We again are honored to be asked for articles for Northwest Dist. Newsletter. Here is an article that we wrote sometime ago that was in the “American Square Dance Magazine”. We really feel that this is something to think about. Square Dance Revival: I’m not a household name like some callers of National Stature. I am on a first name basis with some of these callers and some when they see my name badge, but I feel everyone’s opinion is important toward finding a solution to re-building Square Dancing. I feel like everyone else, we need to keep FUN in Square Dancing. But maybe we, Callers and Square Dancers, need to approach our New Square Dancing Candidates with a different attitude. Get into this with the idea to dance at their Fun Level. We need to stop telling them they need to advance up to higher levels. Dancing Levels should not be the issue at all, but the Dancers Fun Levels should be the issue. Just because we dance at what we, the dancers and callers, either dance at or call at higher level, does not mean everybody enjoys it too. We need to instill the idea that at each level there is fun and enjoyment, but that may not be everyone’s Fun Level of dancing. If we work more on helping these New Dancers to dance at their individual Fun Level, with emphasis on their Fun Level and NOT Dance Level, then if they are not happy at a Dance Level. We help them to adjust to the Fun Level they enjoyed the most. Don’t make the Fun Level we enjoy as our Fun Level a priority to get others dancers to our Fun Level of dancing. This is not to say you can’t invite new dancers to your Fun Level of dancing, it just means when you do invite them and they come to your Fun Level of dancing. Make sure that they continue to feel comfortable and are not pressured to dance at your Fun Level. Watch them and ask yourself these questions. Are they having fun? Are they having problems with the movements? Do they come out willingly? We must work on the idea that Square Dancing really is Fun. But a lot of times the Dance Levels get in the way of the Fun Levels and New Dancers are led to believe that the most fun is in the higher levels of dancing. And it is, for the ones telling them this that is those individuals Fun Level of dancing. In my opinion we should not sell higher levels of dancing or any level of dancing. We sell Square Dancing as FUN and you dance at YOUR FUN LEVEL not at someone else’s Fun Level. When we get New Dancers, work with them at their Fun Level and do not make Dancing Levels a priority. If the New Dancers do not seem to enjoy themselves in a different dance level, then work with them to dance at THEIR Fun Level again. Don’t let them quit square dancing because some place we made them stop having Fun in Square Dancing. Mainstream was everybody’s Fun Level at one time. I Guarantee. We dance at our Fun Level why can’t New Dancers enjoy their FUN LEVEL? REALLY PUT FUN BACK INTO SQUARE DANCING. Sincerely, Cecil & Barbara Burton Jr.