20 Dec
2006
20 Dec
'06
1:25 p.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Witful Turnip
Often, I think that the way something is raised sets the tone for how
it's
received. I'd be very enthusiastic. But I'm concerned that while the
organizer might like the idea and may want to try something different,
when
it came to the time, the dancers would hate it. You folks are the best
test
audience I know. What do you think of this idea ? What idea have you
tried
at NYE dances ? What have you found to work ?
The absolute best NYE standard dance event* experience I've had was at a
dance in Atlanta, 2003. We wanted a dance to do at the stroke of
midnight that allowed everyone in the room to interact with each other.
Something to incorporate the traditional 'kiss at midnight' without
people having to kiss if they didn't want to.
So, I had the band play a 12 bar blues tune, and we did this circle
mixer dance:
FloorPlay New Years Eve 2003
Formation: circle mixer
Level: Easy
Music: 12 bar blues tune
Composed: 12/31/2002
A1: (8) Grand Right and left (right to current partner; left to
#2; right to #3; left to #4; with #5 gypsy
B1: (4) with new partner kiss cheek, (12) Swing
C1: (8)Promenade; (8) Into Center and come back out
Notes:
Please note that this is a short dance - does not fit standard contra
dance length -- 32 bar -- tunes. It was designed to fit a 12 bar blues
tune. If you want to have it fit a regular dance: A1: (8) Grand Right
and left (right to current partner; left to #2; right to #3; left to #4;
with #5 gypsy
A2: (4) with new partner kiss cheek, (12) Swing
B1: (16) promenade
B2: (8) Into center and come back out; (8) Into center and come back
out;
It was a fabulous success. People got to dance, got to wish everyone a
happy new year, and be more cozy with the ones they wanted to be cozy -
and not with the ones they didn't. Note that paul Balliet has a dance
called Floorplay. This dance's title is "FloorPlay New Years Eve 2003"
*The absolute best NYE ever was Florida Rhapsody 1998. We had a dancing
till just shy of midnight, then ran down to the waterfront and lit a
fire sculpture that released our fears from the previous year and our
hopes for the next year into the heavens. Then we had a professional
fireworks show - just for us. If you were at Florida Rhapsody 1998, you
will remember how fabulous it was! If you weren't, perhaps we will do it
again some year. The absolute best. Ever! : -)