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Canadian
Square and Round Dance Society Convention 2008
Fund Raiser
The air was supercharged
with electricity as over 34 squares of dancers and 4 circles
of round dancers, gathered in St. Agatha, on Saturday, November
10, 2007 for the joint Toronto and Southwestern Ontario Districts
fundraising dinner dance in support of Festival 2008.
The staff was composed
of Tom Charlton, Bob & Betty Beck, Al Calhoun, Dan &
Rhetha Roy, Jim Lee, and Norm Wilcox. This fabulous slate of
callers and cuers, despite paying admission for dinner and dance
just as the dancers did, volunteered their time and efforts
for the cause and maintained the excitement throughout the day,
winding up the evening with a combined effort of four callers.
Attendees were also
awed by a great performance of the Black Light Dancers.
Conveners Stan & Carol Down had accumulated
a great array of donated items for the silent auction and draw
tables. Bidding was quite aggressive in many cases as dancers
vied for the chance to be the highest bidder. Additional
funds were raised through 50/50 draws both afternoon and evening and
the sale of draw tickets, which provided another opportunity for
everyone to try their luck.
Thanks are extended
to everyone who worked to make this a success, those who made
generous donations, and particularly the dancers who came out
to support the efforts.
Final totals are not
yet in but everyone who was involved in any way is in full agreement
that the results made their efforts most worthwhile. Job Well
Done!
See you all at Festival 2008.
Nick & Dorothy Dahm,
SWOSDA Presidents
Callerlab - Winning Ways Success Stories
Recruitment ideas that have worked for Clubs
New DVD &
Video available from Roundalab
A new two-hour educational video is available in VHS or DVD formats
for $20 (US) for either format plus shipping ($2.50 for DVD or $4 for VHS).
It includes the extension written seminar notes of Teachers Seminar on "Getting Around
the Floor: Concepts on Turning and Pivoting" and "Dancing and Teaching
Quickstep" by Brent & Judy Moore and Al & Carol Littlefield, resp.
The videos can be prdered from the Roundalab website - www.roundalab.org
or
Roundalab, 355 N. Orchard, Suire 200, Boise, ID 83706-1600 1-800-346-7522
Source:
Square News, SK Sept 2004
Callerlab Viewpoints by Mike Seastrom
New Dancers Are Special
You've just got to love our new dancers.
Their eyes show so much enthusiasm. Their joy, in moving rhythmically
to music, can be amazing and contagious, and they are so much fun to dance
with. Now a few might need a little encouragement from time to time, and
some may not always be smooth, but despite a few minor challenges, they
are very special.
Many of our experienced dancers have
discovered this and spend time year after year "angeling" classes. With
the right spirit, these "angels" can make the new dancer experience better.
Most of us can remember being a new dancer. If you stop and think about
it a little, I'm sure a smile will pop up on your face when you recall some
of the fun things that happened.
Here are a few points you might consider
when caring for your new dancers.
First thing is to greet them when they come in the door like they
were very special guests in your own home. Act like you haven't seen them
in a while, even if you have and let them know how nice it is to see them.
That type of enthusiastic greeting is not only contagious, but it can make
a persons day. Believe me, you will get that extra effort and energy back
many times over.
The second point is to get to know all
your new dancer's names. I'm sure you've heard that there is no sweeter
sound to a person's ear than the sound of there own name. This may take
some effort, but it will pay off. Help your caller by providing a written
list of new dancers so he or she can learn the names too.
Try to make each class night as much
like a "new dancer dance" as possible. Have continuous refreshments or
a short refreshment break. It makes the evening more special and there's
something more social about eating and talking. I guess that's why most
people migrate to the kitchen or hang around the food when we have guests
in our own homes.
Celebrate holidays and other calendar
events with decorations and special refreshments in those themes. Even
an occasional special event like a "Men's Cake Bake" contest or a "Bring
Your Favorite Cookies" night can add something special to a "new dancer
dance" night. A simple plan and some slight extra effort to make our new
dancer program more special can not only keep your existing dancers coming
back, it can make more exited about bringing their friends and co-workers
to your begin your new dancer program.
