[Squaredancing] Trying to get the list active again...

[Cynde Sadler]

In southern Finland where I live we have very few dancers in two clubs and 
one caller. Last winter the Sunday group learned A1 calls in a few weeks 
during a time when I was unable to attend many Sunday practices. The result 
was when I did turn up I was 'out' and have since had to leave that club. 
The same thing  is happening at the Thursday group (where I do have more 
time to attend but if you  miss a Thursday you are left behind) but it 
appears now that there may be no more Plus (or M) dancing in Helsinki next 
fall.

I would like to know if there is anything like an intensive weekend A1 
course where I could learn A1 and catch up? I am a very fast learner. My 
partner has danced A1 some years ago at a course in Sweden. The other choice 
may be to drop out of square dancing in Finland. We do go to Sweden, Germany 
and US (Maine) a few times a year and dance our little feet off but stick to 
Plus (and M) clubs.
We will be in Maine June 13-30 Kansas City July 2-16 and Denver. Then back 
to Maine until July 24.
Any suggestions? Are there any videos I could watch and study?
Thanks
Cynde
in Helsinki, Finland

PS Your letter in February said you wanted people to introduce themselves 
and still the group remained quiet.
I am an American who lives in Finland and loves to dance. I have a partner 
who also dances and we dance square, round, folk and even morris! We have 
been trying to conjure up interest in contra which has been slow moving but 
lots of  fun. We have started a music club that has REALLY taken off and 
last Saturday they spontaneously played  two hours of varied dance music for 
a friend's graduation party. I say we get them ready for a real contra!
There are relatively few square dancers in Finland. Two groups in southern 
Finland (some of same people just different venue and days) and a few in 
northern Finland which is over 6 hours from here. Nothing in between.
The group here is very small and shrinking. There are many levels, the 
lowest nowadays is moving from plus to A1 with only a couple of beginners 
who may be gone next fall when we start again, unless we start a new 
beginners' group. (14-16 week summer break) I don't know what the highest 
level is since I'd rather dance than advance to levels.
My partner and I love to travel to Germany and Sweden to dance. In Hamburg 
we have found many challenging Plus and even Mainstream clubs and we dance 
every evening while we are there. We attend festivals when we can and plan 
our US trips around dancing.(somewhat) We are going to Kansas City this year 
for the first time ever for another reason but hope to find plenty of 
dancing on the side!



************************************************************
Become a seeker of truth, starting with the reality that all of humanity is 
one family.
I am not going to tell Americans how to vote this coming November except to 
vote for peace. And I will not tell you how to live, but recommend you dance 
and think freely rather than wage fundamentalist wars. Give peace a dance.
Dr Glen Barry

************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Robinson" <kenrbnsn at rbnsn.com>
To: <squaredancing at rbnsn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:11 AM
Subject: [Squaredancing] Trying to get the list active again...


> Hi,
>
> Over the last year, a number of new people have joined the this email
> list, but it is as quiet as ever. :-(
>
> To the new folks, please let us know who you are, why you joined and
> what you are looking to get out of this list. To the people who have
> been on this list "forever", remember, the usefulness of the list is
> only as good as the postings that happen.
>
> Many years ago, this list was "the place" to discuss our activity,
> now I don't think there is one place on the Internet where this
> happens. Yes, there is the SD-Callers list, but that shouldn't be
> where the general discussions should take place.
>
> We even had a "Net together" at the 1993 NSDC in St. Louis where
> members on the list who were at the convention all got together to
> meet. ISTR that there were over 30 people in attendance.
>
> Let's get some discussions going again...
>
> Ken Robinson
> Owner
> Squaredancing list
> kenrbnsn at rbnsn.com
>
>
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