{"items": [{"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432", "service": "fb", "text": "I had mentioned this before when I was on the BIDA Board, but my home-dance community in Florida hosts Advanced Dances on the Fifth Sundays of the month, when they occur...there are usually four or five per year, but that includes summer dates, and often holidays like New Year's Eve.
The nice thing is that it would work nicely with BIDA's existing schedule of dancing on odd-numbered Sundays, and give about the right number of dances per year (3-ish?) while maintaining a predictable pattern. Though I understand the reasons for having it precede a regular dance on a regular date, too.", "timestamp": "1570363730"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114570302032", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114570302032", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Also, as a person who enjoys advanced dancing a great deal and who has Body Limitations (TM), I would advocate for Advanced Dances being on their own date. I'm not able to dance 5-6 hours at once, and holding the advanced dances on the same day as regular dances means that some folks will show up late for advanced, and others early to the regular. I would be one (among several, I reckon) who would leave early and then feel like a snob about it. :/
For a few of us, advanced dances are places where we're less likely to become hurt or injured.", "timestamp": "1570368333"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114570711212", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114570711212", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Angela there are definitely a lot of considerations here, but people should totally feel ok about only coming for the advanced dance and not staying for the evening dance!", "timestamp": "1570368541"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114570786062", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114570786062", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman for sure. But, as a community organizer, I worry about the impression I leave when folks see me dance only seldomly, and maybe only at more advanced events.", "timestamp": "1570368626"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114570940752", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114570940752", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Angela I'm confused; if we had advanced dances on different evenings wouldn't that still be \"only seldomly, and maybe only see advanced events\"?", "timestamp": "1570368795"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114571230172", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114571230172", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman I guess I'm worried that it would be more harmful to be seen leaving before the beginning of a regular dance.", "timestamp": "1570368985"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114571315002", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114571315002", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Like, \"okay y'all, have fun with your kiddie games, I'm too good for that so bye!\"", "timestamp": "1570369032"}, {"author": "Tamar", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114572782062", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114572782062", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Angela, I really appreciate that you give this so much consideration. I used to see the swing dance teachers leave after they taught their lesson and come back around 11pm. When I taught, I would stay and dance with anyone who was at the lesson.
But, if you ALSO attend on the regular nights, I think people will see that you enjoy dancing with everyone.", "timestamp": "1570370060"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114572906812", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114572906812", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Tamar, if my body were more capable, I would. I like dancing with newcomers, but don't make a point of getting myself to regular dances anymore because I tend to hurt after. And while I'm more likely to make it out dancing *at all* if there's an advanced event, I'm also slightly more likely to prioritize advanced over regular dances as a result.", "timestamp": "1570370219"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114583495592", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114583495592", "service": "fb", "text": "→ The JP English dance (which is pretty small anyway), which runs on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, has an \"experienced\" dance when there's a 5th Tuesday. This sometimes brings out people who don't come to the \"regular\" dances frequently.
The first-Friday \"challenging\" dances at the Count House are always well-attended.", "timestamp": "1570376175"}, {"author": "Tamar", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566110432&reply_comment_id=10100114632736912", "anchor": "fb-10100114566110432_10100114632736912", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I understand and in that case, hopefully people know you well enough to understand your situation.", "timestamp": "1570396782"}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114566649352", "anchor": "fb-10100114566649352", "service": "fb", "text": "This looks like a really good idea", "timestamp": "1570364500"}, {"author": "Jonah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114568805032", "anchor": "fb-10100114568805032", "service": "fb", "text": "Sorry to miss it! I'd love to come if we do more.", "timestamp": "1570366805"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1570368063"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114570436762", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114570436762", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Wang how do English and Scottish less demand callers travel?", "timestamp": "1570368452"}, {"author": "Lindsey", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114575975662", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114575975662", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I began calling about when I had started chosing other dance forms over Friday contras. Also, as an established caller, the necessity of a car is really dependent on region and scope of travel, but would have definitely hindered me at the start.", "timestamp": "1570372535"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "→ this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1570372721"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114665451352", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114665451352", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Wang is this just that there are more contra callers in NYC, and so the same number of slots are divided more ways?", "timestamp": "1570410990"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "→ this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1570424612"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114701958192", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114701958192", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Wang my questions are both because I don't know how ECD/SCD caller patterns are and am trying to understand that, and that the caller pattern you're describing seems different than what I'm used to. Looking over BIDA booking for the last year I count 11 local caller evenings and 14 traveling caller ones. Looking at upcoming Concord Thursday dances I count 6 local and 5 traveling. And there are 10+ local callers who I think our experienced dancers could list.
