"DANCING KEEPS YOU YOUNG' DVD

(A Recruitment Video)

BACKGROUND

As we all know, the number of active square dancers has dramatically decreased during the past few years.  The traditional methods of publicizing square dancing no longer seem to attract sufficient numbers of new dancers.  In fact many clubs have had to fold because their memberships dwindled to the point that they were no longer economically viable.

We have an excellent opportunity to reverse this trend.  There is a massive emerging population of Baby Boomers, the first of who will soon be turning 60 years of age.  Many of these people are “empty nesters” who now have more time available for recreation and social activities than they did during their child rearing years.

However, just because there is a bourgeoning source of new dancers, we cannot expect them to come flocking to our dance halls if we use the same old methods of publicizing our activity.  A new approach is needed to attract these people to square dancing.

As Jim Hensley, Creative Marketing Services, has said, “there is an intergenerational difference in mindset between the WWII dancer population and that of the Boomers.  They think, act, and are motivated in entirely new and different ways than are the bulk of our existing dance population.  We need new ways to generate that first experience.”  It is encouraging to note that Jim also says, “However, once involved, they react like everyone else and come to appreciate the sense of fun and community that folk dancing affords.” 

Square dancing has evolved but the general public is not aware of the changes.  To get them in the door, we must overcome the wrong images of square dancing.

CONCEPT

The first step in getting new people interested in square dancing is to update their understanding of what modern square dancing really is.

Since video tape and DVD players are common fixtures in homes, a short professionally produced video will be an effective method of giving people an awareness, understanding, and positive image about square dancing.

The video (about 10 minutes long) was scripted in a story format rather than a documentary style.  The short story format keeps viewers interested because they want to see the ending.  It has been scripted in a manner such that the viewers can picture themselves in the position of the couple that is learning what the square dance activity is all about.

2

The fear of the unknown can sometimes discourage a person from trying a new venture.  The video simulates what a person may experience on the first night of dancing.  It dispels misconceptions about square dancing while showing what an enjoyable activity it is.

OUTLINE

A brief outline of the video is as follows:

1)     Opening Scene – an empty nester couple is sitting in their family room at home.  Nancy is telling Jim that they need to get out and do something fun together rather than sitting at home watching T.V.

2)     While playing Texas Hold-em that night, with Jack & Vicky (Square Dancers) , they talk about square dancing.  The discussion is scripted so that it concisely covers key attributes that make square dancing such a great activity.

3)     Nancy and Jim make comments and ask questions that non-dancers might typically have about square dancing.  For example, Jim says, “I can’t dance, I have two left feet.”  Jack explains that he felt the same way before he started.  Then he says, “if you can walk, then you can square dance”.

4)     One of the Boomers’ high priorities is an interest in “anti-ageing”.  In the video, an emphasis is put on identifying the benefits that square dancing provides for mental and physical agility.

5)     At the end of the evening, Nancy and Jim agree to giving it a try.

6)     Jack & Vicky pick them up and take them to a dance.

7)     A young caller (41 years old) with 5 squares acting as new dancers.  The caller teaches a few basic moves and has them dancing right away using upbeat modern music.

8)     Includes a segment of a lunch break and the associated socializing.

9)      Closing Scene - As they leave the hall, Nancy and Jim say they have had a great time and want to do it again.

Surveys prove that the most productive way to recruit new dancers is through personal contact.  However, we as dancers are sometimes not able to adequately verbalize why square dancing is such a great activity.

This video will aid us in getting our personal contacts to better understand Modern Square Dancing.  It can be an important tool to promote a positive image of Square Dancing and to encourage people to join us in our enjoyable activity.

The Canadian Dance Troupe “ Mary’s Islanders,” perform at the
2006 International Bazaar in Naples, Italy.
The dancers live in Greenwood, Nova Scotia

    By Monique MacGregor (Canadian)
    Public Relations Committee Member
    2006 International Bazaar Committee, Naples, Italy

    The culmination of hard work, hours of practice, dedication, sacrifice and determination resulted in the demonstration group from Mary’s Islanders Dance Troupe flying to Naples, Italy to perform at the international Bazaar sponsored by the Allied Spouses Club.

