{"items": [{"author": "Avalon", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619330070452", "anchor": "fb-619330070452", "service": "fb", "text": "Definitely add \"try dancing both roles.\" Communities that actively encourage ambidancetrosity are rare and wonderful.", "timestamp": "1373313937"}, {"author": "Becca", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619330883822", "anchor": "fb-619330883822", "service": "fb", "text": "The caller at my very first contra dance gave some of my favorite advice, \"better never than late.\" I'm not sure the meaning would be clear without explanation, though...", "timestamp": "1373314644"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331312962", "anchor": "fb-619331312962", "service": "fb", "text": "I was at the Greenfield dance on Friday and Lisa Greenleaf was calling - I noticed that before one of the dances she asked all the experienced dancers to raise their hands, then told those people to ask a new person to dance, and encouraged newer dancers to find one of the people with their hands raised and ask them to dance. It was great. So maybe something along the lines of encouraging experienced dancers to ask newer dancers to dance?", "timestamp": "1373314976"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331432722", "anchor": "fb-619331432722", "service": "fb", "text": "@Gianna: suggest some wording? Something that's short enough to be taken in at a glance but informative enough that people understand it?", "timestamp": "1373315064"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331687212", "anchor": "fb-619331687212", "service": "fb", "text": "Hmm.", "timestamp": "1373315234"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331742102", "anchor": "fb-619331742102", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Experienced dancers: Ask newer dancers\"", "timestamp": "1373315275"}, {"author": "Victor", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331752082", "anchor": "fb-619331752082", "service": "fb", "text": "Perhaps you should remove \"Take your time finding a partner\", since so many people ignore it.", "timestamp": "1373315282"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331757072", "anchor": "fb-619331757072", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Experienced Dancers: Teach new dancers!\"", "timestamp": "1373315285"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619331772042", "anchor": "fb-619331772042", "service": "fb", "text": "I'll have to think on this more...", "timestamp": "1373315310"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619332221142", "anchor": "fb-619332221142", "service": "fb", "text": "I think the connect one takes too long to get to the point.", "timestamp": "1373315610"}, {"author": "Adam Yie", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/114873051319510815414", "anchor": "gp-1373317126816", "service": "gp", "text": "\"I think we should remove 'connect with other dancers by starting dance moves on the musical phrase' because the people who understand what the sign means are already doing it and the people who aren't haven't been dancing long enough to hear the phrasing yet.)\"\n
\n
\ndoes this also apply to the \"connect with other dancers by gently sharing weight\" sign? If not, why not?", "timestamp": 1373317126}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619334376822", "anchor": "fb-619334376822", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Don't worry about the current move, get to the next move on time\"", "timestamp": "1373317316"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1373317323488", "service": "gp", "text": "@Adam Yie\n\u00a0You're right. \u00a0We should either figure out how to phrase these for their audience or remove them.\n
\n
\n(Though I wonder whether it's helpful to put up signs that the intended audience won't understand just so experienced dancers can think \"ah -- they care!\")", "timestamp": 1373317323}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619334466642", "anchor": "fb-619334466642", "service": "fb", "text": "Gianna: I like \"newer dancers: ask experienced dancers to dance\"", "timestamp": "1373317401"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619334561452", "anchor": "fb-619334561452", "service": "fb", "text": "I like the \"don't worry about the current move\" wording.", "timestamp": "1373317442"}, {"author": "Yaron", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619335075422", "anchor": "fb-619335075422", "service": "fb", "text": "Victor, since these signs supposedly express \"what kind of dance community BIDA wants to be\" (not necessarily \"what kind of reality currently pervades the dancefloor\"), I would be disappointed to see the \"Take your time finding a new partner\" sign go away. One can hope.
Re Gianna's suggestions - I personally like \"Ask newer dancers\" better than \"Teach new dancers\" - I don't think there should be any sort of onus placed on any dancer to \"teach,\" especially since not everyone is good at teaching, and there's a fine line between when it's appropriate to have a teaching moment and when it's better to just let the person have fun doing what they're doing.
