Good morning! I just returned from watching Ann Arbor Morris brave a torrential downpour to welcome the spring in. We were all soaked clear through to...well, I'll leave that to your imagination.
Anyway, since I usually work with mixed crowds, I tend to favor two or three walkthroughs. I think that it give the newbies a few opportunities to learn how the progression works, to learn that it's "places, not faces" that often determines who you will be dancing with, and to rein the center set crowd in a bit so we are on the same page as we begin. I also may switch to a proper dance if the "experienced dancers" cross over before the sets have sorted themselves out. I discourage "flourishes" during the walkthroughs. They do nothing to enhance the teaching, and often really confuse the beginners. I don't mind them later...as long as they don't interfere with the enjoyment of others. And yes, I AM the chief of the Dance Police. :-) John B. Freeman, President SFTPOCTJ
