[Organizers] What to do with a really bad new dancer?

[Jerome Grisanti via Organizers]

As a caller, I try to offer an "off ramp" to an easier version for the
mobility-challenged. (I just say "an easier way to get to the same place
is...).

So, for example, on moves that go once and a half, I remind dancers that
just a half gets you to the same place sooner.

The challenge then is that the people who most need to use this advice,
don't.

A second step might then be a private conversation encouraging him to use
the off-ramps offered by callers. It may help to point out that good
dancers adjust, and often skip bits of choreography or flourishes. It may
be that this would help him frame himself as a good dancer capable of
growth.

Jerome



On Monday, March 6, 2017, Marie-Michèle Fournier via Organizers <
organizers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>    Lately a new dancer has started coming to our dance and he is bad
> enough that he will often make the set break if the dance is moderately
> challenging. He seems to have some kind of impairment and walks very
> stiffly which means he will often not be on time for a figure and also
> often does not remember what is coming next.
>   We want to be inclusive but at the same time his presence negatively
> impacts other dancers in his set and while some of the experienced dancers
> will take one for the team and dance with him, it is an unpleasant
> experience to be his partner. Unfortunately, we always have many new
> dancers and having one couple not be where they should be can really throw
> them off in some dances so I feel like I have to push and pull him around
> to be on time, despite the fact that it's a little rude.
>    A recent caller to our dance called him a "speed bump" which was quite
> accurate. I'm sure other dances have had experience with similar troubles,
> does anyone have advice on how to deal with this so that other dancers
> still have a good time yet we are nice to this problematic dancer?
> Thank you
> Marie
> ContraMontreal
>


-- 
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com

"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power
and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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