Re dancing both roles - guess the question is, is this a central part of \"what kind of dance community BIDA wants to be.\" (I don't feel like I'm in any position to comment on the answer, just suggesting that this is the question.)", "timestamp": "1373317846"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619335788992", "anchor": "fb-619335788992", "service": "fb", "text": "If a newer dancer doesn't understand a poster, maybe they'll ask someone what it means. Hopefully that'll start a conversation about what makes for great dancing. I definitely agree: this is about the community that we want to create and model for each other, not about what is currently going on. Create a vision of what you want and ask people to help make it happen. If it's a good vision, then people will join you.", "timestamp": "1373318449"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619335793982", "anchor": "fb-619335793982", "service": "fb", "text": "I recently saw a thing on ambidancetrous about asking the other person which role they would like to dance. Perhaps that would be an even better message about it?", "timestamp": "1373318459"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619335813942", "anchor": "fb-619335813942", "service": "fb", "text": "P.S. I think you should keep the poster about phrasing.", "timestamp": "1373318465"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619335838892", "anchor": "fb-619335838892", "service": "fb", "text": "I think you should try to reword the poster about phrasing and like Danner's phrasing.", "timestamp": "1373318498"}, {"author": "Kristina", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619336043482", "anchor": "fb-619336043482", "service": "fb", "text": "I support the ambidanceterous efforts! Both \"try dancing both roles\" and \"ask your partner which role they want to dance\"!!!", "timestamp": "1373318657"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619336058452", "anchor": "fb-619336058452", "service": "fb", "text": "That's true. No reason you can't have both.", "timestamp": "1373318685"}, {"author": "Richard", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619337500562", "anchor": "fb-619337500562", "service": "fb", "text": "Or maybe, \"Experienced dancer ask new dancers to dance.\" Informative and to the point!", "timestamp": "1373319782"}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619346652222", "anchor": "fb-619346652222", "service": "fb", "text": "Dance with your whole set, not just with your partner.", "timestamp": "1373326151"}, {"author": "Katherine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619359441592", "anchor": "fb-619359441592", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Breathe. Nobody's perfect.\"", "timestamp": "1373332566"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619359870732", "anchor": "fb-619359870732", "service": "fb", "text": "@Andrew: what would you think of \"Dance with your whole set\"? Positive only? Or does this weaken it to where people won't get the message?", "timestamp": "1373332734"}, {"author": "Sarah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619365085282", "anchor": "fb-619365085282", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Embrace the learning process\", perhaps? Referring to either self or others.", "timestamp": "1373333872"}, {"author": "Daniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619380853682", "anchor": "fb-619380853682", "service": "fb", "text": "I think you should rephrase all the exhortations as haiku. \"For maximum fun/please try to switch partners not/unregularly\".", "timestamp": "1373340177"}, {"author": "b", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/109680641548243670506", "anchor": "gp-1373340932811", "service": "gp", "text": "this one isn't a big deal, but i'm personally not a fan of 'smile!'\n
\n
\nif people feel like smiling, they will anyway. if they don't, telling them to is kinda weird.\n
\n
\nand it's especially alienating for those of us to whom smiling doesn't come easily.", "timestamp": 1373340932}, {"author": "b", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/109680641548243670506", "anchor": "gp-1373341001663", "service": "gp", "text": "i also wouldn't worry about things like the phrasing one that beginners won't understand - some of them will notice they don't understand, and ask what that's about, which is not a bad thing for the learning process.", "timestamp": 1373341001}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619384835702", "anchor": "fb-619384835702", "service": "fb", "text": "Jeff, Good question. I don't have a good answer, but I'll try. I wish I could explain what I mean concisely, but I'm not sure that a simple positive phrase gets the message across.
