Dancing with people and the dancing community...
- Thread starter etchuck
- Start date
Sagitta
Well-Known Member
squirrel said:Sabor said:Sagitta said:That's Raluca's problem! :wink: She gets too easily bored!!So now I cannot do el dos to el uno and back to el dos, el beso, combs, veils...with her. :cry:
just one beso!?!.. i'd think besos y besitos would be so much more approriate.. followed by timely adios moving on to the next dame :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
besos and besitos are fine... adios no!
I just saw this. The issue with so many posters and so many posts!
Take note defers.Newest wrinkle
I'm reviving this post to give an update to the story and to ask for advice.
So we have on our campus a Latino heritage cultural group that has a rueda performance team. This group has used our dances in the past to try to recruit people interested in joining their performance team, which requires auditions and is closed.
Anyway, they have expressed concern that our group is teaching salsa to students on campus. I'm not sure exactly why that is the case, but oh well. Apparently they are even more disturbed that we have a group in our constituency that wants to learn rueda, but because of the closed shop nature of the rueda perf team, they cannot learn it with that club. So our dance club members are asking us to teach basic rueda steps for a short period of time. We asked the people in charge of that performance troupe to see if they would be interested in helping us, and their response was that we would be stepping on their territory.
I'm a bit intrigued on what we should do. Obviously this group wants to claim ownership of a style of dance, and will do anything to try to recruit people to take part in their lessons. They are not willing to reciprocate any kind gestures that we give for them by telling others about our normal classes to learn salsa or even give their performers more essentials in technique. Basically, they're acting as if we're intruding upon them rather than seeing this as an opportunity to create a dance community in rueda and salsa.
Your thoughts are well appreciated.
I'm reviving this post to give an update to the story and to ask for advice.
So we have on our campus a Latino heritage cultural group that has a rueda performance team. This group has used our dances in the past to try to recruit people interested in joining their performance team, which requires auditions and is closed.
Anyway, they have expressed concern that our group is teaching salsa to students on campus. I'm not sure exactly why that is the case, but oh well. Apparently they are even more disturbed that we have a group in our constituency that wants to learn rueda, but because of the closed shop nature of the rueda perf team, they cannot learn it with that club. So our dance club members are asking us to teach basic rueda steps for a short period of time. We asked the people in charge of that performance troupe to see if they would be interested in helping us, and their response was that we would be stepping on their territory.
I'm a bit intrigued on what we should do. Obviously this group wants to claim ownership of a style of dance, and will do anything to try to recruit people to take part in their lessons. They are not willing to reciprocate any kind gestures that we give for them by telling others about our normal classes to learn salsa or even give their performers more essentials in technique. Basically, they're acting as if we're intruding upon them rather than seeing this as an opportunity to create a dance community in rueda and salsa.
Your thoughts are well appreciated.
Vin
New Member
Hi etchuck, sorry to hear about this situation. It seems so illogical of them. Anyways here are my suggestions for circumventing these turf wars.
They don't seem to understand that your main motivation is to actually have salsa and that if they provided enough salsa this would not happen. Have you considered asking members of the performance team to teach the lessons? Or maybe even asking them to perform beforehand to demonstrate what rueda can look like?
I think that if they are asked to be included then you might have less turf war problems and ultimately more salsa which is the goal anyways.
They don't seem to understand that your main motivation is to actually have salsa and that if they provided enough salsa this would not happen. Have you considered asking members of the performance team to teach the lessons? Or maybe even asking them to perform beforehand to demonstrate what rueda can look like?
I think that if they are asked to be included then you might have less turf war problems and ultimately more salsa which is the goal anyways.
They were asked in terms of providing instruction for or even gauge interest in attending additional lessons, and the response to that suggestion was as described above (i.e., claiming it's "their dance").
In addition to that, we do have a world-famous Feather winner as our salsa and swing instructor. I had waited until this year to provide an intermediate salsa class for which she is the instructor.
In addition to that, we do have a world-famous Feather winner as our salsa and swing instructor. I had waited until this year to provide an intermediate salsa class for which she is the instructor.
Vin
New Member
Sorry, I missed that part of the above post. Maybe someone else in the group is more reasonable. I say just teach it and tell them about it. If they are unwilling to spread the knowledge of salsa/rueda then someone has to.
When we started the salsa club alot of the latin groups felt we were intruding on there turf as well but after a couple of months they realized that what we were doing was truly a service.
good luck with this situation.
When we started the salsa club alot of the latin groups felt we were intruding on there turf as well but after a couple of months they realized that what we were doing was truly a service.
good luck with this situation.
Re: Newest wrinkle
Since moving to NC, Debbie has gained lots of experience in dealing with ensconced dance teachers who think they "own" a dance community and whose reaction to a superior product is to try to cut the teacher out, not to improve their own product. Suggest you chat with her and get her advice.
Since moving to NC, Debbie has gained lots of experience in dealing with ensconced dance teachers who think they "own" a dance community and whose reaction to a superior product is to try to cut the teacher out, not to improve their own product. Suggest you chat with her and get her advice.
Re: Newest wrinkle
Yes, she does. We still have to deal with certain teachers who still believe that. (That takes some explaining which I won't go into right now.)