    The months of fundraising paid off as eleven dancers, two chaperons and Larry and Mary Dunlop finally arrived on October 11th.  As the kids came thru the arrival gates, although weary from traveling, the excitement on their faces was evident.  They had just crossed the Atlantic Ocean and were about to experience a way of life that is very different from the beautiful Annapolis Valley.

    Larry and Mary had an action packed schedule for the dancers and chaperons as they would visit many parts of Naples including the climbing of Mount Vesuvius, visiting the ancient city of Pompeii, strolling around downtown Naples, two days in Rome visiting all the sites, an afternoon at the local amusement park Magic World, sampling the local cuisine at the “ Chicken Shack”, a BBQ held in their honour at the home of the Senior Canadian Officer Col. Serge Lavallée and his wife Micheline and stopping off at London, England on their way home,  But before any of this could happen, they had four shows to perform at the International Bazaar,  All of the site seeing  would have to wait. It was an ambitious schedule.  The dancers knew what was expected of them and they delivered.
   
    First off, meeting the Canadian Military Community in Naples at a BBQ held in honour of the dancers.  More than 60 people attended the BBQ at Col Serge Lavallee’s home.  Before the food was served the troupe put on a show for us.  The hoots, hollers and clapping from the crowd showed how much we loved the performance.  One dancer literally danced right out of her shoes and kept on going, finishing the routine by dancing in her sock feet!  After the performance the dancers got to interact with the Canadian kids that live here in Naples.  I understand that a few e- mail addresses were exchanged and new friendships forged.

    Finally, the first day of the International Bazaar arrived.  Months of planning and fundraising behind them, they prepared to entertain the multinational crowd. With beaming smiles, beautiful costumes and poised to dance, they took the stage, 

    The audience consisted of many cultures.  Greek, Italian, American, British, Hungarian, French, Spanish, Turkish, Polish, Danish and, of course, Canadians.  All eyes were on the stage.  The Canadians in Naples took front row seats.  To those of us living so far away, these children were bringing us a little piece of home.  Geva van den Zegel, Chairperson of the International Bazaar Committee stood back to watch the dancers whom she had invited to come all the way from Nova Scotia.

    Attendance in the room increased till there was standing room only and the applause escalated after each dance.  As Canada flags waved, Maritime step dancing, Acadian, Irish and Highland routines were executed flawlessly.  The Canadian cheering section couldn’t have been more proud as the troupe danced to This land, La Bastrinque and Clearly Canadian.  Upon completion of their performance and a standing ovation, Geva van den Zegel expressed her amazement for these talented and fine tuned young people.  Mary was bombarded by scores of people from other nations, who, although had difficulty with the English language, came to deliver their accolades.  Between shows, the dancers took the opportunity to shop and interact with people from all over the world.

    While in Naples, the entire group of fifteen stayed with Mary and Larry’s daughter, Lisa, her husband John and son Cody.  With eighteen people to feed and house, the Canadian Community came together with everything from beds, bedding, casseroles, trays of sweets, spaghetti and meat sauce to good old toilet tissue       (have to have that).
   
    This experience is something I’m sure the children will not soon forget.  They were wonderful ambassadors for Nova Scotia and Canada.  On behalf of the Allies Spouses Club 2006 International NATO Bazaar, I would like to express our thanks to these talented individuals.  Congratulations to Mary’s Islanders Dance Troupe and hats off to their dance teacher, Mary Dunlop and her husband Larry for taking on such a monumental task for these young Nova Scotia children.

Alberta -  www.squaredance.ab.ca
New Brunswick -  www.squaredance.nb.ca
Quebec -  www.squaredance.qc.ca
Saskatchewan - www.sksquaredance.ca
Prince Edward Island - www.csrds.ca/pei

Callerlab - Winning Ways Success Stories
Recruitment ideas that have worked for Clubs

Each paid-up club, association and federation will receive a membership certificate, which indicates the club's name, the number of members and the caller/cuer/leader's name. On the back of the certificate you are provided with the procedure for reporting any incident that has occurred for which the club, members or caller/cuer may be held responsible for.

