Jeff's Square Dance Related Articles
These are articles related to Square Dancing that I have written. I recently re-found the original WORD files documents for the olders ones. Most of the newer ones have been copied from my archive of "Australian Callers Federation" newsletter "Callerlink", (which I was editor of for several years). The "date" information is based upon the "last save date" of the original documents. Some of the dates might not be correct, but should be close.
DO WE HAVE A SELF IMAGE PROBLEM? (Taken from Callerlink 151 April 2002) - Jeff Garbutt
It is well known that we have a general image problem amongst the general "non-dancing" public. But I think we have a more sinister image problem in another area. And that is our "self image". How can we possibly succeed in successfully promoting square dancing if we ourselves are not "true believers".
How many times have you watched a ballroom or Irish Dance display and thought to yourself "wow, that was great - why can't square dancing be that spectacular?"
How many times have you not revealed to someone that you are a square dancer just so you don't have to listen to the obvious comments? All these things lead to you having a subconscious bad image of square dancing.
Researchers have found that the human psyche is a weird thing. And our subconscious plays a bigger part in controlling our destinies than you think. Not only on an individual level, but on a group level. They have found that people will naturally live up to the "self image" that is burnt into their subconscious. That is why rich people who suffer extreme financial loss always seem to get back on top again.
So, if we have a poor self image of square dancing, what chance have we got?
Fortunately, researchers have also found that we can "re-program" our subconscious so that we can create a new "self image". And I think that we, as leaders in the square dance world, need to do just that.
Square dancing is the ultimate dance activity. Other dance forms don't come anywhere near us in many aspects. Square dancing can be both mentally and physically stimulating. It is interactive and can be very "ad-lib". Anyone can do it - with other dance forms you have to relearn where to put your feet - it is unnatural and hard. Square dancers only need to walk - that is natural.
We are lucky to be callers in this great art form. Be proud to be a square dancer and a caller. Make your attitude show, and the dancers will follow.
On a side note, I am absolutely sick of hearing callers say something like "square dancing is not as much fun as it used to be". Well brother, you are a leader in this movement, and if you have that kind of attitude we do have problems !
Of course it's not easy at the moment. And it's hard to keep up the enthusiasm for a sustained period of time. But we have to do it ! The square dance movement is much too important !
Or put another way: WE CANNOT NOT SUCEED