Thread
Index
Taking to the floor
George Meikle
March 3, 2006, 11:10 a.m. (Message 44443)
In a posting today entitled 'Dance Cards - clarification', David wrote:- > I much prefer the more friendly SCD method of taking a partner when the music strikes up. Oh how I wish this were more often the case as I am finding it is becoming more common for dancers either not to leave the floor at all, or take to the floor before the dance has either been announced by the MC or the band has had the opportunity to strike up with 8 bars of music to announce it. As a band leader I find this habit to be most annoying as it gives the band no time to get music together. Please, please, please can dancers stop this habit and consider the musician(s), and other dancers in the hall, before taking to the floor. It is even more annoying when you find that those that have just taken to the floor early, stand reading their crib sheet swatting up on the dance they have just taken the floor for. I have even been given dirty looks because I have started to play the actual dance before they have finished reading their crib! Oh yes, I can assure you this has indeed happened and I have actually had a dancer complain to me verbally that I had not given them enough time to read their crib on the floor!!! Would it not be easier for everyone, if these dancers were to read their crib during the break between dances first, and then take to the floor when the dance is announced? I get the impression, perhaps wrongly, that certain dancers always want to get as near to the band as possible, to the detriment of other dancers (often less experienced) in the hall who politely wait for the dance to be announced. Surely this is a very selfish attitude to take, but if they were to wait until the dance was announced they would find that they would have to fight with all the rest of the well mannered dancers who wait for the dance to be announced. How tempting it must be at times for some MC's (and musicians) to consider asking the set at the top of the hall to go to the bottom - now that just might be one way of getting them out of this habit? I hate to say this, but I find this habit is most noticeable at dances held in the Central belt of Scotland, often run by RSCDS branches and (I hate to say this even more) with RSCDS certificated teachers being every bit as guilty as others. Surely they were taught this when taking their certificate, or have they just conveniently forgotten that bit? Come on, let's get this habit stopped once and for all as it does not lead to a very friendly approach to dancing. After all is it not supposed to be a social event involving everyone! Let the onslaught begin! George Meikle Lothian Scottish Dance Band
George Meikle ha scritto: > In a posting today entitled 'Dance Cards - clarification', David wrote:- > > >> I much prefer the more friendly SCD method of taking a partner when the >> > music strikes up. > > Oh how I wish this were more often the case as I am finding it is becoming > more common for dancers either not to leave the floor at all, or take to the > floor before the dance has either been announced by the MC or the band has > had the opportunity to strike up with 8 bars of music to announce it. > Amen to that. I can confirm that this is indeed the attitude in Dundee. I was the MC for some local RSCDS dances and, as the evening went on, people got faster and faster at getting on the floor, as if they had a train to catch. Most annoying indeed!!! Thank you, George, I never thought of the musician needing time to get himself sorted/have a wee rest etc. I will make this point next time I have to MC a dance (end of July) Andrea (fae Dundee, the home of road runners:)
Thank you George If you have a good vantage point at some dances or if you go regularly, you will notice that the same people will dance in the same areas at all times - time after time - and with more or less the same people in the sets around them. Reminds me of hearing a minister once start his sermon by saying : "in this church we do NOT have reserved seats" Pia
Greetings! Can I just add my support to George's plea that this practice be discouraged. As an MC in Central Scotland, I _always_ have to announce at some stage in the evening that the floor should be cleared between dances. This results in a split reaction: filthy looks from the people at the top of the centre of the hall in front of the band and applause and 'hear-hear' from a fair number of the others. Tthe 'offending' set dance every dance in their tight-knit little group, only pausing between dances to change partners within the set - and it's pretty much the same people at every dance. They will then happily tell you that nobody wants MCs at all and they have just come to dance not to be told what to do or how to behave. One problem with this, however, is that outside of RSCDS functions, MCs are becoming a scarce commodity and the job is being left to the band leader. Some band leaders (George very definitely excluded) make it clear that they all they want to do is get through the programme and go home. Jim Healy Perth and Monaco
Mike Griffin, who used to be a regular MC with the MacBains Band, had his own way of dealing with people who were on the floor before the band played an intro - or the MC announced the dance. Mike (in collaboration with the band) would announce another dance! (Probably the next on the programme). This soon stopped the habit, because everyone waited for the dance to be announced! Wesley
