Lisa - I'm not sure about not booking ahead when there's an excess of men. I 
definitely avoid dancing with women at the beginning of a dance when that's 
most obvious.  But shouldn't I accept (if a man asks me)?  Let me say that 
for me "not booking ahead" means I usually find the partner for the next 
dance during a dance - sometimes asking a neighbor in the line while dancing 
or while walking through, sometimes hopping out of line at the end to grab 
someone sitting out, sometimes accepting someone who asks.  I almost always 
dance the dance after a square with my then corner.  I think that's a nice 
habit.  Nell
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Greenleaf" <laleaf(a)verizon.net>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] spiking the 'booking ahead'
 
 On May 18, 2006, at 10:25 AM, Seth Tepfer wrote:
  * model good behavior [especially after Lisa
called me out at
 SnowBall, 2004!] 
 What did I do?  Can't remember.....
 We have the same problem in Boston and we're
 talking about it (no info yet).  Personally, I make a point
 of not booking ahead when we have extra men,
 as is often the case here. I actually say,"I'm not
 booking any dances ahead because there are lots of men sitting out."
 FYI: a lot of dancers hate being manipulated by the
 post-mixer "and keep this partner for the next dance...."
 Dancing with friends is a very important motivator for
 people to come to dances, so they want choice in the matter
 of who there next partner is.
 Often after I've called a square I'll say, "STOP! If you got to
 dance this square, please find someone sitting out
 for the next dance."   That tends to work pretty well because they
 tend to hold the square formation until I tell them what's happening
 next,
 so they are sitting ducks for that kind of instruction.  It also
 means the
 applause for the band gets cut off, but I just make sure the band
 gets their due later.
 If I call at private dance parties for experienced dancers, I request
 that
 dancers not book ahead, and I ask the hosts to post signs to that
 effect.
 People are good about it, which is nice.
 -- Lisa
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