Here is our first newsletter for 2025.
Welcome to the new year, I hope everyone had a relaxing, but reinvigorating new year and holiday break. We spent much of it in Melbourne with our new grandson and his attention seeking older brother LOL. Classes are about to resume (if they haven't already), and we have had a lot of inquiries from potential new dancers, so its looking like a good year to come. Thanks to Barbara for running the holiday classes. Thanks to those that supported her. We even had newbies turn up because they couldn't wait for the regular classes, which was wonderful
Information below on:
- 2025 Regular Socials
- Class Changes
- The Keeping Customers Happy Challenge
- LDSA Travel
- Dance Floor Etiquette
See you on the dance floor,
Liz & Peter Heath and the Instructor Team
|
|
2025 Regular Socials
The social dates for this year are as follows:
- Sunday 2nd March 6:00pm to 9:30pm - USA Theme (Note the times)
- Sunday 27th April 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 1st June 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 13th July 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 17th August 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 21st September 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 2nd November 1:30pm to 5:00pm
- Sunday 30th November 1:30pm to 5:00pm - Christmas Theme
The Address is: West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL, 19 Rosetta St, West Croydon.
For all but the first one (which starts at 6pm), dancing starts at 1.30pm and concludes at 5pm at a cost of $15 (cash only). The program is run by request, and everyone gets a request form when they enter, to nominate 5 dances they would like to do. We try to ensure that you get at least one of those, but we only do about 5 Intermediate dances during the session, so don't just ask for really hard ones (or lots of unusual ones), or you could miss out altogether.
We have decided not to offer meals beforehand this year, as they were not being well supported and it was not economical for the caterers. Instead, we will return to the format we were using long before Covid-19, with a break about half way through, where we share a combined afternoon tea/supper for 20 minutes. Please bring a small plate of food to share with your fellow dancers. We will have minimal fridge space, and a pie warmer, but no oven, so please don’t bring food that needs cooking. We feel this is a better way to assist people to mix and chat. Doors will open 30 minutes before the starting time.
We have a small group of traveling line dancers from the USA attending the first social in March. They are visiting the Barossa Valley during the day, which is why we have made it an evening social rather than an afternoon one. They should be well lubricated and jolly by the time they get there LOL. Please come and join us, and make them feel welcome. If you have American coloured clothing or accessories, why not wear it.
|
|
|
CLASS CHANGES
There are no new changes so far this year, but there is a new transition class starting for the first time, details below:
- Ingle Farm Thursday Night 7.30pm-9.30pm Transition Level, commences 6th February 2025
See the flyer or web site for other class details.
Please note that, over the Xmas break, I have re leveled a number of dance choreographies, based on my computer analysis and experience. This will affect easy and transition classes only, at this stage. These dances have been moved to the correct class offerings (some up and some down), so you may find some of them are missing from your request choices.
This should now create a smoother gradient to move from Easy to Transition, and then on to Mainstream without significant stress or pressure to perform. Remember that Easy level classes are there to enable new people to enter our dance community. Experienced dancers have the ability to move up in class level to chase the complexity and challenge they are craving, or to stay at a level that suits their physical abilities or personal preferences. Please be considerate of the newer dancers at whatever level, and encourage them to give it a go.
Also be aware that Mainstream level classes are not baby Intermediate classes, that is the point of Crossover level classes. Mainstream classes are a vehicle towards Intermediate, for those that want to be challenged further, but a level in their own right. Over this year, I will be addressing the overlap between mainstream and intermediate to make that transition smoother as well.
Without new customers, the higher level classes will continue to close due to lack of support, and that is not in anyone's interest in the long term.
|
|
|
The Keeping Customers Happy Challenge
When running a customer facing business, it is very challenging to keep them all happy. The old saying goes "the customer is always right". The challenge is "Which customer?". As instructors, we have control over some things and not others, and the things we can change are things that affect everyone in class, not just a single individual.
