[TANGO-L] Subject: Re: Community growth...Teacher Challenge

[Eero Olli <eero.olli @ISP.UIB.NO>]

At 09:00 20.12.2002, you wrote:
>Subject: Re: Community growth...Teacher Challenge


Some time back we had this discussion in our club. We have around five
couples  in town who give beginnersclasses on behalf of the club.  In the
club we agreed upon that the measure we wanted to use on a teachers success
was the share of people who continued dansing after at least 6 months.
Therefore following points are of interest:
* it is not about teaching as much 'tango' as possible to the students, but
to teach the skills they need at milongas. Floorcraft, social rules (how
invite to a dance, how to reject a dance, how to end a dance with, etc.
* the teachers job is also to introduce the newbies into the community. It
is not over when the class is over.

We have consicously tried to stick to these two contributing factors for a
good social scene (there are of course plethora of others, but these are
worth trying).
First, we spent lots of time and work searching inexpensive localties. Thus
we have low prices and long hours, which allows the better dansers to spend
some time with the not-jet-so-good-ones.  If the prices are high, and the
hours short, most people want to danse only at their own level, and the
generosity is gone.
Second, we do not have enough chairs for everyone, which allows us to have
a rule of no fixed seating. The rule is that Every seat is available, no
matter how many jackets or wineglasses are left at the table.  This creates
a rotation in seating, and people end up meeting new people (and perhaps
dansing with them).  It is a rule that we have to explain to EVERYONE that
shows up, because it is so different from the normal. Thus the host of the
evening (rotates) does feel an obligation to explain it, which also is a
good excuse to introduce oneself and the club, find out what they want, if
the have danced before etc...

Tango is a social dance. Put some effort in the community. Arrange a party.
Have fun. Make sure that everyone else is having fun, too. Be generous, and
it will all come back to you, one day.

Sincerely,
Eero

eero @bergentango.no