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.

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