When I say \"dance with the whole set,\" I mean that contra dancing is not simply a couple dance. If you look at most choreography, I think you spend about half the time with your partner and half the time with the \"other couple\" which is a composite of other people as you travel down the set - all contra dancers are spending half their time with them. If you focus all your dance energy on your partner, then you are ignoring at least half of contra dancing, and if you're in a set of 10 other couples, you are paying attention to one person and ignoring 20 other people.
\"Dance with the whole set\" is something that good contra dancers get, and that many hot-shots are unaware of. If you can't flow smoothly from figure to figure and dancer to dancer, you're a a contra dancing toddler. I'd rather dance with someone who moves simply and is always there for everyone, than with someone who twirls and bounces along at at random, stopping after each clumsy flourish to ask, \"where am I, what's the next figure?\"
Back to your question. \"Dance with the whole set\" is sufficient if you know what it means, but many dancers don't know, they are only focused on their partner and they ignore other dancers (unless maybe if they are friends). \"Not just with your partner\" is an awkward way of saying that you are spending half your time dancing with others, and it's just as important to attend to those dancers as to your partner, and if your dancing interferes with the caller's choreography that those other dancers are following, then your dancing is just not working.
\"Positive only\" is a nice ideal, but I think it it's an overly restrictive rule if you're looking to communicate clearly.
I agree, the problem is to convey the message simply, effectively, and politely. I am not in the \"anything goes in contra dancing, we're just here to have fun\" camp. I've seen too much fun result in too many injuries, to be comfortable with that idea, and even without injuries, we all share the space, your dancing just shouldn't be invasive, no matter how much fun you're having.", "timestamp": "1373342257"}, {"author": "A.", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=619414955342", "anchor": "fb-619414955342", "service": "fb", "text": "Alex Krogh-Grabbe shared this with a couple of us at CDSS, love the signs...here are some thoughts: What about color coding the sheets -- one color for tips for newcomers and/or beginners and another color for everyone else. This way you signal to the newcomer and/or beginner where to look. Sign possibilities for beginners - Don't forget to have fun! and If you have questions about the dance during the walk-thru, ask the caller. Great work BIDA! Warmly, Rima", "timestamp": "1373377219"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760429141782", "anchor": "fb-760429141782", "service": "fb", "text": "We're coming back to this now; any suggestions? Right now I have:
ask different people to dance
ask people sitting out to dance
dance so that others feel comfortable
share your enthusiasm with the performers!
take your time finding a partner
talk to others about what makes good dancing
welcome and encourage newer dancers
it's ok to say no
try dancing both roles
dance with the whole set
ask partners what roles they like to dance
let the band know you like their music
talk to the organizers if something is bothering you
let the caller know when you like a dance
ask about volunteering if you'd like to help out", "timestamp": "1449539918"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760429201662", "anchor": "fb-760429201662", "service": "fb", "text": "Angela, Daniel James Ley, Emily, Julie Vallimont, Sarah Hirsch, Sam Auciello", "timestamp": "1449539982"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760462240452", "anchor": "fb-760462240452", "service": "fb", "text": "I noticed that the similar signs at the NYC dance are hand-lettered and more colorful than BIDA's signs. I like them, and will send you pictures.", "timestamp": "1449542118"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760462644642", "anchor": "fb-760462644642", "service": "fb", "text": "+1 for \"ask partners what roles they like to dance\"", "timestamp": "1449542398"}, {"author": "Bil", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760466946022", "anchor": "fb-760466946022", "service": "fb", "text": "I like the signs. I like what they express. I know that it's often difficult for some people to find partners. The moment the previous dance is over, there's a giant rush to find the next partner and if you're not aggressive enough, you often find yourself sitting out. And usually the same set of people sit out. I wish we could change that.", "timestamp": "1449544329"}, {"author": "Ron", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760467824262", "anchor": "fb-760467824262", "service": "fb", "text": "1. Remove \"smile\"
2. \"If you're having fun and not hurting anyone, you're doing it right\"
