FEEDBACK

SUBJECT: New Dance for Kids on YouTube.com
FROM: Barry Durand

I have just posted a new dance just for kids. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jatb8oFFpw    Adults.... do not try this at home....  You might wear out in the first minute.  But, I have taught this to 80 girl scouts and the little group of kids that came to my studio to do the video with me.  You have to see this... they are really cute.  A big thank you to Darin Paden, a 17 year old dancer from PA that has done couples (world champion) and is now doing advanced line dance, and will be 18 and competing adult at my Easterns dance event in May http://www.DanceEasterns.com .  By the way, Darin is competing division 2 couples, Advanced Line, Pro Am Line, Pro Am couples, and Pro Pro couples.  We should all have that much energy.  Please check out the video and maybe give it a favorable vote.  It isn't something that really belongs on the adult line dance survey, but for kids, this is a clean, fun line dance.  Spread the word.

Thanks
Barry

SUBJECT: KIDS-TEEN DANCERS FROM: SHAROONI

I live in a small midwestern town (Salem, Indiana). I offer (free of charge) through the YMCA linedance lessons during the winter months (November through February) to ages 10 and up. This year, I was fortunate enough to have several teens and 1 pre-teen. The energy from these kids is invigorating and it helps enforce the notion that kids are basically good. The dances they liked were: Crazy Frog; Progressive Cowboy; Candyman; Sugar Sugar using Cartoons DK Little Red Riding Hood; Rockin' Robin; She's a Firecracker; and Space Jam, Too. A couple of the teens also learned Go Greased Lightening, Watch Me Now, and Swamp Thing, but we didn't get to Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy or Hick Chicks. The theme for my teens was fun, upbeat and faster music. It didn't have to be Pop or Hip Hop. They liked good beats and some funky moves.

I did find that I got mostly girls and they refused to give up and did not worry if they made a mistake - they kept on trying. Linedancing was a way for my teens to express themselves in a positive way.

A couple of the teens have started attending a bi-monthly dance at "The Barn" in Scottsburg, Indiana which is an alcohol-free and smoking free environment with children and teens encouraged to attend. These same teens will be joining Sparkles & Spurs at our shows this summer and are totally excited. I hope that their involvement will also draw other teens to try this out.

Sharon "Sharooni" Lamb
sharooni71@hotmail.com

SUBJECT: DANCE CLASSES FOR CHILDREN
FROM: Peter

If your goal is to teach children *A DANCE* -- like when you are asked to teach a one-off dance night for the local Girl Scouts -- then you should just be able to pick any random beginner dance, check to see if it fits to some modern music of the type the kids listen to, then go ahead and teach it to that music. They won't care about the steps or technique, as long as the music is something lively that they recognize and are comfortable with. (Obviously, pre-check it for lyrical content.)

If you are interested in teaching children *TO DANCE*, I suggest the LineDanceSport Pre-Bronze Series, which we have been using successfully in children's dance classes for over 8 years now.

The Pre-Bronze Series is a set of 10 lessons. The five Level I lessons introduce them to basic dance concepts (which foot is free, how dancers are counted in, etc.), plus gets them to recognize 5 basic rhythms (Merengue, Rumba, Foxtrot, Tango, Swing). The five Level II lessons introduce more dance technique and more rhythms (Salsa, Nightclub, more Swing, Hustle, and more Foxtrot). Each lesson introduces a set of basic step patterns, and then after nearly everyone can perform those patterns, the patterns are combined into a sequence of steps (a line dance). Each lesson builds on the previous, so there is never a time when a dance contains a step they haven't yet learned.

A typical session is 7-8 weeks, with 5 weekly lessons plus 1-2 nights of review and exams. We run two classes per evening -- Level I at 6:10 7:00PM and Level II at 7:10-8:20PM. On the last night, both classes show up at 6:10PM and we combine them into a big final show for the families and friends of the dancers.

If you are teaching this in a school, the school system will probably like to see some sort of student evaluation system, so LineDanceSport.com has "Charts Books" available in packs of 10. Each child gets their own personalized book, and you, the teacher, check off each pattern as they learn it and demonstrate it in exams. When the class ends, they have a great souvenir of their experience to take home. We also give each of them a certificate of completion at the end of each level.

We require the children to be in Grade 3 (in the USA, that's around 9 years old), because we found that younger children don't do well with the structure in the lessons. Below that age, we offer a "Moving To Music" class where we play lots of different dance rhythms and attempt to get them to feel the music and move their bodies (including feet and arms) in a manner that is representative of the music.

The syllabus is described at http://www.linedancesport.com/Pre Bronze.html, and all the steps sheets can be downloaded there. We are working on developing videos of the entire series that will eventually be viewable at the LineDanceSport.com website. Contact us for more information. We have tons of stories to tell about this class, since we have now taken more than 500 students through one or both levels of this training.

SUBJECT: DANCE CAMP FOR KIDS AT LEHIGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SCHNECKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
NOTE FROM ME: YIPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE GET YOUR KIDS THERE!!
Hi Carol,
The dance camp will held at Lehigh County Community College in Schnecksville,Pa. It will be for one week starting July 10, 2006 and will be held from 9am to 12noon Monday through Thursday. I will be teaching the easy line dances, some basic swing, and a few line dances and at least one mixer. I will also teach some basic steps in the beginning and enlighten them on "dance floor etiquette". I would like to help them to understand the difference between the dance rhythms such as Cha Cha, Two Step, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing and Waltz. I'm not sure if can accomplish all this in one week, hahhahahhaa, but I'll do my best.
Yes, it is open the any kids in the "entering grades 6 to 8" this fall. If this dance camp gets a good response, the college may want to continue it as a regular on the summer schedule.
OH, I forgot, the cost of the workshop is $90 and registration deadline is Monday, July 3, 2006. Course # YOU 756-90 and is called "Get Up and Dance" Camp.This is how they advertised it in their brochure:
An opportunity for kids to learn the kinds of dances that will enhance their future enjoyment of all kinds of parties, affairs, and future proms! They will learn the Cha Cha Slide, some other easy line dances, Swing, and all kinds of Line Dancing to music-----both country and non-country-----that they can relate to from their lives. Dancing is as hot now as it's ever been---this will be a healthy, safe learning experience in an environment that will make them feel comfortable and confident! This camp may include attending a live performance. (Depending on the arrangements for the dance performance, a materials fee may be determined on the first day of camp.) Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes with leather soles.
I love working with kids. They are so enthusiastic and eager to learn. And, they learn so fast!
Thanks you,
Peggy Sue
AND IF IT GOES WELL, ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN YOUR AREA CAN LEARN FROM PEGGY SUE HOW TO GET THESE CLASSES IN YOUR COLLEGES AND WE CAN START A NEW TREND IN LINE DANCE SUMMER CAMPS!!!

Hey all,

Just wanted to say that i have about 20 kids at my class in a small rural town in NSW Australia, ranging from 8 - 15 yrs, they have seen me and my sister compete and cant wait to start training, i also coach 7 kids from another nearby town and i've taught a 5 yr old how to spin a cowboy hat, kids are the future and i'm glad i can inspire them to dance. Being only 22 myself they look up to me and constantly tease me about my bad dress sense, but hey all in good fun, they just love dancing and i love teaching them. You guys might see them in a few years all trained up and ready to compete!

A great dance they love is Sunshine Express (because it gets faster) to wild and free by rednex, and 1,2 step and mars attacks - they are their 3 favourite dances.

Kind Regards,
Ben Summerell

All about Kids in Jacksonville Florida
From Debi Dillow DebiDillow@comcast.net

I have been trying to catch up on my reading the news letter and I have run across a nice article from the 14 yr old in Canada who Line dances. I have raised my 5 children dancing; it has been a family hobby we could do together that also involved some travel. We started out clogging because it lent itself to the family atmosphere and the travel was very little (in state for the most part). I had one son who decided it was not for him so he took up guitar and traveled with us til he was 16. The rest of us were hooked so we continued to dance, clogging led to line dancing and line dancing led to Couples Dancing. Whatever I did the kids did, and I might add did it better! We have enjoyed many laughs together and have many memories of dance in our family life. My parents lived next door to us till they passed away and they were a true inspiration of dance in our lives because they did Ballroom. When we began couples dancing we were all pulled to the love of West Coast Swing because of it ability to interpret the music and enjoy the freedom found in the dance. I give lessons in WCS here in Jacksonville along with Line dancing. My middle son always said he would like to teach children, so now after graduating from FSU and landing a job in Jacksonville, he has started teaching kids West Coast Swing. He is very excited about his upcoming class starting Jan 9 at Studio One for kids 8-18. He sent out flyers to a school who passed the flyers out to the kids and he has more boys than girls signed up so far. If you are in Jacksonville or near by and would like to get your child or grandchild in his class you may contact Jeremiah at JayDil22@yahoo.com . I know I plan to put my 3 grand Boys in his class; He is a great teacher and has a great love for West Coast Swing. As a Parent and grand Parent, I encourage all of you out there to get your kids into classes for the kids have many distractions as they grow up, Dance is truly an escape for them and it is a safe haven... We Dance when we are Happy, We dance when we are sad and somehow the sad goes away. Give your kids the best gift you can that they will use all their lives and provide a good clean healthy mind and body!

