"COOL MOVES"
TEEN PROMOTION/RECRUITMENT VIDEO

The PR/Promotion Committee of the Canadian Square & Round Dance Society, together with the support of 14 other Canadian square & round dance organizations have produced an 8 1/2 minute video (Cool Moves) for the promotion and recruitment of young people into the activity. 

A professional videographer captured 5 hours of original footage of the 1998 Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival, held in Eugene Oregon. 

"Cool Moves" is intended to be a tool to supplement, not replace, youth promotion and recruitment efforts.  It is best shown presentation-style in a group setting of 10-20 youth, particularly pre-teens (ages 8-12).  The presentation can be made extra fun for the young people by handing out popcorn or licorice twists. 

Such group setting opportunities could be church youth groups, boys and girls clubs, 4-H clubs, YM/YWCA youth groups, elementary school physical education classes. Table displays at malls or fairs are a possibility, but only if the area around the display is quiet enough for the sound from the video to be clearly heard. The video is meant to be watched from the start without distraction.  It would be ideal if the video could be shown in conjunction with some basic square dance instruction from a caller-teacher.  If the video is shown after such instruction, it gives the children something special to look forward to. 

Once the video is shown to a group, the following should take place:

• conduct a question and answer session, preferably with some pre-teens or teens, who already dance, responding to the questions;
• give details about local youth square & round dance activity and new dancer sessions being offered;
• hand out a good promotional brochure;
• collect the names/addresses/telephone numbers and perhaps ages of those interested for later follow-up.  (Be sure to contact these new dancer prospects when lessons are about to start).

Additional copies of "Cool Moves" can be ordered by sending a cheque or postal money order in Canadian funds to "Cool Moves" video. c/o Brian Elmer, 3377 Tarragon Court, Westbank, BC  V4T 1B3  Phone/FAX (250) 768-2694.  E-mail: brian@squaredance.bc.ca    

Please make the cheque or money order payable to: "PR Committee, Canadian Square & Round Dance Society."  Postage and handling are included in the minimum donations requested below. 

$12.00 (Cdn.) mailed to Canadian pre-teen and teen Square & Round Dance clubs ONLY.  This special rate is subsidized by the P.R./Promotion Committee to encourage more youth square & round dance groups in Canada. 

$18.00 (Cd.) mailed to other destinations in Canada or the United States. 

"Cool Moves" was funded (in alphabetical order) with financial support by: 

Alberta Square & Round Dance Federation
British Columbia Square & Round Dance Federation
Canadian Square & Round Dance Society
Eastern Ontario Square & Round Dance Association
Fraser Valley Square & Round Dance Association
Lower Vancouver Island Western Square & Round Dance Association
Manitoba Square & Round Dance Federation
Ontario Square & Round Dance Federation
Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival
Saskatchewan Square & Round Dance Federation
South Western Ontario Square & Round Dance Association
Square & Round Dance Federation of Nova Scotia
Toronto & District Square & Round Dance Association
Victoria & District Caller Teachers Association
Yukon Square & Round Dance Association

If you don't already know modern square dancing, you should learn because it's awesome fun!

You dance to lively music, make new friends and you get to go places. It's really interesting and challenging, not as simple as what they teach at school. Lessons usually start in September or October and they don't cost a lot.

Give modern square dancing a try! Join a club near you! The First lesson is usually free. Try it and discover how much you like it!