Hi all,
I've been reading this with interest, occasionally verging on dismay.
For me, there seem to be two dynamics, "inclusiveness/elitism" and
"plain speaking/ignoring the problem".
I tend to want to ignore the fact that some people who go to a dance are
less capable than others of picking up a crib (or listening to a brief)
and then just dancing a dance they've never done before. For me, being
able to do that is half the fun of SCD. (Maybe I'm just a repressed
square dancer...)
So given that there are people like that (I don't want to use the word
"beginner", since some of them aren't) it does seem a good idea to rate
dances, so that "everyone" can dance at their own level, and not upset
themselves or the people whose set they share.
I think I'm happier with the sound of the "star" system, rather than the
ABC/BIA system, since there are many dances where "knowing the trick" is
more important than having a three beat pas-de-bas.
But, it still really upsets me that there are people who are going to be
upset that someone in makes a mistake in a dance, or that someone is
dancing in a an environment where the
Helen P. wrote:
> real damage is to the ego of the person who's muddling through.
(sorry, Helen, you just have the best quote!)
Surely at every club (or class) there is a supportive atmosphere? Does
this evaporate when a ball comes around? At what point does it become
"bad" to "mess up" a dance? For me the point this happens is a dem -
messing up when we are on show is embarrassing - or just after the
teacher of a class says "lets try that just one more time". But in a
social situation? Please!
Am I alone in thinking that going to a ball should be *more fun* than
going to a weekly class?
Adam
Cambridge, UK.
