On Tue, Aug 13, 2013 at 11:43 PM, Greg McKenzie <[email protected]> wrote:
> Mac wrote: > > > At our dances in St Louis, new dancers are almost always paired with > > experienced dancers for much of the first part of the evening (not ones > who > > have just attended once or twice - but dancers skilled in dancing with > new > > dancers). There are exceptions - but our dancers work hard to make this > > happen. > > > > Very cool. You certainly have a wonderful dance community. I would be > very interested in what you think your area callers and dance organizers > are doing that encourages, allows, or enables this to happen. Can you > point to one or two factors > > ...... > > I would love to hear other ideas about how callers and organizers can > encourage and foster a "wonderful dance community." > > - Greg McKenzie > West Coast, USA > Here in New Hampshire we use a number of things to increase attendance and to support dancers in various ways. First, we all recognize that the future of our dances is in the hands of younger dancer - teens and 20-somethings. Our efforts are mostly aimed at them, because when they attend a dance, everyone else seems to follow. Here are some of the things we do to encourage younger dances, and the community in general. 1. At most dances, there is a student or youth discount in the price. 2. The Monadnock Folklore Society, which sponsors a number of local dances, also sponsors a scholarship for teens, up to the age of 18. It can be used to take lessons in traditional music, or to attend festivals to work on fiddle, piano, or other skills. 3. Some dances have a car pool discount, where the driver of cars bringing 3 or more young people gets in for free. 4. We don't avoid older dances, but instead allow a little evolution and change. For example, at the Nelson dance, Chorus Jig is always accompanied by both clapping, and singing. (And, in fact, this fall, we are planning for a Ralph Page impersonator to come to the Nelson dance to recreate a 1941 dance, for which we have some old photos. Enthusiastic dancers are even now buying and creating appropriate dresses and dark pants with suspenders and jackets, etc so we will look just like the folks in the pictures...) 5. We invite younger callers and musicians to the stage. A stage filled with teens and young musicians playing the tunes is not uncommon. 6. When people, both young or older, do something special, we recognize them from the stage. For example, when someone brings a lot friends to the dance, or if they bring cookies, or help in some other way. 7. Before a dance that may be a little more difficult, we may ask that newcomers find an experienced dancer to dance with (or vice-versa). 8. When a lot of newcomers show up, at whatever hour, we may recognize them, both to help them fell more welcomed, and to let the regulars know there are some new people out there who may need some help. 9. Some dances give newcomers a "get in free" ticket for a future dance, to help them come back again. 10. As a caller, I sometime will speak with a new or recent dancer, and ask them what their favorite dance or move is. Then, I'll try to call that dance or move later than night, if I can. 11. Finally, our goal is to dance, not to lecture or teach, so I, and most other callers here, try to select dances that can be danced with just a single walk-through. 12. If there is an introductory session before the actual dance, I focus on things such as giving weigh, following the beat of the music, and progression. The calls can be introduced successively, as they are introduced with each dance. There a lot of fun dances that only use a few calls, such as circle, allemande, do-si-do, lady's chain, and promenade. And, I'm sure I've missed other things that we do to attract and keep new dancers. Rich Hart.
