31 Jan
2011
31 Jan
'11
3:23 p.m.
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 09:52:08 -0800
From: Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling medleys for the first time
Message-ID: <4d45a548.1f48960a.0b45.ffffd026(a)mx.google.com>
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Bob Green wrote:
I think it is a good idea for callers to add little bits of dance culture instruction
during their teaching and remarks. Many people start coming to Contra Dances without
knowing the culture and it isn't always easy to "get". New dancers are
sometime shy and don't want to ask experienced dancers to be partners; of course some
experienced dancers are snobs but I think most want to make the evening fun for everyone -
reminders about changing/selecting partners can help. I like dancing with inexperienced
dancers and I think it helps make me a better dancer because I have to be more aware of
everyone and learn how to help in a constructive fashion with hand gestures instead of too
many words that can't be heard.
Here's an example of something that organizers can do: at the BIDA dance in Cambridge
(http://bidadance.org/index.html) they have some very nice posters hung around the wall
that talk about having fun, changing partners, etc. They have been working hard on being
inclusive on getting new dancers - they have a beginners workshop before each dance. The
I in BIDA stands for Intergenerational, the A for Advocates.
In some communities, a different approach is
taken - to help avoid
breakdowns while switching dances on the fly, trying to see that less
experienced/skilled dancers have a partner the can give them a little help
along on the way. I favor this approach as I believe it tends to make the
overall dance experience better.
I would be very interested in any techniques or strategies you, as
the caller, would use to achieve this behavior: "...trying to see
that less experienced/skilled dancers have a partner the can give
them a little help along on the way." I am particularly interested
in what callers do to encourage more generous partnering behaviors in
a medley. How do you achieve that "We're all in this together,"
sentiment that Larry Jennings speaks of?
- Greg