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

Hall Idea

Ed and Gloria Kilner
Indianapolis, Indiana

If the cost of renting a hall for your round dance club is a problem to you, we have fallen into an idea that works well for us and may be the answer for you. We first saw this done by Marty and Byrdie Martin at Strawberry Square in Florida and adopted it for our own use.

Previous to the change in our club format, we met each Monday evening, alternating sessions between easy to mid-intermediate rounds on one Monday and mid- to high intermediate rounds the next. We usually averaged between 7-10 couples on the easier night and 10-13 on the higher one. But sometime we only had 3 couples, due to weather conditions (some of the dancers come from 60 miles away), illness or other obligations. Then, we were fortunate to dance at Strawberry Square. The program began around 7:00 as I recall, with the lower phase intermediate rounds being programmed and taught. At around 8-8:30, the higher level dancers began to sift in and join the dancers who were already there. At this point, the floor was full, there was camaraderie between all the dancers and the atmosphere was one of friendliness and enjoyment. As the program progressed, the lower phase dancers waved their good-byes. Many stayed for the entire evening.

On October 7 we changed over to this new format dancing from 7:00-10:30. We program progressively difficult dances throughout the evening and alternate the teaches and reviews so just one dance is taught each week. We do not adhere to this religiously and if a dance needs a third teach or review, we go with the teach and adjust the schedule accordingly. Our attendance immediately jumped from the previously stated number of 17 couples the first two nights. On the third session, we had 20, the fourth, 26! We picked up some new couples who had heard about this and decided to try it — and liked it.

Some of the advantages, aside from the obvious financial one, is that the dancers get to dance every week instead of every other one. Couples interested in expanding their learning can stay. Before, if they wanted to go up, they had to come to the higher level dance and usually sit all evening and not dance just to be exposed to the dance that was taught. Under the new format, they dance all they want and stay for as long as they want to learn dances a little higher than what they have been doing. We program all dances and distribute copies to everyone so they know what will be danced all evening. We find them making notation such as, this is easy, this can be learned, like to learn this one, etc.

We are sure there must be other teaching couples using this idea with their club, but we have not heard of its popularity yet. Perhaps this is the format of the future. We have to work harder, and a little longer as instructors. But we are thoroughly enjoying what is happening with our club and the work is pure enjoyment.

ROUNDALAB Journal, Winter, 1986