I'm also not sure NYC has so few local callers? I'm not from there but I can think of at least Maia, Alexandra, Martin, Carl, and Ben. Plus several NJ callers who maybe should count?", "timestamp": "1570445872"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114702192722", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114702192722", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I wonder how much of your is that contra dances tend bigger, and so can pay more, and so people are willing to travel farther to call them?", "timestamp": "1570446151"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114702656792", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114702656792", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Another factor is that there are enough contra dances for bands/callers to put together tours, but many fewer ECD and SCD dances.", "timestamp": "1570446578"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114702716672", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114702716672", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Mostly I'm trying to figure out how much of the difference you see is \"people want different things\" vs \"the communities, local and regional, are different sizes\". I'm guessing that a contra dance that was far from other dances (ex: Los Vegas) might look more like what you're seeing with ECD/SCD?", "timestamp": "1570446728"}, {"author": "opted out", "source_link": "#", "anchor": "unknown", "service": "unknown", "text": "→ this user has requested that their comments not be shown here", "timestamp": "1570498873"}, {"author": "Loren", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114842486572", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114842486572", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Wang when I danced in in Northern California in the 80's there were two dances a month in Berkeley, which were almost always called by Kirsten Koths, and two dances a month in SF, which were almost always called by Charlie Fenton. The band was almost always The Hillbillies From Mars. The first time I danced in NYC the caller that evening was Tony Parkes and I just assumed he was house caller. When I asked and one of the dancers told me there was a different band and caller every week, I couldn't get over it.", "timestamp": "1570500479"}, {"author": "Loren", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114843614312", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114843614312", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman we also have another local caller named Paul Morris", "timestamp": "1570501068"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114843808922", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114843808922", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Loren thanks! There are a lot of people in NYC and I don't know all of them ;)", "timestamp": "1570501218"}, {"author": "Loren", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114569887862&reply_comment_id=10100114844422692", "anchor": "fb-10100114569887862_10100114844422692", "service": "fb", "text": "→ He and his wife Teri are deep in baby mode these days so they don't dance much at the moment, but I see he is scheduled to call for us in January.", "timestamp": "1570501417"}, {"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152", "service": "fb", "text": "I'm interested in how this goes. For many years at JP we had 2 double dances per year, with afternoon Advanced Contras and evening regular Contra. There was a potluck in between the two events where everyone could be together. Those potlucks were wonderful ways of creating and fostering community. The events became so sparsely attended we had to stop them a couple of years ago. Unfortunately we can't just have a potluck before a dance, because the church charges double to do that.", "timestamp": "1570372683"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152&reply_comment_id=10100114577772062", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152_10100114577772062", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Lisa the two dances with a potluck in between is also how we do family dances", "timestamp": "1570373306"}, {"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152&reply_comment_id=10100114578760082", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152_10100114578760082", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman it's a wonderful thing.", "timestamp": "1570373913"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152&reply_comment_id=10100114581983622", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152_10100114581983622", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Actually, when I first started dancing in JP (1997) there were three advanced dances per year, which later dropped to two. I'm uncertain about why, in recent years, our advanced dances were so poorly attended, but I think it's related to the fact that many of