Lindsay's suggestion is one I've seen a number of good callers do, and it seems to help.
Also, I've found that callers who do a beginner's lesson that includes experienced dancers works pretty well. George Marshall's lesson is a prime example (though certainly not the only person doing this): - It's done in a ring, and people get a chance to dance with multiple people during the lesson. - George specifically invites as many dancers as possible to join in. - By the end of the lesson, it's led directly into the first dance - He specifically indicates same-gender dancing is not only okay, but during the lesson, he'll have people find a nearby person of either gender to practice swings, etc. in dance, Ron On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 10:26 AM, Lindsay Morris <[email protected]>wrote: > Once, as the dance ended, I said into the mike > > "Do NOT take a new partner! I'd like anyone who sat out the last dance to > jump up right now and find someone to dance with. Yes, you, sitting out: > go! Go now!" and a bit more hectoring. > > After 15 seconds of that, I asked everybody else to take a partner. That > worked pretty well. > > ------ > Lindsay Morris > 859-539-9900 > > On Jan 16, 2013, at 10:22 AM, jill allen <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Have you as a caller or organizer had particular success in helping > people to find partners, especially when there is gender imbalance? I > welcome comments about the issue of making sure all are having equal > opportunity to dance. I recently received a message from our contra dance > board asking callers for suggestions on this issue. I believe that the > organizers are addressing this issue because we have had dancers leave > after not being able to find partners. I will be sharing your comments > with our board and they will share these thoughts with callers as they are > hired to call a dance. > > > > Thank you! > > Jill Allen > > Lawrence, KS > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Callers mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >
