25 Jun
2015
25 Jun
'15
2:06 p.m.
Dave, thank you for the new thread with a bigger focus.
I don't think that there needs to be universal set mandate for beginner
lessons. Heck, there's debate about what the best name for it is
(orientation, lesson, workshop, etc). It's going to depend on crowd, size,
timing, and a huge host of other factors. I share my experience and
approach as what I do and why, but it may not work for everyone.
The number one thing I want new dancers to get from the beginner workshop
is feeling comfortable enough to attempt dances.
If I'm calling at a series with experienced dancers, they'll help fix any
mistakes that happen on the floor. Mistakes will happen, and that's okay.
But what experienced dancers on the floor can't do is dance with someone
who won't leave the sidelines. So I see the main purpose of the lesson as
building trust in the new dancers that they can do this, and a willingness
in those new dancers to dance with experienced dancers.
I start folks in a circle. I encourage everyone there to join the circle.
Not just new dancers, everyone; including me. I introduce myself and say
that I'm the caller, and I'll be teaching the dances we do tonight. Then I
get folks moving in a big circle left, then back to the right with verbal
prompts. Then I say "now we're going to change this from walking to
dancing, and the difference is connection" (I prefer "connection" to
"shared weight", although I don't think we should rename the mailing list).
I talk through and show moving hands from down low to slightly above
elbows, making a w with the arms, and having "a little tension in the arms,
not the hands. If you're squeezing the hand of the person next to you,
they'll feel nervous for you. But with a little connection in your arms,
you'll feel when someone next to you starts moving." And as I'm saying
this, I lead a circle left without a verbal prompt, and then back to the
right. And folks follow along.
Then, I saw "we're going to have that connection in our next move, an
allemande. Pair off with someone next to you" and then I help folks shuffle
around until everyone has someone. I'm the spare and will either be in the
process or out, depending on if I'm needed. Do an allemande right with that
person, then left. Then the person on the other side of them. Allemande
Right. Allemande Left. If I've got a good mix of regular dancers in the
crowd, I don't both demoing it. If it's mostly new folks, I'll show it in
the middle of the circle with someone (and thank them!) and then let
everyone do it.
Then I do a do-si-do. And I emphasize that even though we're not touching,
we're still connected through the process of dancing around each other. I
sometimes use this moment to talk about flourishes. I say that they'll see
some people who twirl; and that twirling is totally optional, you never
have to twirl around, and you're in control of your own twirling.
I'll sometimes do a quick re-cap at this point. Circle left and right,
allemande once and a half to switch, next person allemande, that one do si
do; whole thing two or three times. They've got the moves, but I want them
to feel successful in doing them.
Then I get to the swing. I do not teach a buzz step swing. Depending on the
language choices of the dance, I'll talk about gents and ladies or other
terminology; but whatever the language choice I make it clear that people
can dance either role; and that one role ends on the left, and one on the
right. I emphasize that the swing should be comfortable for everyone; and
that if you find yourself getting dizzy there are straightforward things to
try. One is looking at the other person (and I explain eye contact, or
looking at a button they're wearing, as a steadying influence) and the
other thing is "you can say 'please slow down, I'm getting dizzy.' and
that
person will slow down because it's a community dance and we're working
together for everyone to succeed." And I explicitly want the experienced
dancers to hear that. New dancers have a right to slow down swings or not
be twirled, etc.
We do the swing with a couple different folks, moving around the circle; so
they get different swings and get the right-side/left-side thing down. I
talk about dancing with lots of different people. I'll mix in circles and
allemandes to recap. I usually get to balance and swing as another way into
a swing; again talking about connection in the arms.
This whole thing takes less than 10 minutes. Quick, and leaving them
feeling successful.
If I've got 15 minutes. I have them promenade one they swung around the big
circle, then I break the circle and have one person promenade up and
everyone follow them so I have a line of couples. Then I'll explain this is
how most of the dances will start; lining up opposite your partner. Then
I'll step through hands four from the top (I don't worry about crossing
over, and I explicitly don't talk about 1s and 2s). I might do stars in
those groups. But more important to me is just circle left, circle right,
balance the right, pass through to find new neighbors. Do it again to teach
the progression. Mention getting popped out at the ends and then going the
other direction.
In either the 10 minute or the 15 minute version, I close by having them
applaud themselves for the excellent job. I tell them they're ready for any
of the dances I'll call tonight, and that I'll teach all of the dances.
Then I ask for a favor; "If this is your first time here, please partner
with experienced dancers for the first three dances. Then go back to the
friends you came with and show them all the neat stuff you've learned." I
don't force the issue, but I encourage them to branch out and learn from
the community.
That's it.
For the orientation, I specifically avoid teaching moves like right and
left through, whole heys, or (and I've had this requested) contra corners.
I want the dancers to succeed immediately, and I don't want them bogged
down with things they won't remember if/when the move comes up. And while I
encourage the experienced dancers to take part in the workshop, I know that
I'll have a larger number of experienced dancers later in the evening. I'd
rather teach a move when half to three-quarters of a group of four know it
than no one in the foursome knows it.
As a traveling caller, I prefer to lead my own workshop at the beginning;
in part because I've seen helpful dancers spend twenty minutes on how to
swing their way, or teach contra corners because its so confusing.
My starting dance orientation is tailored to evenings when I know I'll have
some new dancers but a large crowd of experienced dancers they're mixed in
to. The *fewer experienced* dancers I'll have in a night, the *less of a
beginning orientation* I do. That's not a typo. If I don't have any
experienced dancers (weddings or other one night stands) I absolutely do
not do a beginner lesson; I choose dances that will succeed without a
beginner lesson. I adjust my program so that the dancers are successful and
have a good time, even if that means not doing heys, or not even doing
duple minor improper contras. With good music and willing dancers, I'll
happily call circle dances, scatter mixers, and longways sets. I'll
incorporate the elements of the workshop into the teaching of those dances,
and maybe move on to more complex dances, or maybe not. Depends on what the
dancers will succeed and have fun with.
You mileage may vary.
--
Luke Donforth
Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>