From the corner booth....

• Right: "I like to swing dance."
  Wrong: "I like to swing."
• Right: "I give private lessons."
  Wrong: "I give privates"

I'm glad I'm not in the dance business. It's just a hell of a lot of work and headaches. I suppose a part of it has to do with being nice to people I don't like. I'd also have to be "on" all the time whenever I'm in public because people'd expect that and I'd have to keep up appearances to maintain the public image, even when I'm tired and grumpy. And then, there's the public's expectations.

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time remembering people's names. It usually takes me three times to remember someone's name (when I'm so embarassed at forgetting them that I *have* to remember them). I remember an incident where someone got offended at a dance organizer because she had been going the guy's dance for 10 years and he had never acknowledged her presence, much less thanked her for coming. I don't think it was fair to expect the organizer to remember the names of the hundreds of people from the previous month, much less the names of everyone who had passed through the doors during the previous 10 years. That's just an unreasonable expectation.

I always hear about dancers who expect way more out of their dance instructors/organizers than is fair. Some people get all offended by dance organizers who don't go out of their way to greet them. In reality, it might be surprising to find out that some of these "outgoing" dance professionals are actually quite *quiet* and introverted in real life (Tony Tye is a perfect example). Sure, put a microphone in their hand and they (have to) get activated; otherwise, they're normally quiet and reserved.

Some conscientious dance organizers try to dance with the new dancers to make them feel welcome and give them the confidence to keep dancing. But then, they might have to also worry about silly things like paying their bands, not blowing the fuses with all their electrical equipment, and keeping their neighbors happy with the noise level, not to mention getting enough people to come to the dance.

Even as a 20-year veteran of the Boston dance scene, I get ignored during a dance by most of the organizers, including the ones I hang out with. Yeah, I think they have plenty to occupy their minds. The dancers should cut these promoters some slack and let them get on with the business of running their dances and classes.

I do have a suggestion for people who complain about the dance organizers. Go up and talk to these dance organizers and/or ask them to dance. Some of them can be quite friendly and talkative when prodded and many will make the time to dance with anyone who asks them. Some of them are pretty nice people.

See you on the dance floor,
Benson Wong

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