Another point is to include your new
dancers in your club functions. Having them attend picnics, theater nights,
bases, holiday parties and other non-dancing club events, helps to socially
integrate the new dancers into your group and gives them even more incentive
to be active. If your club prints a newsletter, include your new dancers
with the articles of interest, birthday/anniversary listings and other
noteworthy features. Even if your club doesn't consider these new dancers
to be members yet, including them with an asterisk by their name indicating
"special new dancer" gives them well-deserved recognition and introduces
them to your club members as well.
Most new dancer programs have coordinators.
These coordinators can be in charge of an on-going contact list. This
contact list should not only include members of your current new dancer
group, but can also include members from your last group that didn't join your club. It can also
include people that signed up for information at your most recent demonstrations.
Your current new dancers can be contacted, by a personal phone call if
possible, when they miss a night. People can also be called when there
is another opportunity to join your new dancer program. These personal phone
calls show you care and that, these people are important to you and your
group.
If your new dancers have missed nights
or are behind, provide opportunities for them to make up what they've
missed. Hold private gatherings in someone's home and bring food to make
it more fun. Don't square dancers have the best "pot luck" events? These
new dancer review events not only help new dancers catch up to the rest
of the group, it strengthens the social ties that keep them coming back.
It will also help them in their decision to join your club. These make-up
sessions can also be done before or after your regular "new dancer dance"
night.
Many clubs assign or seek volunteers
from their members to be "personal angels" or "mentors" to each of their
new dancers or new dancer couples. Most begin this at graduation, but some
have even initiated this as the new dancer program closes after the third
or fourth week. These "mentors" introduce their new dancers to others in
the club, provide guidance and encouragement, contact them if they miss
a night and even share rides to the "new dancer dances" and other non-dancing
club events. This is a great personal touch and if the "mentors" are matched
according to compatibility characteristics like age, living location, occupation,
and other like attributes, great friendships can result and the new dancers
are much more likely to stay with the new dancer program and join the club.
Consider the above suggestions and try
some ideas of your own. Just a little extra effort with your new dancer
program can make it more successful and help your club grow. Good Luck
and have fun!
American Square Dance, August, 2004
Entertaining The Public With Square
Dancing, 2004
by Garland Smith
Every year (usually in the fall and
spring) I get a number of calls from church groups and civic organizations
to come and entertain them with Square Dance. Themes of these events range
from "Hoe Down", "Barn Dance", "Rodeo Days", etc...
Over the years, I have developed a philosophy/formula that has served
me well. I measure
success by enthusiastic participation and smiles on the faces of the dancers.
Without exception, these events are tremendously successful.
If you are already doing successful "fun night/one night stand" events,
I would not advocate
that you change what is working for you. I don't claim to be an expert.
The ideas that I am presenting below share a perspective and offer some ideas
that work very well for me. Here are the guidelines that constitute my
formula for success:
1. Don't focus on any particular dance
or formation. Instead, choose dances that are easy to teach and fun to
do. If it takes more than about 30 seconds to teach a dance or a step,
I simply don't use it in my program.
2. Quickly get the folks into the desired
formation. Don't spend a lot of time describing the "proper" way to do
the steps on a particular figure. Get them moving. That will come if they
ever choose to take lessons. Don't harp on the "proper" way to do a particular
dance step. Let them do it however works for them. If they want to do
a Do Sa Do passing left shoulders first, what's the harm.
3. Use a variety of dances. By the end
of one of these events, I have usually done a big circle "square dance",
some traditional square dance, one or more mixers (which are often categorized
as round dance), a contra (I use Virginia Reel without the arm turns...
I got this idea from Jack Murtha's six couple Virginia Reel on the Dance
Time label), and a line dance or two. I consider all of these dances as
companion activities to Square Dancing. The folks don't care what dances
they do; they just want to have fun. However, the more variety you can offer,
the less likely they are to get bored with any particular dance you are offering.
4. Use good, lively music. Good music
gives people "happy feet" and makes them feel like dancing. I use hoedowns
that have a good lively beat (I just started using Red Boot Grass #2 and
I just love it). Other hoedowns that I like include "Thunder" and "Hand
Picked". For line dance, I use "Achey Breakey Heart". This is a popular
country western song and I teach an easy line dance that takes no more
than 30 seconds or so to teach and is fun to do. I always use "Jiffy Mixer"
because the dance is easy and the music is excellent.
