Organizers

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Re: COULD YOU PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU ARE FROM AND YOUR DANCE SERIES? Need ideas/feedback about how to get new dancers to return

by Paul Rosenberg

Hi folks Apologies for how I am addressing the response. Most lists default to the entire group, but it seems like this goes only to the individuals in the response field? OK, now I see that Marie-Micele seems to be the moderator and generic address Just a few thoughts: COULD YOU PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU ARE FROM AND YOUR DANCE SERIES? This is an issue I notice in all of these lists, but specifically in the Organizers' list, knowing your location is useful, unless you want to remain anonymous But while I'm at it, I might as well make a couple of comments. I've always wondered myself (since my first dance in 1981!) about the contradiction of having a lesson preceding the dance, while publicity also indicates that no experience needed, all dances taught, dances are easy etc. etc. Yes, the dances are easy compared to international folk, which is mostly Balkan these days, and ballroom. But I have witnessed way too many people struggling, especially in recent years, with the fast pace of these always-in-motion cardio -- and -- mental workout dances. As a caller, I got to the point that I no longer enjoyed ramping up the dances for the experienced dancers while leaving the less physically and mentally fit dancers behind. I had already been calling a lot of community dances and family dances and getting much more satisfaction from them. And people smiling a heck of a lot more! So I stopped organizing -- as well as calling -- contra series. My organizing community and family dances, as fun as they were for people (we would get *rousing ovations* at the end of each event), our turnouts were still too small to have a viable event. But I was still organizing them until Covid. I am lucky that we have a couple of local bands who are willing to play for whatever comes in the door, so we could continue and each of us get gas money, and sometimes enough to pay for a meal at a local cafe. But I'm not sure what my future is going to be because of all the complications right now with checking vaccinations and masking, etc. etc. Another important issue is the gender neutral calling. I rarely use gendered terms because they're not necessary in the community and family dances. But larks and robins is such a weird descriptor! Do you think that there could be another way of distinguishing roles? I think the best way to do gender-neutral calling is to use positional terminology. But I realize that is very challenging for us callers A colleague of mine uses "drivers and passengers" and I tried that recently, but wouldn't you know it? Some people from the United Kingdom were there and they said they got thrown off by the terminology of course! But some thing that a lot of the Contra world folks do not think of is that we are going to become quite a monoculture because many rural people as well as many conservative people are not only unhappy with this terminology, but some are actually boycotting the dances because of it. I do know a few people in that category. I do my best to explain to them about the pain that some members of our community go through at the dances with the gent/lady terms, but they have a couple of arguments themselves. For one thing, they say that they are uncomfortable with these new terms. But there's also the argument that many of us progressives are going overboard to make sure that members of oppressed groups do not feel any pain in their lives. I realize this is a huge huge conversation, but in the wide world there is more and more talk about how damaging it is to insulate oppressed groups from feeling any pain. And I am one of those people who went through terrible oppression growing up and was lucky to have enough of a support system to allow me to get past the pain. And yes, there are people who do not have that support system Now I'm realizing I've gone on way too long, but I do hope we have more of a dialogue about this Paul Rosenberg Albany, NY Founder of the Flurry Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY www.homespun.biz *Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music* 518-482-9255 On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 9:26 AM Sandy Seiler via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Could you specifically address my question of how to get new dancers to > show up on time for the lesson? I think it would be ok to advertise the > event as starting at 7:00 with lesson (or basic moves instruction) in the > first half hour. I feel like when new people come at 7:00 and experienced > arrive at 7:30 that already sets the newbies up as "a tribe apart". We > need to get as many as possible there at 7:00 to integrate and socialize. > Thoughts? > > On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 6:50 AM Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Alexander- oops...while we are not specifically gender free, we strive >> for it in a very very conservative group of older dancers. I am scheduled >> to meet with our web person soon and will adress verbage. Thanks for this >> info. >> >> On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 4:34 PM Alexandra Deis-Lauby <adeislauby(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Mary, >>> >>> Is the Buffalo dance gender free? The website tells callers to use >>> gents and ladies. If the dance is in fact gender free, then the website >>> needs updating. If you are advertising the dance as gender free but use >>> gents and ladies, that would certainly not encourage me to return if I were >>> a new dancer. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mar 13, 2023, at 3:54 PM, Mary Collins via Organizers < >>> organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>> Watching this as we have the same issue. We are (I believe) the 2nd >>> largest city in NYS and have the most pitiful turnout. >>> >>> I think you have some good ideas here. >>> >>> One comment: we often or even always speak about our dance not only >>> gender free, no partner necessary to bring, but also as no lessons needed, >>> each dance being taught and "walked through". Then we advertise "the >>> lesson" b4 the dance. If words matter (and I think we agree they do) the >>> this is a huge contradiction. >>> >>> I say to people these sets of words & phrasing: easy, walking to music, >>> Only 8 steps, no need to bring partner but a friend is fun, dances are >>> taught, practiced (stole from country line dance & swing) and then they are >>> prompted once the music starts. We offer basic move instruction rather than >>> lesson. >>> >>> I don't really know if these changes help, hinder or have no effect. I >>> only know that not having a friend anchor for the first few dances would >>> have resulted in my not coming back. The lesson too. But that's just my >>> perception. >>> >>> We give out "get in free" cards and encourage ppl to share theirs with a >>> friend. I also encourage people who say "I told my friends...", to next >>> dance offer to pick them up or meet b4 and come together. >>> >>> We also encourage experienced dancers to partner with new dancers. >>> >>> I am anxious to hear other's ideas. >>> >>> Mary "from Buffalo", not. >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 12:49 PM Sandy Seiler via Organizers < >>> organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>>> Newbies are not returning my thoughts... >>>> Why? not feeling welcome?, feeling intimidated/too hard? Coming late >>>> to lesson and being lost/confused during dance? Lack of feeling of >>>> mastery/learning? Need follow up lesson since we only dance 1x/month? One >>>> month is a long time to wait for another lesson. Not enough younger >>>> dancers like themselves? >>>> Ideas: >>>> 1. Use beginner friendly buttons >>>> 2. Ask experienced dancers to dance with beginners for first 2 dances >>>> at least. Board members lead by example. >>>> 3. Encourage experienced dancers to come for the beginner lesson to >>>> welcome/socialize with new dancers. >>>> 4. Have caller or one of us give out free passes (pass for next dance) >>>> at the lesson so we don't have to remember to do it at the table. We gave >>>> out 15 free passes to new dancers in Feb and did not get any to return in >>>> March. (March dance was on 2nd sat instead of our normal 3rd sat and it's >>>> spring break. Feb attendance 61, March 38 (paid dancers, not including 3 >>>> listeners). Also there was a local magazine article about LBDA in February >>>> and we had our most experienced and popular contra dance band (Kaw Creek) >>>> playing. >>>> 5. Our Lesson is at 7:00, Dance 7:30. Should we use start time 7:00 in >>>> advertising bc experienced dancers will figure it out and adjust to coming >>>> at 7:30 more easily than new people knowing they need to come at 7:00 for >>>> the lesson. New people attending and being on time for 7:00 lesson is >>>> important for a smooth dance so do we need to advertise that way? Want >>>> experienced dancers to be there to meet and socialize with them so they can >>>> be better integrated into the community and not feel so awkward. I have >>>> suggested this to our board before, but was told that would be manipulative >>>> toward experienced dancers who would be upset that they came too early and >>>> wasted their time. That feels like a very unwelcoming attitude, and I >>>> would like to encourage all our dancers to consider that 7:00 is our start >>>> time because beginners are important and we need to be there to greet them >>>> and socialize. >>>> 6. Schedule a 1 hour lesson or series of lessons led by experienced >>>> callers Lisa and or Jill and a couple new callers... before the dance? On >>>> a different day? Through Parks and Rec this summer? >>>> 7. New dancers are far outnumbering experienced dancers. Need to do >>>> advanced dance to pull back in some dancers who drifted away after the >>>> pandemic. Contact individually by phone/email? >>>> >>>> And then getting younger people to attend is a whole other but strongly >>>> related topic we need to address more effectively. We are not getting >>>> enough young people at dances. It appears to me that when a young person >>>> comes they often decide to not return because there aren't enough people in >>>> their age group. >>>> >>>> Please tell me if you like/encourage these ideas I have come up with so >>>> far and add others. >>>> Especially I want to know how to get new people to come on time for the >>>> lesson. >>>> Is it ok to advertise dance for 7:00 even though first 30 minutes is >>>> lesson? It's frustrating for our callers and then they don't get a full >>>> lesson which is not good for anyone. >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >

