In the past year our group has picked up a large number of new dancers
of high school age, and you're right, they do learn more quickly than
older dancers. However, if you're dealing with a whole group of people
who have *never* contra danced before, you're not likely to get them up
to speed on contra dancing in just an hour, unless the evening is
structured more like a dance workshop rather than a dance. I fell into
that trap once myself, where I had just 1 hour to teach a group at a
highschool reunion to contra. Looking back, it seems like a rather
amusing experience, but I certainly didn't feel like it at the time,
even though I had carefully selected the simplest contras I knew. One
hour's just not enough time to explain the concepts of progression,
active and inactive couples, teach basics of the swing, and still have
time for a decent dance. I think your idea of sticking to circle mixers
and a Virginia Reel is good. If this is being presented as a dance, call
things that will get them dancing in the shortest amount of time. Save
the contras for a different venue. -Lewis Land
On 5/21/2010 8:33 AM, Grunzweig, Noah C. wrote:
So, i hope this is being sent to the appropriate network. I was asked recently
to call a contra dance for a highschool class of about 30-40 students. I would
like to reach out for advice on working with not only youth, but total groups
of non-dancers. in my experience, youth picks up rather quickly, but the last
time i worked with a summer camp i spent waaay to much time instructing, so i
wanted to see if i could get some pointers. any dance selections that you folks
have found particularly friendly? the dance will only be one hour and i was
asked to do contra dances. i am, at this point, planning on circle dances or
mixers and a whole set dance like VA Reel; though, i would like to do a contra.
dog branch reel or a dance where there is little or no crossing the set and
pleanty of forgiving moments should there be confusion (which obviously should
be mediated in the walkthru/lesson). so, that is where i am. any suggestions
or advice would be greatly appreciate.
peace.
Noah Grunzweig
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