Comments on: How do you bring new people to dance?

By: Watching and Discussing Dance | Dance Advantage

Watching and Discussing Dance | Dance Advantage — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:53:08 +0000

[...] In a somewhat related post, the Dance Theater Workshop blog asks “How do you bring new people to dance?” These methods can also be used to encourage students and parents to see more dance. Check it out!! [...]

By: Watching and Discussing Dance « Dance Advantage

Watching and Discussing Dance « Dance Advantage — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:59:26 +0000

By: Laura Ely

Laura Ely — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:54:27 +0000

I think that a verbal invitation with a touch of encouragement is a great way to give a person an opportunity to say “yes I think I will try this dance class” or go to this dance perf. etc. It’s also good to ask qts. and listen to feedback after~

By: Fernando Maneca

Fernando Maneca — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:41:11 +0000

I think one important tactic to getting “new people” to see dance is to refrain from “choreo-speak”… to non-practitioners post-performance discussions are often as opaque as the work itself.
If our goal is to bring people in, then we must be inviting. We must speak a common language.
I believe this is also true of our publicity and marketing. How can we expect to attract “new people” if we don’t speak to them.
I agree with Alexandra Beller…listening is a great place to start.

By: Cynthia Meyers

Cynthia Meyers — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:09:24 +0000

I bring them to Ellen Robbins’ concerts.

Modern dance is viewed by many as an elitist form decipherable by and created for a few. When I bring people intimidated by dance to an Ellen Robbins concert, they discover that dance is danced by humans, whether small or large, young or not so young, and that dance communicates many many things, including things they never imagined it could.

For some, it’s a revelation.

By: Alexandra Beller

Alexandra Beller — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:22:11 +0000

I think the most important aspect of introducing people to dance is the same as the beginning of any other relationship: listening. Often I’ll bring someone who is new to dance to a performance and afterwards they want me to explain what it “meant.” Instead of talking, I like to listen to their questions, prod more and more questions, hopefully eventually illuminating how very much they thought about what they saw. Those questions from new eyes are the most beautiful and inspiring to me, and they are enormously informed. Reflecting back what they saw often allows someone to realize what a keen witness they were and allows the conversation to flow from them with no right or wrong, but steeped in metaphor and ringing with their own ideas about poetry and kinesthetic life.

By: Catherine Gallant

Catherine Gallant — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:26:34 +0000

I get them when they’re young (8-10). Their inate sense of play is still intact. My 4th grade students have experience watching what to them could seem strange, new and mysterious but they have learned how to let it wash over them before making judgements. They are rarely concerned about meaning and they approach the work very openly. I hope they will retain their curiosity and grow to seek out challenging dance in their lives.

By: Mr Jive

Mr Jive — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:36:58 +0000

Sell the benefits of dance 1. Get fit, 2. Keep fit, 3. lose weight, 4. meet new freinds.

By: Adele

Adele — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:59:58 +0000

I invite one different friend every week to come and see the performance with me
I invite people to the Thursday Night Toast for them to see the very nice atmosphere we have in DTW
I always have a brochure in my bag! and show it every time I can