> > Cc: emilyladdison at gmail.com, organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
> > Subject: Re: [Organizers] suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > Message-ID: <1FDD2556-0FA2-4715-9580-5FD2F54BA5AD at me.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Here's a half-sheet we give to new dancers at the Lenox, MA contra dance
> > on third Saturdays.
> >
> > Stephen Moore
> >
> >
> >
> > On Apr 20, 2016, at 4:04 PM, Donna Hunt via Organizers wrote:
> >
> > > http://www.thursdaycontra.com/welcome.html
> > >
> > > The Mt. Airy (in Philadelphia) Thursday Night Dance has this on our
> > website. We are in the process of revamping it, but feel free to pick
> and
> > choose whatever might work for your group.
> > >
> > >
> > > Donna
> > > Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com
> > > Email: dhuntdancer at aol.com
> > > Cell: 215-565-6050
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Emily Addison via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > > To: organizers shared weight <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
> > > Sent: Wed, Apr 20, 2016 2:43 pm
> > > Subject: [Organizers] suggestions for beginner contra handout
> > >
> > > Hello shared weight organizers,
> > >
> > > I just posted the following idea on the shared weight callers list as I
> > thought it would be of interest to callers but I really wanted to include
> > it here too as it has to do with organizing.
> > >
> > > Ottawa Contra is working on a 1-pg handout to give to first time
> > dancers. The goal of the handout is to provide tidbits that will help
> > convince first timers to come back, that contra's accessible/they can be
> > successful/climb that learning curve, and that contra's a great fit for
> > them. Who knows if the handout will actually work but we want to try as
> > part of our focus on increasing the retention of all the beginners we
> get.
> > >
> > > I have a few examples of other handouts but they often focus on
> > explaining the specific moves.
> > >
> > > We're thinking more along things that speak to the spirit of contra/are
> > inspiring PLLLUS great technical tips (nuggets!) that can make a huge
> > different to their experience as beginners. Things for them to reflect on
> > and absorb.
> > >
> > > If you have any ideas, please pass them along. They may be little
> > messages you feel every beginner should know, or even tips you you've
> heard
> > callers provide in beginner/intro lesson before the actual dance.
> > >
> > > I've heard some real nuggets in the past but they don't stay in my
> brain
> > and I think their hard for beginners to absorb as well!
> > >
> > > With much thanks :)
> > > Emily Addison in Ottawa ON
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Organizers mailing list
> > > Organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
> > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Organizers mailing list
> > > Organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
> > > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net
> >
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> > End of Organizers Digest, Vol 20, Issue 6
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