this is a good policy, very relevant to both new and experienced dancers. i especially liked the "john does this well - get some pointers" part, and COMMUNICATE. here's my personal story, as a relatively new dancer doing something wrong without realizing it: i was at one of my first dance weekends, pilgrim's progress, i think, and at the point where i thought i knew everything and was cool on the dance floor. moving down the line during a dance, one of my neighbors, during the swing, murmured something like "see how much easier this is if you put your hand here". i'm guessing i had my hand someplace where i wasn't supporting myself at all and it hurt his arm. within the hour, i had three people tell me they liked the way i swung. so...thanks, william watson, for saying that one inconspicuous little sentence to me at the right time and in the right way. polite, positive, and timely comments can fix a lot of things. barb
> Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 08:20:48 -0400 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Callers] unwelcome behavior > > In regards to unwelcome behavior at a dance, our community has a middle-aged > man who zeros in on the (very thin) young women (we're a college town), and > lifts them off the floor, swings them around, drops their heads towards the > floor, etc. I watched him drop a first-time dancer, TWICE in one night. I > saw her go to the restroom and followed her. She was unhurt but badly > shaken and in tears. > As a member of the organizing committee, I had a talk with him and he denied > vehemently everything I saw, saying that she "fell." I told him someone > cannot "fall" if their feet are in the air to start with. As lead, his job > is to take care of his partner. On his behalf, let me say that many of the > young women enjoy his moves, but many do not. > Because of this dancer, another local community passed a policy that > requires dancers to keep one foot on the floor at all times. I felt that > policy was a message to young people that they didn't want young people > coming to their dances as dips and aerials (done carefully and well) are how > they like to dance. > After much discussion our Board passed a policy that clearly outlines our > requirements regarding moves which lift someone off the floor, but the thing > I like best is that it outlines behavior for ALL dancers to follow. It is a > personal peeve of mine when women (and sometimes men) complain about a > dancer behind his back but will not tell the dancer what he is doing > inappropriate. That sometimes makes it hard to confront the person because > he will say, "I've never had any complaints." > Our rambunctious dancer has been following these guidelines very well for > several months now. > Here is a link to the full policy: > http://godsdance.org/GODS/New_to_Contra_files/safe%20dancing%20policy.pdf > > JoLaine > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
