Stephen’s Square Dance Blog

When I go somewhere to dance, I expect to have to pay.  It is nice, considering how often I call and how much I put into the activity, when I’m offered a “freebie” but it is not expected.

You see, I know that everything costs money.  Hall rent.  Teachers.  Advertising.  If square dancing is to continue either in its present or evolved form,  it has to be able to pay for itself. 

Angels that are coming to dance without paying for it are doing the entire activity a disservice.  I realize that they are there to help, but if they weren’t there, the dance would continue.  Truly, the only help an angel should ever offer is that of being in the right place at the right time. 

I know that this is contrary to our current business practice.  However, in the Metro-Seattle area, I know one dance hall that is for sale, one that is going on the market, and a third one that is tired of subsidizing square dancing when they could be making “open market rates” by renting to the public.

Cost are going up drastically for things like food, gas, and entertainment.  I can’t walk up to a movie theater and say “I’ve read the book this movie is based on, so I should have a discount or get in free.”  Life isn’t like that. 

Politicians love to argue that they need more money so they can continue to “attract the best and brightest.”  I know some of my politicians, and I’m not sure they’re all in the category of the “best and brightest.”  However, I do know that most of them earn the money they make.  There are a number of callers/cuers out there that might be tremendously overpaid.  For every one of them, there are probably ten that are underpaid.

If you, as a dancer, don’t value our activity, then new dancers won’t value it either.  I heard, by way of the grapevine, that one of the students in a class I was teaching was shocked at how much it cost to learn to square dance.  Instead of the $15 that the ballroom dance instructor was charging, it was $4.  Consider that this person was ready to pay $15 per session, and the shock is mine.

Until next time, keep dancing!

Fern Bluff Squares were back after a week off for Thanksgiving. 

We were missing a bunch of our usual angels, so it was a slow night.  We got through most of the material that I wanted to cover.  That is, a review of everything to this point plus adding the call “Circle to a Line.”

I could have really used a square of angels as a couple of my new dancers do really well if they have a “strong corner.”  They second guess themselves and start turning all sorts of directions looking to see if they’re right.  Having someone to “be there for them” helps tremendously.

Next week should be better.

I’ve got a wireless headset that I’ve been experimenting with as time permits.  It seems to be very prone to feedback, so I’m trying to figure it out.  I’m sure there’s some secret, but for now it is elusive. 

The commute home was foggy.  There is also some construction in a few places going on, so that slowed me down a bit.

I taught on Wednesday in Tacoma and Thursday in Sultan.  I was asked to go to the grange fundraising dance in Tacoma on Friday, but seeing that I’m calling on Saturday and Sunday, it’s just too many nights in a row.  Martha and I are just going to stay home and relax.

Until next time, keep dancing!

The commute to the hall was easier this time than it was the day before Thanksgiving.  Not much easier but enough to get there “just in time.”

I decided that I needed to avoid teaching anything and work strictly with what we know.  Last week, we saw some struggles with Swing Thru so I wanted to make sure that one got the attention it deserved.  Also, the call Run needed to be reviewed a lot.

I started with a review of what we knew and it went off without a hitch.  Even those dancers that have been out for a couple of weeks were able to keep up and keep moving.  Swing Thru was a problem, as I expected it to be.  Run (boys, girls, centers, ends) was also a problem.  This is one that really can only be fixed by doing it over and over again.

It was starting to come together, and that was good. 

Leo did a nice job with his time, but he did struggle a bit.  One of the hardest things to do, in my opinion, is to work with a very limited amount of calls and still be able to move dancers.  Though, once you develop that skill, it will take you far.

As an aside, I heard reports from the north end of town where a caller, calling a student dance, called a number of calls that NO dancer would know if they started in September.  That is just poor judgement and poor planning.  Putting yourself on auto-pilot helps no one.

Leo did exactly what I asked of him and reviewed Run and Swing Thru.  He also did a nice job of calling, directionally, Pass the Ocean and Extend.  We’ll give them names eventually, but showing them the action for a few weeks will really help when it comes to teaching the call.

