16 Jan
2013
16 Jan
'13
3:22 p.m.
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular success in helping 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.
Thank you!
Jill Allen
Lawrence, KS
16 Jan
16 Jan
3:26 p.m.
Once, as the dance ended, I said into the mike
"Do NOT take a new partner! I'd like anyone who sat out the last dance to jump up
right now and find someone to dance with. Yes, you, sitting out: go! Go now!" and a
bit more hectoring.
After 15 seconds of that, I asked everybody else to take a partner. That worked pretty
well.
------
Lindsay Morris
859-539-9900
On Jan 16, 2013, at 10:22 AM, jill allen <jillallen3(a)att.net> wrote:
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular
success in helping 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.
Thank you!
Jill Allen
Lawrence, KS
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
4:40 p.m.
Lindsay's suggestion is one I've seen a number of good callers do, and it
seems to help.
Also, I've found that callers who do a beginner's lesson that includes
experienced dancers works pretty well. George Marshall's lesson is a prime
example (though certainly not the only person doing this):
- It's done in a ring, and people get a chance to dance with multiple
people during the lesson.
- George specifically invites as many dancers as possible to join in.
- By the end of the lesson, it's led directly into the first dance
- He specifically indicates same-gender dancing is not only okay, but
during the lesson, he'll have people find a nearby person of either gender
to practice swings, etc.
in dance,
Ron
On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 10:26 AM, Lindsay Morris <lindsay(a)tsmworks.com>wrote;wrote:
Once, as the dance ended, I said into the mike
"Do NOT take a new partner! I'd like anyone who sat out the last dance to
jump up right now and find someone to dance with. Yes, you, sitting out:
go! Go now!" and a bit more hectoring.
After 15 seconds of that, I asked everybody else to take a partner. That
worked pretty well.
------
Lindsay Morris
859-539-9900
On Jan 16, 2013, at 10:22 AM, jill allen <jillallen3(a)att.net> wrote:
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular
success in helping
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.
Thank you!
Jill Allen
Lawrence, KS
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
4:51 p.m.
Dear Jill,
I encourage you and the Board members to go to the archives from the
Puttin' On the Dance conference that was held in the Fall of 2011. The
link is:
http://www.puttinonthedance.org/post-conference/archive/
The organizers of this conference have generously shared their
findings with all of us. You will find lots of great advice about
organizing dances in general, and how to foster a dance community in
particular.
It is so disappointing that dancers may have left your local dance
because of not being able to find partners! And while there are some
things that the caller can do, much also depends on the dance
community and how inviting they are to the new dancers.
Just a few thoughts about each of these:
Caller: 1) At the end of a dance, warmly encourage dancers to invite
those sitting out to join the next dance; I believe the responsibility
for this is more with those who have already been dancing. Those who
are sitting out may be too shy, or not know the social "rules", and
may not jump in readily 2) Choose a dance that does not need just one
partner, for example, a three facing three dance. 3) Related to this:
Have a number of dances in your repertoire that have minimal need for
gender designation. 4) Do a scatter mixer dance, and encourage the
dancers to invite someone into the dance at any point in the fun.
Dancers/Board: The Board that organizes the dance should develop ways
to encourage the participation of newcomers. 1) For example: "dance
angels"....dancers who may or may not have a visible button indicating
that they are more than happy to dance with new folks. 2) Have a
special meeting to which the dancers are invited to brain storm ways
in which the dance can be more new dancer friendly. This will help
dancers develop a sense of ownership of the dance, and may give the
Board some ideas that would uniquely work for your dance group.
Good luck with helping your dance community grow!
warmly, Linda
On Jan 16, 2013, at 10:22 AM, jill allen wrote:
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular
success in helping
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.
Thank you!
Jill Allen
Lawrence, KS
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
8:54 p.m.
On 1/16/2013 8:51 AM, Linda Leslie wrote:
It is so disappointing that dancers may have left your
local dance
because of not being able to find partners! And while there are some
things that the caller can do, much also depends on the dance community
and how inviting they are to the new dancers.
Just a few thoughts about each of these:
Caller: 1) At the end of a dance, warmly encourage dancers to invite
those sitting out to join the next dance; I believe the responsibility
for this is more with those who have already been dancing. Those who are
sitting out may be too shy, or not know the social "rules", and may not
jump in readily
I've recently started mentioning that very thing in the beginner
sessions. After talking about how we switch partners after each dance I
tell them that partnering tends to happen really quickly, so don't be
shy about asking folks. That asking someone to dance can be as simple
as offering your hand and raising your eyebrows. That anybody can (and
should) ask anybody to dance. That the more different people they dance
with the more fun they'll have and the faster they'll learn. And I
definitely encourage folks from the mic to find a partner they've never
danced with before and to make sure there's nobody sitting out who
doesn't want to be.
