12 Aug
2010
12 Aug
'10
6:54 p.m.
Katy,
I'm not sure it is possible to have an event like that be totally welcoming
for beginners. It's very hard for newcomers to dance for that long without
getting very dizzy, and tired-- they're just not used to it yet.
If you do include an introductory session before the first contra dance, it
might make sense to have a tiered pricing schedule, so that people can pay
and stay for only the first dance if they wish to. Otherwise, I agree with
Alan that you're advertising a dance to newcomers when the structure of it,
particularly with the medley, ECD, and squares, is something they're not
going to be able to do.
-Dave
On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Alan Winston - SSRL Central Computing <
winston(a)slac.stanford.edu> wrote:
Katy wrote:
--
David Casserly
Harvard Law School JD Class of 2011
david.j.casserly(a)gmail.com
(cell) 781 258-2761
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My dance organization, Hands Four Dancers of
Ithaca, likes to offer a
beginners' workshops before an evening dance. We are
now discussing whether
or not to make this official policy for ALL events, including the day-long
Fiddlehead Frolic in April. The Frolic begins in the early afternoon and, in
2011, will probably include a welcome contra dance with the featured band,
then a couple of breakout sessions (contras with a second band vs. music
workshop w/featured band; ECD vs. squares), then a contra medley; followed
by potluck and an evening dance.
What are people's thoughts about the value of
a beginners' workshop at
such an event?
I think the actual question is whether the intention of the event is to
welcome
and integrate beginners, and if you intend to do that, then that needs to
be
worked out with your staff. No beginner's workshop is actually going to get
anybody up to challenging-medly speed on contras, and even if it did they'd
still get hit with squares or English.
It's possible to do an event like this that integrates newcomers happily,
but
it takes more than a workshop. If you intend to do it, then I think having
(and publicizing) a workshop signals to newcomers that its okay to come.
If
you really want to have a day for already-experienced dancers, it would be
better not to send mixed signals.
-- Alan
--
===============================================================================
Alan Winston --- WINSTON(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL Phone:
650/926-3056
Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA
94025
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