> > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 16:23:14 -0400 > From: Chrissy Fowler <ktaadn...@hotmail.com> > To: shared weight <call...@sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Calling for Absolute Beginners? > Message-ID: <col113-w49e48e42fab0fd6cfee4528d...@phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > How nice to read others' thoughts! > > It is my goal at this event to make it so absolutely fun and accessible that > the frosh just can't wait for the first 'regular' dance. This year seemed > especially successful on that front. But more importantly, everyone had a > great time Then And There. Huge smiles, hilarious dancing, wild cheering for > the band, folks watching happily and enjoying the music, etc. (It's > 'optional' for them to dance, and usually only a fraction of the 500 students > choose to dance. Probably 20-35% were dancing at any one time.) If some of > that group come to the monthly series and love it, terrific. If others never > dance at all during their college years, at least they had a blast at the > lobsterbake. Maybe in their 50s they'll end up at a local dance and have > this little hardwired memory of a good time doing this thing back 35 yrs ago.
As an observer / participant I'd add a couple of things: Less talking / More doing. A quick demo and then letting people try out things like swings works well. I've seen some callers doing an awful lot of talking and new dancers get lost and experienced ones space out. Also emphasize that swinging is horizontal not vertical. I've often noticed beginners bouncing up and down which makes it harder and more tiring - this isn't Irish Set dancing. When I swing with beginners, I encourage them to just walk, look at me to avoid getting dizzy, and not look at their feet.
