Hi All,
I'd like to tap the collective experiences of the group for a couple of
questions. I have an event coming up where the organizers want to improve
their groups dance "style", and are having one of their dance evenings
dedicated to providing dance style tips. I will be calling that dance. The
group has a mix of dancers with many younger dancers between 12 and 25.
Sometimes half of the dance crowd is comprised of these dancers. Many of the
rest of the dancers are older, some in their 60's and beyond, and many of them
have danced for years. 70% of the dancers are in the intermediate level, but
not where you can do a no walkthru contra corners or hey for 4 dance. There
are almost always a few new dancers at each dance, and the average number of
dancers is between 35 and 55. The caller usually teaches the workshop, with a
few of the regular dancers participating when needed, but is not a large
workshop, nor do many of the regular dancers
come in time for the workshop.
What I would like from the group is specific ways of integrating style tips
that will teach the dancers safe and courteous dancing without sounding overtly
preachy. What kind of common problems do you see that dancers have that they
can improve on? This night is billed as a dance evening with style tips
taught, so those that come will expect some extra teaching during each walk
thru. But I don't want to over do the teaching, or do too much talking. I'd
also like to hear some of the specific things that you all would teach to try
to improve a groups style of dancing so that it is fun and safe for everyone.
Specific dance tips or examples would be helpful. During the dance I envision
a specific tip to teach or highlight during each walkthru, and the dances I
choose will emphasize the tip being taught. One example is that in a Rory
O'More style balance it is best to look in the direction you are moving and
make eye contact with the
person you are balancing towards. Teaching that the balances are all
inter-dependent, so when one person does it the wrong way it can ripple affect
the whole line, and that the eye contact reinforces the motion - of moving
toward the person you are looking at.
Another question I have is this - Do you prefer to have the caller teach the
workshop, or do you prefer to have in-house people or local callers who attend
the dance teach the workshop? Perhaps this question is more directed to those
who are also dance organizers. I have heard the idea that if a group wants to
make sure their dancers are learning to dance properly then they need to
control that by having their own people teach the workshop, rather than leaving
that to the caller, who is usually a different person each evening. Then there
is the fact that the caller knows what his program is and what goals he may
have for the evening and will teach a workshop that includes what he will be
presenting. Many veteren dancers don't attend the workshop, even though some
of them would benefit from attending, so that teaching the workshop only really
benefits the newer dancers and those veterans who do attend. What do you do at
your local dance for
the workshop? Do you have a group of local people who teach it? Is that goup
comprised of callers or other very experienced dancers? Do you follow a
specific format for the workshop? Or, do you leave the workshop and the
information taught in it up to the caller? As a caller, I always welcome the
opportunity to teach the workshop, and impart my style tips and info during the
workshop, as well as throughout the dance. The event above that I am calling
is where I will hope to teach some of these tips during the dance itself.
I know there are callers on this list who have done workshops like this at
dance weekends and festivals. I welcome your input - on or off list. I have
been to a few of these workshops on safe dancing, on dance style, dancing in
your own space, etc. I'd like to do a similar type of event, but during this
regular dance night, and help the organizers fulfill their goal of advancing
the experience level, and safe dancing style, of all of their dancers. Thanks
to you all in advance for your ideas, tips, info and opinions.
Dave Colestock
www.davecolestock.com