5. Use material (music and dances) that
you are familiar and comfortable with. If you get too far outside your
"comfort zone", you will not be as successful as if you use material that
you know and enjoy. This doesn't mean that you should stop introducing
new material into your routine. I am always on the lookout for new material,
music and dances. However, nothing goes into my program unless it meets
my criteria and until I have mastered it and am comfortable with it. Since
there is only so much material that you can use in an evening, new music
or a new dance routine has to be really good in order to make it into my
program.
I hope you find something useful here.
Please feel free to e-mail me at GarlandSmith@sqdrd.com or call me at
218-633-0774 if you have any comments or questions or simply want to discuss
something about this activity that we cherish.
I'd like to offer my thanks to Wayne
Morvent, who has encouraged me to jot down some of my ideas and whom I
consider to be a good friend and mentor.
This article, can be accessed online at the following URL: www.sqdrd.com/articles.EntertainingThePublicWithSquareDancing.
If you would like to do so, please deel free to add this link to your
web page.
Permission granted to reprint or use
this article in its entirety as long as credit is given to the author.
Square Dance, August 2004
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Caller
Lab - Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
* * * * * * * * * * S T A R T * * * * * * * * * *
(December 1, 2006)
Social Dancing
The following was reprinted from January1994, Mayo Clinic Health
Newsletter, with permission of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and research,,
Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Jazz up your fitness routine with a regular dose of dance.
Evelyn resolved that in 1994 she’d exercise regularly. But it’s only the
beginning of the new year and she’s al ready bored with her new stationary
bike. The rowing machine and treadmill at the YWCA also hold little appeal.
When a friend coaxed her to go along for an evening of free dance lessons,
she realized exercise doesn’t have to be a chore.
It’s true. Whether you’re swirling across the floor to a Strauss waltz or
doing do-si-dos to the commands of a
square dance caller, you’re getting exercise -- and probably having fun
too. Dancing pairs you up with more than a partner.
From burning calories to socializing with friends, dancing offers these
health benefits:
- Calories - Dancing can burn as many calories as walking,
swimming or riding a bicycle. During a half hour of sustained dancing you
can burn between 200 and 400 calories.
- One factor that determines how many calories you’ll
expend is distance. In one study, researchers attached pedometers to square
dancers and found each person covered nearly five miles in a single evening.
- Cardiovascular conditioning - Regular exercise can
lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and an improved cholesterol
profile.
- Experts typically recommend 30 to 40 minutes of continuous
activity three to four times a week. Dancing may not provide all the conditioning
you need, but it can help. The degree of cardiovascular conditioning depends
on how vigorously you dance, how long you dance continuously and how regularly
you do it.
- Strong bones - The side to side movements of many dances
strengthen your weight bearing bones (tibia, fibula and femur) and can help
prevent or slow loss of bone mass (osteoporosis).
- Rehabilitation - If you’re recovering from heart or
knee surgery, movement may be part of your rehabilitation. Dancing is a positive
alternative to aerobic dance or jogging.
- Sociability - Dancing contains a social component that
solitary fitness endeavors don’t. It gives you an opportunity to develop strong
social ties which contribute to self-esteem and a positive outlook.
Would you like to dance?
Tomorrow night when you consider settling down for a little television,
turn on the music instead. After a few spins around the living room, you’ll
have so much fun you may forget you’re exercising.
The following is an excerpt printed from the USDA News, reprinted from Dancin’News
of Central Florida.
LIVE TEN YEARS LONGER!
Square Dancing will add ten years to your life, a surprising new study shows.
Dr. Arron Blackburn states, “It’s clear that square dancing is the perfect
exercise. It combines all the positive aspects of intense physical activity
with none of the negative elements.”
The study was based on their physical examinations which indicated that
both female and male square dancers could expect to live well into
their ‘80’s.
The square dance movements raise the heart rate like any good aerobic exercise
should. All the quick changes of direction loosen and tone up the muscles
- but not so severely as to cause injury. In square dancing, when you’re not
moving, you’re clapping hands or tapping feet, which all contributes to long
term fitness.
********** END **********
We thank you for the coverage you have given us in the past and for your
continued support In the future.