3. You will likely mess up. So will everyone else sometime. it's cool. Just keep dancing.
4. Frequent booking ahead leaves people sitting out.", "timestamp": "1449544643"}, {"author": "Ron", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760475868142", "anchor": "fb-760475868142", "service": "fb", "text": "Some people don't feel like smiling, or are super shy. And they shouldn't feel they're doing something wrong.", "timestamp": "1449549227"}, {"author": "Avalon", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760476716442", "anchor": "fb-760476716442", "service": "fb", "text": "Every time I see something that tells me to \"smile\" lately, I get reminded of Jessica Jones. I think smiling will usually come naturally if people are having fun.", "timestamp": "1449549728"}, {"author": "Avalon", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760476741392", "anchor": "fb-760476741392", "service": "fb", "text": "I'd be for \"Everyone makes mistakes!\"", "timestamp": "1449549765"}, {"author": "Ari", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760478956952", "anchor": "fb-760478956952", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Let the organizers know if something is the matter.\"", "timestamp": "1449551602"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760479001862", "anchor": "fb-760479001862", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Dance with people you don't know.\" \"Ask a stranger to dance.\" \"If a stranger asks you to dance, say YES!\"
Or Larry Jennings' favorite \"Dance with all kinds of people in all parts of the room.\"", "timestamp": "1449551693"}, {"author": "Ruthie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760481556742", "anchor": "fb-760481556742", "service": "fb", "text": "\"Smile\" has bad associations for me because it's often used in contexts of \"smile so you look pretty and I can enjoy your appearance.\" You could replace it with something more like \"enjoy yourself\" if you want something along those lines. But it seems like it's been cut as of your last list.", "timestamp": "1449554311"}, {"author": "Michelle", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760486262312", "anchor": "fb-760486262312", "service": "fb", "text": "Ruth Vickman, Reatha, Reilly Belton, Heather Crabill, Larry Baer- what about some signs like this at Dayton Contra-Dance?", "timestamp": "1449556237"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760502759252", "anchor": "fb-760502759252", "service": "fb", "text": "(We had already cut \"smile\", yes)", "timestamp": "1449578694"}, {"author": "Aloysius", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760503348072", "anchor": "fb-760503348072", "service": "fb", "text": "When I ask a nervous beginer to dance I remind them that the dance police are not here tonight", "timestamp": "1449579487"}, {"author": "Ezra", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760503353062", "anchor": "fb-760503353062", "service": "fb", "text": "How about, \"You don't have to dance with anyone you don't want to.\" The welcoming aspect of contra communities sometimes exerts its own form of counter-intuitive pressure that makes people feel they need to dance with whoever asks them, even if they don't want to.", "timestamp": "1449579510"}, {"author": "Aloysius", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760503392982", "anchor": "fb-760503392982", "service": "fb", "text": "Let Joy be the leadership you expressed to a nervous new beginner", "timestamp": "1449579572"}, {"author": "Aloysius", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760503822122", "anchor": "fb-760503822122", "service": "fb", "text": "There are many regular dancers that try to help by being very precise up to the inch of where to put your toes and where to hold your arms", "timestamp": "1449579788"}, {"author": "Aloysius", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760504276212", "anchor": "fb-760504276212", "service": "fb", "text": "Guide people with your relaxed joy", "timestamp": "1449580077"}, {"author": "Kristen", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760507295162", "anchor": "fb-760507295162", "service": "fb", "text": "Are you okay with other communities using your ideas?", "timestamp": "1449582221"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760508213322", "anchor": "fb-760508213322", "service": "fb", "text": "Kristen, absolutely!", "timestamp": "1449583074"}, {"author": "Heather", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760508248252", "anchor": "fb-760508248252", "service": "fb", "text": "Absolutely Michelle! Fantastic idea\u263a", "timestamp": "1449583128"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760508662422", "anchor": "fb-760508662422", "service": "fb", "text": "@Kristen: Yes! Also, one of the NYC dances has something similar.", "timestamp": "1449583685"}, {"author": "Julia", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760508757232", "anchor": "fb-760508757232", "service": "fb", "text": "at our local dances we have signs encouraging new dancers to ask experienced and vice versa.", "timestamp": "1449583762"}, {"author": "Angela", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760508842062", "anchor": "fb-760508842062", "service": "fb", "text": "\"We're all so happy you're here\"
\"Make new friends\"
\"Ask someone more experienced to dance\"
\"Be the change you want to see on the dance floor\"
+1 \"Everyone makes mistakes\"
+1 \"It's okay to say no\"
+1 \"Talk to others about what makes good dancing\"", "timestamp": "1449583889"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760515833052", "anchor": "fb-760515833052", "service": "fb", "text": "@Ezra: Which do you like better: \"you don't have to dance with anyone you don't want to\" or \"it's ok to say no\"?", "timestamp": "1449588214"}, {"author": "Joshua", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760516337042", "anchor": "fb-760516337042", "service": "fb", "text": "How about:
Want to dance?
