I have a question for you about developing a multi-generational dance
series. I book for a series that the late Marianne Taylor ran for 22 years.
It is not a predominately 'hot-shot' dance or a regional dance gypsy magnet,
but we would like to attract more young dancers (read 12 - 42). I am
proposing that we run a techno-dance for one of our monthly dances. I need
to describe it to our current dancers and convince them to give it a try if
it is going to be a success, although I have yet to attend one myself. Many
organizers have the hope of building a multi-generational dance community
and we have that same hope at the dance I am describing, but I wonder if
that is reasonable. If organizing events that will appeal to younger dancers
is going to drive away older dancers we will not be creating a tolerant,
multi-generational, community.
Your thoughts on describing techno to dancers who have never seen it (in a
way that might intrigue them) and on the problem of developing a
multi-generational dance community.
Thanks,
Rickey Holt,
Fremont, NH
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 09:52:03 -0400
From: Jeff Kaufman <[email protected]>
To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Building a multi-generational dance
community
Message-ID:
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I'm not sure a techno dance would be a good fit for building attendance at
your monthly series. The music and atmosphere are so different from what
you usually feature that I don't think the enthusiasm would transfer well.
If you do want to explain it to people, videos are pretty helpful.
Here's one I took Saturday night at BIDA's Spark in the Dark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOf52FQRQoQ
On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 9:39 AM, Rickey Holt <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi fellow organizes,
I have a question for you about developing a multi-generational dance
series. I book for a series that the late Marianne Taylor ran for 22
years.
It is not a predominately 'hot-shot' dance or a regional dance gypsy
magnet, but we would like to attract more young dancers (read 12 -
42). I am proposing that we run a techno-dance for one of our monthly
dances. I need to describe it to our current dancers and convince them
to give it a try if it is going to be a success, although I have yet
to attend one myself. Many organizers have the hope of building a
multi-generational dance community and we have that same hope at the
dance I am describing, but I wonder if that is reasonable. If
organizing events that will appeal to younger dancers is going to
drive away older dancers we will not be creating a tolerant,
multi-generational, community.
Your thoughts on describing techno to dancers who have never seen it
(in a way that might intrigue them) and on the problem of developing a
multi-generational dance community.
Thanks,
Rickey Holt,
Fremont, NH
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:02:38 -0400
From: Dave Casserly <[email protected]>
To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Building a multi-generational dance
community
Message-ID:
<CAJkiw7w=GE32bAtqg7QLB=qclb-nbos+de6qz_specszbw-...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi Rickey,
I'm wondering why you think techno contra dances, put on by people who don't
know anything about them, would attract a young crowd? It's true that
techno contra dances tend to have a younger crowd, but in my view, that's
largely because it's the younger crowd that puts them on and wants them in
the first place. Having a techno contra simply to attract younger folks
might, at most, attract some out-of-towners, but I'm not sure it's a good
way to appeal to a younger crowd that will keep coming to your regular
dances.
As a younger dancer, the things that attract me most to a dance, other than
the crowd that already attends and the band, are location and affordability.
I've had leadership positions in several dances over the past decade, and
the easiest way to attract young people to your dance is to locate your
dance near where a bunch of young people live. Often that's in city
neighborhoods that are easily accessible by transit, or at or within walking
distance of college campuses. People often say that ridesharing and other
ideas like that can be helpful; in my experience, they aren't very
effective. Unless a lot of people I know and like are going to a dance, I'm
just not going to go to it if it requires driving to get there.
I agree in full with what Jeff says. I'm wondering where the idea for a
techno contra comes from. Is it something the few younger dancers in your
community have been clamoring for? If so, it might be worthwhile to do it,
if they think they'd be able to convince their friends to come to one.
Otherwise, while a techno contra might be fun, I don't think expecting it
to lead to more younger dancers at your monthly dance is entirely realistic.
-Dave
On Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 9:39 AM, Rickey Holt <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi fellow organizes,
I have a question for you about developing a multi-generational dance
series. I book for a series that the late Marianne Taylor ran for 22
years.
It is not a predominately 'hot-shot' dance or a regional dance gypsy
magnet, but we would like to attract more young dancers (read 12 -
42). I am proposing that we run a techno-dance for one of our monthly
dances. I need to describe it to our current dancers and convince them
to give it a try if it is going to be a success, although I have yet
to attend one myself.
Many
organizers have the hope of building a multi-generational dance
community and we have that same hope at the dance I am describing, but
I wonder if that is reasonable. If organizing events that will appeal
to younger dancers is going to drive away older dancers we will not be
creating a tolerant, multi-generational, community.
Your thoughts on describing techno to dancers who have never seen it
(in a way that might intrigue them) and on the problem of developing a
multi-generational dance community.
Thanks,
Rickey Holt,
Fremont, NH
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
--
David Casserly
(cell) 781 258-2761
------------------------------
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Organizers mailing list
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End of Organizers Digest, Vol 44, Issue 1
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