Here is some samples of what we have to cope with:
Hotties Vs Coldies
A large percentage of our customers are seniors, and most are female. Many have issues that make them sensitive to cold, and others sensitive to heat. A class will often have members of both these segments. When we turn on the heating, or the cooling, we affect all customers in the venue, not just an individual. When we open a door or window for ventilation the same applies. In these circumstances we have a simple policy that we use: "A cold person can put on clothes. A Hot person can only take off so many clothes before an embarrassing situation is presented." We prioritize the hot people and keep the hall as cool as practical. If you are a Coldie, bring gloves, scarf and jacket and have them in the car just in case, and don't stand in front of a breezy doorway.
Loudies Vs Softies
As instructors, it is important that everyone can hear the music and hear and understand the vocal instructions. Customer chatter, mobile phone ring tones, and outside noises such as aircraft and traffic all interfere with the hearing ability of the customers. Some customers are sensitive to loud noise, others are harder of hearing. We have limited flexibility over the sound we produce. We control volume which will be loud at the front and quieter at the back, and we control the bass and treble of the sounds being amplified. High use of treble will make the sound sharper and more distinct, but less pleasant to listen to. High use of bass will make the sound boomier and nicer to listen to, but less distinct, so the words of instruction or vocals of the music are harder to understand. We try to balance them as best we can depending on the acoustics (echo) of the venue, which changes depending on number of humans in the room and what outside sounds are audible at the time. If you like loud music, come nearer the front. If you are sensitive to loud music, don't stand in front of the speaker, move further down the hall..
Experienced Vs Newbies
At every level of class, there will be customers with different levels of experience and different levels of ability. Those two things are not the same. There are very experienced customers that struggle with concepts, turns (due to vertigo for example), and balance (due to physical limitations for example). There are also newbies that pick up everything very fast. There are most of us somewhere in between.
Everyone starts with no knowledge, and eventually moves to a level that suits their lifestyle and desire (or lack of desire) for challenge and social contact. Newbies need to be placed in the middle of the class (or near it), so they can see more experience dancers around them as they turn, to guide and speed up their development. This makes the time they struggle as short as possible, which is beneficial to everyone, including the experienced dancers who often get sick of the easier choreographic material. The most experienced and capable dancers should migrate to the outside edge, or the corners to assist in the newbies development. If the instructor asks you to move to the outside, or especially a corner, this is not an insult, but a compliment. They are acknowledging your ability and providing you more of a challenge while others learn from you. The challenge is that everyone likes to dance alongside their friends or partner, and often like to have a routine "spot". The best I can request is to be considerate of the others as well as yourself please.
Country Vs Pop / Waltz Vs Other / Fast Vs Slow
Everyone's taste in music is different, and everyone's life experience of music is also unique. Specific music can generate very strong emotions in some people, depending on when they first heard the song or did a dance and who they were with at the time. Originally in the 1990's, we used only country music for our line dancing, then over time diversified, till we get to the wide variety of genres we use today.
If you don't like a song, or it brings back too strong an emotion, you have the ability to sit down (but you will still hear it) or go outside temporarily. If you don't like to dance fast (we usually do it slowed down first anyway), or slow (take bigger steps to use up the time), or don't like to waltz, then do the walk through and sit down. You have that choice, so give the others the courtesy to make their own decision, rather than having someone yell out "I hate that song", or "I hate that dance". If a dance is truly bad (you should see some of the ones we don't use in class), it won't come back after 3 weeks, but give it a try. It is amazing the diversity of choreography and music that is out there, and everyone's tastes develops and expands due to them being made aware of the variety while in class. Something you don't like initially, may grow on you, after multiple exposures, it certainly has for me.
Petrol Head Vs Socialite Vs Cruiser
This is a tricky one. Some dancers don't want to stop. They want the fastest, turniest, most complex dances around and don't want breaks at all. They are juiced up dance sponges and we call them "petrol heads".
Other dancers couldn't really care what dances, or how many dances are done, and really would be happy to sit and chat to their friends, listening to some background music. These are what we call the "socialites".
Then there are those in the middle that want a bit of both... the "cruisers".
We try to take the middle "Cruiser" path and have breaks, but limit the length... it is a dance class after all, not a coffee shop. We do acknowledge however that the social component is what makes people want to come back each week, even when they are tired or have had a bad day. It creates friendships and relationships that are critical to the single people without any human contact at home.