THE CALLERLAB BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Marilynn Marchione, The Associated Press
Published: Monday, November 13, 2006
CHICAGO
- Italian researchers have come up with a novel way for cardiac rehabilitation
patients to exercise their damaged hearts without having to squeeze into
spandex or gyrate in a gym: waltzing.
The dance proved to be just as effective as bicycle and treadmill
training for improving exercise capacity in a study of 110 heart-failure
patients. Dancers also reported slightly more improvement in sleep, mood,
and the ability to do hobbies, do housework and have sex than the others.
"This may be a more effective way of getting people to exercise, and may
be more fun than running on a treadmill," said Dr. Robert Bonow of Northwestern
University School of Medicine. "Maybe we should try that here. I'm not sure
we can get Americans to waltz, but they can certainly dance."
Exercise is crucial after people suffer heart problems, but getting people
to stick with it is tough. As many as 70 per cent drop out of traditional
programs, said Dr. Romualdo Belardinelli, director of cardiac rehabilitation
at Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy.
Part of the benefit may be that dancers had a partner and social companion
rather than cycling or walking on a treadmill alone, doctors said.
"This type of program is more effective," Dr. Belardinelli said, "because
it is fun."
© The Ottawa Citizen 2006
ARTS-DANCE -
NEWSLETTER
Winter - 2005 -2006
A Message from our Chairman............
With this initial issue of the ARTS NEWSLETTER, we are reaching out to the
Dance community to make you aware of the Alliance of Round, Traditional and
Square-Dance (ARTS-Dance). ARTS has brought together the leadership of the
National Dance organizations in a manner that has never been seen before
- all working hand in hand to significantly
increase the number of dancers enjoying
all of our Dance forms. These dedicated
leaders represent the Dancers, Callers, Cuers and Teachers from the Round, Traditional nd Square Dance communities.
As an IRS 501 (c)
(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit foundation,
ARTS is able to accept tax-deductible contributions from Dancers and Dance Organizations. Currently,
ARTS is initiating an “Add a Buck” program
where clubs and organizations are encouraged
to increase their door admissions by any amount they choose & submit
this donation to ARTS to benefit its various programs.
These
include such things as the development of marketing & recruiting programs
to encourage non-dancers to join our ranks. A toll free phone number
LEARN TO DANCE 1-866-445-ARTS (2787) has been implemented to assist interested
persons in finding a location near them. To promote this toll free number,
ARTS has made magnetic bumper signs available to Dancers for $2.50 from
your organization’s leaders.
Efforts are underway to develop an image enhancement video
to depict the fun of our Dance activities as modern and exciting. One of
the ARTS development initiatives is to educate the public and promote an
improved understanding and image of the multiple forms of their historical
dance activities. One of the means to achieve this goal has been accomplished
through an ARTS Grant to assist in the development of an in-school curriculum
to teach square dancing to grade school students with a program including
CD’s incorporating upbeat music & lessons achievable by these young students.
It is hoped that this program will be expanded to include
other Dance forms.
An ARTS Action Plan details the step-by-step process by which
the Dance community can achieve its goal of 50,000 new Dancers. This includes
the development of a communications network beginning with ARTS State Representatives
and expanding to reach all Dancers who have E-mail addresses.
A newly implemented ARTS Travel program provides Dancers
with an economical means to plan travel online and generate funds to benefit
ARTS and its programs. All Dancers are encouraged to purchase their travel
needs on line at: http://www.arts-dancetravel.com/
Details of these varied programs and activities are included
within this issue of the ARTSNEWS-LETTER and may be accessed
on the ARTS website www.artsdance.org
By all of us working together, we can achieve the goal of
increasing the number of Dancers enjoying our exciting and varied
Dance activities.
Jim Maczko - Chairman Chairman@arts-dance.org
A Little Bit of History.........
In the late 80’s, realizing there was a need for the national
organizations to become better acquainted with each other’s goals and projects
and perhaps begin to interface and work together more closely & complement
each other rather than working as separate entities, LEGACY, one of the national
square dance organizations, made arrangements for an annual “Summit” meeting
for such a purpose every June at the National Square Dance Convention.
Moving into the 21st century this idea gradually evolved
into The Alliance of Round, Traditional and Square Dance, Inc.