Subject: Class at Private Boys' School in Massachusetts
From: Forty Arroyo

A cute story; In December, right before Christmas, I was asked to teach at a Private boys school in North Brookfield, The boys were ages 10 - 17 (but dwarfed me in size). When I got there they were seated (over 50 of them) all proper waiting for "The Dance Instructor" all decked out in white shirts & ties, jackets and khaki's. We (Paul, David & I) taught them the Electirc Slide and Swingin' Thing; The majority of these kids had never danced before, but when we got through with them, jackets were off, shirts were unbuttoned and ties were being worn around heads. The headmasters got into the groove - what else could they do.

SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO TAJALI
FROM: LAURA MORRIS Harrynstevensmom@aim.com
Dear Carol,
I was just going through my email from the last few days, as my son was home on leave from the army and kept me busy. Tajali wrote about being 14 and not knowing many kids who dance. Well, my 14 year old started dancing over 8 years ago, as did my son who is now 18. We have kids who come to class that my in-laws teach and we go to campground dance weekends and Tajali would be surprised at how many kids there are out there who do line dance. They like all the music that the faster dances and more technical dances go to, but they also enjoy the simple ones.
I have a suggestion for Tajali, why don't you try to get your mom to have a small class for kids, with just the newer dances and songs, but the easier beginner level ones, you would be surprised at how many kids would love a chance to try it. Oh, I have developed line dancing into a family thing, starting with my in-laws, my husband and I, our kids and now my mother and brother, and also, after the last campground dance workshop my aunt and uncle and possible their kids!!! Linedancing is fun and it's alot more fun when you laugh at your own mistakes, or should I say personal variations (LOL) Good luck Tajali!

Subject: Dances for kids
From: Carolyn Robinson
I've been teaching elementary age kids for many years and since we moved to Charleston, I've been teaching at the same school for 2 1/2 years ago. In fact, a dance team developed from the after school program and the kids performed in Towne Centre in Mt. Pleasant, SC on December 10th. The audience went wild! People LOVE to see kids perform. I start with very basic easy dances and adapt to music THEY like. Here is the list of dances they enjoy doing:
The Hitchhiker--I always start out with this one and dance it to music from "Shrek", "Magadascar," Jock Jams cds, etc.
Space Jam
Freak Your Finger
Stealing The Best
Monster Mash, Carolyn Robinson
Do It, Norma Jean Fuller (alt to Funkalicious)
Cha Cha Slide
The Hitchhiker
Circle of Life, Carolyn Robinson
Move It Move It, Carolyn Robinson
Boogie Down, Carolyn Robinson
The ones that I choreographed were specifically choreographed for the kids to music they like. I've attached Move It and Circle of Life. You can find the others on www.love2dance.ws.
The kids keep me on my toes as I've choreographed most of my dances lately toward them!

SUBJECT: TEACHING KIDS
FROM: Peter Blaskowski & Beth Webb
We have taught line dancing to kids in our local schools for about 8 years now, with 3 sessions per year, in classes of 2-40 students ages 8 and up. There is a whole section of the LineDanceSport syllabus devoted specifically to that class. It is called the Pre-Bronze Syllabus.

We introduce the Level I kids to 5 rhythms, teaching each rhythm's history, styling, and technique, plus a few basic patterns in that rhythm, then put those patterns together to form a line dance they can dance to just about any song of that rhythm. The rhythms we use for Level I are merengue, rumba, foxtrot, tango, and swing (in that order), with some patterns from each week's class being used in the next week's lesson (the building-block approach). In Level II, we teach salsa, nightclub, swing, hustle, and foxtrot, again with histories, styling, technique, and a building-block approach to the step patterns included.

The class lasts 7 or 8 weeks, meeting about an hour per week.

In a 7-week session, we find we have just enough time to teach 5 rhythms plus 1 hour of review. In the last session we do a recital-type performance for family and friends of the dancers. The recital includes all of the Level I and Level II dances, so the audience gets quite a show, and the Level I's get to see what is in store for them in Level II. In an 8 week class, we add choreography that is not based on any of the syllabus rhythms. In the fall session, it might be a Halloween dance. In the January-March session it might be an Irish dance.)

We have had a few kids taking the Level II over and over again, because they like it so much. We change the music every session. The kids never get stuck with 1-song-1-dance because we teach them to dance to the rhythm, not to a particular song.

