Objective tests to determine dancing ability

Richard L Walker

Message 18972 · 22 Oct 1999 01:30:33 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Interesting. Ron Wallace addressed this very issue at a workshop once. He
asked (essentially), "Why are you shepherding anyone through a dance?" His
advice was to let everyone make their own mistakes and ultimately assume
responsibility for their own dancing. Even though I violate this (good)
advice frequently, it is sound and I do like it. The dancers who are used
to all the help will certainly have fits when they are allowed to make those
mistakes (at least at first), but a few restarts following the mistakes,
with a bit of additional instruction prior to each restart, might let them
get through the dances solo and take that burden from your shoulders. I
know I need to take this recommendation myself.

-----Original Message-----
From: Xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx [mailto:Xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx]
...It gets very tiring for us always to
be partnered with the beginners, or those easily lost in a reel, when,
rather
than keeping an eye out, you are shepherding them through. The enjoyment of
the evening wears thin...