"I have a challenge for you: at least once tonight, dance with someone you don't know; and at least once tonight, dance with someone of a different experience level than yourself." Something along those lines.
On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 4:01 AM, Kalia Kliban <[email protected]> wrote: > > "If anyone wants to discuss the ways callers...and others can lead, I > would > >> love to have such a thread." >> >> Although we might not all agree on what is acceptable dancer behavior, do >> you have more ideas for callers and organizers, perhaps a list of what has >> worked for you to make your dances more inclusive and friendly to all. >> > > In my beginner sessions I make a point of demonstrating how to ask someone > to dance. A lot of new dancers may not have done this since high school or > earlier, and it's a very different ball of worms at a contra dance. It can > be super simple (offer a hand, raise the eyebrows) or you can say "would > you like to dance?" But it doesn't have to be a big deal. That can take > some learning, so I like to give folks a head start on that very important > process. And I describe the overall shape of the evening as well (when the > breaks happens, whether there's a snack, is there always a polka before the > second set...), since it's nice to have a bit of a clue about how things > work. When I'm new at an event, I really appreciate knowing stuff like > that. > > Which brings up an important learning opportunity for those of us who are > old hands at contra and may have forgotten what it was like to be the new > kids. Take a night or two and go to something completely alien, either a > really different sort of social dance or a class in something you really > aren't familiar with, and pay attention to what helps you feel more at > home. Is it learning peoples names, or knowing where the bathroom is, or > how the event is structured, or specifics of how you do the thing you're > there to do, or something else entirely? Step outside your own comfort > zone and be a beginner again. It's illuminating, and you might learn > something really cool! > > Kalia > > ______________________________**_________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers> >
