Re: [Callers] Fwd: Ten Stupid Things Beginners Do to Mess Up Their Contradance Experience - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks

I always hate those "things not to do" lists. It always reminds me of those bad teachers in school who continuously nagged about what not to do. When you focus on what not to do, you sometimes forget what you should do to make it interesting and fun. Of course people will want to dance with their friends. Don't tell then not to do it. I'd much prefer to tell people to find someone new to dance with than to nag about not dancing with their friends. So, before a more difficult dance, I might say, "We have a lot of new dancers here tonight, so please find someone new to dance with this time. People who have danced this dance before can help beginners a lot." Most will understand and do what's needed. Seth Tepfer wrote: