2 Sep
2011
2 Sep
'11
8:33 p.m.
my 2 cents worth: Found contra dancing in 1992 at Glen Echo in Md.
They did a newcomer's session there --- moved to No. California in 1999 - they did
them out here at all the dances.
whenever I am doing a newomer's workshop before a dance - I always tell those folks
present - Contra dancing is EASY - you don't need lessons to contra dance - it's
Not about being perfect -- it is about having FUN - and sharing the joy of the music and
the dance with the other folks on the dance floor.
- we offer the session to give folks an opportunity to lesrn how the dsnce flows - what
progression is - how to swing comfortably and end where you need to be safely -- what a
courtesy turn is - hand holds that don't hurt -- what gets taught is dictated in part
by how many newbies show up and how early they arrive.
I talk fairly quickly thru the session so they have to listen closely - cause when
the music and dancing starts - things move rather quickly.
I think of the 'newbie' session as a bridge --- helps to move an individual
towards hearing/listening to a Caller - and more importantly towards becoming a member of
a [4 person]group - accomplishing a figure together -- then moving along to form another
group - and doing that over and over again thru the dance.
I call in Northern California and fortunately many experienced dancers step up and
participate in the newcomers sessions and they are good about partnering the
'newbies' so they are taken care of during those crucial first dances and thru the
evening.
Mavis L McGaugh
510-814-8118 (answering machine-leave message)
--- On Fri, 9/2/11, Hanny Budnick <kyrmyt(a)cavtel.net> wrote:
From: Hanny Budnick <kyrmyt(a)cavtel.net>
Subject: [Callers] When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOUR area?
To: millstone(a)valley.net, "Caller's discussion list"
<callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Date: Friday, September 2, 2011, 1:04 PM
I have encountered these pre-dance
introductions only outside of New England. When I
reintroduced contra dancing in Philadelphia in the early
seventies, we did only traditional dances which are - in my
opinion - very beginner-friendly anyway and didn't need
extra introductions, not even the triple minors.
I've noticed the change to offer a pre-dance workshop ca.
20 years ago.
When I'm calling in other areas, I usually let the local
leaders handle the early intro because they are familiar
with their scene. The Glenside Thursday night dance in the
Philly area always has an introductory 20 minutes for
newcomers either by the caller-coordinator of the evening or
the out-of-town caller.
When calling abroad, I start with easily accessible dances
and build on them, but I don't use pre-dance workshops.
Hanny, Danzmeestersche
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2 Sep
2 Sep
10:43 p.m.
New subject: When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOUR area?
I started dancing in the early 1980's in Chicago, at the Old Town
School of Folk Music. The folks there called the dances "Barn Dances",
and I believe they still do (I moved to New England in 1988). There
were no introductory sessions; I do remember that Al Olson was my
first partner (for those of you who remember Al and his famous blue
nylon shirt), and he taught me how to swing during my very first
dance. I loved every minute of it! I have not been back to the dances
there since 1988, so I cannot speak to the present situation there.
Here in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring dances (Cape Cod,
Rehoboth, MA, Providence, RI, no introductory sessions have been held
recently,, nor have any been offered during the last 20+ years that I
have been dancing and calling here. This would tend to support the
observation that, given the long history of dancing here in New
England, there never developed the perception that dancers needed some
form of pre-dance class. I would love to know, from the serious
historians out there, whether or not our forebears consciously avoided
classes in order to distinguish themselves from the social classes who
paid dancing teachers to instruct their children.
Very interesting thread, thanks for bringing it to our attention, David!
Linda Leslie
3 Sep
3 Sep
11:22 a.m.
New subject: When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOURarea?
I started dancing in the Chapel Hill/Durham/Carrboro NC area in 1988. I
missed the newcomer class my first dance, but attended the classes several
times after that to feel more confident. All the dances in this area have a
pre dance lesson that are well attended by new folks as well as some long
time male dancers who enjoy helping the new women dancers.
12:26 p.m.
New subject: When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOURarea?
In Houston, then whole dance was a beginner session for years. There had never been
contra down here before about 1980, except an occasional single dance in an evening at the
International Folk sessions. As one of the original dance leaders, I was the
teacher/caller for the first year alone. I only knew old dances from my years with Dudley
in South Amherst, so that's what I called.
As the group grew, we kept that teaching focus for a very long time, and did not add
beginner sessions until the last maybe 8-10 years. I still prefer personally to teach
through the dances I select, but I do the beginner session because the group requests it
and the newcomers feel better with a little general guidance when they first walk in.
Dorcas Hand
Houston TX
-----Original Message-----
From: callers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf
Of Bree Kalb
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 11:22 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOURarea?
I started dancing in the Chapel Hill/Durham/Carrboro NC area in 1988. I
missed the newcomer class my first dance, but attended the classes several
times after that to feel more confident. All the dances in this area have a
pre dance lesson that are well attended by new folks as well as some long
time male dancers who enjoy helping the new women dancers.
_______________________________________________
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Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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12:26 p.m.
New subject: When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOUR area?
In the late '80s/early '90s, the JP (Boston) Contra dance had a
beginners' session from 7:30-8:00, and charged a lower admission
during that time to encourage everyone, new and experienced, to come.
That stopped some time while I was away ('93-'00), not sure when.
Now, If we happen to know we'll have a bunch of new folks we'll have
them come early and have a beginners' session before 7:30, and if we
find ourselves with a bunch of newbies we'll sometimes do something
during the break. We've always had a larger number of newcomers than
most established dances.
3:37 p.m.
New subject: When did pre-dance beginners' workshops start in YOUR area?
There were about 100 people in the lesson at Glen Echo last night, about
50 of whom were there for the 1st time.
Michael Barraclough
www.michaelbarraclough.com
On Sat, 2011-09-03 at 13:26 -0400, Read Weaver wrote:
In the late '80s/early '90s, the JP (Boston)
Contra dance had a
beginners' session from 7:30-8:00, and charged a lower admission
during that time to encourage everyone, new and experienced, to come.
That stopped some time while I was away ('93-'00), not sure when.
Now, If we happen to know we'll have a bunch of new folks we'll have
them come early and have a beginners' session before 7:30, and if we
find ourselves with a bunch of newbies we'll sometimes do something
during the break. We've always had a larger number of newcomers than
most established dances.
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5 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Bree Kalb -
Dorcas Hand -
Linda Leslie -
mavis mcgaugh -
Michael Barraclough -
Read Weaver