Re: [Callers] mentorship

Hi Lynn, A long-distance mentoring program would be great. And Bob your idea sounds promising (your video dance archives are a useful resource). Even using skype in some way might be helpful. When I learned to call MWSD, I was very lucky to be mentored by an excellent local caller, Kelvin Love, here in Christchurch and helped by understanding dancers who were willing put up with my first steps. In Japan, "Fancy" Tanaka took me under his wing and allowed me to call regularly for his club. Both these men have a fantastic understanding of how to move dancers in unbroken flowing patterns, and this imparted skill has helped me greatly when working out contra dance choreography. Calling for contra has come from dancing to and learning from visitors who have come to NZ. Bev Bernbaum, Mike Boerschig, Bob O'Brian, Gaye Fifer, Steve Gester, Alice Millmoe, Andrea Nettleton and Susie Rudder have all be extremely helpful when they have been here. I've learned much from them. SW is a great resource, and off list a number of people have been very helpful to me. In particular Bob Isaacs has been very generous answering some technical questions, David Millstone has helped me get dancing established here with his advice and resources he has provided to me. I enjoy Linda Leslie's regular continuing help and encouragement and honest appraisal of my ideas. Of course nothing is better that personal contact. On our recent trip to San Francisco, it was great to finally meet you Lynn, and our brief conversation when you drove me home from the dance was a kind of mentoring for me :-). Sharing ideas with Alan Winston and Jim Saxe at the special 'woolshed' dance series arranged by the BACDS really made me feel part of the contra community. Success with your mentoring program. I'm happy to help if I can. Cheers, Bill