Non-member dancers, callers, cuers, leaders, clubs, associations, federations would be responsible for defense and any resulting damages as a result of court action if they are sued for a claim of bodily injury, death, or damage to property. Can you afford to be one of these??

Some of the benefits of membership to the Canadian Square and Round Dance Society are:

Liability Insurance (not a health insurance)
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
A Canadian Website with loads of information and links
A Canadian Toll Free Number
Bursaries for callers, cuers, leaders
Grants for Leader Associations
Sponsor a Canadian National Convention every even-numbered year in a Canadian city.
Advertise our dance activity on television and in several magazines.
News Releases issued 3-4 times per year on the CSRDS Website and forwarded to Federation Presidents and activity publications

Society Directors would like to meet all of you. As getting to each club in most provinces would be rather difficult for any of us to manage at this time, possibly we could meet you at your Association dances. Hope to see you 'across the square' or 'round the circle'.

EDITORIAL By Bill Boyd

The American Marketing Association defines marketing "as the process of planning and executing conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives." I personally like Peter Drucker who defines marketing as "Getting paid to create a customer."
I like to think of square dance demonstrations as marketing. The more places that dancers are seen the more interest we create. So often clubs wait until they plan on classes to start trying to place dancers in full view to the public. As a marketing approach we should try and find as many public events as possible "ALL YEAR ROUND." In most communities this is our best marketing strategy. Why? It gives us a chance to dance and it gives an audience a chance to see dancers having fun. There are four "P"s involved, Price, Product, Promotion and Place.
Our price makes us attractive to all age groups. Most anyone from preteen to senior citizen can afford the pay the price of a square dance.
Promotion: that is why it is important for us to be seen as often as possible.
Place: make it convenient for dancers to find and attend our location.
Product: how often do we say that Square Dancing is the perfect activity. How many things have been written about hugs being good for you, smiling good for you, socializing good for you, exercise good for you, how many more thing can you think of?

Square Dancing is a complete activity. As a start to our marketing program lets plan on talking with our club to make sure they are willing, talk with our local Chamber of Commerce, local civic clubs, local churches and local schools. Find out what activities are taking place and see if we can put square dancing on the schedule. What is the cost of this marketing? Time. Are you willing to share your time? When time for classes gets close (or if you are having a weekend seminar) then consider handing out flyers, not only for your club but for other clubs that might be more convenient for people to attend. Remember, the more effort, the more reward.
American Square Dance, June 2006   

Dancer News has received Publications and articles from:     The Journal - Federation of Dance Clubs of New Brunswick
Between Tips -Nova Scotia   
Square Time - Eastern Ontario S&RD Association
Bugle - South Western Ontario S&RD Association
Topics - Toronto & District S&RD Association
Manisquare, Eastern Manitoba S&RD Assoc.
Westman Dancer, Western MB S&RD Assoc
Southwest Saskatchewan Zone 6 S&RD Assoc., SK
Ken & Fran Schuster, SK CD Reporters
Square News-Hub City S&RD Assoc - Saskatoon, SK  
Saskatchewan S&RD Federation Directory
Southwest Saskatchewan Zone 6 Newsletter
The Co-ordinator, Northwest: Zone 1, Saskatchewan

Cloverleaf - Central Alberta S&RD Assoc.
Promenader - Edmonton & District S&RD Assoc
Grapevine - Calgary & District S&R Dancers Association
Square Dance Calendar - Central Alberta Caller's Assoc.
Square'ing a Round - Alberta S&RD Federation
Cross Trail News, Vancouver Island Modern S&RD Assoc, BC
The Valley Circle, Fraser Valley S&RS Assoc, BC
NSDCA Times - National Square Dance Campers Association

Club Leadership Journal
South Pacific Square Dance Review (Australia)
Footnotes-Square & Folk Dance Federat. of Washington, USA
Square Talk - Associated Square Dance Clubs of Utah
American Squaredance Magazine
Callerlab News Releases
Clog Today

Do you know someone deserving a Society Recognition Award?  These Awards include:  The Award of Excellence and Long Service Award.  Have you been considering what you could do for a person who has done so much for square and/or round dancing. Take time to nominate them now.  Applications are available from Society Directors and on the website. 