the people who used to be \"regulars\" at the evening dances have stopped coming frequently (or, in some cases, at all).", "timestamp": "1570375796"}, {"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152&reply_comment_id=10100114583919742", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152_10100114583919742", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Robert I think we went down to 1 before stopping all together. I miss the potluck socializing. It made me feel like part of the community quickly.", "timestamp": "1570376392"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114576230152&reply_comment_id=10100114591589372", "anchor": "fb-10100114576230152_10100114591589372", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Lisa, Yep, down to one in the most recent years. And I agree about the potlucks; we were always careful to make it clear that anyone was welcome at them, whichever dance event they were attending.", "timestamp": "1570380067"}, {"author": "Lindsey", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114577013582", "anchor": "fb-10100114577013582", "service": "fb", "text": "The two Seattle dances are both weekly and on weeknights. There is interest in an occasional challenging event, but given the above, I don't see a way to arrange a challenging event without having to specifically source another venue and date (and do all the associated publicity for a one-off).", "timestamp": "1570373013"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114577013582&reply_comment_id=10100114577532542", "anchor": "fb-10100114577013582_10100114577532542", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Lindsey if you wanted to do one I think a one-off weekend event would be a good way to start. Yes, it's a bunch of extra logistics, but after the first one you can think about whether it's worth it to do them more regularly", "timestamp": "1570373147"}, {"author": "Lindsey", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114577013582&reply_comment_id=10100114578720162", "anchor": "fb-10100114577013582_10100114578720162", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Honestly, we're at event saturation right now, especially with a couple of new weekends on the calendar (including one I co-organize), so I'm not ready to calendar-jockey for a date. This is why I skipped any sort of public marriage celebration as well. On a different note, I see an afternoon/single evening challenging session as more accessible to dancers who can't otherwise commit to weekends, and would keep the focus on the dancing rather than all of the other considerations of a longer event.", "timestamp": "1570373871"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114577013582&reply_comment_id=10100114579224152", "anchor": "fb-10100114577013582_10100114579224152", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Lindsey sorry, by \"weekend event\" I meant \"something on a weekend\" not \"something weekend-long\"", "timestamp": "1570374374"}, {"author": "Lindsey", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114577013582&reply_comment_id=10100114579793012", "anchor": "fb-10100114577013582_10100114579793012", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Thanks for clarifying! Yes, an occasional one-off three hour dance on a weekend seems like the least-bad scenario.", "timestamp": "1570374862"}, {"author": "Meg", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114614448562", "anchor": "fb-10100114614448562", "service": "fb", "text": "I was really excited for this event, both because it provides an opportunity to try advanced contra dancing and because it starts early, which is good for folks like me who have trouble staying awake past 10pm or have work early the next morning. Unfortunately I have a cold and won't make it tonight, but would love to see this happen again in the future.", "timestamp": "1570390339"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114614448562&reply_comment_id=10100114634942492", "anchor": "fb-10100114614448562_10100114634942492", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Meg sorry you're not feeling well!", "timestamp": "1570397824"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114655137022", "anchor": "fb-10100114655137022", "service": "fb", "text": "I had to leave at the end of the potluck to bring the kids home, but I felt like this went very well! One thing I do think we should have done differently was run it 4:30-6:30 without a break instead of 4:00-6:30 with one.", "timestamp": "1570406134"}, {"author": "Robert", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114655137022&reply_comment_id=10100114724962092", "anchor": "fb-10100114655137022_10100114724962092", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I agree that it was a success. Both sessions were well-attended, especially the evening dance -- I wonder if there were people who came for the afternoon and stayed for the evening who wouldn't have come without the advanced session.