When the class ends, they are able to identify those rhythms when they hear them, move their bodies in a way that is appropriate for the rhythm they hear, and can demonstrate 60+ step patterns. We test them for both their listening and dancing skills, and give awards, per the syllabus.

Step sheets for the dances we teach are available on the choreography page at LineDanceSport.com, and teaching them really works best if you use the sequence established by the syllabus, including histories, styling, and technique, and not just blasting a bunch of dances at them.

Sorry to go on so long, but we have been having a lot of success with this program for a lot of years, and are very passionate about it.

Peter Blaskowski & Beth Webb
www.kickit.to & www.LineDanceSport.com

SUBJECT: Line Dancing for the Younger Ones
FROM: Elsa Campbell elsacampbell@sbcglobal.net
I've enjoyed reading all the coments regarding working with the younger generation. As I've mentioned before, I've been teaching line dancing to a small group of Jr. High students at a Catholic School in Houston, TX and it's been very rewarding. I was quite surprised when I taught them an easy waltz
("1 2 3" Waltz by Val Myers). They really enjoyed dancing especially done as a partner dance. And of course I taught them "My Lollipop" and gave them lollipops afterwards. (Dancin'Terry had mentioned he had done this with his class). Another fun dance was "Disco" by Cindi Talbot done as a contra dance. I hope choreographers out there will heed to Carol's suggestion. We do need easy & fun dances. ...Thanks, Elsa
NOTE FROM ME: I had all kinds of games that I played with I was teaching competitive twirling and it kept the kids coming back and would work even better with line dance. Maybe all of us can combine our ideas of what would make the perfect class for kids and young people and it will motivate everyone to teach at least one class for young people.

Kids Dancing in Australia.
From Chris Watson www.dare2dance.org
My Name is Chris Watson and I have taught Workshops all over the world. In Australia I teach 4 classes a week, one of my classes is a children’s class, I have 16 children under the age of 14 that dance with me, 10 of these compete and are Australian Champions. On the east coast of Australia, we do a lot of competing. We use both country and non country music. My kids push the boundaries and wear non country clothing and do more funk then others. I have a great list of what my kids like, most of it is non country but they enjoy dancing to both. We don’t always dance with our hands on our buckles or our hips unless we have to, we dance where we are comfortable.
Ben Smart has put the face of line dancing on Tv and showed people what it really is and that is what we need. We would love to have a UCWDC event here , but the costs involved are very high and people don’t know what it is. We have a lot of younger dancers in Australia. The 12 years and Under section at the up coming Australian Line Dance Championships has over 30 entries in duos, trios and solos.
We have been on numerous national TV shows in Australia to promote line dancing and are very lucky that it is accepted and that the kids are not teased for it and that the continue to do what they love, sure when people find out you line dance we get mixed reactions but when they see what it is they are all surprised. I think we need to be seen out there dancing what we love and showing people what we do.
If you would like any info on my kids, what they are dancing etc please feel free to contact me dare2dancetamworth@yahoo.com.au or www.dare2dance.org
It’s great to see the kids doing what they enjoy and being proud of it.
NOTE FROM ME: I asked Chris to let us know what dances the kids like and he sent this back:
Just a list of some of the dances my kids like:
Hang on - Barry Amato, Walk On - Chris Watson & Brett Jenkins, Because of You - Chris Watson & Brett Jenkins, Larger then life - Simon Ward, 1, 2 step by Philip Sobreno, Feels So Good by Amy from singapore, Spice it up by Philip Sobreno, Jump in - Chris Watson, Lose it - Guyton Mundy, Dangerous - John Robinson , It isn't fare - Pam Ackery. Thats their favs. Most of my kids dances at least twice a week. Happy new year to all.

SUBJECT: RESPONSE FROM ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON IN AUSTRALIA
My name is Ben Smart, I would like to respond to Tajali Hall about young people linedancing, I know exactly how she feels, I am the ONLY person in Australia who dances the UCWDC style, we in Australia still dance with hands on hips or the waist area and are given only 2 dances to dance to for all our competitions. Young dancers in Australia are few and far between mainly because there is no challenge, and they are dropping out more and more, when people find out I am a linedancer, I get strange looks, I have just had a 1 hour documentray made about my linedancing, it was aired on our National ABC television channel on 24th November 2005, the response from people from all over Australia, commenting on my dancing was truly fantastic, everybody has been amazed at the MODERN ( to Australia ) style, the people loved it, but we have no-one in Australia, other than myself to teach it.

