Posted on November 13, 2010 at 2:35 PM |
Are you a person who has never square danced, or hasn't square danced since gym class in elementary or junior high school? Are you worried you will look silly and won't be able to figure it out? Nearly every dance I call includes people in this category. In fact, this described me at a youth conference I attended in July of 1977.
I had never square danced before.Whatever set (group of 4 couples/8 people) that I was in kept messing up the dance the first couple of days. It took me a little while to figure out the left allemande, but I did, and then my set would do the dance correctly. What I remember is that everyone was patient and kind while I learned. No one criticized me or made fun of me. And once I figured it out I fell in love with this kind of dancing!
I continued to enjoy learning more about square dancing; along with line, round, novelty, folk and social dancing; over the next several years. By 1981 it was time for me to start leading dances and called my first square dance. If you visit the About Me page, you can find more details about this progression.
This process of 1) learning to dance, 2) appreciating the value of dance being taught, 3) and having fun while learning to dance, teaching dance and experiencing all this with people just like me molded my approach and style of leadingdance today.
How to get started square dancing.
This addresses the kind of square dancing referred to as traditional/hoedown/swap and swing/eastern. Western square dancing has prescribed moves in a series a levels. There are numerous western square dance clubs that welcome your participation if you want to try that style of square dancing.
Feel free to contact me if I can be helpful to you in leading such an experience. I post a monthly blog listing square, round, line and contra dances that I know about in Ohio. I also provide links to other groups that regularly hold such dances.
Have fun dancing!
John Wargowsky
Categories: Square Dance, Fun With People, Leadership & Communication
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