To start this blog out on the right foot (no pun intended), I figured I would start with a simple idea- what makes a ‘good’ dance? Now, this idea may be more complicated and cover a whole lot more ground than I initially anticipated, but it is an interesting topic nonetheless.
Please note I am not calling out any particular caller, band, or dancers. This blog post is simply things I have observed and taken note of.
In my personal opinion, at first glance, a good dance is comprised of about 5 things:
1. A caller that has a natural or developed leadership persona.
2. The caller has picked dances based on the crowd, not any predetermined, set in stone, setlist (not to be confused with the prepared ‘idea’ list that is purposely vague to account for differences in energy level, the dancers’ experience, and other factors)
3. A good band that works with the caller and is aware of the dancer
4. A crowd with a good mix of experienced and new dancers
5. The energy and vibe of the dancers themselves; ex, having fun, not hyper, yet somewhat calm and willing to listen, etc.
Now, the fact that the first two important factors I listed have to do with the caller is no mistake. I have preferences towards callers, dare I say bias, who act like they know what they are doing. Callers who have to walk through multiple dances several (more than two) times, as if they doubt the skill of the crowd, end up doing more teaching than calling… which is fine in some circumstances but at most dances it wrecks the stamina and energy/vibe of the entire dance. Dancers, even new ones, are capable of figuring out dances as they go. Having a good caller is the foundation of a good dance.
Next, of course, we have the band. A good or bad band can make or break a dance. Callers and bands have to communicate. I’m sure people have other opinions, but bands playing tunes that sound more like a rock and roll/jazz rhythm is not my cup of tea. I like tunes that I dance to, to have a designated melody line. If the music can’t or won’t tell me where in the dance I am, that music isn’t suitable for a regular dance, in my opinion.
And alas we come to the crowd. Most dances I go to here in NH have vaguely designated populations- that being the “over forty” crowd, the “under forty swing dance implants”, and the “any age beginners”. That being said, a whole lot of them are very good dancers. But, sometimes they get too serious about their dancing, which I can understand but at the same time I am rather confused by. It ends up feeling like a mathematics/counting game rather than a dance. Or, the ‘under forty swing dance implants’ treating the dance as a game to see how many flourishes can fit in an 8-count beat… impatient creatures.
I’m saying this as a dancer who prefers the old ways of dancing. I don’t particularly enjoy being twirled on a courtesy turn, and I don’t mind being inactive for a few minutes. So, if you enjoy a twirl on a courtesy turn, go ahead! Dancing doesn’t particularly have ‘rules’ per se, so any and all preferences expressed tend to be purely individual. One thing, that I really do not agree with and it has no place on the floor, is the “catch and release” swing that the swing dance implants tend to do. It is usually rough, confusing, and generally not fun to do. It involves shoving the lady into a twirl, staying connected via a hand, and (for lack of a better term), “reeling” the lady back in rather like a fishing line… but that’s for another article.
So, a ‘good dance’- the idea is a faint one, for me. I’ve experienced perhaps 2-3 really good dances since I have been dancing. To be fair, I’ve only been dancing since May of 2023, so my experience is limited. There is a video that will be linked in the archive, to a dance in Richmond NH back in the 1960s. I would define that as a ‘good’ dance.
I’m sure you all will have opinions on what makes a good dance, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as to what a good dance is. It might even be a future blog post article!
