Lisa - I'm not sure about not booking ahead when there's an excess of men. I
definitely avoid dancing with women at the beginning of a dance when that's
most obvious. But shouldn't I accept (if a man asks me)? Let me say that
for me "not booking ahead" means I usually find the partner for the next
dance during a dance - sometimes asking a neighbor in the line while dancing
or while walking through, sometimes hopping out of line at the end to grab
someone sitting out, sometimes accepting someone who asks. I almost always
dance the dance after a square with my then corner. I think that's a nice
habit. Nell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lisa Greenleaf" <[email protected]>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] spiking the 'booking ahead'
On May 18, 2006, at 10:25 AM, Seth Tepfer wrote:
* model good behavior [especially after Lisa called me out at
SnowBall, 2004!]
What did I do? Can't remember.....
We have the same problem in Boston and we're
talking about it (no info yet). Personally, I make a point
of not booking ahead when we have extra men,
as is often the case here. I actually say,"I'm not
booking any dances ahead because there are lots of men sitting out."
FYI: a lot of dancers hate being manipulated by the
post-mixer "and keep this partner for the next dance...."
Dancing with friends is a very important motivator for
people to come to dances, so they want choice in the matter
of who there next partner is.
Often after I've called a square I'll say, "STOP! If you got to
dance this square, please find someone sitting out
for the next dance." That tends to work pretty well because they
tend to hold the square formation until I tell them what's happening
next,
so they are sitting ducks for that kind of instruction. It also
means the
applause for the band gets cut off, but I just make sure the band
gets their due later.
If I call at private dance parties for experienced dancers, I request
that
dancers not book ahead, and I ask the hosts to post signs to that
effect.
People are good about it, which is nice.
-- Lisa
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