This is often their place of escape from the mundane routine and loneliness of the home life. If the breaks are too long or too short, by all means let the instructor know your opinion, but allow them to adjust to suit the whole class, not just your preference. Each instructor has their own personal style and preference as well, and if it doesn't suit you, find one that does (if they exist).
|
|
|
LDSA Travel
We planning on running another free LDSA travel introduction session on Thursday 10th April, from 6-8pm at the Vermont Uniting Church, 576 Cross Rd (Cnr New St). Our travel agent and a representative from Viking are arranging to be in attendance and finger food and bubbly will be provided. We are just waiting on venue and agent confirmation of these details. Please RSVP if you or someone you know would like to attend, so we can ensure sufficient catering. This gathering is to introduce our 2026 Egypt/Turkiye/Jordan, 2027 Mediterranean and 2028 Scandinavian adventures. Be aware, that these are not line dance holidays, anyone that would like to join us are welcome. Line dancing is just a vehicle to collect like minded travellers together to explore places that we personally have not been. Apart from the cruise line component, the additional sessions are private tours with our own guides and drivers, and run by very experienced tour leaders with decades of group travel stories to share and learn from.
- 2026 - We already have 10 people booked in on our Nile River Cruise, but we now have a firm Turkiye itinerary, and a small number of additional cabins held (thanks to our special and very persuasive travel agent), in case there are any additional travelers that would like to join us in April 2026. In addition, our Turkiye component is available as a separate stand alone offering. If you specifically don't want to do Egypt, or if the cost of the total package is prohibitive, this might be for you.
- 2027 - We are firming up our itinerary and pricing for the Mediterranean cruise, along with the tour of Greece and visit to Marrakesh in Morocco. Prices and details will be available at the introduction session.
- 2028 - This one is still in the planning stages, but we intend to spend time in Finland prior to the Scandinavian cruise, and spend some time traveling in Switzerland after the cruise. Any suggestions for itinerary content will be considered.
|
|
|
Dance Floor Etiquette - Reprint
Reprinted from Josh Talbot in Sydney
It's that time of year again to remind you "Floor Etiquette" is a thing!
It's common to have a preferred spot on the dance floor, in class, or at social events. However, it's important to remember that if someone is occupying "your spot," you should graciously find an alternative until it's free again. No one has exclusive rights to any area of the floor, chair, or table, so please show consideration for your fellow dancers and avoid displacing anyone just to secure your comfort.
Once the dance has begun, it is important to navigate the dance floor with caution. Should you need to exit, opt for the most direct path off the floor, not merely the most convenient one for your destination. If you're joining a dance already in progress, secure a position along the side or back to prevent disrupting those who are already dancing DO NOT try and make your way into a centre spot, even if it just one or two lines in. It's unpleasant for dancers to encounter someone cutting through their line to enter or leave the dance floor.
While student-to-student assistance is valuable, it's important to consider that you may be offering help at the same time they are trying to listen to their instructor. Ideally, wait for a break before providing assistance.
If you wish to converse with a fellow dancers, please step away from the dance floor, particularly during a class. What might seem like minor chatter to you is quite distracting to someone who is concentrating.
In beginner classes, it's important for experienced students to remain on the dance floor to assist newcomers. Sitting aside until the music starts may intimidate beginners who might feel observed. A bit of guidance can make a significant difference. However, it's crucial to let them observe your movements without attempting to instruct them. Refrain from adding step variations; even if you're familiar with the dance, follow the teacher's directions.
All other level classes, please avoid variations unless permitted. This is because newcomers may find additional spins disconcerting as they're still learning or perhaps the dance has just been taught. Not everyone learns at the same pace. please keep variations for social events.
Everyone begins at some point, so if you notice a newcomer having difficulties, extend a helping hand by guiding their steps or reducing additional turns during socials. When you spot someone sitting by themselves, greet them with a friendly smile and invite them to join you. For many, Line Dancing is not just about dancing, but a way to make new friends and something to look forward to each week!
We've all come here by choice, so take pleasure in your dance, be mindful of those around you, and don't forget to smile. "Dance because you want to!"
|
|
|
|
|