One of our retreads, Tim, has been asking about learning to be a caller.  So, I found him some music to learn and will help him as best I can.  More dance leaders means more callers.  Period. 

Until next time, keep dancing!

I totally spaced about reporting about this meeting.  Sorry that it is out of order.

We had a full house as I’d arranged to have a guest speaker.  John Allen, and his wife Penny, came to speak to us about hearing enhancement and how to properly use it.  John and Penny both work with a group called “Hearing Loss Association of Washington.”  They visited us, at no expense, to conduct a small workshop.

It was an amazing session and everyone had lots of questions.  One of the biggest was what do we put through our hearing enhancement systems, voice or a combination of voice and music?  The answer: Usually the most difficult chore for persons with hearing loss is to pick out voice messages from all other competing sounds.  In order to help these persons the most, a hearing-enhanced voice message is valuable because they can have three other sources to pick up the music and the beat – your audio amplification, the visual movements of the other dancers, and the physical feelings of both the fellow dancers and the floor vibrations.”

We also learned that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires not just access for people that are “mobility-challenged” but also has requirements for both visual and hearing impairments as well.  It is not unreasonable for people to ask clubs for hearing assistance devices for their use while attending a dance.  While this seems to be impossible to plan for, the act provides for a percentage (4) that any group should expect to have to serve. 

It was an interesting discussion.  At times it was even a little argumentative.  When someone is convinced they are correct about something, it is hard, even with proof, to change.  However, the meeting stayed very civil and was very productive.

Not too much else to report.  The state federation has requested donations for a silent auction.  The proceeds will offset the expenses from the 2012 National SD Convention bid.  We’re going to send $50 out of our treasury in lieu of an item.  I’m probably going to add a few dollars of my own and will encourage others to do the same.

Also, at the state meeting in May (on the 30th and 31st) we’re going to host the dances in the evening.  I’m going to MC for the callers on the 31st (Saturday night) while Shirley Cooke will MC for the cuers. 

We’ve also got to pick a place for the 2008 fall council dance.  Once we pick a place, we can figure out who to call/invite.  I might ask one of the clubs I call for to help us out on that.  (Informally, of course.)  It never hurts to get the opinions of our dancer population.

Until next time, keep dancing!

Two words.  Holiday Traffic!

This was the worst commute to a dance.  EVER.

I got to my day job early so I could leave early.  This was exceptionally easy as traffic was light.  So, I figured the commute would be a breeze.  Did I say breeze?  My mistake, it was like walking through tar.  It took me 3 hours to get to the hall.  Normally, I’m on a 5:00 p.m. bus that gets me to Martha by 6 and I’m to the dance hall by 6:30 or 6:45.  What really scares me is that this was just holiday traffic.  What if it was some sort of natural disaster where we had to leave?  I’m thinking that it is time to start looking for someplace else to live.  (Or, baring that, a real disaster management plan.)

The lessons went very well.  We were missing two students.  (They’re on a holiday cruise.  I hope it is warm.)  Mostly it was review and I filled in a few holes so that if they go dancing at student level dances, they’ll be prepared.  I don’t want anyone to be surprised with calls they don’t know. 

Leo was there helping and he did a fine job of teaching the Alamo Ring as well as Swing Thru.  I’m sure we’ll be working on those two calls for a while.  The current teaching order list has the Ocean Wave family, Alamo Ring family, Pass the Ocean, and Extend, before teaching Swing Thru!  What point is having a wave but not doing anything with it?  This is very, very, poor design.  So, by introducing the Ocean Wave, I also teach Swing Thru and Run at the same time.  I talk about Trade right after I teach couples Lead Right – Veer Left.  It makes the centers (usually the ladies) hold hands.  Partner Trade will come much later, but I’ve got my hands full with Swing Thru, Trades, and Runs.

It was a good session and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Until next time, keep dancing!

This was another 3 square night at Solo Squares.  That is, if everyone was dancing.  Some people just come to be social and they hide out in the back.  (Nothing wrong with that.)

Martha took the night off again so I went by myself.  I got there early enough to get a good parking place.  Some clubs reserve a spot for their caller and cuer but the Cedar Grange in Maple Valley really has no good place to park, let alone reserve a spot, so by getting their early I can make the best of it.

