How to get contra dancers involved in other forms of dancing?
- During breaks allow
time for other types of dances to take place – a small sampler
- people like to rest during breaks!
- it can just be a demonstration
- Have a short
waltz/scandi/swing dance workshop before a contra or during the break
- Don’t
disparage other dance forms, like ECD
- Have other kinds
of dance at dance weekends. Especially when not in the same time
slot as a contra. (e.g., swing in one hall, ECD in another, latin in
the third)
- Play up the
cultural/dressing up aspects of ECD, SCD (Scottish), etc. Maybe
sneak an ECD, etc. into a night o’ contra?
- Especially for
ECD – play up ALL aspects of dance -> music, community,
dancing, exercise, “it’s like Jane Austen”, etc. – not just
the dance part
- People who do
multiple types of dance should encourage their friends to try the
other kinds of dance and show them how fun it can be.
- and not all those kinds of dance have to be incorporated
into a contra dance event – contra dances for contra dancing!
- Offer a FREE workshop to learn some basics or get a taste of Morris, ECD, Rapper, whatever it may be. Get CDSS to loan some swords or sticks.