13 Aug
2013
13 Aug
'13
11:43 p.m.
Mac wrote:
At our dances in St Louis, new dancers are almost
always paired with
experienced dancers for much of the first part of the evening (not ones who
have just attended once or twice - but dancers skilled in dancing with new
dancers). There are exceptions - but our dancers work hard to make this
happen.
Very cool. You certainly have a wonderful dance community. I would be
very interested in what you think your area callers and dance organizers
are doing that encourages, allows, or enables this to happen. Can you
point to one or two factors?
Mac also wrote:
Remember - even if every new dancer has an experienced
partner - they will
be dancing with neighbors who are also new at various points in the dance -
this is where the lesson is the biggest help - at least they know the lady
is supposed to be on the right, etc.
If the hall is integrated the first-timers will have either a partner who
will put them on the correct side, or they will be surrounded by couples
modeling the correct behavior. If I need to give out this sort of
information I consider it to be a sign that I have failed to integrate the
hall sufficiently.
Mac then wrote:
Yes - we could run the dance fairly successfully
without the lesson - but
we don't. I see the lesson more about making the new dancers comfortable
than being necessary. I know they don't need it - but they don't
understand or believe that.
I think you are spot on about the purpose of the newcomer's orientation.
Confidence is much more important than skills. (Of course, the best way to
signal that the orientation is not needed would be to make it the tradition
to NOT offer it.) I have given up on that effort. There are too many
people who expect an orientation and who believe that it is essential. To
address those needs I try to keep the orientation as short and simple as
possible.
Mac also wrote:
The real trick is to get the experienced dancer to
adapt this approach and
feel very proud to be part of a community that is so helpful to new
dancers. But we still provide the lesson. New dancers often ask about it
as they enter the hall - so we do it for them.
I think almost all contra dances provide some kind of orientation. When
first-timers arrive I always tell them that they do not need to attend the
orientation.
I also try to compliment and praise our community. Pride in the community
is a core idea. If the callers or other community leaders do not think
highly of their own dance community that will be clear to almost everyone.
Mac finished by writing:
As a caller - I try to think of new dancers as I
develop my program. That
doesn't mean just do easy dances. Certain figures - like gypsies - are
intimidating to new dancers who don't understand the culture yet - so I
avoid them early in the evening. I am not recommending that for all
callers - it is just something I do. But you should think about new
dancers not only as you introduce them to the dances - but also to the
culture of the dance community.
Good ideas. As to the contra dance subculture: I was taken to my first
contra dance by a woman I had fallen in love with. We were there for only
a few minutes when a regular dancer came over to her and--without
acknowledging my presence or even making eye contact--asked my sweetheart
to dance. I was shocked. I thought it was the rudest thing I'd seen in
years. And I never forgot that guy.
I always try to remember that there are a lot of assumptions we make at
contra dances. Newcomers don't understand many of them.
I would love to hear other ideas about how callers and organizers can
encourage and foster a "wonderful dance community."
- Greg McKenzie
West Coast, USA