Award of Excellence
This is the CSRDS's highest award and is reserved for any dancer , or caller/cuer or leader who deserve special recognition and are members of the Society.  The recognition is reserved for those whose contribution to square, round, contra, clogging and line dancing have been above and beyond the normal activity and well outside the activities of the average participant. Accomplishments could be either a single, exceptional result in a short period of time, or a steady, continuing, above-average contribution over a long period of time.

Long Service Award
This award is to recognize persons who have made contribution and service to the movement over many years.  Nominations MUST set out the service the nominees have provided to the activity through involvement in their club(s), Associations, Federations, etc.  Such service is beyond that of being a dancer.
Length of service shall normally be a minimum of 15 years.

The last call

Couple did it all in five decades on city's square dancing scene 

Bob Florence, The StarPhoenix Published: Monday, May 08, 2006

Martin Mallard had never been to a square dance and he wasn't about to start. He enjoyed dancing, that wasn't the issue. He could cut a rug. He could go cat, go. But promenade? He wasn't into that jive.

His wife, Terry, had never square danced either, but wanted to try. Let's go just once, she said, raising the subject at the dinner table often. Let's try.

"So we went," Martin says. "Much against my will."

Says Terry: "He said this is fun. 'I can't believe how much fun this is,' he said. At the end of the night, the caller said if anyone wants to join the club next fall, you can sign up now for five dollars. Martin was first in line."

Says Martin: "And that was my last five dollars for the month."

That was 1954. Their first dance is worth noting now because on Saturday the Mallards had their last dance. They will have other dances, for sure, both here in Saskatoon and in the United States where they drift in winter, but the shindig at St. Patrick Hall on the weekend was Martin's last as a square dance caller.

"It's time," says Martin, who has been calling dances for almost as long as he has been square dancing.

After he and Terry finished their six introductory lessons, Martin paid another five bucks and registered for a square dance caller's class instructed by Gerry Hawley.

"My first gig was at the University Hospital psychiatric ward," Martin says. "It was very educational, rewarding. I got a real insight into things. I could teach dance there for an evening one week and when I went back the next week, nobody knew who I was. But I was able to give them an evening of laughter and fun."

Audiences change, but the role remains the same: Be creative, be challenging, above all be entertaining. Of this, the best square dance callers are made. There is craft to this art.

"You want to make people dance better than they thought they could, but you don't want to challenge too hard or you'll break them," Martin says. "You'll lose them and they won't be back.

"Call with fun on your face and it'll show on the floor; the song is over and their feet are still tapping."

Martin is a square dance director and Terry a producer. He teaches. She recruits. He makes tapes. She sews dresses; an explosion of colour and crinolines.

The Mallards used to have dances at their house; their basement featuring a custom-built dance floor with big twirl capacity. Some nights it was wall-to-wall dancers in that room.

Martin and Terry started the Singles Club, the Happy Wanderers, the Suzie Q's.

The Mallards don't just do square dancing; in Saskatoon, they are square dancing.

"It's changed our lives," Martin says. "We've met so many wonderful people."

In 1994, Callerlab, an international organization of square dance callers, presented Martin with its Milestone Award for lifetime achievement. He's also received the Callerlab Gold Card, thought to be one of only 11 callers in the world with that distinction.

In 50-some years as a caller, he has done it all. He has called square dances for people on horseback and to dancers in wheelchairs. He has sashayed with the blind and done a do-si-do with the deaf. For a while, he was calling dances seven nights a week, supplementing his work with the local square dance clubs by taking the show on the road to Humboldt and Kerrobert.

The biggest group he ever called numbered 1,600. "It was like watching a kaleidoscope," he says. "Beautiful, almost hypnotizing."

The Mallards' last dance on Saturday had a large gathering. Guests came from Ontario and B.C., from California and New Jersey. Back by the left and quarter thru they came, not only dancers, but callers, all of them here to celebrate a couple whose association with square dancing has gone full circle, from dance floor to caller's stage and now back to the dance floor again. Martin and Terry are going home, as square dancers say.