Two dancers that visit regularly are into Geocaching and were disappointed that Martha wasn’t there as they wanted to show her a bit more of their hobby.  They brought one of the clues they use to find things.  (Geocaching is a hobby where you use a GPS device and clues to do a type of global treasure hunt.  You don’t keep the treasure, you just mark that you found it either online or on a journal that is nearby.  The idea, I think is to encourage people to explore a bit.)  It was pretty cool.  They gave me one of the clues to give to Martha with a hint as to how to solve it.  It was in hieroglyphics.  My kind of puzzle.  Maybe it’s time for another new hobby. 

The dance was fun.  One of the members, a while back, asked me if I’d buy and learn the song “I’ve got the world on a string.”  She listens (regularly) to the radio show “The Music of Your Life.”  I’ve not heard of the song, but I try to buy new music every month.  About halfway through the dance, I told everyone that she was going to help me sing the next song as “I wasn’t sure I’d remember all the words.”  I did pretty well in remembering, but in the end it turns out that it was the wrong song.  Right title, though, so I got points for trying.  It brought a smile out in everyone and we were all laughing about it.  Several people also commented that they really liked that I seem to add new music every month to my program.  It was nice that they noticed.  It makes me happy.

One dancer noted how comfortable I am on stage and that I seem to be really enjoying myself.  It is very true.  I do enjoy myself.  I’ve seen callers enjoy themselves at the detriment to their dancers.  That’s not my style.  I’m entertained while I’m entertaining.  Sounds odd, but it’s true.

Okay, I’m nearly caught up with my blog.

Until next time, keep dancing!

It’s been far too long since I’ve posted.  Sorry about that.  Sometimes life gets in the way.  As it’s been a week, some of the details may be a little garbled, but I’ll do the best that I can.

This was a casual dress dance as it followed their annual fund-raising “Christmas Bazaar.”  As a funny aside, one of our club members works with a team of software developers from India.  As part of the bazaar, there was a raffle of a number of items, including a few blankets.  When the club member was trying to sell the raffle tickets at work, he mentioned that there was a nice Afghan in the list of prizes.  One of the software developers apparently gave him a quizzical look and said “What’s his name?”  Since then, he’s stopped calling them Afghan as some people know Afghan as being citizens from Afghanistan.  Too funny.   

Martha opted for a “girls night out” so she didn’t come with me.  I’m not sure which girls they were, but I’m glad she went and did something other than SD.  It helps her recharge her batteries.

We had three squares with lots of visitors.  Some were casual, others not so much.  Doesn’t matter to me what people wear as long as they come on the door and dance.  The actual dance seemed to fly by.  Dancers were having fun and laughing the whole night.  I was sorry to see it end.

One of our members, Jerry Hughes, had a birthday that day.  (I think it was number 40.)  So, we sang to him many, many, times.  He’s one of the luckiest people I know.  He wins the 50/50 drawings often and is skilled at getting the prizes out of the coin operated crane games.  I’m pretty sure that Jerry even won one of the two 50/50 drawing that night.  I wish he’d buy me a Mega-Millions ticket.

At the end of the dance, we had two squares of Plus dancers.  Though, in truth, we didn’t as each square had one dancer that was either taking Plus lessons or was a Plus dancer from years ago that had just returned to dancing.  So that tip was rough around the edges.

Since most of the club members had been there since the wee hours of the morning, we skipped our after-dance visit to Denny’s.

Until next time, keep dancing!

After a busy day on Friday, Martha and I were looking forward to heading north for dinner and dancing.  The Fidalgo Fogcutters were hosting a large dance with an all you can eat prawn dinner.  In years past, it was a crab feed, but they’ve switched to prawns.  (We’re pretty happy over the change.)

While Brent Mawdsley did a wonderful job with the squares, and Bob Berka picked some really nice rounds, I’m sorry to say that Martha and I had anything but a good time at this dance. 

