pennsicdance: RE: Separate Balls

[David Learmonth]

Hi.  Darius here.  I figured that I would take a shot at posting to the
list as well.  Although I did not object to the dance list in the
meeting at Pennsic, I did want to say something but couldn't find the
solution.  It isn't a bad overall list for trying to satisfy all of the
groups.  However, some people have posed the questions or comments that
the Pennsic Ball is one of the few times that the whole SCA can come out
and dance, and some of them don't really do much dancing during the rest
of the year.  These people would be happy to get in a lot of dancing,
but this also would typically be the ECD.  But on the flip side, it is
the only time that the really good dancers can get together and dance
without having to teach every other person in their group, and to be
able to dance the more obscure dances with other skilled dancers.  I
know what a wonderful feeling this can be.  But I agree that this is a
rather difficult task to accommodate such extremes in one ball.  I think
that 2 main balls would be nice, one catering more to ECD and the other
to Italian and more complicated dances (and yes I know that Italian
aren't necessarily more complex).  But we do have dance parties at the
dance tent which cater to the second group already.  So could this mean
that we should just lighten up a bit on the main ball?  It is a tough
decision.

Personally I try to dance Everything.  I also teach others on the fly
during the balls.  I am working towards the optimal fun for everyone.  I
am a bit disappointed that So many of the advanced dancers have just
decided that ECD is boring and that they no longer enjoy it.  It is also
sad that the general populace is afraid of Italian.  But I think that
for the main ball we should perhaps be gracious dance teachers and help
the general public to enjoy themselves as best we can.  We can always
have a couple of other dance party nights to make up for it, for the
burning need in us to do these other fun dances that the public doesn't
know.

That's about it.  I know it is a controversial subject, and I've only
been in for 6 years so I haven't been around quite as long.  But I hope
that we can accommodate everyone in this matter.

(Oh, and as a side note, I am trying to bring some more dancing back to
Ealdormere (Ontario) by running a local dance practice in Ben Dunfirth
(Hamilton).  I am introducing Italian early so that they won't fear it
so.)

Darius the Dancer