[Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 1

[Paul Rosenberg]

Hi Emily and others

Thanks so much for writing what I am thinking but cannot express nearly as well

I am hoping to see the day in which those hard core contra junkies ( I was one of them myself!) will eventually be able to experience the joy of a circle, square or longways dance and the music of a straight ahead band that plays to bring joy to dancers without fancy tricks all the time. I do love both types of bands but I do worry about the possible demise of the straight ahead band

Paul Rosenberg
Albany, NY
www.homespun.biz


Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 24, 2019, at 3:03 PM, Emily Addison via Organizers <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Chrissy et al :)
> 
> Chrissy - Thanks so much for sharing Larry's words and your reflections on them!  It's interesting as I've been thinking about related ideas over the last number of months but I hadn't stopped to sort them out.  Your post slowed me down and gave space. :)
> 
> What I've been lamenting is that, from my perception, there is a general push for contra dance to move towards an athletic and intense dance form.  I was at the Dance Flurry last weekend and that's a perfect example ---> very intense music, people always moving at a fast speed, intimate connections, ways of moving bodies...etc.  It seems as though the mindset of many dance gypsies is that this form of contra is the ultimate experience. (AGAIN - noting that this is  my perception.)
> 
> I do love this form of contra dance but I also find it overwhelming at times. Alternately - I take such great joy in a local dance with dances that are moving at a slightly slower speed, not such 'sexy' dancing (for lack of a better word), and more uplifting and joyous rather than trance-like music.  And I also love the open band type scenario and chestnuts etc.  Yes, I'm comparing a massive dance weekend to a little local dance but I think the point is valid... ... many folks who think of themselves as invested heavily in contra dance may gravitate to the intense experience and might forget that the local-community feel with lots of beginners and more straightforward music is a really beautiful thing.
> 
> My hope is that as contra dance continues to evolve, there's is not only space but also admiration and support for the wide range of communities and enactments of the dance form.
> 
> Just some personal reflections on a rainy afternoon up here in Ottawa. 
> 
> Emily Addison
> PS - sorry if my sentences are somewhat incoherent.  Was up until 1am last night doing homework for our local contra dance --- of all things! :)
> 
>  
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:53:48 +0000
>> From: Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me at hotmail.com>
>> To: organizers shared weight <organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>
>> Subject: [Organizers] remembering a valued dance administrator
>> Message-ID:
>>         <BL0PR02MB5602717B193E551F29F088EC8D7E0 at BL0PR02MB5602.namprd02.prod.outlook.com>
>> 
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
>> 
>> Hi fellow organizers,
>> I just came across the below excerpt online.  It reminded me of one of my own strong opinions about dance leadership and dance organization -- namely, that there are many paths to Nirvana, with Nirvana being in this case a successful dance series.  The essential thing organizers should do is examine and articulate their own vision(s) and work very hard to create/adapt their dance series to express that vision as beautifully as they can.
>> The quote itself may not resonate for you, but perhaps it will inspire you to pick up both of Larry's books (Zesty Contras and Give & Take) and pore through the bits about dance administration. Such juicy food for thought!
>> Yours, with strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to my own local situation,
>> Chrissy Fowler
>> Belfast ME
>> 
>> ?I believe that administrators and leaders should have strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to their local situation.I certainly do, and I hope you will too. Thus I have scattered my own opinions throughout the book, but I fully expect you to display a healthy skepticism toward these opinions. Indeed, I request such skepticism! So, if my subjective style riles you up?sets you pondering about your local needs?gives you a few ideas to adapt?clarifies your own thinking, no matter how different from mine?I?ll be well satisfied that my work has borne fruit.?
>> ~ Larry Jennings in the ?Author?s Preface? to Zesty Contras
>> 
> 
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