Yes or No, either is okay.", "timestamp": "1449588501"}, {"author": "Joshua", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760516935842", "anchor": "fb-760516935842", "service": "fb", "text": "How about with graphics
Dance?
/ \\
No Yes
(no explanations needed)", "timestamp": "1449588996"}, {"author": "Ezra", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760517834042", "anchor": "fb-760517834042", "service": "fb", "text": "Hmm. \"You don't have to dance with anyone you don't want to\" is a mouthful. \"It's ok to say no\" is good but I worry that its specific application might get lost. How about, \"You can decline without needing to recline.\" Heh. Come on pithy people of the internet, help us out!", "timestamp": "1449589658"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760518313082", "anchor": "fb-760518313082", "service": "fb", "text": "@Ezra: decline/recline is fun but I think people won't get it", "timestamp": "1449590038"}, {"author": "Ezra", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760518422862", "anchor": "fb-760518422862", "service": "fb", "text": "Ahhyup. I agree. If I think of a good way of phrasing it, I'll comment again. I'm stumped right now.", "timestamp": "1449590188"}, {"author": "Nix", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760518817072", "anchor": "fb-760518817072", "service": "fb", "text": "How about \"It's OK to decline a dance\" or \"It's OK to say no to a dance\"? Not quite as pity as \"it's OK to say no\" but clearer. Still not perfect because it's more about saying no to a specific person, not to a dance, but I don't know a good way to do that.", "timestamp": "1449590512"}, {"author": "Perry", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760519700302", "anchor": "fb-760519700302", "service": "fb", "text": "Maybe it's me, but I kind of agree with Kiran's suggestions earlier about suggesting dancing with whoever and with everyone. Trust me, I completely understand about being comfortable about who people choose to dance with and am on board with consent culture. But I think we need to accentuate the positives more than the negatives for people. We WANT people to dance with everyone, and for everyone to feel comfortable dancing with new people. And it's true - in my lessons I always tell new dancers that it is completely OK to decline a dance for any reason, and they do not need to state the reason. But then I tell them that they should free to say yes too, because most dancers know that a dance is just a dance.", "timestamp": "1449591104"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760522499692", "anchor": "fb-760522499692", "service": "fb", "text": "@Joshua, Nix, Kiran, Perry, Ezra: I had complicated thoughts about how to handle \"dance with everyone!\" vs \"it's ok to decline\", and decided to break this off into a separate post: http://www.jefftk.com/p/declining-dances", "timestamp": "1449592601"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523128432", "anchor": "fb-760523128432", "service": "fb", "text": "I like many suggestions above and agree with keeping messaging simple. I'd like to back up and identify the 5 things we'd like to attain with the BIDA dance experience and match one strong message with each -- one message to correspond to each objective. This might help us combine vision with messaging. For example:", "timestamp": "1449593288"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523158372", "anchor": "fb-760523158372", "service": "fb", "text": "To experience a welcome, safe, friendly dance environment.", "timestamp": "1449593320"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523168352", "anchor": "fb-760523168352", "service": "fb", "text": "What is the signage for that?", "timestamp": "1449593329"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523407872", "anchor": "fb-760523407872", "service": "fb", "text": "Several might include: Relax, Enjoy, and Smile; Above all, have fun; Mix Around; Welcome all; Ask new folks to dance; others?", "timestamp": "1449593451"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523637412", "anchor": "fb-760523637412", "service": "fb", "text": "In terms of safety: Create fun with partner - always remember the set.", "timestamp": "1449593567"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760523677332", "anchor": "fb-760523677332", "service": "fb", "text": "Other thoughts?", "timestamp": "1449593604"}, {"author": "Vivian", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760530428802", "anchor": "fb-760530428802", "service": "fb", "text": "Joshua's great \"Want to dance?
