strathspey@strathspey.org:44663

Martin

getting a partner

March 13, 2006, 11:30 a.m. (Message 44663)

Before going off on holiday, I wrote that, for the first time, I would find 
out what it would be like to go unattached to an SCD event.

I found a few people I knew and liked, and chatted/danced with some people 
I'd never met before ... and had a wonderful time.
Only once or twice did I not find a partner (though several times, when I 
approached someone still sitting down, she had already been invited).  There 
were no dance cards tofill in/out  (;-) , but there was some tendency for 
couples to stick together.
Some people, having come alone, were often sitting out. It appeared that, 
when not invited, these people (ladies) dared not invite anyone thelmselves.
Recaps were brief and clear, quite sufficient for me to do dances I had not 
done before (and there were several of these each evening).  I had done my 
homework and looked at the cribs sent out in advance, but with no attempt to 
memorize them.

Conclusions:
If you have confidence in your own ability to get through any dance, you can 
go alone.
A slightly pushy lone lady I noticed rarely missed a dance. Another, more 
pleasant, but somewhat reserved, sat out a lot. Whenever I danced with her 
she obviously knew what she was doing, but had not the confidence to invite 
a stranger (just in case she went wrong?), since a large part of the program 
was unfamiliar.
So, if you go alone, do your homework, feel confident, and remember there 
are probably lots of partners out there hoping you will invite them.

Martin,
in Grenoble, France.