2 years, 1 month

Monthly organizers zoom meetup 3rd Mondays (TODAY!)

by Darlene Hamilton

We welcome other dance group organizers that work in a similar manner. Every 3rd Monday. We discuss all things topical to running our groups. Organizers of ECD meet-up, this afternoon at 1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET. https://tinyurl.com/ECD-Organizers Meeting ID: 831 1348 0385 Passcode: community Darlene Hamilton Historical Tea & Dance Society -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darlene Hamilton *Caller, Dancer, Founder of* *The Historical Tea & Dance Society* *Historical Balls, Tea Dances, and Historical Dance classes* *For more information about events and classes go to**www.historicalteaanddance.org <http://www.historicalteaanddance.org/>* *Like us on facebook!*

2 years, 1 month

Current use of terms

by Steve Pike

Is there any Google doc or some such with a list of terms contra dances are currently using? I recollect seeing something somewhere, maybe a post... Milwaukee: positional calling, with an occasional Larks/Robins caller Steve Pike Milwaukee (formerly Madison), WI

2 years, 1 month

Volunteers

by Sandy Seiler

I feel like involving the community in decision making will encourage volunteerism and board membership. Do you agree? Can you give me some suggestions of how to increase volunteerism in our contra dance community?

2 years, 2 months

administrative question

by Peggy Hesley

Hello! I’ve finally found the opportunity to join this group, and I’d like to ask a question. Do any of your contra boards have term limits, and or required rotation of officers? Thanks, Peg

2 years, 2 months

Help Update TryContra?

by Jeff Kaufman

Hi Organizers, I've updated trycontra.com as best as I can, now that most of the regular dances that are going to resume have resumed. I'm sure I'm still missing some, though, especially ones that are new or changed their URLs. If you might be able to search for your local dances and let me know about anything that needs fixing I'd appreciate that! (Please send corrections individually instead of reply-all: jeff.t.kaufman(a)gmail.com) Jeff

2 years, 2 months

Gender and Dance

by Scott Higgs

As organizers, we invest lots of energy to build healthy communities. It's very painful to watch controversy disrupt long-standing relationships, and threaten to fracture our groups. That's the motivation behind a new website: http://genderanddance.org (You may have seen it described in December's CDSS News) This site simply encourages people to listen respectfully to each other's stories. It's not about advocacy or argument. Posts are anonymous, and there's no place for comments or "likes." Our communities are more diverse than you might guess, and we can all learn from this wide range of perspectives. (Many posts have nothing to do with language controversy - gender is a deeply personal subject). My belief: As understanding grows, former adversaries discover shared values, that overshadow differences. We can embrace the challenges of diversity, and work together to build communities where all can flourish. Thanks for taking a look, encouraging others to do the same, and sharing your own stories. (FYI, there are currently almost no stories about the experiences of organizers faced with gender issues ... many dancers are oblivious to the challenges we face) http://genderanddance.org Scott Higgs

2 years, 2 months

Strategic plan?

by Chrissy Fowler

Do any of your organizations have a strategic plan? If so, is that plan something you'd be willing to share offlist? Thanks, Chrissy Fowler Belfast Flying Shoes <><><><><><> chrissyfowler.com<http://www.chrissyfowler.com> dance leadership westbranchwords.com<http://www.westbranchwords.com> academic transcription belfastflyingshoes.org<http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org> participatory dance & music

2 years, 3 months

Is it time to end COVID restrictions at most contra dances?

by Joe Harrington

While I'm happy to comply with any COVID policy in order to dance, and I choose to wear a mask at bigger events, I question whether the contra communities' strict policies are doing us much good, either in protecting us medically or in getting dances going again. Consider: 1. Even in the most restricted states (New England, etc.), nearly everyone is maskless nearly all the time in normal life, including most dancers. People eat in very crowded restaurants, ride public transportation, fly on airplanes, sit in airports, go shopping, work, attend school, do sports, go to the gym, sing, interact with friends and family members who have been out in the community maskless, etc., mostly without masks. 2. As a result of #1, covid is spreading quite effectively in our communities, even if a few groups are still masking. 3. As a result of #2, protocols at a dance cannot much alter community spread rates, even if the dance spread rate were zero. But, this isn't concerning most people because: 4. Vaccines do keep nearly every infected person out of the hospital and reduce long covid. 5. For those going to the hospital or suspected to be at risk, monoclonal and other treatments are quite effective. 6. As a result, the mortality of covid-19 is now down to three times that of a bad flu season, which is way down from the mass carnage of 2020. It is questionable what anything but masking is doing for us: 7. Unmasked contra dancing, even with a vaccine and negative test, does lead to rapid covid spread. Several camps in summer 2022 had 50+ infected dancers, even though they were all vaccinated and all had tested negative on arrival. The incubation period and false-negative rate are enough to allow one or two cases through, and the vaccine no longer keeps you from getting it, it just dramatically reduces severity. Since: 8. Even in the most conservative, vaccine-averse Southern communities, 90+% of contra dancers at big events say they are vaccinated (per survey at Summer Contradancers Delight Holiday in Tennessee). 9. Choosing to wear a mask remains an option for everyone, and is quite effective at keeping the wearer healthy, though it is not foolproof (but neither is life). And: 10. People have options for recreational and social activities, and many are choosing those with fewer or no restrictions, especially young people who don't have much personal risk from covid. 11. Essentially all other organized dance communities besides contra/English/etc. are dancing without restrictions on a national level, and have been since early 2022: Square, swing, blues, ballroom, salsa, tango, etc. It may therefore be time for communities to reconsider absolute restrictions, and instead encourage vaccination and mask-wearing as effective ways to stop the spread of diseases like covid, but also the flu, RSV, and other pathogens. People can still (and I do) choose to wear masks if they are concerned about getting covid. The idea of reducing spread at dances would be a good one if the rest of society were playing along. But, it isn't. When I was a teen, I boycotted China. China didn't change. Communities with a large component of at-risk dancers who mask in general life and who are vaccinated may wish to continue requiring vax+mask. In areas with many dancers, two dances, one requiring masks and one mask-optional, may make the most sense. I am especially concerned at the reduced percentage of younger dancers I have seen at recent events. While it seemed, prepandemic, that there was a nascent resurgence in the popularity of contra among the current twentysomethings, few of the young dancers I used to see are showing up to dances post-covid. When I go to swing and blues, there are lots of younger dancers. I am certain that if we required masks at my college contra dance, students would just go to ballroom, salsa, or swing. If we want to get contra going again, and especially if we want to attract many new younger dancers, who are not worried that getting covid represents a big risk to them and who have plenty of unrestricted options in recreational activities, perhaps it's time not to ask, "does this policy stop covid from transmitting at our dance," but rather, "does this policy significantly lower the total covid risk our dancers face?" I argue that strict policies no longer do that, given our behavior in society. Nonetheless, those of us who are concerned can still choose to reduce our own risk substantially by being vaccinated and wearing a well-fitting KN95 or better mask whenever we are in a crowd, including at dances, without requiring it of others. I do. Thanks, --jh-- Joe Harrington Organizer, Greater Orlando Contra Dance Faculty Advisor, Contra Knights, the UCF contra dancing club contraknights.org FB, Ig: Contra Knights contradancerjoe(a)gmail.com

2 years, 3 months

Re: Is it time to end COVID restrictions at most contra dances?

by John and/or Jan Bloom

As Alan said, whatever you do you will alienate someone. What I did with the Brunswick ECD was to ask all of the dancers - would you dance if masks were required - would you dance if masks were optional and so on. Then I picked the rules that maximized the number of dancers. I realize that this is harder for Contra, where you have a lot of dancers that you can't ask, including potential future dancers. But in my case it seemed like the right way to do it. John Bloom

2 years, 3 months

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