- or simply ARTS-Dance ...whose goal is to generate public awareness &
promote growth and acceptance of contemporary Square, Round, Traditional,
Contra, Clog, Line and Folk Dancing. ARTS-Dance has been incorporated in
the State of North Carolina as an IRS 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt corporation.
This allows the ARTS to receive tax-deductible donations for the furtherance
of it activities.
What is the make up of ARTS-Dance?
Eleven organizations make up the ARTS Governing Board with
each retaining their individual identity, character, mission
and goals, while supporting the common goals of the ARTS-Dance Alliance.
Each organization has one vote. These include the AMERICAN CALLERS
ASSOCIATION, CALLERLAB, CONTRALAB, International Association of Gay Square
Dance Clubs (IAGSDC), National Square Dance Campers (NSDCA), National Square
Dance Convention Executive Committee (NEC), ROUNDALAB, Single Square Dancers
USA (SSDUSA), United Square Dancers of America (USDA), Universal Round Dance
Council (URDC), USAWest Square Dance Convention Policy Board (USAWest). With
these organizations working together, it has been possible to initiate efforts
to enhance the public image of contemporary Square, Round and Traditional
Folk dance activities.
There is also an Auxiliary Governing Board. Currently it
consists of the Kentucky Dance Foundation, Lloyd Shaw Foundation, The Square
Dance Foundation of New England & the U.S. Handicapable Square Dance
Association. These organizations may send a rep to the meeting but have
no voting privilege.
Associate Membership is open to any Dance Related Organizations,
Recreational Leaders or Supporters of the Dance activities who annually donate
$100 to the ARTS. Individual membership may be granted to contributors who
donated a minimum of $50 per couple or $25 per individual to The ARTS. Other
individuals & groups are encouraged to participate or provide financial
support through dances benefitting the ARTS & by contributions.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
ARTS-Dance conducts 3 meetings a year -one in the Spring
(March/April), Summer (Sunday after the NSDC) and it’s Annual
Meeting in October.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
During the first few meetings of ARTS-Dance the various organizations,
who would eventually form its Governing Board, spent time becoming better
acquainted and establishing improved lines of communication and cooperation.
Once Bylaws were adopted by this new cohesive organization, work
began in earnest to acquaint the rest of the dancing world
by publishing an informational brochure to inform the dance community of
the establishment of ARTS-Dance and its mission. As individuals and
organizations heard about ARTS-Dance and its mission contributions
began to come in to support this effort. Some areas even held
special Benefit dances for ARTS- Dance.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit our website - learn more about ARTS-Dance
www.arts-dance.org
Looking back on 2004 -
At its Spring meeting ARTS- Dance Governing Board elected
Jim Maczko, Chairman, Henry Israel, Vice Chairman, Jerry Reed, Secretary
& Edythe Weber, Treasurer. Many dancers had their first acquaintance
with ARTS-Dance when at the 53rd National Square Dance Convention in Denver,
CO they were given a comprehensive dancer demographic survey form to fill
out. Additional surveys were also distributed at other national events. The
replies were to help ARTS identify those who square dance. This in turn would
help when ARTS could begin its efforts to enhance the public image of our
activity.
A website was established to introduce ARTSDANCE to all those
interested in its activities. Convenient links were also included to each
of the Governing Board member organization’s website. As new projects are
started & achievements reached, this information is added to our website.www.arts-dance.org
By recognizing the promotional efforts of dance groups a
Grant of $1,000 was issued to the California Square Dance Council
for its “Teach the Teacher” program that was going to be presented to the
California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
(CAHPERD) at its Annual Conference in March of 2005. They plan to develop
a workbook, CD’s with high-energy music and a DVD to show how the dances
can be executed to help teachers to use in their school program.
ARTS-Dance was granted status by the IRS as a 501(c) (3)
non-profit/charitable foundation.
Much discussion also centered on creating videos to explain
ARTS & to enhance the Square Dance image and to include all the many
forms of dance included under the word “square dance”.
The groundwork was laid for ARTS-Dance to implement a toll-free
telephone number for anyone to access information on contemporary
Square, Round and Traditional Folk Dancing.
To help in disseminating information about ARTS Dance and
its projects an effort was begun to set up a national network
of ARTS representatives in every state.
CALLERLAB’s Recruit, Promote, Maintain (RPM) Committee was
preparing packets to encourageclubs to “Add a Buck” to dance admissions
to support the ARTS-Dance projects.