Thank you George I have noticed it also. I once attended a dance and this was happening and the MC "bit the Bullet" and announced that if the dancers didn't clear the floor between dances and wait for the band to introduce the dance, he would stop the dance proceeding until they did. In fact three or four dances later they resumed the same practice and when they appeared to be made up in complete sets he requested the floor to be vacated and all dancers to sit down before he would resume the evening program. It didn't happen again that night. Needless to say they lost two dances off the program. Ivan
Ivan (from somewhere unspecified...) wrote in response to George: > I once attended a dance and this was happening and the MC "bit the > Bullet" and announced that if the dancers didn't clear the floor > between dances and wait for the band to introduce the dance, he would > stop the dance proceeding until they did. In fact three or four dances > later they resumed the same practice and when they appeared to be made > up in complete sets he requested the floor to be vacated and all > dancers to sit down before he would resume the evening program. > > It didn't happen again that night. Needless to say they lost two dances > off the program. I'm sorry, but I think this is ruder than the dancers not clearing the floor. One thing which I _really_ dislike is MCs treating the dancers like a group of naughty school children. I left school a while ago, and I'm out for fun. It is this sort of thing which gives SCD a bad name and puts people off attending. I would certainly think twice about attending a dance with that MC in future - even dances organised by that group. Now, I agree that the people who just stay on the floor in formed-up sets are also rude, and I have no objection to the MC making some sort of comment, as long as it is courteous and treats the dancers like adults. The best way is to find some sort of humorous put-down, or make some joke about "please give the band a chance - they don't get any rest during the dance" or change the following dance (in agreement with the band) or make the next dance a "visitors' choice" or something. If those dancers still persist, tough. The ballroom is NOT the place to teach etiquette. That's for the class room. Okay, I accept these dancers are probably no longer attending classes; if it really bothers you have a _private_ word with them. But please don't treat me like a child, and please don't waste my dancing time on etiquette lessons. Other etiquette "lessons" are NEVER appropriate in the ballroom. At a social event, it doesn't matter whether lines are perfect. It's not a performance, and it's not a competition. Please just relax a bit and let the enjoyment continue. Cheers, Ian Brockbank Edinburgh, Scotland xxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx http://www.scottishdance.net/
> In fact three or four dances > later they resumed the same practice and when they appeared to be made > up in complete sets he requested the floor to be vacated and all > dancers to sit down before he would resume the evening program. I'm sorry, but I think this is ruder than the dancers not clearing the floor. One thing which I _really_ dislike is MCs treating the dancers like a group of naughty school children. I left school a while ago, and I'm out for fun. It is this sort of thing which gives SCD a bad name and puts people off attending. I totally, totally agree with Ian here. The best way is to find some sort of humorous put-down, or make some joke about "please give the band a chance - they don't get any rest during the dance". If dancers form sets early, or before some MCs think they should, then I feel they will have to wait there until the band and MC are ready to continue the program. I'm not at all opposed to the floor clearing, if in fact it does, but I feel it is quite unlikely and I don't think we should deflect the enthusiasm of keen dancers. or change the following dance (in agreement with the band) or make the next dance a "visitors' choice" or something. I don't think I support "tricking" dancers at a dance or ball. Simon Vancouver
It is very elegant to clear the floor in between dances but I can understand why it doesn't always happen. Your seat is on one side of a dance floor that holds 150 dancers. You want to dance with someone who is seated on the opposite side of the floor. It is easier to meet them in the middle of the floor than make a mad dash across the floor when the dance is announced. And often by the time you get to the other side, that person already has a partner who was closer. Sometimes the dance program is quite full, the hall must be emptied by a certain time or there are great overtime fees, and people finish a dance, thank their partner and mill about looking for the next one so there is no down-time between dances. Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH USA
