Hi All,
 
I'd like to tap the collective experiences of the group for a couple of questions.  I have an event coming up where the organizers want to improve their groups dance "style", and are having one of their dance evenings dedicated to providing dance style tips.  I will be calling that dance.  The group has a mix of dancers with many younger dancers between 12 and 25.  Sometimes half of the dance crowd is comprised of these dancers.  Many of the rest of the dancers are older, some in their 60's and beyond, and many of them have danced for years.  70% of the dancers are in the intermediate level, but not where you can do a no walkthru contra corners or hey for 4 dance.  There are almost always a few new dancers at each dance, and the average number of dancers is between 35 and 55.  The caller usually teaches the workshop, with a few of the regular dancers participating when needed, but is not a large workshop, nor do many of the regular dancers
 come in time for the workshop.
 
What I would like from the group is specific ways of integrating style tips that will teach the dancers safe and courteous dancing without sounding overtly preachy.  What kind of common problems do you see that dancers have that they can improve on?  This night is billed as a dance evening with style tips taught, so those that come will expect some extra teaching during each walk thru.  But I don't want to over do the teaching, or do too much talking.  I'd also like to hear some of the specific things that you all would teach to try to improve a groups style of dancing so that it is fun and safe for everyone.  Specific dance tips or examples would be helpful.  During the dance I envision a specific tip to teach or highlight during each walkthru, and the dances I choose will emphasize the tip being taught.  One example is that in a Rory O'More style balance it is best to look in the direction you are moving and make eye contact with the
 person you are balancing towards.  Teaching that the balances are all inter-dependent, so when one person does it the wrong way it can ripple affect the whole line, and that the eye contact reinforces the motion - of moving toward the person you are looking at.  
 
Another question I have is this - Do you prefer to have the caller teach the workshop, or do you prefer to have in-house people or local callers who attend the dance teach the workshop?  Perhaps this question is more directed to those who are also dance organizers.  I have heard the idea that if a group wants to make sure their dancers are learning to dance properly then they need to control that by having their own people teach the workshop, rather than leaving that to the caller, who is usually a different person each evening.  Then there is the fact that the caller knows what his program is and what goals he may have for the evening and will teach a workshop that includes what he will be presenting.  Many veteren dancers don't attend the workshop, even though some of them would benefit from attending, so that teaching the workshop only really benefits the newer dancers and those veterans who do attend.  What do you do at your local dance for
 the workshop?  Do you have a group of local people who teach it?  Is that goup comprised of callers or other very experienced dancers?  Do you follow a specific format for the workshop?  Or, do you leave the workshop and the information taught in it up to the caller?  As a caller, I always welcome the opportunity to teach the workshop, and impart my style tips and info during the workshop, as well as throughout the dance.  The event above that I am calling is where I will hope to teach some of these tips during the dance itself. 
 
I know there are callers on this list who have done workshops like this at dance weekends and festivals.  I welcome your input - on or off list.  I have been to a few of these workshops on safe dancing, on dance style, dancing in your own space, etc.  I'd like to do a similar type of event, but during this regular dance night, and help the organizers fulfill their goal of advancing the experience level, and safe dancing style, of all of their dancers.   Thanks to you all in advance for your ideas, tips, info and opinions.  
 
 
Dave Colestock
 
www.davecolestock.com