strathspey@strathspey.org:27825

rabrown

Re: Pre-Booking (was Cribs)

Oct. 9, 2001, 11:12 p.m. (Message 27825, in reply to message 27790)

A couple of years ago I was the one male who accompanied 3 or 4 local
dance lady friends to a far out of town tea dance, so it was somewhat
expected that I would at least dance with each of them in the afternoon,
and during intermission we arranged for that.  Alas, that ended up booking
the last 4 dances of the day.  Imagine my emrbarrassment when a lovely
young lady with the hosting group asked me to dance toward the end of the
program, and I had to decline for all the remaining dances of the day.  She
was rightfully miffed.

     So now I have a new policy which I share with anyone I book a dance
with (other than the first and last for my favorite lady of course):  Yes
let's book a dance, and yes let's look for each other during the prior
dance, and yes let's try to get over to one another for the dance, BUT.. if
anyone stops us in between and asks for a dance before we can hook up, then
we accept, and thus avoid appearing rude or hurting someone's feelings.
Everyone I've used this caveat with has accepted it and thought it made
sense.  My significant other and I also use this approach for mid program
dances we have hoped to do together; we feel this especially important as
there are usually more women than men present, and she does not want to say
no to and potentially alienate a male requester who probably has many more
opportunities available to dance with the opposite sex than she.

     And yes I admit to having been seen at times scurrying across the
dance floor determinedly with my head down and eyes averted.

Richard Brown
Conklin, NY