That schedule sounds more like what the Western Mass. gender-free dance does (did?) for its double dances. When I started at JP, both sessions were full length (which in those days was 3\u00bd hours!), starting at 2:00, with separate bands and callers for the two events. We later shifted to a 4:00-6:00 afternoon session, and one band/caller. Only the very hardy and/or insane (like me) were up for 9 hours, even if it wasn't *all* dancing.", "timestamp": "1570463945"}, {"author": "John", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114673540142", "anchor": "fb-10100114673540142", "service": "fb", "text": "Ive been reading these comments, and i must also say when i was in the lobby-hallish Hall is area outside the dance packing for the evening to go home, a guy was next to me on the phone saying something along the lines that a non-advanced dance with a lot of beginners was less enjoyable than one with fewer beginners. (He was a \u201dI m so cool dancer\u201d) Wouldve Would\u2019ve stayed for the regular dance, but the train schedule said otherwise..\ud83d\ude41\ud83d\ude41", "timestamp": "1570415439"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114673540142&reply_comment_id=10100114710481112", "anchor": "fb-10100114673540142_10100114710481112", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I mean, dances where you are only dancing with people who already know how to dance *are* more fun for a lot of experienced dancers. The main problem is that if you start having a lot of advanced dances and people stop coming to your regular dances then you get a downward spiral where there aren't enough experienced dancers to keep things working, the regular dance falls apart, new dancers aren't able to learn anymore, and your community falls apart (since your current cohort of experienced dancers still has attrition and won't sustain you indefinitely). So I think we should keep having these, because they are fun and fill a need, but they should be rare enough that they only help our regular dance.", "timestamp": "1570455011"}, {"author": "Perry", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114673540142&reply_comment_id=10100114722187652", "anchor": "fb-10100114673540142_10100114722187652", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I also think that dancers need to know that their appearance at the regular dances is needed to keep the advanced dances thriving. But there are enough weekends now that dancers could choose to only go to the local advanced dance and then go to weekends so they never have to encounter a new dancer ever.", "timestamp": "1570462552"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114673540142&reply_comment_id=10100114730920152", "anchor": "fb-10100114673540142_10100114730920152", "service": "fb", "text": "→ \"there are enough weekends now that dancers could choose to only go to the local advanced dance and then go to weekends so they never have to encounter a new dancer ever\"
And I would rather someone do that than stop coming!", "timestamp": "1570467664"}, {"author": "John", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114673610002", "anchor": "fb-10100114673610002", "service": "fb", "text": "I would\u2019ve i mean", "timestamp": "1570415464"}, {"author": "Jeannine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114683380422", "anchor": "fb-10100114683380422", "service": "fb", "text": "I really enjoyed this event - it was the most fun I've ever had in 90 minutes! But yes, regular, beginner-friendly dances are even more important.", "timestamp": "1570421261"}, {"author": "Rick", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114699637842", "anchor": "fb-10100114699637842", "service": "fb", "text": "I had a great time. I've been hoping for an experienced only contra dance that was not late in the evening, so this was perfect for me. I'd love to see it happen again!", "timestamp": "1570443065"}, {"author": "Perry", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114722042942", "anchor": "fb-10100114722042942", "service": "fb", "text": "I have long had conflicting thoughts regarding advanced dances. On one hand I love them because I love dancing more interesting choreography. But I always wonder how events like this jibe with our notions of inclusivity.
Done right, advanced dances need to be exclusive events, and I'll tell you why. In my area we have an occasional challenge dance, but we say nothing about why it's a challenging dance. I don't know if it's explained at the door what it means, but oftentimes we have new dancers wandering in wanting to try it, or we also even have a few regular dancers wanting to bring folks to the challenge dances because they believe that the community can get them through it.
When that happens, then it becomes really challenging to have a good time because either the new dancers get lost, so we have to spend extra energies getting them to the right places, or callers just dumb down the dances so it's no longer a real advanced dance, but merely a moderate dance.
I like that other areas clearly define what a challenging dance means - things like \"you can do a hey or contra corners without needing to be taught\", you can correct yourself from a mistake rather easily, and other things. This is necessary for anyone who wants to run a challenging dance, but I feel that some organizers want to toe the line between having challenging dances and being inclusive, so they say nothing, let people try it, and muddle through it.", "timestamp": "1570462440"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114722042942&reply_comment_id=10100114731913162", "anchor": "fb-10100114722042942_10100114731913162", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I agree that advanced dances have to be somewhat exclusive. The way we phrased it was that these were dances for people comfortable dancing a no-walkthrough.
