Send Callers mailing list submissions to callers(a)sharedweight.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to callers-request(a)sharedweight.net You can reach the person managing the list at callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: ideas for callers about sidelines (Laur) 2. Re: Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) (Laur) 3. forgetting pencils for the moment... Ralph Page anyone??? (Emily Addison) 4. Re: Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) (Greg McKenzie) 5. Re: Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) (Lindsay Morris) 6. Re: forgetting pencils for the moment... Ralph Page anyone??? (Richard Hart) 7. Re: Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) (Ron T Blechner) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:56:36 -0800 (PST) From: Laur &lt;lcpgr(a)yahoo.com&gt; To: Caller's discussion list &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] ideas for callers about sidelines Message-ID: &lt;1358452596.9895.YahooMailNeo(a)web161003.mail.bf1.yahoo.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 ?Hi Jill. I'll comment on things others have yet to mention, things observed and shared with me in our MI communities. We often see dancers, or hear dancers comment, that they aren't dancing or getting asked to dance. ?These are newer but regular dancers. Typically these are women who come from a mindset where they need to be asked to dance, even after they understand the culture is anyone can ask anyone. ?They tend to wait on the sidelines to see if someone comes to them and by the time no one has, it's too late to find a partner. Of course there are also those who are very new or very shy. Callers,of course, mention please find someone that hasn't danced the last dance and ask them to join you on the dance floor, or something of that nature, reminding all that the fun is dancing with as many people as you can, meeting and greeting, etc. ? I believe the stimulus to change this situation comes from other dancers. ?In our case, it's women that have come to know each either at the dance or socially sharing their experience, which is safe. ?Although It could be uncomfortable. Most explain to the others that they come there to dance and frankly don't wait to be asked any longer. ?Or tips like, instead of sitting on the sideline, show someone that you are ready to dance, stand up or walk near the the dance floor. ?Also that it's easier to stay dancing if you are dancing. And, if someone does ask and you need a time out, suggest you dance later, or "how about the next one"? ? Some women don't want to dance with other women. ?I notice the more they are at a dance the less important it becomes. ?Some of them have quickly started learning the other role so they can Choose who to dance with and when, because of our gender imbalance, although they prefer to have a male partner. ?Some who do this now worry they are going to get "stuck" in that role. In summary, our community is our dancers. ?And they have the power to turn the tides. ? Just like we have "dance angels" who help new dancers (or help distract the too helpful ones), we can use our dancer community to support the efforts to?acclimate?and educate and encourage. Laurie Pietravalle West Michigan ~ When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance. ~Hans Bos~ ~ people to find partners, especially when there is gender imbalance?? I welcome comments about the issue of making sure all are having equal opportunity to dance. I recently received a message from our contra dance board asking callers for suggestions on this issue.? I believe that the organizers are addressing this issue because we have had dancers leave after not being able to find partners.? I will be sharing your comments with our board and they will share these thoughts with callers as they are hired to call a dance. ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:04:21 -0800 (PST) From: Laur &lt;lcpgr(a)yahoo.com&gt; To: Caller's discussion list &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) Message-ID: &lt;1358453061.6432.YahooMailNeo(a)web161005.mail.bf1.yahoo.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 I agree, Dave. It's interesting, I have seen the REALLY cool hip male dancers dance together when there is a gender imbalance just for that reason. ?I'm talking about too many females dancers. ?yes. ?the really cool hip dancers are those that get community as well as good dance?etiquette?along with good technique, style, rhythm and timing. Laurie P West MI ? ~ When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole, that is why I dance. ~Hans Bos~ ~ callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; sidelines) or wrote: not competitive http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers> ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:51:17 -0500 From: Emily Addison &lt;emilyladdison(a)gmail.com&gt; To: callers(a)sharedweight.net Subject: [Callers] forgetting pencils for the moment... Ralph Page anyone??? Message-ID: < CAD7WKUX55pujY3hbw4xqbf9e1zeVPXug1p6izez2fsbDjmj7nw(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi Folks, Thanks so much for the feedback re whether to use pencil or not! I've been wanting to respond other business has been keeping me away from the computer. Will respond shortly though. :) In the meantime, is anyone from the list going to Ralph Page and would they like to get together over Saturday lunch or something of the kind??? I won't be on email as of tonight