I have been trying to get some styling and newer upbeat and funky dances started here, I have a group of about 8 people who I regularly teach these dances to , but they are in the middle age bracket, I do Ballroom and Latin as well as linedance so am getting together, very slowly, another group of young ones in my age bracket from that section of dance, they love it and are really enthusiastic especially since we have just had Guyton Mundy and John Robinson here in Perth, Western Australia.

Because of me dancing the new funky styles to upbeat country and non country, I am frowned upon by a lot of Principals, I cannot enter a competition in Australia as I will not go back to the hands on hips era, I love the MODERN style and the dances, I went to UCWDC Worlds in Nashville January 2005, hopefully I will be going back to the World Competition in Nashville, January 2007, I loved seeing the couples dances and meeting the choreographers of dances I have been dancing to, and am sooooo looking forward to doing this again, it would be really great to be able to meet with Tajali if she was also going to Nashville, we would certainly have something in common to talk about, just keep dancing to whatever music you prefer Tajali.

I am enclosing a couple of my own choreographed dances for you to look at, just love getting your newsletter each day.
Regards
Ben Smart

SUBJECT: KIDS DANCING
I love that kids are line dancing. I work in a school and everyone knows how I love to dance so the phys ed. teacher asked if I would like to teach line dance to her students. For the past three years I take one week and teach girl gym classes some line dances. I teach grades 6 to 8 some easy dances. The first two years I just taught the girls' gym classes. This year the boys did it with the girls. It was a great success. I asked them what they would like to learn and next year they want to learn The Hustle. I have the music. Do you have any suggestions to a dance for The Hustle that would be easy for them to learn? Thanks for your help and for the wonderful newsletter.
dacre@wiu.k12.pa.us

SUBJECT: KIDS DANCING
FROM: ME
I hope those of you teaching young people and children will go look at THE LIST on my site www.worlddancenewsletter.com and see if you have other dances to send for the section DANCES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE and DANCES FOR CHILDREN. It's a great help when people are starting classes to know what works BEFORE they start teaching dances. Maybe some of you great choreographers can dream up some REALLY easy dances to music that children and young people will like so they will have some basics to introduce them to line dancing and indicate that when you send the dances in for publication. Sometimes I think people forget that there are so many beginners out there from the very young through the very old who NEED some FUN, easy dances to teach and people who teach in clubs NEED dances to country music that they can do in clubs. Maybe you could indicate that when you send your dances and your votes so that those who need those dances will be able to find them easily. After your votes, if you think it would be good for a special category just put (club/country/teen/senior/beg/int/adv -- or a combination of those categories) after your vote and it will give people a better idea of the types of dances are in the survey.

Hi Carol,

I just wanted to reply to this as I thought it was really great of you to mention it! I'm 14 years old; I've been homeschooled all my life and my mom is a dance instructor so I've grown up dancing and have a lot of opportunities to dance. I started line dancing when I was 5 and haven't stopped! I love the challenges that new and harder dances present and of course, as a teen, I tend to enjoy non-country music more than country.
While I really enjoy dancing with adults, and have some of my best times dancing with them, sometimes I just can't help but wish there were more people my age around :) Since I started line dancing, I have met TWO PEOPLE in my age range that line dance. I have a lot of friends in public schools, and a few months ago I went out for dinner with a group of them. Somehow the topic led to line dancing, and they started talking about Cadillac Ranch -- the only line dance they know of. They had been taught it in school, and since they know I'm a line dancer, they thought that was all I did, day after day, week after week! They were incredibly skeptical when I told them there were thousands and thousands of line dances, to all kinds of music, and that's understandable; because they are never around when I'm at classes or workshops, they don't get to see that it really is varied and that they would really enjoy it.

I just wanted to thank you for mentioning the above in last Sunday's newsletter; it can be very frustrating as a teen to see the image other kids have of line dancing. "Oh, what kind of dance do you do?" "Line dancing...NON COUNTRY, THOUGH!!!" "Uhh...line?...dancing?" A lot of the time I can't just break into a dance right then and there :) so I can't prove that's it's cool and a lot of fun. It's VERY encouraging to hear your enthusiasm for us kids and teens, and I'm really grateful that adults see it as being important too :). I hope everybody on this newsletter will take note of what you said; I know there are countless kids who dance in Europe in particular, but here in North America (Western Canada, anyway) I don't know of many that share the same passion for line dancing, and I'd love to see their opinions of it change.

Thanks again, Happy New Year!

Tajali Hall
Alberta, Canada
NOTE FROM ME: I won't post Tajali's e-mail address but if you would like to write, just send it to me and I'll forward it. I, too, know that there are thousands of young people out there who would love to line dance if they only experienced it one time!!!
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