Remember there are often couples waiting out at the bottom of the set. A one-walk-through and go makes it hard on them unless they are 1) good enough to learn by watching; and 2) paying attention. What I've noticed is the new dancers end up confused because they never got to dance it and the experienced dancers end up confused because they're talking rather than watching others walk thru the dance. Of course maybe if the *knew* they didn't get a second chance, they might pay attention.
I like a second walk thru at dance speed. It helps the dancers get the flow of the dance without the interruptions for explanations that are needed all-but-the-simplest dances during the first walk thru. Also "go back to your starting place" is unnecessary and annoying except for the most challenging dances were a familiar face may help them survive the first round of the dance. Your mileage may vary. ;-) Dale On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Martha Edwards <[email protected]>wrote: > Here in St Louis - definitely two. First one slow, second one more in > tempo. Some callers usually "go back." Others usually "dance it from here." > > M > E > > On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 1:29 PM, Bob Isaacs <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi All: > > > > > > > > Chris Weiler wrote: > > > > > > "I subscribe to the theory that if I need more than one walk thru, then > > I'm calling a dance that is too difficult for the crowd. The main reason > > that I might run a second walk thru is if there is a clump of beginners > > and I need to get them progressed to new couples who can help them out. > " > > > > > > > > Aside from that good reason, whether or not I tailor my teaching to do 1 > or > > 2 walkthroughs often depends on where I am calling and the expectations > of > > the local dancers. If I am calling at one of the zesty New England dance > > series (lots of hotshots, few beginners, fast-paced evening) I better > have a > > darn good reason for any second walkthrough - the dancers expect > > one-and-done. But if I am calling locally (NYC/NJ/PA) the same dance > will > > get two walkthroughs so comments on timing, flow, or style tips can be > added > > - the dancers are used to that. I can always tell when a New England > caller > > is touring through the area, as the locals are surprised early on by how > > fast the walkthroughs are. > > > > > > > > Part of this difference is regional, but that doesn't always apply. The > > best example is Glen Echo - on Fridays, which can have up to 100 new > > dancers, two walkthroughs are a very good idea; but the > highly-experienced > > Sunday series is more one-and-done. Another factor to consider is the > > frequency of the dance series - dancers tend to need more teaching at a > > monthly series than weekly ones. As Greg mentioned, Santa Cruz has a lot > of > > young/new dancers, but it's also a monthly series, so two are good there. > > In contrast, a weekly mostly-experienced series such as Santa Barbara is > a > > one walkthrough crowd. > > > > > > > > Just curious - what are the dancer expectations where you call? > > > > > > > > Bob > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with > > Hotmail. > > > > > http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5 > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > > > > -- > For the good are always the merry, > Save by an evil chance, > And the merry love the fiddle > And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > -- Thunder rolled. ... It rolled a six. -- (Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!)