Making those announcements from the mic can work, or not, depending on
the noise level between dances. Some venues/crowds are more attentive
than others.
Kalia
11:04 p.m.
On 1/16/2013 2:54 PM, Kalia Kliban wrote:
I've recently started mentioning that very thing
in the beginner
sessions. After talking about how we switch partners after each dance I
tell them that partnering tends to happen really quickly, so don't be
shy about asking folks.
I usually mention that if they are sitting down on the sidelines
some dancers may think that they are resting, but if they are standing
and looking around, as if they are looking for a partner, other dancers
will be more likely to approach them.
Jonathan
17 Jan
17 Jan
2:15 p.m.
Jill asked:
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular
success in helping 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.
This is a great question that gets to the heart of what good contra dance
calling is all about!
Yes. You need to orient first-timers to the partnering process. In the
optional newcomer's orientation do not waste any time teaching figures or
moves. In that 15-20 minutes focus on connection (so that first-timers can
follow well) and the need to partner with the regulars. The idea of
learning primarily from those you partner with, goes against everything
most folks "know" about all social dancing. It takes effort to overcome
the feeling that they need a separate class to learn, and that they should
not partner with regulars until they learn the basics. Tell them how to
ask someone to dance. You need to ingrain this idea in them--not just
through repetition but by also making sure the implied messages in your
actions match your words.
But the main principle is that the caller takes full responsibility for
everything that happens in the hall. And that includes "sidelined" dancers
and gender imbalances. You have to own this problem completely. It is not
the responsibility of the regular dancers or the local leadership to take
this on. The caller is in the best position to address this situation. It
is the caller's job.
The caller can address the situation by working to lower what I call the
"partnering pressure." Partnering pressure is that feeling that you need
to find a "good" partner or any partner quickly for the next dance.
Partnering pressure goes up if there is a gender imbalance, if the dance
slots are exceptionally long, or if the caller is not clear or precise.
Center set syndrome is a symptom of partnering pressure. And high
partnering pressure is usually a symptom of poor calling.
The strategies I use are subtle. The dancers are unlikely to "notice" what
the caller is doing...but these strategies work to reduce the problem.
Here is what I do when there is a gender imbalance or lots of sidelined
dancers for other reasons:
- Call easy dances (this will make sure everyone can succeed and they will
not worry about failing because they have an inexperienced partner. This
builds confidence in all of the dancers.)
- Call dances with more beats of neighbor swinging, and less beats of
partner swinging. Consider calling a "no partner swing" dance. (This will
create the feeling that the choice of a "partner" is less critical to
having a good time.)
- Call very clearly and precisely in exact time with the music and using
the most effective word order. Give the dancers exactly the information
they need at exactly the moment they need it. (This will help all dancers
to feel more confident and less likely to worry about failing because of a
"poor" partner.) This is basic, good contra dance calling.
- Call with short walk-throughs and quit calling soon after beginning.
(Increases dancer confidence.)
- Cut the dance slots as short as possible. (Short dance slots will create
the feeling that there are lots more partnering opportunities to come and
more dancers will feel more generous in their partnering decisions. In
reality, the caller has to work very hard to allow for even one more dance
slot in an evening. But shorter dance slots will encourage a sense of more
partnering opportunities nonetheless. The dancers will sense that the
danger of being "stuck" with a "bad" partner for a long slot is less
of an
issue.)
- Always remind the dancers to "find a new partner" at the end of each
dance...even if "everybody already knows this." That reminder is for
first-timers, yes. But it is primarily to remind the regulars that there
are first-timers in the hall who may not know that this happens after every
dance.
Here is what I don't do:
- I do not chide the regulars to dance with sidelined dancers. (They
already know this so it comes across as guilt-tripping. If I feel a strong
need to say anything at all I make sure it is unequivocally positive, as
in: "It is great to have so many ladies here tonight. I am glad to see
that all of them are getting a chance to dance. This is such a wonderful
dance community!")
As an organizer:
- I point out the problem to the caller and encourage them to call short
dance slots to allow for more partnering opportunities so all can join in.
That's all....Is this "social engineering?" I hope so.
