Re: [Organizers] [Callers] dance in transition]

While our story with the Lenox (MA) Contra Dance isn't one of rescuing a dimishing dance, it is a story of transition, like Lisa's below. Doing it over time helped up. the original organizer for our dance, Michael, did most of the work himself for about three years. But he was tiring of it, so he decided to ask for some people to help him. The group ended up being 6 of us, which is really a good working size group. We met with him sporadically as his needs dictated, but we also each took on pieces here and there. Still, it was his baby, and while he sought input on some questions, we all agreed that decisions were really his to make. We functioned in this way for maybe 18 months or so... I'm a little shaky on the timing, but basically we did it this way for a long enough time that our group got to know one another better, and got to know about what Michael was doing, etc. When the time came for Michael to quit, the result mostly of taking on a new and challenging job, but also being tired of doing the dance, we were able to pick up quite smoothly. We had performers booked for several dances ahead, we had a committment from the owners of the hall where we danced, so there were no crises immediately in front of us. And then as a group things blossomed in ways that a single organizer would have a difficult time doing all on his/her own. We got a website up, we got more publicity going, we were able to book further ahead (just that job takes a lot of time and attention to communications and changes in peoples' schedules) and we solidified some policies. Moving out from that point we've focussed on getting new dancers (which obviously is the key for a failing dance, but is also just as vital for a successful and ongoing dance...) with some significant gains there. The lesson in our story is that the originator of the dance didn't burnout and jump ship. When he began to build a group to support him there were no immediate responsibilities for the new members. By the time we needed to step in, we were really ready. One last perspective, and I know that I've mentioned this in earlier postings, is that our group feels like we're the custodians of our dance... and that we're doing it for the sake of the dance community. We try to keep the dancers informed with what we're doing (potential special dances, guarantees policy for bookings, efforts to attract and keep new dancers, financial considerations, etc.), and we invite participation where it makes sense. Alan or Jeffrey made reference to dancers who are just consumers... and that's a valuable way to look at it. Consumers are fickle. Community members bring a sense of belonging and connectedness. One leads to constant scrambling to attract new buyers, and the other leads to creating an environment that generates interest in each other, and networks of friendships. One strives to maintain, the other works to be sustainable. Stephen Moore Lenox (MA) Contra Dance On Mar 6, 2008, at 7:19 AM, Chris Weiler wrote: