Mac wrote: > At our dances in St Louis, new dancers are almost always paired with > experienced dancers for much of the first part of the evening (not ones who > have just attended once or twice - but dancers skilled in dancing with new > dancers). There are exceptions - but our dancers work hard to make this > happen. >
Very cool. You certainly have a wonderful dance community. I would be very interested in what you think your area callers and dance organizers are doing that encourages, allows, or enables this to happen. Can you point to one or two factors? Mac also wrote: > Remember - even if every new dancer has an experienced partner - they will > be dancing with neighbors who are also new at various points in the dance - > this is where the lesson is the biggest help - at least they know the lady > is supposed to be on the right, etc. > If the hall is integrated the first-timers will have either a partner who will put them on the correct side, or they will be surrounded by couples modeling the correct behavior. If I need to give out this sort of information I consider it to be a sign that I have failed to integrate the hall sufficiently. Mac then wrote: > Yes - we could run the dance fairly successfully without the lesson - but > we don't. I see the lesson more about making the new dancers comfortable > than being necessary. I know they don't need it - but they don't > understand or believe that. I think you are spot on about the purpose of the newcomer's orientation. Confidence is much more important than skills. (Of course, the best way to signal that the orientation is not needed would be to make it the tradition to NOT offer it.) I have given up on that effort. There are too many people who expect an orientation and who believe that it is essential. To address those needs I try to keep the orientation as short and simple as possible. Mac also wrote: > The real trick is to get the experienced dancer to adapt this approach and > feel very proud to be part of a community that is so helpful to new > dancers. But we still provide the lesson. New dancers often ask about it > as they enter the hall - so we do it for them. > I think almost all contra dances provide some kind of orientation. When first-timers arrive I always tell them that they do not need to attend the orientation. I also try to compliment and praise our community. Pride in the community is a core idea. If the callers or other community leaders do not think highly of their own dance community that will be clear to almost everyone. Mac finished by writing: > As a caller - I try to think of new dancers as I develop my program. That > doesn't mean just do easy dances. Certain figures - like gypsies - are > intimidating to new dancers who don't understand the culture yet - so I > avoid them early in the evening. I am not recommending that for all > callers - it is just something I do. But you should think about new > dancers not only as you introduce them to the dances - but also to the > culture of the dance community. > Good ideas. As to the contra dance subculture: I was taken to my first contra dance by a woman I had fallen in love with. We were there for only a few minutes when a regular dancer came over to her and--without acknowledging my presence or even making eye contact--asked my sweetheart to dance. I was shocked. I thought it was the rudest thing I'd seen in years. And I never forgot that guy. I always try to remember that there are a lot of assumptions we make at contra dances. Newcomers don't understand many of them. I would love to hear other ideas about how callers and organizers can encourage and foster a "wonderful dance community." - Greg McKenzie West Coast, USA