- Greg McKenzie
2:41 p.m.
The strategies listed below all seem like "after the fact" moves that
happen after partner choices are made. Just because the last dance
had more beats of neighbor swing doesn't mean the next will, unless
you tell them that's what's coming up.
On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 9:15 AM, Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com> wrote:
- Call easy dances (this will make sure everyone can
succeed and they will
not worry about failing because they have an inexperienced partner. This
builds confidence in all of the dancers.)
- Call dances with more beats of neighbor swinging, and less beats of
partner swinging. Consider calling a "no partner swing" dance. (This will
create the feeling that the choice of a "partner" is less critical to
having a good time.)
- Call with short walk-throughs and quit calling soon
after beginning.
(Increases dancer confidence.)
- Cut the dance slots as short as possible. (Short dance slots will create
the feeling that there are lots more partnering opportunities to come and
more dancers will feel more generous in their partnering decisions. In
reality, the caller has to work very hard to allow for even one more dance
slot in an evening. But shorter dance slots will encourage a sense of more
partnering opportunities nonetheless. The dancers will sense that the
danger of being "stuck" with a "bad" partner for a long slot is less
of an
issue.)
3:32 p.m.
Donald wrote:
The strategies listed below all seem like "after
the fact" moves that
happen after partner choices are made. Just because the last dance
had more beats of neighbor swing doesn't mean the next will, unless
you tell them that's what's coming up.
Thank you Donald for your comment. Good point!
Just above where you cut my email is where I emphasized how essential it is
for the caller to take full responsibility for the situation. If the
caller takes ownership of the problem then she will assume that it was her
calling that caused the problem in the first place. (The caller cannot
control who shows up at the dance, but she can take responsibility for how
both she and the dancers respond to the situation.)
Building the confidence of the dancers in the caller cannot be done with a
few words. Dancers are smart. They are also skeptical...and have good
reason to be. The caller must *prove *that she can make the dancing fun no
matter who you partner with or where you dance in the hall.
Yes. It would be better to call precisely, using effective word order,
from the first words into the mike. This is why this problem gets at the
heart of what good contra dance calling is about. The best solutions are
proactive and the caller ought to be doing most of these things all along.
Shortening the dance slots will tend to "speed up" the evening and create a
sense of increased opportunities. I always try to keep the first few dance
slots as short as possible, even if there is no gender imbalance. I don't
do longer slots until later in the evening.
My approach is to assume that the regulars will want to take on leadership
and step up to address the situation. My job is to make that effort easy
and fun. Gender imbalances are a common problem. The situation can change
dramatically in one or two dance slots. If the caller does her job well
the sidelined dancers are more likely to think, "Well, at least things seem
to be moving along well and this is a fun dance. Maybe I'll stick around
and get to dance the next one."
We need to have confidence in the dance community. Their enjoyment and
success are enhanced when everyone is included. That's part of the joy of
community dancing.
- Greg McKenzie
On Thu, Jan 17, 2013 at 9:15 AM, Greg McKenzie <grekenzie(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
- Call easy dances (this will make sure everyone
can succeed and they
will
not worry about failing because they have an
inexperienced partner. This
builds confidence in all of the dancers.)
- Call dances with more beats of neighbor swinging, and less beats of
partner swinging. Consider calling a "no partner swing" dance. (This
will
create the feeling that the choice of a
"partner" is less critical to
having a good time.)
- Call with short walk-throughs and quit calling
soon after beginning.
(Increases dancer confidence.)
- Cut the dance slots as short as possible. (Short dance slots will
create
the feeling that there are lots more partnering
opportunities to come and
more dancers will feel more generous in their partnering decisions. In
reality, the caller has to work very hard to allow for even one more
dance
slot in an evening. But shorter dance slots will
encourage a sense of
more
partnering opportunities nonetheless. The
dancers will sense that the
danger of being "stuck" with a "bad" partner for a long slot is less
of
an
issue.)
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Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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7:56 p.m.
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~
~
________________________________
From: jill allen <jillallen3(a)att.net>
To: callers(a)sharedweight.net
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 9:22 AM
Subject: [Callers] ideas for callers about sidelines
Have you as a caller or organizer had particular success in helping 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.
Thank you!
Jill Allen
Lawrence, KS
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
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9 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
Donald Perley -
Greg McKenzie -
jill allen -
Jonathan Sivier -
Kalia Kliban -
Laur -
Linda Leslie -
Lindsay Morris -
Ron T Blechner