Is DF a Good Representation of dance demographics

[DanceMentor]

I'm doing a little formula here. If you were to judge by the number of posts, then you could rank what interests people:
1. General Dancers
2. Salsa Dancers
3. Ballroom Dancers
4. Swing Dancers
5. Argentine Tango Dancers

I know this is not in any way scientific, but how would you change the above if you disagree?

[KevinL]

What makes someone a "general dancer"? I thought that was a catagory for general dance topics, where all kinds of people would read and post.

Also, there are other websites specific for several of these dances. Maybe thier existance keeps people from coming here?

Kevin

[DanceMentor]

In terms of General Dancers, I think that should be considered a demographic sector, because there are a lot of people who don't specialize in just one area.

There are other more specialized forums, especially in the swing community.

[pygmalion]

My goal is to be a general dancer -- not that I'm there yet. And I'm beginning to think I'm in a very small minority. Almost everyone I know has a true calling to one dance genre or the other. I haven't found that as yet. Instead, almost every dance I've tried, I've loved and wanted to know more.

And I do think that the other, more specific forums keeps some people away -- especially for swing and even moreso Argentine tango, where the discussions get deep, technical and philosophical.

You know, when it comes to demographics, I've often wondered if DF members are representative of dancers, period. I think not. For one thing, DF members are computer literate and active, which cuts out half of the population, give or take. Add in the fact that posting members have to have a fairly large tolerance to exposure and criticism, and I think active DF members are an unusual crew, indeed. Hmm.

[youngsta]

I think you pretty much pegged it DM. Although I am proficient in a lot of dances, I'm definitely a specialist in this case.

[dr_fuzz]

Given the small number of overall dancers here in Singapore its easier to figure out the relative size of different communities. Tha order would follow

Salsa
Swing
Argentine Tango
General dancers

Can't comment much on ballroom dancers, I'm not in that community at all. However I agree with pygmalion, general dancers (my def would be someone regualrly learning and practicing say 2 or 3 dances) are really few and far between.

For myself I've found being a genenral dancer means that sometimes I learn more slowly since I'm splitting my limited time between different dances. I find that I must comprimise my own learning by willing concentrating and not concentrating on different styles. At the moment I'm not really focus on Lindy at all (once a week pracice only) and instead I put alot more attention into Tango and modern jive, just because I enjoy those styles alot more.

[dancersdreamland]

I think general dancers could be broken down even further into other dance categories (i.e. ballet, tap, jazz, belly, line, etc.).

I still think general would have the highest percentage of posts. I personally never go into any of the "specific" dance forums as I think I'll feel very intimated. What would I have to contribute to forms of dance I know nothing about?

Just my thoughts...

[pygmalion]

You'd have more to contribute than you think. A lot of stuff really is common. And, when all else fails, in unfamiliar territory, I ask a dumb question. LOL. :lol:

[youngsta]

I agree. I check all the forums...even those of the dances I don't do. Many of the topics can be related to your dance experience.

[SDsalsaguy]

Add me to that block DD... you should check out the other forums too!

(Do you have any idea, by the way, how long it took me to convince Vince that there might actually be something to be gleaned from peeking into the salsa forum? :lol:)

[Sagitta]

Add me to that block DD... you should check out the other forums too!

(Do you have any idea, by the way, how long it took me to convince Vince that there might actually be something to be gleaned from peeking into the salsa forum? :lol:)

Ditto!! And he is learning some salsa too, isn't he? How's the salsa going Vince?

[Sagitta]

My goal is to be a general dancer -- not that I'm there yet. And I'm beginning to think I'm in a very small minority. Almost everyone I know has a true calling to one dance genre or the other. I haven't found that as yet. Instead, almost every dance I've tried, I've loved and wanted to know more.

I'm a general dancer, too, meaning there is something that I love about each dance that makes me want to learn more, but there are certain dances that have preference over others...and they vary according to phase. For instance, in ballroom it used to be waltz, but now I prefer American tango. In latin it was merengue, then salsa, and right now it is bachata. My friend likes merengue, so that is special in it's own way, but bachata is still it for me.

I can argue all day to death about rankings and what they mean, but I find no value in that. I prefer to describe how I use the forums regularly, except when I search for particular topics. I find the forums useful in keeping thematic discussions together. That is if I'm particulary interested in salsa I will keep up to date on it, as I do the general discussion forum. I do think that people believe they cannot contribute to dances they don't know much about and hesitate to view certain forums. What I suggest to all those poeple out there is use the "Active Topics" list. Just go down it, clicking on thread topic titles that interest you and read them. Don't pay attention to which forums they are in. You might be suprised!! That's how I began to participate in the various forums too. And this still is my preferred approach to df participation. :D

[Vin]

Where I live the dance community is quite small and most at least attempt some kind of crossover. Even with this crossover most of the people still have some sort of preference. I will take myself, I dance primarily swing and salsa and I know alot more about salsa then swing. I never post anything in the swing forum because I compare my knowledge in swing with my knowledge in salsa. I am decent in swing but compared to salsa I know very little. So I guess I am saying is alot of dance generalists feel most proficient in one dance and may feel uncomfortable giving advice on other dances in which they don't know as much.