Yes or No, either is okay.\"
can also communicate to newbies (and others!) that it is okay to sit out a dance. Which could be great. I've talked to more than one dancer who didn't realize that sitting out is a thing you might do just because you feel like it. Then I mention that it's an option and they say \"really? ohhhh. neat.\"", "timestamp": "1449598095"}, {"author": "Joshua", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760533981682", "anchor": "fb-760533981682", "service": "fb", "text": "I don't think there's really a conflict between \"Dance with everyone\" and \"okay to say no\" assuming that the great majority of people are happy dancing with everyone (most of the time). If a dance community ever gets to the point when many people are not dancing with everyone, there's a problem in the community. It may be lack of safety or lack of openness, but it's a problem that should be dealt with to build a strong, welcoming community.
As long as most people are open to dance wiith anyone especially new dancers, it's fine for people who want to say no to say it for whatever reason they have.", "timestamp": "1449600212"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760534051542", "anchor": "fb-760534051542", "service": "fb", "text": "@Joshua: There's a conflict between those two pieces of advice because most people reading them would be pushed in one direction and then the other. See: https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/760522325042...", "timestamp": "1449600289"}, {"author": "Nikki", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760657454242", "anchor": "fb-760657454242", "service": "fb", "text": "Remove \"smile.\" I am not oblighted to smile in order to dance!", "timestamp": "1449683061"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760658277592", "anchor": "fb-760658277592", "service": "fb", "text": "@Nikki: Yup! We're removing that one.", "timestamp": "1449683095"}, {"author": "Reatha", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760704599762", "anchor": "fb-760704599762", "service": "fb", "text": "Michelle! Interesting idea!", "timestamp": "1449695380"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=760795487622", "anchor": "fb-760795487622", "service": "fb", "text": "I think signs are highly overrated, few people pay any attention to them (aside from people nodding and smiling about how progressive we are), and I argue for removing them all. Maybe have a flyer to hand out to new dancers.", "timestamp": "1449740601"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=761583059322", "anchor": "fb-761583059322", "service": "fb", "text": "http://www.jefftk.com/bida-signs/new/index", "timestamp": "1450228845"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=761584815802", "anchor": "fb-761584815802", "service": "fb", "text": "Smiling does two things: It makes you feel better (Yup, scientifically proven - just smile, you'll feel better), and it makes others around you feel better. I agree _you_ shouldn't insist that someone smile. However, I think it's fine for a sign to suggest it.
I tell newbies they have two responsibilities: Smile a _lot_, and get pushed around gracefully. Invariably -- invariably -- the newbie smiles, relaxes, and says something like \"I can do that!\"", "timestamp": "1450229891"}, {"author": "Rachel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=761596442502", "anchor": "fb-761596442502", "service": "fb", "text": "Maybe something about eye contact? Because it helps with swings and also because lots of newbies don't know it's a social norm and get weirded out.", "timestamp": "1450237768"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/619328788022?comment_id=761615015282", "anchor": "fb-761615015282", "service": "fb", "text": "Update: we've printed the new signs now", "timestamp": "1450264713"}]}