New Dancers go in, and New Dancers go out, as square dance organizations bemoan the declining membership. Despite the fact that A.C.A. (American Caller’s Association) and other organizations have continued to publish examples of recruiting activities that are working here and now and have provided positive results to clubs that have tried them. The real question is, in the long-term, how beneficial were they? In other words, what happened to the coveted new club dancers?
In visiting with new dancers who had recently left square dancing, several of them stated that they believed that square dancing has no place for new and struggling dancers because of the lengthy and stressful programs nor would they recommend square dancing to anyone.
One aspect of the problem is that some veteran square dancers will not dance with them or tell them to dance at the back of the hall with only new dancers in their squares to allow other dances to have their ‘perfect pat or pet” squares. Some square dancers chided the new dancers and told them that they did not belong at the dance because they could not dance well enough.
The complicated and cumbersome dance programs (levels) contribute to this tragic loss of new dancers. We have to remember that the revolving doors of square dancing continue to turn for those entering and those exiting the activity. When it becomes easier to go out the door than stay, the new dancers leave, and square dancing is indeed a declining and aging activity.
Why not take the opposite approach? Veteran square dance members should bind together to teach and assist the new dancers. In square dancing, simply providing a club badge and a square dance diploma does not make the new dancer a happy dancer. Square dancing may be a great organization to promote “fun, friendship and fellowship,” but it pushes new dancers out the revolving door. Make new dancers happy to be there. Applaud them, encourage them, and dance with them. Then they will tell others. Activity creates activity. We can make the exit portion of the revolving doors revolve in not out.
ACA is committed to…reducing dancer withdrawals and pay the price for success not the price of failure.
Any individual, club, caller, or association who wishes to communicate his/her opinions on this subject is encouraged to contact the American Callers’ Association Loulet@aol.com or Dr. Patrick Demerath at pdemerath@troy.edu.
For full article, please visit ACA website www.americancallers.com/news.