The following information is published with ROUNDALAB's permission from the ROUNDALAB Reference Manual compiled by Richard & Jo Ann Lawson, 1987.

The Teaching Partner

Ronnie Fontaine
R/D Coordinator EAASDC (Europe)

The teaching partner - a person often neglected in recognition but an essentially important part of the team. The "duties" of a teaching partner usually begin at home by moving tables, chairs and other obstacles such as dogs or cats out of the way. Don't want to trip over them while practicing a dance. Now the preparations can begin. First the tricky parts of a dance - then finally the whole dance can be put together. The footwork, body movements and timing has to be familiar to the Partner as well as the Leader. After all, the Partner represents one half of the team.

The workshop starts and by a signal from the Leader the Partner knows exactly when to execute which step and when to stop. The Partner remains silent, he knows there is only one teacher teaching the dance. The Partner is aware that exactly one half of the dancers are watching him. His steps and positioning are done properly. As the dancers try their newly learned steps the Partner watches one half of the dancers and with a nod gives the Leader the signal to proceed. Should the Partner notice that the dancers are having difficulty with a particular step, he can then tell the Leader to reteach the step.

Often enough the Partner has to be the "go-between" between dancers and the Leader, relaying messages such as "you are teaching too fast", "can't head you in the back", "take longer breaks", or "we're out of coffee". Oh, yes, the coffeepot seems to have a hole in the bottom. Off he goes and makes more coffee.

Not only does the Partner help set up the equipment, he also runs the find a new battery for the wireless microphone, and he checks the sound by walking to the sides and back of the hall signaling for more or less music and voice and then there are the heavy record cases... The list is endless!!!! The moral of the story is - if you haven't said "thanks" to your partner in a while, please be sure to do so because we can't do without him or her.

Roundalab Journal, Spring, 1986