Calling at the 2012 Wisconsin Convention
Hello:
Here is my schedule for the Wisconsin convention
Thursday: Trails End Dance
Friday: 4:20 PM in the Mainstream Hall and 9:00 PM in the Plus Hall
Saturday: 12:10 PM in the Plus Hall and 4:20 PM in the Mainstream Hall
Sunday: 10:40 AM in the Mainstream Hall and 11:20 AM in the Plus Hall
Hope to see you there
Calling at the Iowa Convention
Here is my schedule for calling at the Iowa State Convention on April 13-14, 2012.
Friday April 13: 9:20 PM in the Youth Hall
Saturday April 14: 1:40 PM in the Mainstream Hall. 4:00 PM in the Plus Hall. 8:40 PM in the High Energy Mainstream Hall and 10:05 PM with the Ghost Riders Band.
I hope to see you all there.
Brian
North Star Callers School
Ken Ritucci and Scot Byers are presenting the North Star Callers School on June 9-12, 2013 in Mankato, MN. Here is a link to the information: Callers School Information. It will be held at the AmericInn in Mankato and will be held just prior to the 2013 Minnesota State Square Dance Convention
If you are looking either become a caller or expand your knowledge this is the school to attend
The New ABC Club
The new Square Dance ABC Club is now a reality. for the non-square dancer out there, Square Dance ABC is a walk in square dance. Everything you need to know will be taught at the dance. It’s a great way to square dance without committing to the usual 10-20 weeks of lessons that square dancing has required. You just come and dance.
On October 3, 2011 I have my first dance. If you are in the Minneapolis area stop by.
Here’s a link to the web site: ABC Squares
I hope to see you in a square
Brian
Treasure Your New Dancers
Note from Brian: This article was written by the Marketing and Promotion directors up here in Minnesota. Their names are Dee and Ken Scott
What’s most important to the future of modern American square dancing? More dancers! How do you recognize the new dancers? A yellow or gold ribbon! How do we treat new dancers? Like gold! They are the treasure that we don’t want to lose! New to Minnesota this fall will be lots of NEW DANCERS who BLASTed into square dancing in September and October and November. They’ll be attending dances long before the “traditional” new-dancer dances are “traditionally” scheduled. That is a huge change that we all need to note! Hopefully clubs doing BLAST will also be providing the new dancers “floor time” with eight or more “square dance parties” in the weeks following BLAST. Hopefully current dancers will encourage the new dancers to wear their new-dancer ribbons until at least February. Those yellow ribbons should be a “badge of honor” that announces to the rest of us that someone special is in our square–someone who is to be treated “like a piece of gold,” the same way we treat one another now! In squares that have dancers wearing “new-dancer” ribbons, current dancers should make sure new dancers have “angels” as their corners. If there are lots of new dancers, help some couples trade with a square next to yours. Having more than three to four new dancers in one square is sometimes a recipe for disaster. “Angels” need to be sure that no square on the floor has eight, new students in it! Someone worked hard to recruit these new dancers; we will not retain them if they are left alone. Be an “angel” and invite some of those new dancers into your square immediately. Be friendly after the tip; make sure the new dancers are having an enjoyable dance. The responsibility of retaining new dancers rests with all of us–every dancer on the floor has part of that responsibility. Be sure the words that come out of your mouth are positive and encouraging and helpful! Those yellow or gold “new-dancer ribbons” tell all of us that someone very special is at our dance. Treat them as you would treat a new guest at your home. Go over and introduce yourself. Introduce others. Answer questions. Be friendly. You are an “angel” who has the future of square dancing in front of you!
Wisconsin Square Dance Convention Schedule
If you are going to be at the Wisconsin State Convention on August 5-7 here is my calling schedule
Friday August 5, 2011: Mainstream Hall from at 4:00 PM and at 8:10 PM and the Youth hall at 9:20 PM
Saturday August 6, 2011: Mainstream Hall at 12:00 Noon, PLUS Hall at 3:10 PM and the Youth hall at 9:00 PM.
Sunday August 7, 2011: Mainstream Hall at 11:10 AM and at 2:10 PM (with the live band).
And of course there is the Trails End Dance on Thursday August 4
I hope to see you in a square
Brian
Thank you to Detroit for a wonderful convention
Thank you to the square dancers of Michigan for the wonderful time that I had in Detroit for the 60th National Square Dance Convention. I had a great time calling for you. It was great to see old friends that I only see once a year. I got to call PLUS level for the first time at a convention and that was great. Detroit has gotten a bad rap for being not a safe place to be. I did not experience any of that and it was great to ride their “People Mover” to and from the hotel. Thanks once again
See you in a square
Brian
I Can’t Believe I Did That?
Have you ever had one of those moments when you say to yourself “I can’t believe I did that”? Well I did when I deceided to change the format of the Square Dance Info web site. Since I wanted to start with a clean slate I deleted everything of the server. Except my blog was on that site so you all know it all went bye bye.
So we will start over with a new blog. I hop you enjoy it
Brian