Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:59:46 -0600
From: Jerome Grisanti <jerome.grisanti(a)gmail.com>
My favorite dance-calling memory of the year:
At a school's father-daughter "barn dance" in Kansas City...
<snip>
During the break, one of the girls, about six years
old, came up to talk to
me. With big eyes and a sincere expression, she looked up at me, showed me
her gun and assured me, "I just wanted to let you know, it's only a TOY gun
!"
<chuckle> What a great story Jerome! And a good idea for a discussion.
Thanks for sharing it. I'm looking forward to reading the outcome.
My favorite dance calling memory of the year .....Hmmm... For those of you
on FaceBook see my note called "Finding My Way Out of The Woods" for the
full <very long> story. The short version is:
I was hired to be the staff caller at "The Woods Music and Dance Camp" in
Northern Ontario in August. It was my first event that was longer than a
weekend and I'd never been to the camp. I had been warned that the focus
wasn't on dancing, that most of the dancers would be newbies, and that I'd
have a hard time pleasing the crowd. I was also very nervous about whether
I'd be able to deliver on the same level as the musical talent that had been
hired.
The third dance night was a milestone for me, and also the camp. I had
trouble teaching the first dance of the night. I'd walked it through twice.
But I couldn't seem to teach it without confusing the dancers. I was ready
to bail on it. In fact, I told them that and threw the card down into my box
of dances. They all shouted "NO!!!" That took me aback! They were determined
to get it. And, gawd love 'em, I walked it again, and they did it! I had 4
squares on the dance floor that night, which was just about half the camp.
People kept telling me over and over again how they'd never seen so many
people dancing at The Woods before. I think that's when it finally began to
sink in that I was, in fact, delivering at the same level as the other
staff. It was a personal triumph that I really needed.
I'll never forget that week for so many reasons. And I was just delighted
when they called me in October to ask me to come back in 2010!
Happy New Year everyone. May this new year bring you lots of calling
adventures!
Bev