Jeanette,
If the late arriving new dancers do not out number the dancers already
present, there are two things that can be done:
1. Acknowledge and greet the new arrivals. Then tell them these dances
are easy, but they should dance a couple of dances with experienced
dancers first. Most regular dancers, here at least, would take that as a
hint to ask the new people to dance, and also make the new arrivals feel
that that is the right thing to do.
2. Then for their first dance, I'd chose a well connected dance, one
where most of the figures involve having at least one other dancer in
your hand(s). (Star instead of R&L, allemande instead of do-si-do or
gypsy, circle instead of square through, etc). A couple of dances that I
like for this situation are Cranky Ingenuity by Bill Olsen, The Nice
combination by Gene Hubert, or even Roll in the Hey by Roger Diggle (for
some time later with a combination of beginners and experienced dancers)
If the arriving beginners do out number the existing experienced
dancers, you could do what Don Primrose does in Nelson every summer.
That is to immediately do a simple circle dance. This lets the new
arrivals dance with a lot of dancer, and it also gives them a chance to
practice a few basics. Then ask everyone to dance the next contra with
their last partner in the circle dance.
These approaches work here where the new arrivals usually have an
average age of about 18. With older dancers, of course, your mileage
may vary, and you may need to make further adjustments. ;-)
Rich.
Jeanette Mill remarked on 8/25/2010 9:43 AM:
I had the pleasure of touring interstate on the weekend and calling for a dance
workshop and dance. I worked out the programs on the assumption that the overall
skill level would probably be lower in the evening dance than the workshop. (The
Saturday night phenomenon). So, having survived by adapting the program to err
on the side of easier dances, after a group of about 8 total beginners arrived
part way into the dance, I am keen to hear other people's ideas on dealing with
this.
Cheers
Jeanette
The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen; Peter Barnes
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