Mainstream Class, Week #10

The mainstream square dance class class had a slow start last night: there was some church function occuring elsewhere in the building so the parking lot was largely full when we arrived. Anyone following us probably had to circle the neighbourhood a few times to find a place for their car. We used the extra time for a few warm-up tips until all of the newbies were on the floor.

Tonight's new material was easily absorbed by our new dancers: chain down the line, trade by and wheel around. They already had "circle to a line" but it was pretty ugly the first two times we used it; with a little practise however, they were handling that one like pros by the end of the evening.

We did more half-sashayed calls as well. While we have of course introduced these in earlier classes, the new dancers lacked the experience and longer list of calls to be able to recognize the difference between sex-based calls (eg. star thru) and left-hand vs. right-hand dancer calls (eg. partner trade from non-miniwave positions). We talked about it for a few minutes, then ran through some examples (eg. pass the ocean) from normal and half-sashayed positions to illustrate the idea without belaboring it too much. It'll be a good supplementary workshop topic later on.

There are about 19 calls left for four more weeks. Some are trivial (single hinge, fold) while some will require a little more effort (flutterwheel, scoot back) but we're on schedule and I'm confident the new folks will absorb it all without difficulty.

Mainstream Class, Week #10

The mainstream square dance class class had a slow start last night: there was some church function occuring elsewhere in the building so the parking lot was largely full when we arrived. Anyone following us probably had to circle the neighbourhood a few times to find a place for their car. We used the extra time for a few warm-up tips until all of the newbies were on the floor.

Tonight's new material was easily absorbed by our new dancers: chain down the line, trade by and wheel around. They already had "circle to a line" but it was pretty ugly the first two times we used it; with a little practise however, they were handling that one like pros by the end of the evening.

We did more half-sashayed calls as well. While we have of course introduced these in earlier classes, the new dancers lacked the experience and longer list of calls to be able to recognize the difference between sex-based calls (eg. star thru) and left-hand vs. right-hand dancer calls (eg. partner trade from non-miniwave positions). We talked about it for a few minutes, then ran through some examples (eg. pass the ocean) from normal and half-sashayed positions to illustrate the idea without belaboring it too much. It'll be a good supplementary workshop topic later on.

There are about 19 calls left for four more weeks. Some are trivial (single hinge, fold) while some will require a little more effort (flutterwheel, scoot back) but we're on schedule and I'm confident the new folks will absorb it all without difficulty.

Productivity!

It's amazing how much work one can get done on a day away from work.

We had a lovely time in Baltimore's inner harbour area with rlegters and tdjohnsn before dropping them off at the airport in the early afternoon for their return trip to Seattle.

Ron, Troy & Beer Capitol Brewery, Baltimore, 2006-11-13

My Civic went into the auto shop for a long overdue routine servicing. While a front strut needs to be replaced, the rest was as expected and I should get my car back today.

We've purchased our air fare to travel to Denver for the annual IAGSDC convention next May. It wasn't a great price ($320 each) but it was good enough, it's a direct flight (United) and the flight times were pretty close to perfect.

E-mail is now caught up, as is bill paying and laundry. The fridge still needs to be cleaned out and the master bath could use a scrubbing but I'll deal with those soon enough.

It was my mother's birthday yesterday; she's 61. Since we had chatted only a week or so ago, there wasn't a great deal of news or gossip on which to catch up. Life seems to be fairly stable & normal in northern Ontario.

At the end of the day, there were precious few work-related e-mails, pages or voice-mails. The only action item I had received I routed to our AIX team who responded immediately; all other items can wait patiently for my attention.

I could use more days like this.

Productivity!

It's amazing how much work one can get done on a day away from work.

We had a lovely time in Baltimore's inner harbour area with rlegters and tdjohnsn before dropping them off at the airport in the early afternoon for their return trip to Seattle.

Ron, Troy & Beer Capitol Brewery, Baltimore, 2006-11-13

My Civic went into the auto shop for a long overdue routine servicing. While a front strut needs to be replaced, the rest was as expected and I should get my car back today.

We've purchased our air fare to travel to Denver for the annual IAGSDC convention next May. It wasn't a great price ($320 each) but it was good enough, it's a direct flight (United) and the flight times were pretty close to perfect.

E-mail is now caught up, as is bill paying and laundry. The fridge still needs to be cleaned out and the master bath could use a scrubbing but I'll deal with those soon enough.

It was my mother's birthday yesterday; she's 61. Since we had chatted only a week or so ago, there wasn't a great deal of news or gossip on which to catch up. Life seems to be fairly stable & normal in northern Ontario.

At the end of the day, there were precious few work-related e-mails, pages or voice-mails. The only action item I had received I routed to our AIX team who responded immediately; all other items can wait patiently for my attention.

I could use more days like this.

Tuesday Night

Tonight was the official graduation of the Chesapeake Squares' latest mainstream class. It was Dayle's calling night but kent4str and I both attended as all three of us taught the course.

It was a simple and happy affair. After a couple of tips (Dayle called the first MS tip, kent4str and I called the second Plus tip), we asked each of the new grads to join us on stage to receive their official diploma and be recognized by the rest of the club membership. The three of us then jointly called a mainstream tip.

We had to leave almost immediately folllowing. My car has been at the garage since Sunday evening for its 70,000 mile servicing and although I had already paid the $800 for all required work, I still needed to pick up the beast before tomorrow. We swung by the dealership and I drove my cleaned up & updated Civic back home.

I'm calling next Tuesday's Baltimore club night; kent4str will handle the following week.

Now I'm going to go have a light snack and get to bed.

Tuesday Night

Tonight was the official graduation of the Chesapeake Squares' latest mainstream class. It was Dayle's calling night but kent4str and I both attended as all three of us taught the course.

It was a simple and happy affair. After a couple of tips (Dayle called the first MS tip, kent4str and I called the second Plus tip), we asked each of the new grads to join us on stage to receive their official diploma and be recognized by the rest of the club membership. The three of us then jointly called a mainstream tip.

We had to leave almost immediately folllowing. My car has been at the garage since Sunday evening for its 70,000 mile servicing and although I had already paid the $800 for all required work, I still needed to pick up the beast before tomorrow. We swung by the dealership and I drove my cleaned up & updated Civic back home.

I'm calling next Tuesday's Baltimore club night; kent4str will handle the following week.

Now I'm going to go have a light snack and get to bed.