Organizers

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Notes from the Dance Flurry organizer discussion on February 17th

by Emily Addison

I know some of you were at the Flurry discussion so I should have also flagged that the notes from that discussion are also out as part of the new Shop Talk. Flurry notes here: https://www.cdss.org/images/organizers-resources/dance-flurry-session-summa… <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 5 months

February issue of Shop Talk - lots of organizer resources

by Emily Addison

Hi fellow Shared Weight organizers, The February issue of Shop Talk is now out! (Shop talk is a CDSS e-newsletter for dance, music and song organizers.) View the full issue here: https://conta.cc/2Ef3WqK NOTE: If you aren't yet subscribed, I encourage you to join. There is a link at the top of the latest issue. The February issue includes a number of new resources as well as information about upcoming learning opportunities. Three highlights are: 1. A new 'how to' resource on facilitating organizer discussions to help YOU organizer your own organizer discussion at dance weekends/festivals/camps OR on your own stand-alone event. 2. A collection of inspiring print promotional material from over 50 communities throughout North America. 3. A link to register for CDSS's next web chat on April 4th. The topic of the next chat is family and community dances! Enjoy :) Emily Addison Consultant for the Country Dance and Song Society <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 5 months

The benefits of increased attendance --- your ideas?

by Emily Addison

Hi All! Can I pick your brain on a project that I'm working on for CDSS? It relates to revenue sources for dances. Probably the obvious way to increase revenue is by increasing attendance.... although I know this can be extremely hard. I'm wondering - other than revenue, what are other benefits to having more dancers at your event? Here's a list that I've started.... More dancers results in: -The dance feeling like a more exciting event …. “the place to be” -More people available to invite their friends next time. (As we know – the best way to get new dancers is through word-of-mouth) More people to support your events moving forward (i.e., as volunteers, donors, etc) -More options for dance partners – which can be helpful for certain dancers! -Potential for a more diverse crowd in terms of age, experience, ethnicity, gender identity, etc. Any insight welcome!!! With thanks :) Emily in Ottawa <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 5 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 46, Issue 1

by Emily Addison

Hi Chrissy et al :) Chrissy - Thanks so much for sharing Larry's words and your reflections on them! It's interesting as I've been thinking about related ideas over the last number of months but I hadn't stopped to sort them out. Your post slowed me down and gave space. :) What I've been lamenting is that, from my perception, there is a general push for contra dance to move towards an athletic and intense dance form. I was at the Dance Flurry last weekend and that's a perfect example ---> very intense music, people always moving at a fast speed, intimate connections, ways of moving bodies...etc. It seems as though the mindset of many dance gypsies is that this form of contra is the ultimate experience. (AGAIN - noting that this is my perception.) I do love this form of contra dance but I also find it overwhelming at times. Alternately - I take such great joy in a local dance with dances that are moving at a slightly slower speed, not such 'sexy' dancing (for lack of a better word), and more uplifting and joyous rather than trance-like music. And I also love the open band type scenario and chestnuts etc. Yes, I'm comparing a massive dance weekend to a little local dance but I think the point is valid... ... many folks who think of themselves as invested heavily in contra dance may gravitate to the intense experience and might forget that the local-community feel with lots of beginners and more straightforward music is a really beautiful thing. My hope is that as contra dance continues to evolve, there's is not only space but also admiration and support for the wide range of communities and enactments of the dance form. Just some personal reflections on a rainy afternoon up here in Ottawa. Emily Addison PS - sorry if my sentences are somewhat incoherent. Was up until 1am last night doing homework for our local contra dance --- of all things! :) > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:53:48 +0000 > From: Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn_me(a)hotmail.com> > To: organizers shared weight <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] remembering a valued dance administrator > Message-ID: > < > BL0PR02MB5602717B193E551F29F088EC8D7E0(a)BL0PR02MB5602.namprd02.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Hi fellow organizers, > I just came across the below excerpt online. It reminded me of one of my > own strong opinions about dance leadership and dance organization -- > namely, that there are many paths to Nirvana, with Nirvana being in this > case a successful dance series. The essential thing organizers should do > is examine and articulate their own vision(s) and work very hard to > create/adapt their dance series to express that vision as beautifully as > they can. > The quote itself may not resonate for you, but perhaps it will inspire you > to pick up both of Larry's books (Zesty Contras and Give & Take) and pore > through the bits about dance administration. Such juicy food for thought! > Yours, with strong feelings about the objectives and techniques > appropriate to my own local situation, > Chrissy Fowler > Belfast ME > > ?I believe that administrators and leaders should have strong feelings > about the objectives and techniques appropriate to their local situation.I > certainly do, and I hope you will too. Thus I have scattered my own > opinions throughout the book, but I fully expect you to display a healthy > skepticism toward these opinions. Indeed, I request such skepticism! So, if > my subjective style riles you up?sets you pondering about your local > needs?gives you a few ideas to adapt?clarifies your own thinking, no matter > how different from mine?I?ll be well satisfied that my work has borne > fruit.? > ~ Larry Jennings in the ?Author?s Preface? to Zesty Contras > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> Virus-free. www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> <#m_8213837517740371327_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

6 years, 5 months

remembering a valued dance administrator

by Chrissy Fowler

Hi fellow organizers, I just came across the below excerpt online. It reminded me of one of my own strong opinions about dance leadership and dance organization -- namely, that there are many paths to Nirvana, with Nirvana being in this case a successful dance series. The essential thing organizers should do is examine and articulate their own vision(s) and work very hard to create/adapt their dance series to express that vision as beautifully as they can. The quote itself may not resonate for you, but perhaps it will inspire you to pick up both of Larry's books (Zesty Contras and Give & Take) and pore through the bits about dance administration. Such juicy food for thought! Yours, with strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to my own local situation, Chrissy Fowler Belfast ME “I believe that administrators and leaders should have strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to their local situation.I certainly do, and I hope you will too. Thus I have scattered my own opinions throughout the book, but I fully expect you to display a healthy skepticism toward these opinions. Indeed, I request such skepticism! So, if my subjective style riles you up—sets you pondering about your local needs—gives you a few ideas to adapt—clarifies your own thinking, no matter how different from mine—I’ll be well satisfied that my work has borne fruit.” ~ Larry Jennings in the “Author’s Preface” to Zesty Contras ** ** ** Dance Calling | Transcription | Belfast Flying Shoes chrissyfowler.com<http://www.chrissyfowler.com> | westbranchwords.com<http://www.westbranchwords.com> | belfastflyingshoes.org/blog<http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org/blog> <http://www.chrissyfowler.com> (207) 338-0979

6 years, 5 months

Youth on your organizing boards/committees?

by Emily Addison

Another quick question about youth. Have any of you had success including youth in your boards/committees? If so, how did you do it? We've had some success here in Ottawa but I'd love to learn more. We have two people in their 20s on our Board and one is also on our outreach/publicity team. Plus a teenager on our outreach team. All of those were direct asks to those individuals, inviting them to get involved. We created a 'youth' position on our Board many years ago and that's what got the ball rolling. I do find that a few of our youth volunteers aren't super reliable on tasks (even well defined ones) but that can happen with older volunteers too and I try to remember what I was like as a teenager. :) Anyway - would love your thoughts! Emily

6 years, 6 months

CDSS youth involvement web chat + a promo work party inviting youth???

by Emily Addison

Hi all :) In case you're interested, the CDSS youth involvement web chat from last Wednesday is now online here: https://www.cdss.org/resources/how-to/organizers-resources#cdss-web-chats Have any of you held 'work days'??? Lisa and Clara mentioned that youth really like coming together for their 'work days' (they have free pizza!) ... ... ... I was thinking this could be fun here in Ottawa. However, we don't have a hall or that much equipment to maintain. So I was wondering about something like a promo work party?? ??? Have an afternoon and evening before the season starts where a bunch of us get together with our computers and prep all sorts of promo stuff (e.g., online calendar postings, news articles, etc). I find that it's hard for only 1-2 of us to do that work by ourselves... ... it's just so much. So having a party and share the workload in a fun way sounds great. Plus with youth 'living the online life', they might really enjoy working on the social media stuff etc. Crazy idea??? ???

6 years, 6 months

Cool 'By the Numbers' from Belfast Flying Shoes

by Emily Addison

Hey Shared Weight organizers, The Belfast Flying Shoes made was I think is a REALLY cool "By the Numbers" summary of their 13th year (... it was sent out in December). I asked Chrissy Fowler if I could share it here and she said sure. So here it is: http://belfastflyingshoes.org/belfast-flying-shoes-by-the-numbers-celebrati… <http://belfastflyingshoes.org/belfast-flying-shoes-by-the-numbers-celebrati…> I'd love to try something like this at our local dance here in Ottawa. Seems like a great idea to dancers an idea of what has been happening with the organization (and all the work by the organizers). ... .... could also feed into a request for donations too I guess! Anyone else do something like this? And does anyone know of free/cheap graphic software to make images like this? Anyway... just wanted to share as it seemed so cool. Enjoy :) Emily

6 years, 6 months

contra dance survey

by Jonathan Sivier

Hello Contra Dancers: Researchers Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann are currently conducting a study on contra dance, in preparation for developing an article that will introduce contra dancing to a wider audience. Their goal for this article is to help promote the benefits of this form of dance to those who aren’t currently familiar with it. They would like to gather information from as many dancers around the country as possible, and be able to compare the experiences and dynamics of contra dancers in different parts of the country. They would greatly appreciate your participation in a survey on contra dance that asks you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with contra dancing. This survey is anonymous, and will only take a few minutes to fill out. Please click on the link below to take this survey. Contra Dance Survey - Copy and paste the following address into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YYRJCNJ Sincerely, Jonathan Sivier and Jan Buhrmann Jonathan Sivier, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign jsivier(a)illinois.edu / 217-359-8225 Jan Buhrmann, Ph.D. Department of Sociology, Illinois College jbuhrman(a)ic.edu / 303-503-0858

6 years, 7 months

Groupons for contra?

by Alexandra Deis-Lauby

Has anyone looked into this?

6 years, 7 months

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