A Brochure was developed to explain our new organization
and accompanied our first display at the NSDC Showcase of Ideas.
A Newsletter was suggested to better inform members & others of the
progress & programs of ART-Dance.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
ARTS-Dance realizes that many of our supporters are unable
to devote the time and money to attend an ARTS-Dance meeting,
but are interested in what is happening, a newsletter was created. Thus,
you are now reading our first effort. We welcome your comments.
Although some of our supporters are familiar with the founding
of ARTS-Dance and its mission, it was felt that a brief background of what
has transpired to bring ARTS-Dance up to where it is today should be in this
initial issue.
It was said that bringing together a coalition of allied
dance groups who would work together to generate public awareness &
promote growth and acceptance of contemporary Square, Round & all theTraditional
Folk Dance form was “Mission Impossible”. But if you ever come and sit in
at any of our meetings, you will find while some discussions may be warm,
we can usually come down to workable solutions agreeable to all.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Major ARTS-Dance Happenings in 2005...
SURVEYS -Michael Streby & Patty Wilcox have entered all
the data and have distributed it to the various organizations
who participated. The data collected by the various surveys have provided
very consistent and important information. It seems that we
should direct our Recruitment efforts toward the 50-59 age group.
There will be no survey conducted during the 55th NSDC in
San Antonio, TX, but one will be conducted at the 56th NSDC in Charlotte,
NC.
MOVIE - A documentary movie project has been proposed by
recent college graduate Nick Korbee. Nick explained his ideas
at our October Meeting. He plans for his movie to show the “true” image”
of square dancing & its participants. Much is still in the
“talking” stage with a lot of research underway. The ARTS will
include information relating to this movie to our mailing list.
IMAGE ENHANCEMENT - Previous discussions have resulted in
agreement that production of a video should be pursued. Its goals would be
to present all aspects of the activity to non-dancers. Also discussion on
length of videos, where they would be shown, how many videos and who to focus
on. Surveys indicate 50-59 year olds. A Canadian Public Service Announcement
was shown at the 54th NSDC and is available to use. Minnesota Central Region
has also produced a video. There was discussion to consult others who have
produced Public Service Announcement videos to obtain help with this effort.
An Ad Hoc committee is working on this project. Michael Streby will create
a
video to publicize the ARTS to be used at the 55th NSDC
Square 4 Life - Don Feenerty & his cohorts believe strongly
that people need to be invited, encouraged, convinced &
brought to dances. We need to advertise, publicize & promote the activity.
His Heritage Dance Association has actively stressed the physical health
aspect as well as the mental and psychological aspects with excellent results...and
will share them. It is work...but worth it. For more information contact
Don at: don@feenerty.com
ARTS at the National SD Conventions – At the 54th NSDC in
Portland, OR Representatives from PR firm Weber Shandwick presented
3 seminars on how PR can be used to help promote the growth of the activity.
These excellent presentations were pro-bono (at no charge).
A CD was produced with this info by the 54th NSDC staff. ARTS will be active
at the 55th and 56th NSDC with seminars as well as having a display in their
Showcase of Ideas.
LEARN TO DANCE - 1-800-445-ARTS (2787) - A magnetic bumper
sticker is available for $2.50. By using the National SD DIRECTORY &
the ARTS list of State Reps most questions or requests can be answered or
forwarded on to someone who can do so. It was suggested a “Starter Kit” be
created for any person living in an area where there is no dancing.
TEACHING SQUARE DANCING IN SCHOOLS The text and CD’s in the
“Teach the Teacher” materials created for the CA Ass’n of Health,
Physical, Education, Recreation & Dance (CAHPERD) by the California
SD Council, inc. was well received and sold out with orders taken for more
copies! They are thinking of expanding it to junior classes. Their contact
is Bonnie Abramson-Bjabramson@aol.com
“Moving And Grooving” -a similar document with material &
CD’s sponsored by the British Columbia S&RD Federation has
also met with much success in Canada. It has been evaluated by the BC Teachers
Federation and may also be purchased. www.squaredance.bc.ca
PRESS RELEASES -At various times press releases have been
distributed to all known publications dealing with our activity.
