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Dance Community Hospitality
UPDATED 23 June 2007
We
are very fortunate to be a part of the rich treasure of dancers and musicians
that live here in The Connecticut River Valley. Together we form a community
that greatly adds to the quality of life for all of us here at The Guiding Star
Grange. Being a community means the fellowship and common ownership of the
music and dance as it belongs to each and every one of us. Dance groups have a
long tradition of welcoming new dancers and including all that attend in the
evening events. Dance has long been a great form of both recreation and
exercise; a chance to literally “re-create” oneself after a hard week at work.
In
recent times that tradition has been threatened in some dance groups as certain
individuals decide to “Book Ahead” to insure they are not left out when there
are gender imbalances and too few dancers. This has often become a problem at
urban contra dances. As a result often the “regulars” get to dance while anyone
else is left sitting out. Even if you get up to ask someone to dance, the
partners are already gone within thirty seconds or less due to aggressive
individuals. This became known as “The Greenfield Whoosh!” Aggressive behavior
of this type is not a part of the folk dance tradition as a few “elite” dancers
take much more than their fair share of the dance, while many other people sit
out. Aggressiveness steps on the toes
of others (pardon the pun) and takes from others what is not theirs to have.
What ends up happening is the people who pay at the door, are left out while
paying for a “private party” other people get the benefit of. It causes people
not to come back to the dance. This kind of thoughtless, selfish, and uncivil
conduct will cause the demise of all dance groups in the future as no group can
survive without new blood.
I
have heard reliable reports from Glenn Echo, Maryland (Metro Washington DC) of
some dancers even having booked ahead by EMAIL during the week! I really hope
these reports are not true, but from what I have seen at Greenfield, it could
very well be. The jury is out with me on this one. One dancer told me about how
he took vacation time and flew from Los Angeles only to be shut out by booking
ahead in Glenn Echo. All that expense for just two dances is the bottom line of
his account.
One
dance organizer told me the practice of booking ahead comes and goes “in
phases.”
Please
ask a newcomer to dance, and take the time to show this new person the steps
and dances. We were all beginners once and each of us can thank the experienced
dancers that took the time and effort to give to us. Every new dancer is a
welcome visitor we need to become a long-term member of the dance community!
When you book ahead, new people are forced to dance with other newcomers, which
can cause problems in the line! Our future depends on new people for the
support to maintain the building and keep the dances thriving. Please dance
with both the experienced and new people. New people bring life to any group!
Booking
ahead hurts the dance community as the “regulars” often tend to pair up with
the experienced dancers and their friends. Booking ahead shuts out shy members
of our community and new dancers. It sends a message to people of not being
welcomed or belonging to the community. Booking ahead can make a person feel
unwelcome and not return, diminishing fellowship. Often times it is done
without thinking about these bigger issues such as hospitality; it is learned
by example without considering the long-term effects. Both men and women
dancers both suffer as a result. It is all too easy to get caught up with
familiar friends and experienced dancers and the center set. It ruins the dance
for those not part of the elite clique. Please ask someone on the side to dance.
Even thoughtless actions can have the same effect as deliberate actions as
people think this is normal and learn these dysfunctional patterns of behavior
to survive. While one dancer described booking ahead as “self defense,” it is
really a form of cancer that rots the dance community.
I
just ask you to think about this and put the ideas into practice, breaking the
cycle of “booking ahead.” It is rude to ask someone else for the next dance,
while you are still dancing. If you know a dance where this is a problem, leave
some copies of this web page out at the dance.
This
has been less of a problem at Greenfield in recent months, as the people who do
book ahead only do so one dance ahead. Try going on Monday or Thursday nights
to The Scout House in Concord, Massachusetts where
almost everyone books ahead for the best part of the night. Lets keep up the good work in Greenfield to keep the balance of men and women,
which really will eliminate much of the problem. Bring a friend!
If
you are traveling or plan to attend a dance known for this objectionable
practice, I can suggest you bring your own partner(s). At least you won’t get
shut out.
GROUPS WITH SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT
DANCE GROUPS WITH SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
I have received regular and reliable reports of serious
“Booking Ahead” issues about the following dance groups. This list is updated
as needed. Your reports are welcomed at mark@gainesnet.com
The
Scout House, Concord, MA : Monday & Thursday evenings (bring your own partner)
Glenn Echo
(Washington DC)
Glenside, PA
(Philadelphia)
____________________________________________________________________________
Mark
Gaines RN RRT
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
_______________________________________________________________