Promoting polka music with dance lessons
CESislo
promoting polka dancing. By having more people who want to and can
polka dance the greater the demand for the music will be.
My idea for promoting the dance would be to find a place to give
lessons and hold dances on or near a college campus. The reason for
having the location convenient for college students is because college
students tend to be young; you know the type of people we want to
become interested in polka music. When picking out a location the
assumption should be made that most college students are restricted to
taking a bus or walking. Of course the lessons and dances should be
advertised in the student newspaper so that the students will know
there are polka lessons and dancing nearby. If a person does not know
that what they want is just across the street then are not likely to
cross the street for it.
Another thing about a location for dance lessons, the access to
alcohol should be limited. It is not because I am oppose to drinking,
but rather I am oppose to people relying on the liquid courage to
inspire themselves to dance.
When I was learning to polka at a bar in Minneapolis I was unable to
learn how to dance. I believe a big reason for that is because after
the lesson the women would not dance with me. They would instead give
me another lesson. From these post lesson lessons I learned:
1. Women are intolerant of bad dancing and I was a bad dancer.
2. It is okay to be rude to a person who can't dance.
3. The dance instructor was not teaching the right dance.
4. I was expected to be an instant Fred Astaire.
5. Fun was somewhere between the worst thing that could happen and the
last thing you want to have happen.
Please note, how to dance did not make the list. What I am saying is
after the lesson is over try to avoid giving lessons. Just let the
new comers dance unless they ask for help. They will get better by
getting out on the floor and just making the effort to polka dance,
it's called practice. Remember having a dance lesson forced on you
while everybody else is dancing is no fun.
I got to be fairly decent at polka dancing by dancing with women who
didn't know I couldn't dance. They just assume they where the ones
making all the mistakes and I was finally able to survive the mistakes
I was making. Once I was able to make mistakes I stopped being too
nervous to dance.
Hopefully something like this will happen.
mike surratt
Actually thie topic has been brought up before. In the "Ballroom"
dance world -- almost every dance has a "lesson" before the band/DJ
starts. Tango Lesson for example - then the band/DJ starts off with a
tango and plays quite few during the night.
All this is with the price of admission.
Ballroom Dance instructors are everywhere at colleges and parks & rec
facilities. And, I do believe that there are many "folk dance"
instructors in the USA that teach polka, waltz, schottisch, etc --
people just have to look at their parks and rec newspapers.
Some polka festivals also provide dance lessons...
It would be great to se this concept expanded to every "polka" night
that is going on -- most "non-polka" people do not attend becasue they
don't know how to polka - in my opinion.
Also, I hate to say this -- most non-polka people do NOT want to dance
polka all night. They want dance variety -- a least that's the case in
my part of the USA.
Typical set -- polka, waltz, polka, slow song, swing, cha-cha, rock,
polka, waltz, line-dance, etc.
MS
judy
I said this along time ago that someone must take over what I have
done in this area for non polka people. I have run polka dance lessons
for 6 yrs taught over 2,000 registered people off the street. I
advertised it in the local paper and got over 200 people a session
with 6 weeks of lessons with a live band. I did this in different area
dance halls to wide spread the interest in polka dancing twice a year.
This got the people that don't go to dances on how much fun it is to
meet new people and a chance to go out and enjoy themself. After 6
weeks of lessons I gave out a diploma to everyone and they really felt
good about themself and started to go out to dances that was held here
in southwestern Penn in the 70 and 80's. when polka dances were
booming. I spent over 40 yrs promoting polkas and this is one way to
get people not just the young but middle age because the young gets
married and you never see them again.
If you ask a person on the street today to come to a polka dance you
know what they will tell you. I'm not paying to get in a polka dance
when I don't know how to dance. It wasn't easy trying to teach people
that had 2 left feet, but I did it with about 10 volunteers to help. I
can say this that it worked in this area because I still see some of
the people going out to dances that I taught. If you want any info on
this or advice just email me and I will be glad to give you some ideas
to get this started. good luck..... judy
polk...@mac.com
Who is still actively teaching Polka Dancing? If anyone knows more,
please add to the List.
The ones that I know that are still active are as follows:
Matt & Elaine Bonowitz-New York
Butch & Mary Kotowski-Maryland
Mary Lou Kaye-Mid West
Monique Legare-Philadelphia
Matt Yaninas & Susan-Campbell, New York
judy
I have no clue on who is teaching In the Pittsburgh area. I really
don't think anyone at this time and as far as the other areas the list
that you have is the only ones I know.
rocky
In the Cleveland area, Casey Karbowski gives polka dance lessons at
most of the Friday night monthly CPAdances. Visit Casey's website for
more info: http://www.angelfire.com/music5/clevelandpolka/
I've copied and pasted this information from it:
Welcome To Cleveland Polka.Com
Free Polka Dance Lessons
No Partner Necessary
Beginners Welcomed!
One half hour before and during the first band intermission of the
monthly Friday night Cleveland Polka Association Polka Dance. Donation
to attend the dance.
Lesson starts at 6:30 PM with the dance starting at 7 PM
There is also a lesson during the first band intermission
At Ampol Hall
Located at 4737 Pearl Rd. Cleveland, Ohio
Wanted!!! People to help teach polka dancing. No proir experience
necessary just a love for polka dancing.
Thanks for visiting www.clevelandpolka.com
Email case...@yahoo.com or call Casey at 440-842-3244
Schedule Tentative and Subject to Change
FUTURE POLKA DANCE LESSONS
* Friday October 26, 2007 a free Polka Dance Lesson will be given
at 6:30 pm and at the first band intermission at Ampol Hall which is
at 4737 Pearl Rd. in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cleveland Polka
Association's Monthly Friday night dance. The dance begins at 7 pm and
goes to 11 pm. Music is by Majestic Sound. $7 Donation to attend the
dance.
* Friday November 9, 2007 a free Polka Dance Lesson will be given
at 6:30 pm and at the first band intermission at Ampol Hall which is
at 4737 Pearl Rd. in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cleveland Polka
Association's Monthly Friday night dance. The dance begins at 7 pm and
goes to 11 pm. Music is by Honky Express. $7 Donation to attend the
dance.
* Friday December 21, 2007 a free Polka Dance Lesson will be given
at 6:30 pm and at the first band intermission at Ampol Hall which is
at 4737 Pearl Rd. in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cleveland Polka
Association's Monthly Friday night dance. The dance begins at 7 pm and
goes to 11 pm. Music is by Northcoast Mix. $7 Donation to attend the
dance.