It sure is handy...

[ragani]

When there are enough people who are regular LJ posters who share an event, it does save me from needing to spend much time writing up detailed posts. Although my personal LJ community is fairly small still, it is, for the most part, all people I know in RL.

In fact, some people have a perspective on an event that is more interesting then mine which gives me little to add about the event itself. In this case, I owe mertuil thanks for giving this event the airtime I would probably not have done otherwise.

Some of what I posted in the comments does bare repeating:
I have noticed that most of the emotional land-minds that have cropped-up at the Plough over the years are ones that eventually take care of themselves after a while, once they have proved to the rest of the crowd what jerks and users they are! Just because the Plough crowd is open and accepting of many does not mean we will put up with people abusing and taking advantage of us.

Also, I am pleased to say that my bf reports that he had a good time dancing at the Starry Plough last night, and, more importantly, told me it felt good to have been that active for a change. Yes! That is so good to hear from inertia-boy. In the past he has been frustrated by learning to dance in the beginning class because he is a kinesthetic learner, and seems to find the steady stream of words makes it difficult to concentration. This has been a big challenge with dancing for him, but in the past I have found it to be a bad idea if I try to instruct a boyfriend myself.

So, consider this an open request (invitation even) to all you lovely Plough dancers who may be able to help get him up to speed in a more suitable fashion to do what you can. He is almost there, just needs practice time for his body and mind to sync-up.

Comments

Guild Mommy! Help is on her way (if possible) :)

[smittenkitten61.livejournal.com]

hi hi!
I'm glad I finally found you on LJ. (Small world, but hard to find people still.) If i'm right and the crier meeting is at your house on sat, and your bf is there, and you know of some other way of me getting back to berkeley/my bf's house other than that of riding with Our Fearless Leader, I'd love to stay around and help if I can. I know what he means about the beginning class and too much talking... He's not the only kinnesthetic learner to go through the class. (I was in hs and was kinda good at droning out asult voices when necessary. John is a really great teacher though, and just watching his feet helped me at times.) Wow I'm talking a lot, but it's late, and I still have more homework to do before bed. Too bad I'm in Santa Cruz and can't go to the plough more often (or at all ever again is what it seems like these days). :)

Oh and BTW. BF thanks you for the Henna. It was fun! ;)

Re: Guild Mommy! Help is on her way (if possible) :)

[ragani.livejournal.com]

Oh, do you have any photos of what you guys did with the henna?

That sounds like a good idea! If there is time on Sat. feel free to take him aside for some personal training. I am sure we can get you back to Berkeley.

I don't wish to suggest that I think John is not a good teacher, especially under the circumstances he teaches in, but his style does not seems to work for Chad (or so he says). He did seem to get it more this time, which is a good sign. I think he is just feeling awkward because he still has not fully grokked the footwork.

Re: Guild Mommy! Help is on her way (if possible) :)

[smittenkitten61.livejournal.com]

It happens, and the only way it gets better is through doing it. If there isn't time before the meeting, I'd be more than willing to stay after if he'd like the help. I miss dancing.

[noirem.livejournal.com]

it takes 72 hours for the body to learn a new movement. You can pick things up faster if you've got great muscle memory, but it still takes 72 hours to -know- it. When I was taking dance every day my teacher would introduce a routine on Monday, we'd dance it on tuesday, and then on Wednesday we'd have to do it in the other direction (movements that you did on/to the right were no on the left and vice versa).

Of course, practice makes perminant so if you learn the wrong steps, coming back a week later you'll just be better at the wrong thing. Which is why I wish John offered more in the way of feedback: hey, you, in the Tux tshirt, relax, take a deep breath, now try it like this...

persistence

[ragani.livejournal.com]

If only he was spending every day working on it, he would probably pick it up much better. He just wants to spend the time working on it to develop that muscle memory.

I agree that John is very diplomatic about when he does give feedback, and usually just says "most of you got it, although a couple of you still need some work." Those couple of people will either come back and try again until they get it right, or be too frustrated and not come back. It all depends on how persistent they (or the friend who dragged them there) are. Some of those same people would probably benefit from more personal attention, but unless they ask him (or one of the other dancers) during the break, John cannot afford to spend time with them and keep the class going. Unless they ask, it is not his style to point it out.