Well, here we are in 2010 and looking ahead to recruiting dancers for September.
The last two years we have travelled abroad (Canada – 2008 and Australia – 2009)
and danced at their National Conventions.
This year we’re at home because the relatives we visited in Australia last year are coming over to us this year.
What a shame they don’t Square Dance. What a shame that more people don’t square dance.
But then we need more Callers and it’s only by having new Callers to open new clubs will the activity expand.
Although most clubs could still accommodate more dancers.
Some Callers are calling several nights a week but hardly get to dance.
Others, like me, also like to dance so will limit the number of times a week they call.
So there will be little progress in new clubs by existing Callers.
We do have some newer Callers around the country who started about two to three years ago
and are making good progress but it takes a while to become proficient.
Newer Callers usually start by calling at existing clubs plus training sessions until
they feel confident to start their own club. Some newer Callers stay with the club where
they started calling and provide a back-up when the regular Caller is away.
In May we danced a couple of times to a visiting Australian Caller who we danced to in Australia last year.
He is one of Australia’s top Callers and very popular. As it happened when we were at the Australian Convention
I danced with a lady who had a relative living in the next village from us and after the Convention
(in June) she came over in August and while here came to our Club and danced with us.
Her Club Caller back home was this same Caller. This shows how truly international Square Dancing is.
We have open evenings each week during September and last year we had 21 people through the door.
After some years of experience we can often guess by just talking to some that, while they have said
they have enjoyed the evening and no doubt they have, they won’t return.
Somehow, it’s not quite what they want. So, of course, some didn’t, then the numbers gradually
whittled down through health problems, etc and we ended with 7 whose dancing is coming on really
well having been dancing now for nearly a year.
I’ll be doing the usual car boot appearances for recruiting and last year we did our first time
in Fun-in-the-Park at Abingdon. This year it’s on Sunday, 12th September, so we hope to be there,
not having received any application forms as of yet. If by any chance you read this prior
to then you could come and speak to us personally although by then we will have had
one open evening (7th) and you could have been there having a good time!
Don’t forget our national website www.uksquaredancing.com
It’s regularly updated and will give lots of information on ‘The Big Push’ recruiting campaign for this year.
We are starting NEW DANCERS starting at 8pm any Tuesday in September at Steventon Village Hall,
OX13 6RR where we dance every week. If you’ve read this far you really ought to try it
All for now