Michael Streby has created an E-mail listing for about half of these publications.
Usually our PR’s are E-mailed, but they are also available in hard copy.
We thank the many publications who use our PR’s.
Please direct any questions for ASK ARTS to Del Reed at 321-633-1306
or askarts@arts-dance.org
This special column was suggested by a new ARTS-Dance member,
Aileen Pechecho, as another way to help spread the word. If you send in your
question or observation, Del will respond and provide answers.
Save - Friday, February 29, 2008For a Special World Wide
Dance to benefit ARTS-Dance
Organizations, clubs and individuals everywhere are asked
to join together to sponsor an ARTS-Dance Benefit Dance on this very special
day which only occurs once every four years. Linda Shaw is heading up this
project and will have more information as the date comes closer. But for
now SAVE THE DATE.
Business Plan for ARTS - A ten-year plan was reviewed and
approved for implementation. Our first goal has been met - that of having
an ARTS-Dance contact in every state. These reps will be responsible for
contacting different state organizations explaining our purpose and goals.
Our next goal is to identify all traditional, round and square
dancers in the United States and make them aware of the goals
& progress of ARTS-Dance. Dancers will be updated quarterly of our progress.
Once all dancers are aware of the need for this Alliance
to promote Dance, they will be asked to help us physically and financially
to achieve that goal. This support can be by fund- raisers, donations, or
any other idea a dance group wishes to sponsor. All dancers will be invited
to become members of ARTS-Dance.
The above are the
goals for 2006.
ADD A BUCK PROJECT -A project that has been used by several
organizations and clubs - that of adding an additional fee placed on the
admission fee for a dance with that extra charge being a donation to The ARTS.
A committee has been formed to provide a packet of material to anyone who
wants to carry out this project.
SQUARE DANCE MARKETING PLAN - This plan created by a CALLERLAB
Ad-Hoc committee
was presented to ARTS & accepted as a guideline to be
revised, as needed. It has been renamed. Recruiting Plan and
is available upon request.
Getting Media attention to the benefits from participating
in our dance activity. ARTS-Dance realizes the need for this type of publicity
& promotion. A number of dancers & organizations have some excellent
materials and ideas to share. There is a big need to publicize the physical,
mental and social benefits of square dancing to the “outside world”. A committee
has been formed to gather this material and make it available for all involved
within our activity to use. If you have material or success stories to share
- please let ARTS-Dance know.
A new Fund Raiser for ARTS-Dance - YTB Travel & Cruises
has proposed that ARTS would benefit from online purchases of
travel & cruises. A portion of the royalties would go to ARTS & used
to further ARTS purpose & goals. After much discussion, it was agreed
to try it for a year. Website -http://www.arts-dancetravel.com
Informational to all: A proposal from Disney World Youth
Events Group to sponsor a square danceevent (squares, rounds, traditional)
was received and discussed. Although sponsored by the Disney Youth Group,
it would be open to all dancers. This event warrants further consideration
and ARTS await a draft proposal.
ARTS-Dance has accepted for Review and revision a grant application
as presented by Alitia Becker prior to its submission to the RWJ- Foundation.
The basis for this Grant is to deal with childhood obesity through the support
of Dance Instructors in Schools supplemented with the Square Dance 101 Booklet.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
October has been established as the Annual Meeting where
officers are elected. Officers for 2005-2006 include Jim Maczko-Chairman,
Scott Phillips-Vice Chairman, Jerry Reed-Secretary, and Edythe Weber-Treasurer.
All serve as volunteers.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Things to look for during the next few months We will have
a quarter page ad in the National Square Dance DIRECTORY which
will be available early in 2006. Look for our different articles and press
releases from ARTS-DANCE in your local publications covering topics in more
depth than our review here. The fourth ASK ARTS article from Del Reed should
also be in print by the time you read this newsletter. Please visit our
web site for more in depth words on any topic mentioned.
This ARTS-DANCE NEWSLETTER is planned to be available within
6 weeks after an ARTS-Dance regularly scheduled meeting. In this way, you
will be up to date on happenings within this vital organization. Our next
ARTS-Dance meeting is Sunday, April 2, 2006 in Charlotte, NC.
ARTS Lapel Pins
Should you care to have one of the ARTS pins to show your
support for our new organization, these lapel pins are available for $5.00
from any of the 11 organizations on the Governing Board.