The whole post above is why I think we should hold occasional advanced dances despite that non-inclusivity.", "timestamp": "1570467982"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114722042942&reply_comment_id=10100114777372062", "anchor": "fb-10100114722042942_10100114777372062", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Hmm it sort of seems obvious that an advanced dance has to be \"exclusive\" but now I'm curious what would happen if you advertised a no-walkthrough dance that everyone *can* come to if that sounds fun, even if they're not sure they're ready for that.
Maybe you can a perfect mix of experienced dancers and newbies ready and willing to learn quickly. \ud83e\udd37", "timestamp": "1570486394"}, {"author": "Debra", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114722042942&reply_comment_id=10100114790919912", "anchor": "fb-10100114722042942_10100114790919912", "service": "fb", "text": "→ David Chudzicki Nope. As Perry states.. and I dance at the same local dance he does... it doesn't work. I have seen exactly what he states and honestly? It's a real drag.", "timestamp": "1570491876"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114722596832", "anchor": "fb-10100114722596832", "service": "fb", "text": "I really enjoy both. I very much like helping beginners (scarred very early as a beginner many years ago at the Thursday dance, and in general I hate elitism). Advanced dances are fun for the obvious reasons, though I don't enjoy complexity for it's own sake, which I think happens too often at challenging dances.", "timestamp": "1570462869"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114778305192", "anchor": "fb-10100114778305192", "service": "fb", "text": "The dance was great! It was nice to have so much fun contra dancing.", "timestamp": "1570486777"}, {"author": "Will", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114951183742", "anchor": "fb-10100114951183742", "service": "fb", "text": "Katie and I started the monthly Experienced Dancers' Contra Series in Greenfield: 4th Fridays a few years ago. Attendance during the time I was managing it was generally good to excellent. Given that there are generally 16-18 dances per month in the immediate area (Greenfield, Amherst, Brattleboro, Putney), having one dance a month with the expectation of knowing basic figures, seems to not detract from attendance at other dances and provides a much appreciated opportunity for more experienced dancers.
In particular, it allows those dancers to be challenged more, play more and get into the contra \"flow state\" more than at a regular dance. It also gives callers a similarly appreciated opportunity to use and try out dances that might not otherwise see the light of day except on a weekend or dance camp (including a dance that caller Adina Gordon described as, \"the dance that never works\").
I personally always make myself available to dance with new or novice dancers (in either role) but I also find that attending an \"Experienced\" dance usually provides a degree of satisfaction and pleasure that is different from a regular dance. As long as the experienced dancers are not going ONLY to \"Experienced\" dances, I think there is definitely a place for them.
I do see also see that some dancers, instead of leaving after 5 years as Jeff describes, start going only to Experienced dances and weekends and not supporting their local community dances or dances in communities that they happen to be traveling through. I think visiting a small community contra dance, often with a local band, can be a really lovely experience.", "timestamp": "1570568919"}, {"author": "Katie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/10100114561624422?comment_id=10100114954422252", "anchor": "fb-10100114954422252", "service": "fb", "text": "The dance that Will and I started 5 years ago in Greenfield is very much appreciated and always a full house. I do live in an area that is jam packed with contra dance as well as other dance forms. We are VERY LUCKY. I personally dance 3-4 nights a week, all within 25 minutes of me. I like all the dances but the one with the biggest dancers' high, the Big Flow, is our 4th Friday dance. It is fun to be challenged, to have nearly all experienced dancers on the floor so there is less time spent teaching and more time to dance. The callers love it because they can try things out on us. The musicians love it because they know it will be an appreciative dance floor. It always has that magical alchemy of dancers/caller/musicians that is the highest night of my month. I don't know of anyone who only comes for this dance and avoids other dances. They may have a local dance that is not here and then travel for our dance, or they live here and appreciate that they can dance many nights a week. I know there was push back when we started and there are still a handful of people who think this is elitist or they simply enjoy teaching newbies but they are few. With every other dance super welcoming to new dancers, this is our one night to play/dance/laugh on a higher/deeper level. Let's put it this way. I am happy at contra dances. But I find it transcendent at our experienced dancers' night. I really think everyone wins here.", "timestamp": "1570570674"}]}