By
Patrick Demerath

Decrease the Stress and Increase the Fun

The American Callers’ Association in its attempt to be of service to all callers, dancers, and associations provided current, timely, and effective information on new dancer recruitment, winning ways to retain club dancers, and pitfalls to drive square dancers away from 2001- 2013. ACA appreciates the positive comments, encouragement to continue, and contributions from square dance leaders, callers and dancers all over the country and from abroad to continue these initiatives. ACA will continue to provide information that will help the square dance community recruit, retain and retrieve square dancers as well as encourage the dancers, callers and square dance leaders to communicate their viewpoints.

Marketing research on demographic age groups clearly show that members of the younger Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y will not commit to square dance lessons much past three months of one night a week. In higher education, colleges and universities are learning that adult students will commit to a college degree if they are presented shorter terms than the typical 16 week classes. They prefer courses that are 7- 8 weeks and are one night a week. Colleges and universities who offer accelerated courses are prospering in revenues and the number of students.

When the square dance programs are cut and paired down to as few as three to four months of lessons, more new dancers can be recruited, and callers will have to also adapt by becoming more skilled and creative in their calling because the more calls the less creative calling. This is the same in marketing theory when one looks at the Product/Service Life Cycle especially the Introduction, Mature and Decline Stages. A new call is introduced it either prospers in the Mature Stage or is not accepted and goes directly into the Decline Stage and should be dropped.

The American Callers’ Association is currently working on reducing its One Floor Program to allow for more dancers to successfully complete the lessons and stay in square dancing after graduation. The ACA International One Floor Program eliminates the scurrying around looking for an easier entry level. The ACA International One Floor Program eliminates the segregation of dancers due to programs. The ACA International One Floor brings dancers together who can stay together. The ACA International One Floor Program offers welcome and pleasant dances for new dancers to have fun along with experienced dancers. The ACA One Floor Program reduces dancers leaving square dancing and enhances recruitment. The ACA One Floor Program fits the needs and desires and busy schedules of modern society.

Any individual, club, caller, or association who wishes to communicate his/her opinions on this subject is encouraged to contact the American Callers’ Association at mac@americancallers.com or Dr. Patrick Demerath at pdemerath@uwa.edu.

Until next time, Happy Dancing.