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C1 Boot Camp Report
Oct. 1st, 2006 05:51 pmOur C1 boot camp event is now over except for the paperwork. Whew.
I'm delighted to report that, as the coordinator, there were only two trivial flaws (folks thought the instructions to the parking garage were vague, and I should have ordered more pizza for Saturday lunch). All else happened exactly as I had hoped with all the desired benefits.
Recap: The event was a one-weekend square dance class, teaching the entire challenge-1 list of calls. Registration fee: $75, Dayle Hodge calling, all dancers must be proficient in the prior level (A2). Dancing ran Friday (7:30-10:30PM), Saturday (9AM-4PM) and Sunday (9AM-3PM).
( File under 'Lessons Learned.' )
Despite the lack of a full-power publicity campaign and a handful of last-minute cancellations, we had a full house thanks to several late registrations and three showing up unexpectedly at the door. Thus, we had 19 dancers, not including angels (experienced folks who volunteer to help us newbies [no charge for angels]); we had set a max of 20. Folks came from Detroit, New York City and Atlanta, as well as locals. About half had prior C1 experience; half were complete novices. Four are callers.
Having the extra dancers meant that we had unexpected revenue. Rather than pass the hat for lunch pizza, I used the budget surplus to pay for the pizza entirely, providing effectively a free lunch on both Saturday & Sunday.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kent4str and I also brought soft drinks, veggie & fruit trays and misc snacks to ensure everyone was fully fuelled throughout the weekend.
As planned, Dayle taught us the entire C1 list in three three-hour blocks; we then danced & practised in the fourth block. I think this is about as fast as anyone can hope for a course as our minds were quite full by the end of each day. Having to travel to Virginia from Maryland and spend extra time in prepping the space & cleaning following had its own personal toll.
I had read through the call descriptions for weeks prior to the course to help my learning experience, but I think it didn't help me much. Reading calls is like reading Shakespeare: it can be done, but you're getting the story the wrong way. Shakespeare isn't meant to be read: it's meant to be acted on stage. Similarly, reading calls does little for me as it doesn't translate well into actual body movement, steps, handholds, moving with other dancers or even internalizing the pace & timing. Reading & studying the lists however did help me recognize my own limits in advance, familiarize myself with the breadth of knowledge required of me and generally set expectations of the course and my own performance.
( The Results and the Next Step )
I don't forsee much opportunity to call C1 material in the near future but as soon as possible I will begin writing some as an intellectual exercise. I hope to have some simple --and tested-- choreography ready to present at ACDC in February of 2007.
 |
C1 Boot Camp Graduates of the DC Lambda Squares' Challenge-1 Boot Camp Weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2006, with caller Dayle Hodge (laying in front) |
I'm delighted to report that, as the coordinator, there were only two trivial flaws (folks thought the instructions to the parking garage were vague, and I should have ordered more pizza for Saturday lunch). All else happened exactly as I had hoped with all the desired benefits.
Recap: The event was a one-weekend square dance class, teaching the entire challenge-1 list of calls. Registration fee: $75, Dayle Hodge calling, all dancers must be proficient in the prior level (A2). Dancing ran Friday (7:30-10:30PM), Saturday (9AM-4PM) and Sunday (9AM-3PM).
( File under 'Lessons Learned.' )
Despite the lack of a full-power publicity campaign and a handful of last-minute cancellations, we had a full house thanks to several late registrations and three showing up unexpectedly at the door. Thus, we had 19 dancers, not including angels (experienced folks who volunteer to help us newbies [no charge for angels]); we had set a max of 20. Folks came from Detroit, New York City and Atlanta, as well as locals. About half had prior C1 experience; half were complete novices. Four are callers.
Having the extra dancers meant that we had unexpected revenue. Rather than pass the hat for lunch pizza, I used the budget surplus to pay for the pizza entirely, providing effectively a free lunch on both Saturday & Sunday.
kent4str and I also brought soft drinks, veggie & fruit trays and misc snacks to ensure everyone was fully fuelled throughout the weekend. As planned, Dayle taught us the entire C1 list in three three-hour blocks; we then danced & practised in the fourth block. I think this is about as fast as anyone can hope for a course as our minds were quite full by the end of each day. Having to travel to Virginia from Maryland and spend extra time in prepping the space & cleaning following had its own personal toll.
I had read through the call descriptions for weeks prior to the course to help my learning experience, but I think it didn't help me much. Reading calls is like reading Shakespeare: it can be done, but you're getting the story the wrong way. Shakespeare isn't meant to be read: it's meant to be acted on stage. Similarly, reading calls does little for me as it doesn't translate well into actual body movement, steps, handholds, moving with other dancers or even internalizing the pace & timing. Reading & studying the lists however did help me recognize my own limits in advance, familiarize myself with the breadth of knowledge required of me and generally set expectations of the course and my own performance.
( The Results and the Next Step )
I don't forsee much opportunity to call C1 material in the near future but as soon as possible I will begin writing some as an intellectual exercise. I hope to have some simple --and tested-- choreography ready to present at ACDC in February of 2007.
