Just want to flag that the following dances in GA, NC, SC are doing
quite well:
Sautee (hour and a half above Atlanta, not quite middle of nowhere)
https://snca.org/contra/home.php
seem to be averaging 130-140 dancers at their monthly dances
last dance I attended the beginners' class completely encircled the
large gym
lots of family energy (very wide range of ages)
Old Farmers Ball, OFB, at Warren Wilson outside of Asheville
https://oldfarmersball.com/
at their peak they had over 200 dancers every Thursday evening
I don't know if they've gotten back up to that peak
but I've heard it's a strong, solid dance
River Falls Lodge, SC
https://www.facebook.com/groups/harvestmoonfolk/
this really is in the middle of nowhere
I'm _guessing _150 dancers would be packed.
I'm hearing that it's often packed now.
Charlotte, NC
https://www.charlottecontradance.org/
I first encountered this dance several years ago and loved that their
peak demographic was the 30-40 year old crowd that often
disappears to raise a family. They've had to move a couple of
times over the past few years and their numbers had dipped (down to
80??).
I was around for a few of their early post-covid dances with ok
numbers (70??).
I gather the dance has gathered steam and is now quite solid,
though I don't know demographics/numbers ... just that it's doing
great.
A lot of the above is hear say and may have changed since the last hearsay!
I apologize if I'm speaking out of turn.
Organizers are welcome to correct me.
Thought some positive numbers would be a nice thing ...
Heitzso
How many use twitter to promote your dance? Do you feel it is effective?
What hashtags do you use?
Thanks from Queen City Contra in Buffalo NY
Mary Collins
Hi Folks,
Since our organizers contact list was launched last week, we've had about
25 people add themselves to the list! It's so awesome to see folks' faces
and find out what you're organizing. :)
I won't post about the contact list regularly but every six months or so,
I'll remind you that it exists and that you can update your information if
you want.
If you haven't yet added yourself but would like to, you can do so at any
time.
brief google form <https://forms.gle/kpdaDNkscU6cFVZs7>
Details on the why of the list are below.
Thanks!
Emily in Ottawa
============================================================
The contact list is meant to support our online community in a few
different ways:
1.
Help us put a face to a name —> That way we can have a stronger
connection, and even recognize each other at events when we travel.
2.
Have a bit of context for the type of events folks organize.
3.
Know where each other are located.
4.
Be able to contact each other directly.
Hi fellow organizers,
Thanks to those who have added their information to the content collector!
It's only been up for one day and we already have info for 15 organizers.
:) :) :)
I've just sent the google doc to those who have participated already. It
will be interesting to know what others think but it actually brought me a
lot of joy to see your faces and get a feel for where folks are and what
they are organizing.
*Re the question about folks from other countries participating:*
Totally - we'd love to have folks from other places. I thought about adding
'country' as I know a few people are not in Canada or the US. However, I
didn't want the Canadian and Americans to be putting their countries as
that would be too much info. Short answer - yes, please participate! :)
*Re question about keeping the doc updated:*
My plan is to make the google document editable (suggestions/comments) by
all those who contribute their info. I'll send out a reminder once every 6
months or so in case people forget it exists & that they can update their
info. (This is no more work than approving new members to a listserv which
I already do for two other SW lists). My hope is that through this
process, the list will stay fairly updated.
Thanks :)
Emily in Ottawa
On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 9:48 AM John Sweeney via Organizers <
organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Hi Emily,
>
> I assume from the “State/Province” in the form that this is
> only for North Americans.
>
>
>
> Keeping it up-to-date may be a challenge.
>
>
>
> Maybe it would be better for people to sign their posts. My
> e-mails all have the signature below. People can provide a link to their
> Web page or Facebook page to show their faces and what they organise.
> Hopefully those pages will be up-to-date.
>
>
>
> Happy dancing,
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
> _______________________________________________
> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
Hi Shared Weight organizers,
I've been talking with Seth (our organizers list moderator) about the
following idea and I wanted to bring it to you all. I think it would be
super awesome for us to have a contact list with our photo, email, where
we're located + what we organize.
