Mainstream square dance class #3

[bjarvis]

Class #3 last night went very well, much like the prior classes.

The new dancers continue to absorb everything they're given like a sponge. I was afraid kent4str and I would still be brain-dead from this past weekend's C1 sessions but we were actually in reasonable form overall.

This class, we covered:

• lead right/left
  
• bend the line
  
• partner trade
  
• grand square
  
• star thru
  
• walk around the corner/see saw
  

Now that they're comfortable with the dance space and each other, we're making the breaks between tips closer to five minutes in length rather than ten. I think we're far enough along to implement singing calls next week although we may push it one more week.

The new dancers voted and have opted for a class on Columbus Day next Monday so we can't attend justetthon's C1 club night but we'll find another window some time in future.

Comments

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Have you felt the strangeness in converting from the 'I'd better know the definition of the call and DO it so no one will glare at me" version of square dancing versus the 'Let's have some fun and learn some more body memory calls and not worry about knowing this stuff next week' version of it?

I feel that way every Monday when I go from an hour of intensive C1 workshopping to new dancer review.

Lord help us.

Did the DC Lambda Squares website issue get resolved?

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I find myself worrying more about accidentally editorializing too much. For example, we taught them "do paso" last week. While we showed them how it goes and drilled it to ensure it was being done right, I also made mention that of all the calls in the Mainstream list, this is one of the least frequently used, so infrequently in fact that it's sometimes a fast way to crash an experienced A2 square. When we later did "right & left thru" and "star thru," however, I emphasized that these calls come up constantly & frequently so they'd better have these ones down flawlessly.

I think I'm doing the right thing by helping guide their focus and giving a bigger picture of the modern square dance program, but I wonder sometimes if I'm simply instilling my own biases rather than giving useful advice.

I do spend a lot of time double-checking the definitions to be absolutely sure my understanding of the calls matches the official CALLERLAB version, and have been surprised with some discrepancies. Where there's a variance between our area's customs and the official description, I'll go with the CALLERLAB version first with appropriate disclaimers. If it seems appropriate, I'll toss in our local flavour towards the end of the evening or make a note to explain it more fully in a later class.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Oh, and no, our DCLS domain name & web site are still down. Our web guy will be back later this week so it should all be ironed out shortly, I hope.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Snookums, if you're not doing singing calls from night 1, I don't know if I'll respect you in the morning.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to show them something novel & new each of the first several classes rather than blowing it all at them in a single session. We've shown them squared sets, stars and 8CT positions; this week, they got lines (facing in & facing out). Shortly, they'll get thars, waves, completed DPT, 1/4 & 3/4 tag positions and so on. Next week, they'll probably get singing calls. Later in the series, they'll get periodic 60 second public service announcements about fly-ins, conventions, the IAGSDC, the GCA and WASCA (our local square dance club umbrella organization). I'm also thinking about scheduling a guest caller in a month or so to give those who can't get to Thursday club nights a chance to dance to someone completely new.

I'm comfortable with our pacing currently, and we're soliciting feedback during every break. When it's all over, we'll also be distributing surveys to the new dancers & angels to get their feedback. We can ask if they'd prefer the singers earlier or later, among other things.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Ugh...I didn't like that response at all.

I think I'll decline from commenting anymore! :(

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I am interested in knowing how you'd do it differently. For the most part, I'm using the models of our local area callers and my prior Toronto-area instructors, combining with my own not-so-happy experiences with the MS class I had in DC many years ago. While our course is largely set for this season, there's likely going to be more courses in the future so I'm open to re-writing the entire plan with new & better ideas.

[rlegters.livejournal.com]

Interesting; we always do singing calls the very first night. The caller who called our first 'Taste of Square Dancing' this year actually pulled off a fun singing call when the only calls he'd taught were Circle left/right, allemande left and dosado.

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

Just an observation - our club rarely did singing calls for my MS/PLUS which only resulted in disaster when us newbies went to a real dance or to our first fly-in. For me, it would have been much easier to be exposed to singing from the very beginning than to stumble on it in public.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Oh, we'll definitely do singing calls and we always do in club nights. I'm just not convinced there will be a significant difference beginning with Class #1 of 14 rather than Class #4 of 14.

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on this one - and the chocolate too, of course! : )