The pre-rounds were okay.  I enjoyed most of Bob and Linda’s choices and we were treated to a full hour of Phase 3 and 4 dances.  (We don’t dance Phase 4, and of the Phase 3 rhythms, we only really dance the Rumba, Waltz, and Cha-Cha.)  The real problem was that past 1/3rd of the way down the hall away from the stage, you couldn’t hear the music.  (I’ve had my hearing checked and others expressed dismay as well so it wasn’t just me.)  Matters weren’t helped much by the number of people standing in the back visiting. 

When the dance started is when things went down hill for us.  Our first tip was shaky but enjoyable.  The second tip was so bad it was our last for the night.  When we got squared up, one of the women in the square looked at me and said “Oh great, there’s a caller in the square.  I don’t like dancing with callers.  You’re not going to call in the square, are you?”  Trying to be polite, I responded “Well, I’m not being paid to call this dance, so I’ll let Brent do his job.”  I was uncomfortable with the tone of the conversation, but I wasn’t about to be rude.  The first couple of sequences were okay, but were rather wobbly.  A couple of times we actually broke down right before the Allemande Left or Right and Left Grand, so we could pick it up without issue.  Then, disaster struck.  Half the square broke down beyond repair.  (The woman with the attitude was in the thick of it.)  So, since everyone was standing around, I said “let’s run home and make lines.”  Just as we got to our home positions, Brent said, “Allemande Left and a Right and Left Grand.”  With that cue, I figured we were safe being home, but then he said, “Don’t stop, don’t slow down.”  So, I figured we’d keep dancing, so I took Martha by the hand and said, “he said ‘Promenade but Don’t Stop.”  Attitude-Lady looked me right in the eye and said “I *wish* you’d make up your mind.  Either we’re going to stop or we’re going to Promenade.”  I’ve not encountered such venom in a square.  Ever. 

When it was over, she walked out of the square without even a nod.  Martha was so angered, she was nearly in tears.  She was so upset that we didn’t dance again that night.  I’m glad it wasn’t our first dance ever with that club, because it would have been our last.

I don’t know the woman’s name.  I really hope I never see her again.  Yes, it was that bad.

The redeeming part of the evening was that we were able to connect with Therese, Brent’s wife, as well as their two daughters, Megan and Amanda.  The girls were a delight and I think Martha was happy to have someone to just hang with and share war stories.

So, the evening wasn’t a total loss.

In spite of our negative experience, we will go back to dance.  I’ll just be really cautious about who is in the square with me. 

It’s been a busy couple of days, so I’m sorry for the delay in writing about the FBS lessons.

It was a good lesson/session.  We had two squares of people and I think all of our students were there.  (The week prior, I was missing quite a few.)  This session was a review and reteach from last week.  (As well as a review of everything we’ve learned to date.

There’s something to be said for “dancing without destination.”  That is, just enjoying the calls we have and letting them sink in and start to feel natural.  Some have asked how long lessons are going to last.  I’ve answered that it depends as I don’t want to put an artificial time line on our progress.  I’m hoping that we’ll be done in March, but, if we’re not, then we’re not.  All clubs, not just the Fern Bluff Squares, want new dancers as quickly as possible.  However, given the amount we have to teach, it really isn’t practical to expect competent dances in anything less than six months.  (Assuming that lessons last two hours per week.  I wish we could arrange for two sessions a week.  Dancers wouldn’t learn twice as fast, but it would really aid in call retention.  For this reason, I’m pushing hard in all the councils that I call in to have student dances offered weekly from September through May.  However, I’ll post more on that later.)

Our next lesson will be on the 29th of November as Thanksgiving is nearly upon us.  There are several that are trying to get a local (Seattle area) radio station to visit us that day.  So, we’ll see what happens.

Until next time, keep dancing!

I heard from Steve McKay about the NYE dance.

“The dance will start at nine. The pot luck dinner will be served at shortly after midnight. There will be snacks (finger food) during the dance and punch, coffee and water will available as well. ”

So, I’m going with the assumption that it is a) a pot luck so you’re asked to provide a dish, and b) it is at Collins Grange.

If you need tickets, let me know.  I can sell you one, or I can point you in the direction of someone that can.