When you become a class ANGEL, there are some simple rules to remember:
A. BE ON TIME. You may be
the cause of three other couples sitting out during a teaching tip.
G. 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 need the
time to relax and clear the mind. What if you teach it wrong?
H. DRESS FOR STUDENTS:
Do not encourage students to "go right out" and buy square dance clothing.
As you know women clothing can be expensive.
Their first hoedown (dance) will be soon enough.
I.DO NOT TAKE NEW DANERS TO DANCES THAT
ARE ABOVE THEIR DANCING EXPERIENCE.
You will be suprised how many times club members tell stuents
"Come on, we will pull you through". This will disourage 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.
J. FRIGHTENED:
Square dancing is a frightening experience. Keep that in mind
at all times with new students and even after they "graduate".
Every mistake made they think they caused it.
K. DANCE WITH THEM:
Do you want to keep the new student in your club? Then you must
dance with them, talk with them during breaks, encourage them.
Introduce square dancing to others,
Bring others to square dance classes,
Aid the caller/teacher by filling the squares
so that all class members may dance."
B. 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 into your square.
C. 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/her teaching methods.
D. 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.
E. DANCING STYLES:
Some dancing styles that dancers have adopted is 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 positing, and no short cuts will ensure
new dancers of the proper position for the next call.
F. ANGELS ARE HELPERS, NOT PUSHERS:
Students must understand when they are being taught, they must
learn to react to each command. To gently guide someone is
fine, but we accomplish nothing for the student if he/she has been
pushed through an action and doesn't know what was supposed to be done.
Angels' action should be gentle but firm.
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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