They first met near the Del Restaurant downtown. She was walking with two of her girlfriends along Second Avenue and he was sitting in a Studebaker with two of his pals.

"He was whistling and singing," Terry says.

Says Martin: "I've been on stage since I was three years old; did operettas in high school. I've always been a bit of a showoff.

"All of us callers are," he says, laughing.

Every caller has their own style, each their own signature song. Martin's is a number called Light in the Window.

"When he does it, the lights go down in the hall," says Brian Smith, a member of the Suzie Q's Club. "So quiet. You can hear the shuffle of the feet in unison."

It was the Mallards who introduced Brian Smith and his wife, Eleanor, both natives of England, to square dancing 23 years ago. It was the Smiths who put together Saturday's program for the Mallards. The event featured 2 1/2 hours of square dancing in the afternoon, a dinner, then more dancing in the evening, with Martin calling at the mike.

Throughout the day there were toasts to the Mallards by visiting callers and gifts of appreciation by square dancers. The Smiths presented Martin with a recording which dates back more than 40 years.

"One of his caller friends found it," Brian Smith says. "It's Martin doing Light in the Window."

We would also appreciate help to get an advertising flyer into as many schools as we can.
Most School Board offices have mail slots or pigeonholes for each school. Usually permission is granted to put flyers into these slots - but permission must be given, probably by the Superintendent or other District Staff member.
If you are able to get these flyers to local School Board Offices or know of someone who can do this, please let us know ASAP and we will send a quantity of flyers - let us now how many you need.

We would also like to advertise the program with the Guides and Scouts and other Youth Groups such as Church or Community. If you would like flyers for this, please let us know also.

It is our hope this program can be used by teachers and community leaders to instill a love of music and dance in children as well as providing them with another means of much needed exercise!

Kind regards,
Nick and Mary Anne Turner
President - BCS&RDF

Details of the Program:Moving and Grooving - a Dance Program for Schools and Community Groups initiated by the British Columbia Square and Round Dance Federation.

The program is designed for the instructor with little or no dance experience. There is no need for boy/girl partnering. Dancers are not referred to by gender, instead, the left hand dancer is a "1" and the right hand dancer is a "2".

Moving and Grooving comes in a 3-ringed binder - 169 pages of easy to follow instructions and information. There are 8 CDs. The program is divided into two sections:

Moving (3 CDs) has 7 Solo dances, 8 Partner Circle dances, 8 Trio dances, 5 Mescolanzas, 13 Contra dances and 3 traditional Square Dances. Most of these have a Walk Thru on a separate CD track.
There are diagrams of all the dance formations and written descriptions of all the dance steps.

Grooving (5 CDs) has 23 step-by-step sequential Square Dance lessons on CD and 43 singing calls. There is also information on square dance related topics and, for teachers, suggestions for correlating Square Dancing with other subjects.

HOW TO ORDER:
As this is a nonprofit venture, we ask that you send a donation IN CANADIAN FUNDS of $65.00 or more PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING TO:

The British Columbia Square and Round Dance Federation,
c/o Nick and Mary Anne Turner,
942 Soda Creek Road, Williams Lake, BC, Canada V2G 5E4
Email: nmturner@telus.net

SHIPPING & HANDLING:
CANADA: $12.00. U.S.A. $18.00 OVERSEAS: $18.00
Delivery: Canada: 3 - 10 days, U.S.A: 12 - 15 days, Overseas: 6 weeks

Recognizing A Stroke
By 3 Simple Questions

This may be a life saver if we can remember the 3 questions. Sometimes the symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say any bystander can recognize a stroke by asking 3 simple questions:

• Ask the individual to smile;
• Ask him or her to raise both arms;
• Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If he/she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the 3 questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting Feb, 2004. Widespread use of the test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of stroke and prevent brain damage.

Please Pass It On - Save Someone's Life!

Source: Grapevine, updated,08

Read Canadian 'Square' Dance Newsletters

News from Nova Scotia	News from Ontario
News From British Columbia

WHY Go To A National Convention? updated,08
John & Marilyn Sellers
2004

Some people might ask, "Why would you go to a Canadian National Square & Round Dance Convention?" After all, the floors may not be a good as we are used to, the crowds are something else (not bad if you like to "bumps-a-daisy"), the sound may not be as good in the really large dance areas, it can be tiring (surely age has nothing to do with this), and it can be costly. After being dancers for about 20 years we went to the 11th Canadian National Square Dance Convention in Vancouver, British Columbia and have some answers.