Pass Thru-Trade By & Outreach
To Dancing At Your Local Schools
Does your club have an outreach for attracting youth to the great
pastime of folk, square and round dancing? Do you perform demonstrations
at the local elementary, middle or high schools? Do you have any contact
with the hometown college or university programs? These are just some questions
that come to mind as we look to promote traditional dancing in the schools.
In many cases, it is the physical education teacher who is responsible
for bringing social dance forms into the school curriculum. Many times,
we don't have people in those positions who are well versed in the area
of dance, and if that is so sometimes it won't be included in the Physical
Education curriculum. Many physical educators are willing to receive any
help that they might be able to get in this area, whether it be in the form
of demonstrations or in assistance in teaching or having someone in an advising
capacity. Have you thought about donating an old sound system or records
and tapes to the physical education program at the local school to assist
in the dance promotion effort?
Many elementary school programs in their study of history, do a
unit on the "Old West. This is a perfect opportunity to go into a school
and demonstrate our traditional dance, and maybe even dance with the students.
While I was working with 4-H and FFA square dance groups in Central Pennsylvania
we used to go out to 4 or 5 elementary schools per year, do some demonstrations
and then do some easy figures with the students using our female dancers
with the boys and the male dancers with the females. It was a great success.
Don't forget about the colleges and universities. Many times they
may have a program such as a fine arts or cultural series running at their
institutions where a dance demonstration might be in. order. Collegiate
squares may even pop up on campus or maybe at your club inviting the college
crowd into a dance. Does your club have a youth night and allow them in
not worrying if they are in appropriate attire for a dancing evening? Competition
is sometimes a good thing for younger dancers. It is sometimes not enough
to dance for the sake of lawful and useful recreation ... but learning
to do it as the best group is sometimes an attractive element.
One thing that has stuck with square dancing for many years is
that great cartoon character Bugs Bunny's version of the square dance. Remember
this, "Swing yer pardner round and round, pull her ear and throw her on
the ground" or something like that. Even though we are traditional we have
to realize music has changed over the years. Lets remember our youth and
the music that we thought was out of date that our parents and grandparents
listened to, and the music we listened to that they thought was blaring,
too loud. Physical Educators are now innovating and utilizing techno-music
to do square dance figures in certain settings. Let's get them interested
in our great form of dance and then we can move on from there. As they
appreciate the form of dance they then can begin to appreciate the past
history, and traditional forms and music as well.
We are aware that children and young people are growing and learning
at all times. But like all phases of education, we want to equip the youth
of today with the social elements to function well in society, and the
school educators can certainly always use a hand in helping our students
reach that goal, as well as promoting and preserving our traditional form
of dancing.
American Square Dance, March 2004
From
Lee Kopman
Let's face it ... WE ARE IN TROUBLE. Our numbers are dwindling.
Beginner Classes, Weekday Dances, Weekends, Festivals - all are showing
a decrease in the number of dancers attending. We must initiate new ideas
in how to promote our beloved activity.
I have always felt that dancers beget dancers ... i.e. - our best
salesmen are those presently taking part in our dance programs. I have
a proposal that might be of interest to the dance community. If you can't
bring new people to the dance, BRING THE DANCE TO THE PEOPLE.
Here is my idea. Have a dance party at your home. Invite your friends,
neighbors and relatives to your home. Put on the CD (as advertised), sit
back - and let the instructions and music do the job of introducing Western Square
Dancing to the Party.
It's a winner! After the dance sessions you will have a perfect
opportunity to formal lessons.
Give it a try - we have everything to gain and nothing to lose!
Open letter to callers and dancers...
Having trouble getting people to take lessons?
I have a solution to your problem.
If you can't get people to come to a beginner class … bring the
class to the people
Suggest to those who are in your clubs to:
Have a party at their home
invite their friends, neighbors, relatives...
Play the CD - Those at your party
will be dancing in just a few minutes.
The CD
is a available for the price of $18.00.
You may need more than one CD to give to members of your club.
The CD is also an excellent tool for callers who are
looking for the best way to teach a beginners class.
Contact:
Lee Kopman (516) 221-5028
Email: Lee1square@aol.com
American Square Dance, March 2004
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