Hi Jeffrey, The name that I've been using for this type of dancer is "hot shot". For them it's more about showing off and flourishes than community. Having danced for a while now, I'm convinced that most people go through this stage before they move on to being more of a community dancer. I'm guilty of spending some time dancing like that, too. My interpretation of the phrase "only here to have fun" leads me to think that they are more commenting on feeling pressured and lectured about their dancing. Maybe if they were approached with more positive approach. "I would have enjoyed our dance more if you had been on time for the balance." "It's such a thrill when you help me get to the right person in time for the next move." I'm getting a little humorous, but I think that I'm making my point. Make the comments about how we personally experience their actions and not about doing it "wrong" and it could get a whole different reaction. Maybe I'll take some heat for this, but I believe that there are very few "bad" dancers in this world. There are only people who haven't practiced enough to learn what good and bad dancing means. It just takes some people longer than others to learn the lessons. They deserve our patience and some straightforward feedback. I would love to hear other people's thoughts about this as well. Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH P.S. You didn't miss any previous posts. I compiled some interesting e-mails from the Caller's list and sent them to this one. astro46(a)apricoto.com wrote: _______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list Organizers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers

a few comments on the already posted comments: some time ago i sat down next to the mentioned example dancer (who responded with a comment to the effect of "here comes the heat") and tried to explain concepts of number of beats to a step, asked if he had trouble hearing the rhythm, how his dancing affects the dancing of those around him, etc. after this his dancing improved somewhat for a few weeks, then back to the original goofing off. this person is not a 'hot shot'. 'hot shots' often do become good dancers, as 'hot shotting' at least shows that they are interested enough to be really good dancers, but are a bit ahead of themselves. this uncaring person simply doesn't know what step is next, which direction to go, because he isn't paying attention. as for people smiling and having fun: without question this is good, and important. but not the sole criteria. in this case, for example, the mentioned person is always grinning; clearly, a well executed dance is not the reason for it. regularly attending, fun loving, smiling people who don't care enough about contra dancing to do it correctly on a basic level are not adding anything positive to the dance, only to themselves. and, in fact, drive away many people who are interested in contra dancing. i'm sure that i will get criticized for this, but i would rather this person stop coming to the dance, then come, having a 'fun' time, and making a less 'fun' time for others. a sense of community and being tolerant of others is good, but it goes both ways. the 'uncaring' dancers are not showing any sense of community/responsibility for the activity that they are participating in. jeffrey > -----Original Message----- > From: organizers-bounces(a)sharedweight.net > [mailto:organizers-bounces@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of > Stephen Moore > Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 11:00 AM > To: A list for dance organizers > Subject: Re: [Organizers] uncaring "bad" dancers > > When I read the post yesterday about the dancers (guys...) > who are late because they're having fun flirting I > immediately thought of one fellow at one of our local dances. > Then Chris writing about a "hot shot" was a very different > picture. The fellow I thought of does this dreamy kind of > doe-eyed dancing/flirting and when I follow him down the set > just about every woman he dances with arrives late, often > because she's having to disentangle herself from his dreamy > allemande or whatever figure. I don't know what can really > be done about that... the power of the dance organizer is > somewhat limited, and besides, I wouldn't want everyone to be > just perfect, because then when I'm in a playful mood (which > is not infrequent) I might have to overly restrain my impulses! > > I remember years ago someone saying to me, "Every woman who > leaves dancing with you has a smile on her face.", which may > or may not be true, but it's stuck with me as a measure of > when a dance is going well... if people are smiling and > laughing, the particulars of how the dance is going really > doesn't make too much difference. > > Stephen Moore > Lenox, MA Contra Dance > On Jan 29, 2008, at 8:14 AM, Chris Weiler wrote: > > >> Hi Jeffrey, >> >> The name that I've been using for this type of dancer is >> > "hot shot". > >> For them it's more about showing off and flourishes than community. >> Having danced for a while now, I'm convinced that most people go >> through this stage before they move on to being more of a community >> dancer. I'm guilty of spending some time dancing like that, too. >> >> My interpretation of the phrase "only here to have fun" leads me to >> think that they are more commenting on feeling pressured >> > and lectured > >> about their dancing. Maybe if they were approached with >> > more positive > >> approach. "I would have enjoyed our dance more if you had >> > been on time > >> for the balance." "It's such a thrill when you help me get to the >> right person in time for the next move." >> >> I'm getting a little humorous, but I think that I'm making my point. >> Make the comments about how we personally experience their >> > actions and > >> not about doing it "wrong" and it could get a whole different >> reaction. >> >> Maybe I'll take some heat for this, but I believe that >> > there are very > >> few "bad" dancers in this world. There are only people who haven't >> practiced enough to learn what good and bad dancing means. It just >> takes some people longer than others to learn the lessons. They >> deserve our patience and some straightforward feedback. >> >> I would love to hear other people's thoughts about this as well. >> >> Chris Weiler >> Goffstown, NH >> >> P.S. You didn't miss any previous posts. I compiled some >> > interesting > >> e-mails from the Caller's list and sent them to this one. >> >> >> >> astro46(a)apricoto.com wrote: >> >>> i've seen a few replies recently talking about dealing >>> > with certain > >>> types of "bad" dancers. (perhaps i am not receiving some >>> > posts, since > >>> i didn't see the originals that were being replied to). i am >>> interested in hearing comments on a particular type of >>> > "bad" dancer. > >>> i am referring to people that can be depended on to be late and/or >>> confused about the next step, but NOT because they suffer >>> > from some > >>> physical infirmity, and NOT because of lack of experience. >>> > they may > >>> have been attending dances for months or years. it is because they >>> seem to be more interested in flirting with partner then in paying >>> attention to the dance. they are the type that if spoken to about >>> their lack of paying attention will excuse themselves by >>> > explaining > >>> that they are "only here to have fun". of course, fun for >>> > them means > >>> less fun for those dancing near them. >>> >>> comments? >>> >>> Jeffrey >>> >>> >>>