Just chiming in to say I'm not a moderator and not sure why my name is associated with the Shared Weight email address. Maybe Sandy answered a question I asked a long time ago? Marie-Michele, Montreal, Canada
On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 10:30 AM Paul Rosenberg via Organizers < [email protected]> wrote: > Hi folks > > Apologies for how I am addressing the response. Most lists default to the > entire group, but it seems like this goes only to the individuals in the > response field? OK, now I see that Marie-Micele seems to be the moderator > and generic address > > Just a few thoughts: > > COULD YOU PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU ARE FROM AND YOUR DANCE SERIES? > > This is an issue I notice in all of these lists, but specifically in the > Organizers' list, knowing your location is useful, unless you want to > remain anonymous > > But while I'm at it, I might as well make a couple of comments. I've > always wondered myself (since my first dance in 1981!) about the > contradiction of having a lesson preceding the dance, while publicity also > indicates that no experience needed, all dances taught, dances are easy > etc. etc. > > Yes, the dances are easy compared to international folk, which is mostly > Balkan these days, and ballroom. But I have witnessed way too many people > struggling, especially in recent years, with the fast pace of these > always-in-motion cardio -- and -- mental workout dances. > > As a caller, I got to the point that I no longer enjoyed ramping up the > dances for the experienced dancers while leaving the less physically and > mentally fit dancers behind. I had already been calling a lot of community > dances and family dances and getting much more satisfaction from them. And > people smiling a heck of a lot more! So I stopped organizing -- as well > as calling -- contra series. > > My organizing community and family dances, as fun as they were for people > (we would get *rousing ovations* at the end of each event), our turnouts > were still too small to have a viable event. But I was still organizing > them until Covid. > > I am lucky that we have a couple of local bands who are willing to play > for whatever comes in the door, so we could continue and each of us get gas > money, and sometimes enough to pay for a meal at a local cafe. > > But I'm not sure what my future is going to be because of all the > complications right now with checking vaccinations and masking, etc. etc. > > Another important issue is the gender neutral calling. I rarely use > gendered terms because they're not necessary in the community and family > dances. But larks and robins is such a weird descriptor! Do you think that > there could be another way of distinguishing roles? I think the best way to > do gender-neutral calling is to use positional terminology. But I realize > that is very challenging for us callers > > A colleague of mine uses "drivers and passengers" and I tried that > recently, but wouldn't you know it? Some people from the United Kingdom > were there and they said they got thrown off by the terminology of course! > > > But some thing that a lot of the Contra world folks do not think of is > that we are going to become quite a monoculture because many rural people > as well as many conservative people are not only unhappy with this > terminology, but some are actually boycotting the dances because of it. I > do know a few people in that category. > > I do my best to explain to them about the pain that some members of our > community go through at the dances with the gent/lady terms, but they have > a couple of arguments themselves. For one thing, they say that they are > uncomfortable with these new terms. > > But there's also the argument that many of us progressives are going > overboard to make sure that members of oppressed groups do not feel any > pain in their lives. I realize this is a huge huge conversation, but in the > wide world there is more and more talk about how damaging it is to insulate > oppressed groups from feeling any pain. And I am one of those people who > went through terrible oppression growing up and was lucky to have enough of > a support system to allow me to get past the pain. And yes, there are > people who do not have that support system > > Now I'm realizing I've gone on way too long, but I do hope we have more of > a dialogue about this > > > Paul Rosenberg > Albany, NY > Founder of the Flurry Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY > www.homespun.biz > *Joy Through Traditional Dance & Live Fiddle Music* > 518-482-9255 > > > On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 9:26 AM Sandy Seiler via Organizers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Could you specifically address my question of how to get new dancers to >> show up on time for the lesson? I think it would be ok to advertise the >> event as starting at 7:00 with lesson (or basic moves instruction) in the >> first half hour. I feel like when new people come at 7:00 and experienced >> arrive at 7:30 that already sets the newbies up as "a tribe apart". We >> need to get as many as possible there at 7:00 to integrate and socialize. >> Thoughts? >> >> On Tue, Mar 14, 2023 at 6:50 AM Mary Collins <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Alexander- oops...while we are not specifically gender free, we strive >>> for it in a very very conservative group of older dancers. I am scheduled >>> to meet with our web person soon and will adress verbage. Thanks for this >>> info. >>> >>> On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 4:34 PM Alexandra Deis-Lauby <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Mary, >>>> >>>> Is the Buffalo dance gender free? The website tells callers to use >>>> gents and ladies. If the dance is in fact gender free, then the website >>>> needs updating. If you are advertising the dance as gender free but use >>>> gents and ladies, that would certainly not encourage me to return if I were >>>> a new dancer. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mar 13, 2023, at 3:54 PM, Mary Collins via Organizers < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Watching this as we have the same issue. We are (I believe) the 2nd >>>> largest city in NYS and have the most pitiful turnout. >>>> >>>> I think you have some good ideas here. >>>> >>>> One comment: we often or even always speak about our dance not only >>>> gender free, no partner necessary to bring, but also as no lessons needed, >>>> each dance being taught and "walked through". Then we advertise "the >>>> lesson" b4 the dance. If words matter (and I think we agree they do) the >>>> this is a huge contradiction. >>>> >>>> I say to people these sets of words & phrasing: easy, walking to music, >>>> Only 8 steps, no need to bring partner but a friend is fun, dances are >>>> taught, practiced (stole from country line dance & swing) and then they are >>>> prompted once the music starts. We offer basic move instruction rather than >>>> lesson. >>>> >>>> I don't really know if these changes help, hinder or have no effect. I >>>> only know that not having a friend anchor for the first few dances would >>>> have resulted in my not coming back. The lesson too. But that's just my >>>> perception. >>>> >>>> We give out "get in free" cards and encourage ppl to share theirs with >>>> a friend. I also encourage people who say "I told my friends...", to next >>>> dance offer to pick them up or meet b4 and come together. >>>> >>>> We also encourage experienced dancers to partner with new dancers. >>>> >>>> I am anxious to hear other's ideas. >>>> >>>> Mary "from Buffalo", not. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 12:49 PM Sandy Seiler via Organizers < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Newbies are not returning my thoughts... >>>>> Why? not feeling welcome?, feeling intimidated/too hard? Coming late >>>>> to lesson and being lost/confused during dance? Lack of feeling of >>>>> mastery/learning? Need follow up lesson since we only dance 1x/month? >>>>> One >>>>> month is a long time to wait for another lesson. Not enough younger >>>>> dancers like themselves? >>>>> Ideas: >>>>> 1. Use beginner friendly buttons >>>>> 2. Ask experienced dancers to dance with beginners for first 2 dances >>>>> at least. Board members lead by example. >>>>> 3. Encourage experienced dancers to come for the beginner lesson to >>>>> welcome/socialize with new dancers. >>>>> 4. Have caller or one of us give out free passes (pass for next dance) >>>>> at the lesson so we don't have to remember to do it at the table. We gave >>>>> out 15 free passes to new dancers in Feb and did not get any to return in >>>>> March. (March dance was on 2nd sat instead of our normal 3rd sat and it's >>>>> spring break. Feb attendance 61, March 38 (paid dancers, not including 3 >>>>> listeners). Also there was a local magazine article about LBDA in >>>>> February >>>>> and we had our most experienced and popular contra dance band (Kaw Creek) >>>>> playing. >>>>> 5. Our Lesson is at 7:00, Dance 7:30. Should we use start time 7:00 >>>>> in advertising bc experienced dancers will figure it out and adjust to >>>>> coming at 7:30 more easily than new people knowing they need to come at >>>>> 7:00 for the lesson. New people attending and being on time for 7:00 >>>>> lesson is important for a smooth dance so do we need to advertise that >>>>> way? Want experienced dancers to be there to meet and socialize with them >>>>> so they can be better integrated into the community and not feel so >>>>> awkward. I have suggested this to our board before, but was told that >>>>> would be manipulative toward experienced dancers who would be upset that >>>>> they came too early and wasted their time. That feels like a very >>>>> unwelcoming attitude, and I would like to encourage all our dancers to >>>>> consider that 7:00 is our start time because beginners are important and >>>>> we >>>>> need to be there to greet them and socialize. >>>>> 6. Schedule a 1 hour lesson or series of lessons led by experienced >>>>> callers Lisa and or Jill and a couple new callers... before the dance? On >>>>> a different day? Through Parks and Rec this summer? >>>>> 7. New dancers are far outnumbering experienced dancers. Need to do >>>>> advanced dance to pull back in some dancers who drifted away after the >>>>> pandemic. Contact individually by phone/email? >>>>> >>>>> And then getting younger people to attend is a whole other but >>>>> strongly related topic we need to address more effectively. We are not >>>>> getting enough young people at dances. It appears to me that when a young >>>>> person comes they often decide to not return because there aren't enough >>>>> people in their age group. >>>>> >>>>> Please tell me if you like/encourage these ideas I have come up with >>>>> so far and add others. >>>>> Especially I want to know how to get new people to come on time for >>>>> the lesson. >>>>> Is it ok to advertise dance for 7:00 even though first 30 minutes is >>>>> lesson? It's frustrating for our callers and then they don't get a full >>>>> lesson which is not good for anyone. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >> Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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