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Who Got Off Track On This One?
0AM7L@SIA
Jan. 29, 2006, 4:32 p.m. (Message 43930)
I don't know who (mistakenly) got the idea that I suggest workshops be exclusively for 'walking thru ball dances," but that was clearly not my original message. (And who even brought up walk-thrus? No one goes to a workshop solely to do walk-thrus. That's just silly.) A workshop should teach us how to dance BETTER. My point was: rather than the workshop teacher springing a new dance on us--which we won't do that night, and possibly never--it would be just as easy for them to perfect our footwork, phrasing, handing and formations using dances to be done _that night_. If only one workshop leader takes this to heart and saves us from trying to absorb a dance we don't 'need to know' that day, and helps us correct our technique using dances from the evening's program, great! I hope that he or she teaches a workshop I attend. I reiterate that we are not all locals who've learned by heart the 16-18 dances on the program. And the better we execute them, the better for everyone. Margaret Sarna
Dear Margaret, I appreciate what you are saying, but, as an experienced dancer, I do not want to dance the dances from the evening programme if I have enrolled for an advanced or advanced technique class. Along with being shown how to dance better I would like to be extended with dances which, preferably, I have not done before. Taking into account the number of years I have been dancing this is not always possible. Ideally, I would like also my dancing to be critiqued personally. Although I have been an 'advanced' dancer for most of my dancing life I am aware that I have some bad habits. Unfortunately, the number of dancers in a class means that being critiqued personally is not always possible. The concern with dancing the dances from the evening programme suggests that the programme may be biased too much towards the preferences of local dancers (who may not necessarily be attending the classes). If the school/workshop includes classes for beginner and intermediate level dancers then the first half of the evening should include few difficult dances. In my experience, beginner and intermediate level dancers are quite happy to dance only the first half of an evening if they have been to classes during the day. The first half of the programme should include simplier dances with a scattering of more difficult dances for the more experienced dancers while most of the dances in the second half of the programme could include mostly dances for the more experienced dancers. This way, everyone has been catered for. Regards, Iain Boyd Wellington New Zealand Don & Margaret Sarna <xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote: I don't know who (mistakenly) got the idea that I suggest workshops be exclusively for 'walking thru ball dances," but that was clearly not my original message. (And who even brought up walk-thrus? No one goes to a workshop solely to do walk-thrus. That's just silly.) A workshop should teach us how to dance BETTER. My point was: rather than the workshop teacher springing a new dance on us--which we won't do that night, and possibly never--it would be just as easy for them to perfect our footwork, phrasing, handing and formations using dances to be done _that night_. If only one workshop leader takes this to heart and saves us from trying to absorb a dance we don't 'need to know' that day, and helps us correct our technique using dances from the evening's program, great! I hope that he or she teaches a workshop I attend. I reiterate that we are not all locals who've learned by heart the 16-18 dances on the program. And the better we execute them, the better for everyone. Margaret Sarna
Iain,
<< I appreciate what you are saying, but, as an experienced dancer, I do not
want to dance the dances from the evening programme if I have enrolled for an
advanced or advanced technique class. >>
I have to agree with you on that. "Dances that never will be done" are
often presented at workshops by teachers and sometimes become future favorites
if one brings back the names of devisers and dances to their class. I have been
exposed to many new dances through workshops that I really enjoy and have
taught in my own classes later on. I also think there is a distinct reason we go
to any workshops. Some want more technique, as in newer dancers and those
trying to improve their dancing level. And there are those who seek more challenge
of newer dances and the social aspects presented by different teachers.
As an experienced dancer I have been to workshops where I did not know
some of the dances on the ball. I sat them out and watched, no shame in that. If
I were to attend a workshop with a many unknown dances and could not
participate that would be my own fault. We always have the option of not supporting a
workshop that is not "user friendly" for our particular needs. Encouragement
from outside can affect a change too.
In the San Francisco Branch we have the Asilomar Workshop that makes
every effort to accomodate dancers locally and outside the branch. We have ball
reviews during the day and all the dances for the ball are posted, long in
advance, often with instructions if it is not an RSCDS book dance. It seems to work
well and most dancers enjoy the weekend. But the workshop teachers are left
to choose their dances for the daytime sessions. Some may choose a ball dance.
But dance workshops are like ice cream. There are many flavors to choose from,
sometimes not pleasing everyone. It is hard to please everyone, no matter how
hard we all try.
Bob McMurtry
San Francisco Branch