I'll see her tonight, but our opinion sounds like we should poll our own membership and serve their needs. Our lessons would be open to paid members anyway, and none of the people in that rueda performance group are members of our club. Essentially we'll see what interest we really have to sustain a short-term 4-week lesson or something. But it's not like rueda is proprietary and only for "Latino people" (like "martial arts is only for Asians???" heh). I agree the best way to show off an element of your culture of which you are proud is to be able to share it.
jon said:
Yes, she does. We still have to deal with certain teachers who still believe that. (That takes some explaining which I won't go into right now.)
I'll see her tonight, but our opinion sounds like we should poll our own membership and serve their needs. Our lessons would be open to paid members anyway, and none of the people in that rueda performance group are members of our club. Essentially we'll see what interest we really have to sustain a short-term 4-week lesson or something. But it's not like rueda is proprietary and only for "Latino people" (like "martial arts is only for Asians???" heh). I agree the best way to show off an element of your culture of which you are proud is to be able to share it.
Lucretia
New Member
etchuck,
I wonder if the reaction you got from the Rueda team member was “the first and quick emotional respons” or an “official” answer. Perhaps the team changes their minds when they have time to think it over.
I recall the similar situation – but this time the rueda team member was an owner of an artist school for children. She was asked if another artist school - who was planning a summer camp - where allowed to put up advertisement in her own school. At this moment it was clear that she couldn’t arrange any summer camp herself.
Her first answer was noooooo and she was really upset. She didn’t want her “own” children to go to another summer camp even if she didn’t arrange anyone. Don’t step on my backyard . But after thinking it over she realized how silly her reaction was. And she called back to the lady who wanted to put up an ad. Apologizing of course.
In the end there where two summer camp, no actually three. So it ended up luckily for every part. Especially for the children.
When you meet the rueda team this afternoon. Be open. Don’t print a NO in the air above their head. Perhaps they have changed and have realized that you are growing the salsa community.
Good luck!
/Lucretia
(Did I tell you that I HATE this kind of protectionism. So far from my core values as you can come. For the first time I'm glad I'm in a very small but growing salsacommunity. The more people, the more activities the happier we will be)
I wonder if the reaction you got from the Rueda team member was “the first and quick emotional respons” or an “official” answer. Perhaps the team changes their minds when they have time to think it over.
I recall the similar situation – but this time the rueda team member was an owner of an artist school for children. She was asked if another artist school - who was planning a summer camp - where allowed to put up advertisement in her own school. At this moment it was clear that she couldn’t arrange any summer camp herself.
Her first answer was noooooo and she was really upset. She didn’t want her “own” children to go to another summer camp even if she didn’t arrange anyone. Don’t step on my backyard . But after thinking it over she realized how silly her reaction was. And she called back to the lady who wanted to put up an ad. Apologizing of course.
In the end there where two summer camp, no actually three. So it ended up luckily for every part. Especially for the children.
When you meet the rueda team this afternoon. Be open. Don’t print a NO in the air above their head. Perhaps they have changed and have realized that you are growing the salsa community.
Good luck!
/Lucretia
(Did I tell you that I HATE this kind of protectionism. So far from my core values as you can come. For the first time I'm glad I'm in a very small but growing salsacommunity. The more people, the more activities the happier we will be)
Lita_rulez
New Member
Re: Newest wrinkle
etchuck said:
cocodrilo
New Member
Maybe I didn't read the whole thread, but you mentioned "campus", Etchuck. I am assuming you are either a teacher or a student at some institution. Anyway, I would say go ahead & teach the people that are wanting to learn. Why should they be denied the right to have fun & learn something social just because a group of hardliners don't think they'd "fit in". (I don't understand this one, either. Why is the group "closed" to outsiders? Is there some sort of initiation? Is it a fraternity? Do you have to be latino? Do they think your group would possibly take over their business/become more renowned than they are, thus the shut-out?) And how could anyone feel they could possibly "own" a dance? Bloody ridiculous of anyone to think so!
MacMoto
Active Member
Re: Newest wrinkle
I don't think I understand the situation.
So... there is a Latino heritage cultural group, which has a rueda team, which recruits performers through auditions and offers lessons to team members only? And your group organises dances, which are open to the Latino heritage group and its rueda team members, and you are trying to offer a short, basic rueda course for people who cannot be accepted in the performance team? And the Latino heritage group is unhappy because...???
It sounds as if they are effectively saying they don't want people who do not know how to dance rueda already (i.e. know enough to join their team) to learn rueda. I just don't see any sense in it -- I mean, there's nothing stopping them recruiting rueda performers from the people who have taken your classes, is there? So... where's the conflict of interests? :? Unless you are planning to form a rueda performance team within your group or something (which doesn't seem to be the case)?
Or do they want to present rueda as some sort of elite dance activity? Well, it's not, it's just a fun social dance, and I don't see why you can't go ahead with the course.
I don't think I understand the situation.
So... there is a Latino heritage cultural group, which has a rueda team, which recruits performers through auditions and offers lessons to team members only? And your group organises dances, which are open to the Latino heritage group and its rueda team members, and you are trying to offer a short, basic rueda course for people who cannot be accepted in the performance team? And the Latino heritage group is unhappy because...???
It sounds as if they are effectively saying they don't want people who do not know how to dance rueda already (i.e. know enough to join their team) to learn rueda. I just don't see any sense in it -- I mean, there's nothing stopping them recruiting rueda performers from the people who have taken your classes, is there? So... where's the conflict of interests? :? Unless you are planning to form a rueda performance team within your group or something (which doesn't seem to be the case)?
Or do they want to present rueda as some sort of elite dance activity? Well, it's not, it's just a fun social dance, and I don't see why you can't go ahead with the course.