I love these, Rob!! On Wed, Jun 26, 2024, 8:40 PM Robert Matson via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Dianne and All, > > I worked with disabled athletes for 11 years, including people with CP. > From my experience, if I was in this situation, I would seek to speak, in > advance, with the person's caregiver, to explain the activity and ask them > for advice on every angle of concern: "here's what we do, can they do > that?" "If they can't do [the thing] how would you handle it?" "Can you > be there and partner with them?" "If you can't be there, who else can > partner with them?" "What would be your own concerns if you were taking > them to a dance?" etc. Likewise, I'd ask for advice from whomever it is, > wherever it is that the buck stops, so you know, at the end of the day, > that you're doing the right thing if, say, someone falls. > > I'd also wonder if it'd be best to line up partners for them, in advance. > If it's a camp with counselors, guess who. > > At the same time, looking at the dance event itself, if it looks likely > they won't have fun, I'd consider inventing special roles within the dance > that have an enviable cool factor. For example, can you make them your > co-caller? E.g., if you do Sasha, they get to call the "1-2-3-Sasha...." > If you do Heel Toe Polka, they get to say the "Heel toe" part, or maybe > even call the whole thing once you, the lead caller, can drop out, or else > call along with or echo you. Etc. > > One might also invent some ornament or exclamation for them to interject, > thinking back to a recent discussion here about the shouting of "Hoy!," and > you delegate to them the job of shouting Hoy or Hey or Hi or whatever at > the end of each 32 bars or whenever they feel moved, or invent some funny > instruction like "smile two times!" and you show them when to say it, more > or less. Another idea, for giving them a leadership role, would be to > write out announcements for them to read, like the name, source, author of > the next dance and next tune, or introducing the musicians, or maybe write > out a dozen index cards with jokes that they get to read. Basically, offer > them leadership; teach them to call. > > Also, since it's a camp, there's always the possibility of a flashlight > light show. > > I hope that sparks something for you. > > Rob > > - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Robert Matson > Cell: (917) 626-2675 > > > > On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 1:35 PM dpalmerquay--- via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I’ve been asked to call a dance at a church camp for middle schoolers at >> the end of July. Two of the campers have cerebral palsy - one is fairly >> mobile but the other is on crutches. I’m looking for dance ideas that could >> be used as is or modified for a dancer on crutches. About 40 people are >> anticipated (middle school aged campers and high school and adult staff). >> >> Thanks, >> Dianne >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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