*Why a SW organizers contact list??*
I've always wanted to put a face to your name if I haven't met you before.
We've been chatting for so many years and yet, many of us don't know what
each other look like. If we showed up at a dance, we could actually miss
connecting! Also, knowing what we each organize and where we're located
helps put things into context. Finally, having a list will help us reach
out to each other directly if there's a specific question we want to ask
someone.
*Are you interested in participating?*
If so, please fill out this very brief google form
<https://forms.gle/kpdaDNkscU6cFVZs7>, ideally by April 30th.
Then I'll move your information into a google document in early May.
All those who share their information will get a link to that google
document. We won't be sharing the google doc link directly onto the list as
our list archives are public and so can be searched by google and our
personal information would be public.
The document will say right at the top that it's not to be shared. :)
I'm hoping this can strengthen our sense of community & our interest in
further conversations if we 'know' each other just a little bit more.
Thoughts?
:) Emily in Ottawa
PS: This is the first time we're trying something like this on a SW list.
We'll see how it works here and then maybe it can be used on other lists.
The Lenox contra dance series is interested in knowing other dance series/events around the country that do not have a vaccination requirement. If you feel comfortable letting us know of your existence, please email us directly at info(a)lenoxcontradance.org <mailto:info@lenoxcontradance.org>.
Stephen Moore
Thanks Seth for helping to reset the tone. Agreed folks need to feel like they can share perspectives without concern.
The OP’s question was:
> “I am very curious about what other organizers think. Is it time? And what should be our criteria for lifting our mandates?”
That suggests a broader response beyond just what others are doing.
For me the broader sharing along with the thinking behind it and related experiences and implications is helpful. There are many way to think and decide, so knowing the thinking beyond just the policy I lends to better decisions.
Do we do what’s best for the most people? What is best? At the hospital, folks are asked to wear a mask to make others more comfortable. Do we expect the same from our dancers?
I thought Woody shared most of what I was thinking. Specifically, contra dances made be the best way to spread disease. That said, maybe also good for building immunity, if we all survive.
For me, important is the idea that I wear a mask mostly for others. For those who are immune compromised, and because people are still dying.
I like the idea of different lines, and even alternating dances, where masks are required or not. This give options to everyone.
But I also recall a suggestion a while back; we can go back to “normal” when COVID numbers align with Flu numbers. We all should know that varies significantly from year to year, both in transmission and severity, so it’s not an exact answer but a reasonable place to shoot for, and a risk level most folks tend to accept.
So everyone knows, we have been dancing every Monday since January, with N95 masks required. We didn’t choose to ask for proof of vaccine. No problems with compliance, from young and old. Doesn’t seem to affect anyone’s ability to dance. Participant numbers are down, but then that seems to be the case generally for all post COVID events. We expect numbers to increase over time.
Maybe we’ll try alternating mask weeks and see what that does to our numbers. 🤔
Full disclosure: I’ll be helping the OP make the decision for MFS. Because we host a weekly dance alternating mask requirements each week is more viable than a monthly dance. But we plan to restart a (hopefully) larger monthly Saturday dance soon so the mask question has greater implications.
Sent from miHand,
Peter
‘…the slimmest of instructions, “To use your gifts and dreams for good.” ’
— From Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
> On Apr 12, 2023, at 11:07 AM, Seth Seeger via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> * People are asking what others are doing. Not asking for advice on what they should be doing. Please don't offer unsolicited advice. I think it is useful to hear what is happening at other dances. But if there is going to be negative/critical feedback, people will not share.
Hello fellow organizers,
I have been a big proponent of our dance mask mandates and feel we have prevented quite a bit of COVID spread by requiring good facemasks.
However, our local hospital has announced that after 3 years of a mask mandate for everyone entering their building (it’s both a hospital and a medical center), they are lifting the mandate on April 10 for anyone asymptomatic and who hasn’t had a recent COVID contact.
Our board will be discussing this soon but I am very curious about what other organizers think. Is it time? And what should be our criteria for lifting our mandates?
Best,
Lisa
Monadnock Folklore Society
Nelson, NH
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa(a)lisasieverts.com