Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 14, Issue 3

hey bev, i can think of a couple of things from the outset. on the one hand, anyone who is going to be at the workshop will be the choir, and thus they're the ones who least need the preaching, right? so, be aware of that as you're doing your thing. at the same time, maybe the best use of these folks will be to spread the meme around a bit -- figure out something to tell or teach them that they can pass along to other "experienced" dancers, who may not have come to the workshop for any of a host of reasons (timing, other priorities, not interested, didn't feel they needed or wanted the info, etc). i think the best and simplest thing that an experienced dancer can do for new folks (and this is something that i don't always think or remember to do, myself...) is to *ask new people to dance* -- consciously. if every experienced dancer asked just one new dancer to dance once per evening, think how much better new dancers' experience of the dance would be! once the sets are forming, conversation about simple dance-related things -- a smile, a question or two and some follow-up encouragement ("how many times have you been dancing? wow, you're doing great! we were all new once..."), and a few tips here and there can make all the difference. not all (or even most) beginners have enough chutzpah to ask an experienced dancer to dance, and so this can make someone feel welcomed, included, and wanted. contact i think these are the most important questions, e.g. it's amazing to me how few people have had "giving weight" explained to them in a way that makes sense, and it truly seems to separate good from not-so-good dancers, IMO. i don't have any specific ideas. i like the idea of maybe picking a couple of dances that have a variety of figures or transitions and breaking them down to show where new folks can get tripped up. for example, anything in becket, things with a ladies' chain on a diagonal, or heys, etc. are areas that are confusing for beginners; and things that can be disorienting and thus lead to someone's feeling like they're not doing it right. i think it would also be good to help experienced folks learn to (gently!) teach flourishes to those who seem to want to learn them. no forcing twirls, but don't assume that they don't want to do them, either -- if they see others doing them, they're likely to be curious and want to give it a try themselves. i hope it goes well. melissa __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com