Re: dancing "away"

This is a nice topic and I think it's a lot of fun to be a contradance
gypsy.  I've had people "lead" extra hard at some dances, but IMO it's
for a variety of reasons:
1-An experienced person thinks I'm a new dancer.
2-A relatively new person gets overly ambitious and wants to make sure
the step is done right.
3.-Any dancer if I phase or zone out--could be anywhere. But hopefully
not too often.

It's never happened so much where I get upset.  If my partner does it,
it's only temporary when she realizes I know what's going on...if my
neighbor does it it's only temporary, because she goes away.

Anyway back on topic...

Julie Levy-Weston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> To let people know I've done this before I usually wear a dance weekend T shirt.

I've done this too, and it works!  The standard "contra uniform" works
pretty well also.

> I also usually ask the gate people how right and left through is done in 
> this community- with hands or without.

I've never done that.  Usually I figure it out when I give hands the
first time and am ignored with a little scowly, smug smile.   Even in
places where they give hands, I sometimes don't and it usually doesn't
matter one way or the other.  Same thing with the promenade hold. 
These are the 2 main regional differences I've seen...maybe balancing
steps, as well.
 
> Anyone else have things they do when dancing away from home to avoid 
> being treated like a newbie or do you enjoy surprising people when they 
> discover you know how to dance as well as they do?

I usually come with my partner in tow and once we've done the first
dance, it's usually pretty easy to find new partners.  Actually, it's
sometimes easier to get dances with the "better" partners in the away
dances then it is at your home dance.  Go figure.  The main problem
when I'm solo is breaking the inertia and getting in the first few
dances.  After that it's not a problem.  And some locales seem much
friendlier to dance gypsies than others.  (Kudos to the Austin/San
Antonio area.)

Last thought regarding going to away dances.  I've usually run across
a couple of people from the home dance who are also visiting, or who
I've met at Dance Weekends.  That random occurrence is quite a rush as
well.

Richard from Glen Echo