Re: [Callers] Workshop ideas ?

Hello, Here are a few ideas that I use here in New Hampshire. 1. First, this is a dance, not a classroom. the emphasis should always be on fun, not teaching. For this reason, I try to spend most of the time dancing, not teaching or walking through a dance. Here are some of the ways I try to do this with whoever shows up. 2. Pick the right dance. This is the most important rule of all. If you get the dance right it will be fun for everyone there. (the only very experienced dancer in a group that is all beginners might argue with this). Very simple dance are needed for all beginners. They are usually happy with just getting forward and back right! With a lot of beginners, introduce moves throughout the evening. Start with just a few of the easiest ones. No improper dances at the beginning, for example. 3. The best mix is when you have about 80% advanced dancers for a regular dance. Remind the regular dancers that there are beginners present - welcome the beginners to the dance at the beginning. Start with simpler dances that have a lot of body contact. If a beginner is promenading with an advanced dancer, they will see exactly where to go. 4. Remind experienced dances that a beginner might be a little lost. If a beginner is looking the other way, tap him/her on the shoulder to tell them "here I am!" Also remind experienced dancers to gently direct/push a beginner in the right direction when you are finished with them. Remind the new dancers that someone may gently push or pull him/her in the right direction. Thank him/her for the help. Emphasis gently. 5. Remind both that an experienced dancers will take someone's hand or arm for a star, alamain, or swing if they are a little hesitant. Again, thank them for the help. 6. As long as the beginners make up less than half the dancers, strongly suggest that experienced dancers not dance with each other, but with a beginner. this is one of the best ways to bring a beginner into the dance. They then have someone to answer questions, guide them, and teach them right next to them. Two people who come as a couple and only dance with each other are often the slowest to learn how to dance. 7. In a workshop for beginners, it sometimes helps to do a circle dance, as you can cover many of the moves, without having to worry about lines , end effects, etc. Things to emphasize in a workshop include, giving weight in a swing or alamainde, man on the left/lady on the right, mans hand on the bottom/lady's on the top, progressions, proper/improper/becket dances. Again including experienced dancers in the workshop helps a lot because the beginner can try it with an "expert" 8. During a dance, advanced dancers can talk to a beginner to tell him/her what to expect next: "Now on to the next", "lean back - give a little more weight", "use your right (or left) hand here", etc. I'm not sure if this is what you want or not, but I do hope it helps, Richard Hart