Chesapeake Squares Club Night

Last night, kent4str and I jointly called an open house for the Chesapeake Squares. We didn't have a huge turnout, only two relative newbies. In fact, both had already been to a couple of prior open houses so they were vaguely familiar with the basics but needed a refresher. We were able to go through a number of simple calls though: circle left/right, into the middle & back, dosado, allemande left, right & left grand, pass thru, U turn back, single file promenade and couples promenade. They were egging for more later so we also threw in ladies chain 3/4 and star thru.

Beyond that, we called Mainstream and Plus for the regular crowd; I think we had enough for an A2 tip but wanted to keep the floor as full as possible at all times.

There must have been something in the water, too... folks were in a laughing, giggling mood all night so I think it made a great impression on the newbies --fun is, after all, what it's all about.

Monday, I went to the Mainstream class of DC Lambda Squares, taught by Butch Adams. I've danced to him before but I've never been in one of his class sessions.

His style is interesting... he prefers to call using simple directional instructions to the floor, slowly building components across the course of the evening. For example, after putting dancers in waves, he calls "swing half by the right, the centers swing half by the left" instead of calling "swing thru." In fact, he indicated it may be another two weeks before he bothers to name the call. The dancers have a courtesy turn but it may be a while longer before they get "right & left thru."

Some people learn via reading definitions. Others learn by hearing instructions. Still others learn by actually doing. Butch seems to be betting nearly all of his new dancers are in the latter category rather than the first two. Is he right? Well, he's been doing this for 40+ years so he must have thought this through at some time. We'll know in a couple of months how it goes.

I wish I could attend more Mondays so I could see how his teaching order unfolds through the dance series.

This coming Thursday, I'll be calling Plus/Advanced for the DC Lambda Squares with guest callers meinfs, Happy and Abe.

Chesapeake Squares Club Night

Last night, kent4str and I jointly called an open house for the Chesapeake Squares. We didn't have a huge turnout, only two relative newbies. In fact, both had already been to a couple of prior open houses so they were vaguely familiar with the basics but needed a refresher. We were able to go through a number of simple calls though: circle left/right, into the middle & back, dosado, allemande left, right & left grand, pass thru, U turn back, single file promenade and couples promenade. They were egging for more later so we also threw in ladies chain 3/4 and star thru.

Beyond that, we called Mainstream and Plus for the regular crowd; I think we had enough for an A2 tip but wanted to keep the floor as full as possible at all times.

There must have been something in the water, too... folks were in a laughing, giggling mood all night so I think it made a great impression on the newbies --fun is, after all, what it's all about.

Monday, I went to the Mainstream class of DC Lambda Squares, taught by Butch Adams. I've danced to him before but I've never been in one of his class sessions.

His style is interesting... he prefers to call using simple directional instructions to the floor, slowly building components across the course of the evening. For example, after putting dancers in waves, he calls "swing half by the right, the centers swing half by the left" instead of calling "swing thru." In fact, he indicated it may be another two weeks before he bothers to name the call. The dancers have a courtesy turn but it may be a while longer before they get "right & left thru."

Some people learn via reading definitions. Others learn by hearing instructions. Still others learn by actually doing. Butch seems to be betting nearly all of his new dancers are in the latter category rather than the first two. Is he right? Well, he's been doing this for 40+ years so he must have thought this through at some time. We'll know in a couple of months how it goes.

I wish I could attend more Mondays so I could see how his teaching order unfolds through the dance series.

This coming Thursday, I'll be calling Plus/Advanced for the DC Lambda Squares with guest callers meinfs, Happy and Abe.

Advanced Planning

The caller scheduler for the Zig Zaggers dance club mentioned casually to me the other day that she's working on her 2009/2010 dance season schedule. I like that kind of advanced planning! Go Donna!

Advanced Planning

The caller scheduler for the Zig Zaggers dance club mentioned casually to me the other day that she's working on her 2009/2010 dance season schedule. I like that kind of advanced planning! Go Donna!