We had heard from others how much fun people had experienced at previous Conventions and we wanted to learn how we could assist at a future Convention being planned in our area. We went to our first Canadian National Square & Round Dance Convention in 1990. What an experience!

At a Canadian National Convention there can be 2,200 - 3,000 attendees from all Canadian provinces, 25+ states of the US as well as from Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Sweden, plus several other countries. Of course dancing is the primary agenda - squares at 5-6 levels, rounds at 5 levels, as well as clogging, contra and wheelchair dancing. There were halls that would hold 200 or more squares each and 7 or 8 halls of varying sizes for various types of dancing.

Imagine dancing for 3 days, all day, as well as attending some of the Trail-in-Dances, Trail-out-Dances along with pre and post convention dancing. Convention dancing is available all day long for the 3 days of the Convention with the main dances running from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Some halls offer square dancing from Basic/Mainstream to Challenge; rounds only and some with squares with rounds, all at a variety of levels for your dancing experience. There is also clogging, contra, wheelchair dancing. There are minimal breaks; when you get tired you just have to bow out of your square and find a seat. When you get hungry you find a place to eat and rest your feet. Dancing locations can vary from the hotel convention centre to hotels, arenas, YMCA, and schools.

In addition, there is a "Showcase of Rounds" where round dance leader couples "demo" the round dance they will teach later in the day. It is most enjoyable to sit back and watch these people perform all levels of dances and pick out the ones you might enjoy learning.

During the day you can attend one of the many educational seminars on various aspects of our activity, what the future may hold, how to recruit dancers or improve your club, sewing seminars, dancing seminars, and caller seminars, There are panel discussions on a variety of interesting subjects, and you might enjoy taking in a fashion show during a rest time. The fairer sex generally can spend time in the Boutiques and different booths with all kinds of dance-related apparel and accessories, as well as records and sound systems. The men are sure to find some things of interest too. Both can browse the booths and see the large variety of publications related to our activity, to give you an idea of the things dancers/clubs are doing in various federations and associations around the country.

A Convention is a great social affair, a chance to meet friends from previous encounters; Buyers meets the Sellers; Whites meet the Browns; meet friends from Saudi Arabia you haven't had the chance to see for the past two years.

A variety of local tours are available before, during and after the Convention for those who want to take advantage of an unfamiliar area of the country. You must fit in some time for eating and relaxing and touring.

What we think we have learned is that a Convention:
joins us as a family with common interests;
educates, excites and encourages us as participants in a wonderful activity that is larger than most of us realize;
is a time of meeting and enjoying people we may never see again; and
is an opportunity to give back a little to this activity that is part of our heritage and a great personal benefit to us socially and health-wise.

Don't go just for the dance; it is so much more.

We are looking forward to the 17th Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia,  July 29, 30 & 31, 2010. Come along and enjoy as well!

Five Fast Steps to Low-Cost Publicity
The new edition of Five Fast Steps to Low-cost Publicity has just been published. This modest 94-page book with its unassuming cover has been a steady seller since its first publication in 1988. In 1990 it was the primary reason why Barbara Florio Graham (former Publicity Advisor to the Canadian Square & Round Dance Society) was awarded the IABC Communicator of the Year Award. Not available in stores, the retail price is $20, postpaid, from:
B.F. Graham, 535 Charles-Desnoyers, Gatineau, QC J8P 3X4. 
A full Table of Contents is on Bobbi's website:  http://www.SimonTeakettle.com

Health Benefits of Dancing A new a new information page on the Health Benefits of Dancing has been added to the Society website to assist clubs in promoting our activity as healthy, both mentally and physically. This information should appeal to all. Potential new dancers might be interested in these health benefits.  Anyone can copy any portion of these pages as long as they acknowledge the authors of the article. On the Society site, go to Discover Dancing and click on 'Health Benefits'.