I was taught many years ago, that in social dance, the couple escort themselves to the floor (in the Olden Dayes...the gentleman escorts the Lady). The sets are formed at the bottom, not in between or at the top. And after acknowledging your partner and thanking the bands, the couple escort themselves back to where they met or are sitting. Chat a while, check your dance card or invite another for the next dance. Wait until called, then form the set. mike who does vintage also. At 3/3/2006 11:32 AM, you wrote: >It is very elegant to clear the floor in between dances but I can understand >why it doesn't always happen. Your seat is on one side of a dance floor >that holds 150 dancers. You want to dance with someone who is seated on the >opposite side of the floor. It is easier to meet them in the middle of the >floor than make a mad dash across the floor when the dance >is announced. And >often by the time you get to the other side, that person already >has a partner >who was closer. >Sometimes the dance program is quite full, the hall must be emptied by a >certain time or there are great overtime fees, and people finish a >dance, thank >their partner and mill about looking for the next one so there is no >down-time > between dances. >Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH USA M.G. Mudrey 106 Ravine Road Mount Horeb, WI 53572 xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx 608-437-3701
George, what would be a reasonable time for an MC to leave between dances? When I act as MC I recognise the pressure put upon the band - through me - by dancers loitering on the floor. But as Sylvia (Miskoe) said there are often good reasons for them doing so, so it's important to establish a the balance. What would be comfortable, do you think? Tom Busby Home Counties North -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.1/273 - Release Date: 02/03/2006
There's milling around looking for your next partner, planned or otherwise, and there is making up sets. Yes, often you do need to meet somewhere on the floor, but having met, if the band has not started the introductory bars or the MC announced the dance, then surely moving to the edge of the floor is easy enough? Last year I attended a dance outhwith my usual area. As I made my way from the bottom of the hall to my seat at the top I was astounded to find myself walking between two complete sets. Most people hadn't even drawn breath! If looks could kill......... Observing that group of people on and off through the evening, they never sat down, until the interval, and never danced with anyone outside their group. And they were not the only ones. Not an easy place for a single dancer to go, I found that I danced more with other visitors than with locals. I have to say that that is the first time I have come across such an extreme example of failing to clear the floor. Sheila
I, too, find this habit very annoying. Maybe someone should try a function where the dances are taken from a pre-arraanged list but only the band and the MC know the order of dances. I also find pre-booking uncomfortable as I'm often late arriving and find many of the people I'd like to partner have no "spare" dances . There's one club,at least, I'll not visit again after an evening spent sitting out more than half the dances while club members spent the whole time in the same space at the top of the hall. Fran( Herefordshire) > From:: xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xx > To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx > Subject: RE: Taking to the floor > Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 10:26:15 -0000 > Well done, George. The habit of getting on the floor drives me mad > also and heads in crib sheets. > Christina Lycos email has 300 Megabytes of free storage... Get it now at mail.lycos.co.uk
In a message dated 03/06/2006 9:45:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx writes: > >In fact three or four dances > >later they resumed the same practice and when they appeared to be made > >up in complete sets he requested the floor to be vacated and all > >dancers to sit down before he would resume the evening program. > > I'm sorry, but I think this is ruder than the dancers not clearing the > floor. One thing which I _really_ dislike is MCs treating the dancers > like a group of naughty school children. I left school a while ago, and > I'm out for fun. It is this sort of thing which gives SCD a bad name > and puts people off attending. > > I totally, totally agree with Ian here. > Ditto! Robb Quint Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Amen - Logic suggests that a full hall means not enough seats to go around and a good informal crowd of people milling around is exactly what we should be aiming for. I remember once, several years ago, at a dance at Hopetoun House an MC giving an inappropriately schoolmistressly lecture to the paying clients how they should behave and as I was relatively new to Country dancing I gritted my teeth. Nowadays I would ignore the lecture and maybe just maybe would be tempted to respond. In message <xxx.xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx>, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx writes >In a message dated 03/06/2006 9:45:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, >xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx writes: > >> >In fact three or four dances >> >later they resumed the same practice and when they appeared to be made >> >up in complete sets he requested the floor to be vacated and all >> >dancers to sit down before he would resume the evening program. >> >> I'm sorry, but I think this is ruder than the dancers not clearing the >> floor. One thing which I _really_ dislike is MCs treating the dancers >> like a group of naughty school children. I left school a while ago, and >> I'm out for fun. It is this sort of thing which gives SCD a bad name >> and puts people off attending. >> >> I totally, totally agree with Ian here. >> > >Ditto! > >Robb Quint >Thousand Oaks, CA, USA -- Bryan McAlister