18 May
2006
18 May
'06
1:08 p.m.
Seth,
Correct me if I am wrong, as a budding new caller(suddenly I feel like a flower), the
first few
dances should be with new dancers. Therefore, the beginning dances are booked ahead.
I
understand you are not refering to this. However, at my local dance I have said no to
many people
during the beginning dances and the regulars have caught on. This is to affirm that
modeling
behavior does work with those who choose to notice it. About the others, I have no
experience to
offer.
Recently at a dance week, a comment was made on the last night, someone said you are
probably all
booked tonight. The person had a big smile when I said no. To be honest the thought
hadn't
crossed my mind, but it did make sense. During that week there were still some people
that I had
not danced with.
For me there is that special time after the previous dance when I seek the next partner.
The
chance meeting of the eye of that person in this or another line to share the moments for
the next
12-15 minutes. How to incorporate those benefits in a few words or actions is difficult?
I don't know if this helped but it helped me.
See ya on the floor,
Dan B.
--- Seth Tepfer <labst(a)emory.edu> wrote:
People book ahead at our local dance. I despise the
practice, but I
understand where it comes from, and have been prone to it myself (can I
have a witness?). It is a problem that is rife at our dance weekends and
our local dance.
I do not want to get into a religious discussion about whether booking
ahead is good or bad. Save that discussion for another time.
I would like to hear creative ideas for avoiding/sideswiping/eliminating
the booking ahead issue.
Here's what is in my [mostly ineffective] toybox:
* after a circle mixer (square, etc), have people take that last partner
(corner in square, last neighbor, etc) to be their partner for the next contra
* ask that everyone dancing ask someone who was sitting out last time to dance
* do a scatter mixer
* model good behavior [especially after Lisa called me out at SnowBall, 2004!]
* wear my 'I don't book ahead" button
What other creative ideas are there out in the dance ethos?
Thanks
seth
PS I really really really want to cross-post this to the trad-callers
listserv, because I know they'd have ideas there too. But I'm trying to be
good and not cross-post. Okay, climbing off martyr soapbox now. :-)
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