 | BE ON TIME - You may be the cause of three
other couples sitting out during a teaching tip.
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| BE OBSERVANT - Make sure that every student
is in a square during the teaching tip. BUT don't wait for them to square up -
Invite them to your square.
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| LET THE CALLER RUN THE CLASS - Don't take
it upon yourself to start splitting couples. When it is time to break up a group or
separate a couple, the caller will indicate this by his or her teaching methods.
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| DO NOT TALK IN THE SQUARE when the caller
is giving instructions. Learning to listen to the caller's commands requires
concentration. No person can listen to two persons at a time. All should be
listening to the same caller.
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| DANCING STYLES - Some dancing styles that
dancers have adopted are out of place in class. Basics should be kept in pure form.
The proper Do Sa Do, hand and arm holds, a quick touch to acknowledge position, and
no short cuts will ensure new dancers of the proper position for the next call.
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| ANGELS ARE HELPERS, NOT PUSHERS - Students
must learn to react to each command. To gently guide someone is fine,
but we accomplish nothing for the student if he or she has been pushed through an action
and doesn't know what was supposed to be done. Angels' action should be firm
but gentle.
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| LET THE CALLER KNOW if a dancer has not
grasped the concept of a call after a reasonable time. The caller can review the
call during the next tip. It is not a good idea to "teach" a call during a
break. The student needs the time to relax and clear the mind. What if you
teach it wrong?
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| DRESS FOR STUDENTS - Do not encourage
students to "go right out" and buy square dance clothing. As you know,
women's clothing can be expensive. Their first dance will be soon enough.
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| DO NOT TAKE DANCERS TO DANCES THAT ARE ABOVE THEIR
DANCING EXPERIENCE - You will be surprised how many times club members tell
students "Come on, we will pull you through." This will discourage many
new dancers. Your caller will let them know when there is a dance at their
experience level. Now is your chance to join them where both of you can have fun
together.
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| FRIGHTENED - Square dancing is a
frightening experience. Keep that in mind at all times with new students even after
they "graduate". Every time a mistake is made, they think they caused it.
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| DANCE WITH THEM - Do you want to keep the
new students in your club? Then you must dance with them, talk with them during
breaks, encourage them. One of the biggest complaints heard from new dancers is that
they are not sure the old club members want them.
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