but I am volunteering on the registration door from 830-930pm so maybe we could connect then??? Hope to see a few of you! Emily ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:52:43 -0800 From: Greg McKenzie &lt;grekenzie(a)gmail.com&gt; To: "Caller's discussion list" &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) Message-ID: <CAFqkWLtTN4j2vXhd8cQaSBLSxWzc_ENh8nLr= aqc4i3gvcqtrA(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Ron wrote: No, actually. Booking ahead is not inherently a destructive thing. It depends upon the purpose of the booker. Booking ahead can be a way of securing a dance with a first-timer who might, otherwise, be preyed upon by "icky" guys who favor young, innocent first-timers who are attractive...for various reasons. For example: A young woman may have learned to swing incorrectly which brings her into particularly intimate contact with every gent who swings her. This woman may be "descended upon" by a few "icky" guys who perceive this intimate contact as something the newcomer actually enjoys when, really, she would love to learn that there are other ways to swing that are less intrusive. Booking ahead may be the only way to get a dance with this woman to show her a more comfortable swing position. Yes, I have done this, and the women always seem relieved to learn that this is not a "normal" sort of contact at a contra dance. If I did not book a dance with such a woman she might leave the dance early deciding that the dance is "much too intimate and familiar" for her tastes. There are other valid reasons to book ahead and they can be in support of a generous and wonderful dance community. It might be true to say that "excessive booking ahead" should be avoided. I book ahead only rarely, but when I do most of the time it is with newcomers I want to encourage. It is good to see that many folks book ahead so rarely. It is worth noting that someone who *always *books ahead will probably *never *have the pleasure of dancing with these folks. The dedicated bookers and dedicated non-bookers occupy different partnering dimensions and almost *never *dance together. - Greg McKenzie ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:55:26 -0500 From: Lindsay Morris &lt;lindsay(a)tsmworks.com&gt; To: "Caller's discussion list" &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) Message-ID: < CAGNhc2K_MHN02kHHhJ0_Lsc0odxcmbPgtpCG1vt59hUA1k5uJQ(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 There's magic in not knowing who you're going to be dancing with next. -------------------- Lindsay Morris CEO, TSMworks Tel. 1-859-539-9900 lindsay(a)tsmworks.com On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 3:52 PM, Greg McKenzie &lt;grekenzie(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: by attractive...for every actually she of a but noting dedicated *dance ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:57:53 -0500 From: Richard Hart &lt;richhart49(a)gmail.com&gt; To: "Caller's discussion list" &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] forgetting pencils for the moment... Ralph Page anyone??? Message-ID: <CAB16f6BqU7Mvh4gJyN+seV33YrQXZbL1TDS3OoBkQJVJ-P1= 7g(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I'll be there. I'll make a callers' table sign if I can remember. Rich Hart, RPDLW Committee member. On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 3:51 PM, Emily Addison &lt;emilyladdison(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: been they registration ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:33:10 -0500 From: Ron T Blechner &lt;contraron(a)gmail.com&gt; To: "Caller's discussion list" &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt; Subject: Re: [Callers] Booking Ahead - (was ideas for callers about sidelines) Message-ID: <CAKRus= VLQLQcy3ST5JHODXyfD1z5RdueiGkZbYQF+TPt7H87Yw(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Kalia: Not necessarily, but ... in my experience, seriously ... yeah, it's mostly booking ahead. Dave: The coolest, hippest dancers I know are the ones who enjoy dancing either role with either gender - at least sometimes. (Not to mention that dancing both roles makes you better at both.) Linda: I have the pleasure of calling BIDA this Sunday, for the first time. When I got an e-mail from my contact regarding BIDA's community values, I was *very* excited. Greg: That's an interesting argument, regarding saving the dancer from an "icky" partner. I would retort, however, that is just a band-aid for a larger problem that the dance community should be addressing. I think introducing the concept of booking ahead to new dancers is a *bad* idea, because it gives them the impression early on that it's okay. I'd rather solve the challenge of on-boarding new people through encouraging experienced dancers to look for them, rather than falling back on booking them in advance. I've also noticed new people often sit out a lot, because they're shy/tired/unsure of protocol. There's often lots of opportunities to sit out, walk up to the person while they're sitting out, then invite them to dance the next one. (I think there's an implicit difference between booking the next dance with someone already dancing versus someone sitting out.) Lindsay: YES. -Ron Blechner contradances.tumblr.com On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM, Lindsay Morris &lt;lindsay(a)tsmworks.com ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers End of Callers Digest, Vol 101, Issue 40 ****************************************