A disappointing turnout for my dance Saturday, just eight paying guests showed up, ten total. We're going to go ahead with the New Year's Eve promotion to see how many people we can get signed up. Around 30 came to the NYE dance two or three years ago, but a lot of those dancers have not been coming to any dances lately.
I lead a trivia team on an on-line trivia site that attracts top-notch players from all over the world, and I have led my team to the top of the bunch, either #1 or #2 in almost every game. Why haven't I been able to do the same with my contra dance?
Pot Luck is going to play for New Year's, so I have a band lined up. It's going to be $15 instead of the usual $10, but we're going to go five hours instead of three and a half, and we'll have two breaks instead of one. Pat Czar is going to call.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Remiss
I've been somewhat remiss this month in posting concerning the contra dances, and I don't really have any excuse for it, I've just been absent-minded. However, I want to assure anyone who hasn't been to the Boca dances to hear, YES, there is a dance this Saturday, the 29th, at the Davie Woman's Club, from 7:30-11:00 p.m. Pot Luck will play, and we're going to have open mic night for calling. So far, I've got two callers coming plus me, and I'm hoping to hear from a couple more before Saturday. So come on out and enjoy the variety.
The Sunday Boca dance last week was lightly attended, and I understand there was more than one disagreement that took place that soured the atmosphere for more than two people. There were not enough men for all the women who wanted to dance once again, too. I trust the atmosphere will be more pleasant and more balanced on Saturday in Davie.
It was good to see and hear Anjie playing for a contra dance again.
There were a couple of young people at the dance, but without other young people there for them to dance with, the odds of them coming back are low. This is the major problem with contra dancing in Florida, no young people. This problem seems unique to Florida, too, dances in other parts of the country have substantial populations of 16-24 year olds as part of their dance communities. From 25-55 or so, they disappear again since they're home with their kids, but then they come back when the kids go off to college. With no kids coming in the 16-24 bracket now, there won't be any 55 year olds 30 years from now to come to the dances.
The Sunday Boca dance last week was lightly attended, and I understand there was more than one disagreement that took place that soured the atmosphere for more than two people. There were not enough men for all the women who wanted to dance once again, too. I trust the atmosphere will be more pleasant and more balanced on Saturday in Davie.
It was good to see and hear Anjie playing for a contra dance again.
There were a couple of young people at the dance, but without other young people there for them to dance with, the odds of them coming back are low. This is the major problem with contra dancing in Florida, no young people. This problem seems unique to Florida, too, dances in other parts of the country have substantial populations of 16-24 year olds as part of their dance communities. From 25-55 or so, they disappear again since they're home with their kids, but then they come back when the kids go off to college. With no kids coming in the 16-24 bracket now, there won't be any 55 year olds 30 years from now to come to the dances.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Three in a Row
Well, that's the third first Saturday dance in a row with a low turnout, and this time it wasn't raining, so I'm not sure what the story was. Cornbread played and Brian called. The music was quite good. Dancers trickled in little by little during the evening, but then they were trickling out again, too, so it never did become a large crowd.
I do not yet know how many people will try their hand at calling a dance during the 5th Saturday dance on the 29th. I believe William Eagan will be there, I will be there, Lou Dow may be there, depending on his travelling schedule, and I'm trying to get one or two more people who haven't called before to participate. And if Sharon King is back from North Carolina by then, I'll try to get her to come. So we could get as many as six people calling different dances.
Being hard right politically, I'm used to the idea of being exclusionary and strict, so it is an odd situation I find myself in, that I am now the inclusive and laid back leader. So y'all come. Boy howdy, we'll have ourselves a time. I'm actually southern by birth, a Florida native, but doing a southern accent requires effort and feels contrived and artificial.
I am refraining from commenting on the demonstration dance on purpose, until I know more about the results.
I do not yet know how many people will try their hand at calling a dance during the 5th Saturday dance on the 29th. I believe William Eagan will be there, I will be there, Lou Dow may be there, depending on his travelling schedule, and I'm trying to get one or two more people who haven't called before to participate. And if Sharon King is back from North Carolina by then, I'll try to get her to come. So we could get as many as six people calling different dances.
Being hard right politically, I'm used to the idea of being exclusionary and strict, so it is an odd situation I find myself in, that I am now the inclusive and laid back leader. So y'all come. Boy howdy, we'll have ourselves a time. I'm actually southern by birth, a Florida native, but doing a southern accent requires effort and feels contrived and artificial.
I am refraining from commenting on the demonstration dance on purpose, until I know more about the results.
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