Re: [Callers] Japan dance

in New England, mostly Vermont (Etna, Norwich, Thetford, to Northern Spy etc.) Well, well, well... nice to hear what's emerged from our local dance series long ago! I've no experience teaching dances in Japan, but: a) I've taught dances in Denmark (good number of English speakers), in the Czech Republic (some English speakers nut fewer), and to kids in Bratislava, Slovak Republic (virtually no English speakers) b) I know several ofther folks who have taught dance in Japan Bottom line: I don't foresee many problems. As a Czech dance teacher told me, based on lots of experience working with Japanese dancers who come to Prague to learn traditional Czech dance (which does involve physical contact) and who has taught in Japan as well, "Japanese are the best dancers and students in the world and it is a pleasure to work with them. They can repeat almost everything and are very orderly." Ahmet Luleci, who travels internationally teaching Turkish dance, tells the story of the time he was teaching to a group of several hundred in Japan. In the middle of a complicated dance, his translator had to leave the room, so Ahmet continued on his own. Suddenly, he noticed that that his shoelace was untied. He bent down to tie his shoe, and upon rising, also wiped some sweat from his forehead. He looked around the room and saw several hundred people bent over shoelaces and/or wiping their foreheads, copying his every move. Lessons (most reiterating what others have said, for emphasis): 1a) Keep your dances simple. The idea is to give them a taste of American style dancing, with American music. 1b) Simple dances can be taught more quickly, which increases the amount of time spent dancing to music and minimizes the time spent listening to translated instructions. 2) You can get through the event just fine without calling any bonafide contras. (see note below) 3) Show more than you speak. A clear demonstration will let people learn all kinds of movement without language. I taught Rod's Quad #2 to a group in Prague a few years ago-- it's a complex double quadrille-- and once one group got it and was able to demonstrate it, the hall of 200+ dancers was able to replicate the dance. 4) Use English words for figures. If, as you hope, this may turn into something that continues, people might as well learn the vocabulary. It's possible to call dances in Denmark-- home of the world's most thriving contra and traditional square dance community-- to folks who cannot speak English but who do know the names of twenty or thirty basic figures. Why? Because thirty years ago, when she was getting this scene started, Margot Gunzenhauser decided that she would make sure that figures are called in English. This means that American and English callers can visit often-- and they do-- and that Danish dancers can dance contras and squares elsewhere with pleasure, using a shared vocabulary. 5) Pick great music! Let us all know how it turns out. David Millstone Lebanon, NH P.S. If you really want to call a contra, I'd recommend this one. Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) duple minor-- don't worry about gender, proper or improper A1 Balance ring 2x, circle left 1x ("Go IN... and OUT... and IN... and OUT) A2 Balance ring 2x, circle right 1x B1 DSD with neighbor, DSD with partner B2 Facing other couple and with inside hands joined with partner, DSD 1.5 as a couple to progress