If you don’t build it,they won’t come

A practical guide to building your square dance program

Nancy Raiha, Olympia Area Lesson Coordinator

OLYMPIA’S STORY:

A work in progress

We don’t claim to be experts

WHY do we

do it??

Give back to the activity that gives so much to us!

In

the Door

Stay in Lessons

Sign up

for Lessons

Keep Dancing

Support the Program

1. IN THE DOOR

• Free Introduction to Square Dancing – no obligation, but lessons start NEXT WEEK.
• Publicize online, papers, yard signs, senior news, neighborhood websites, churches, doctors, gyms, libraries, etc.
• People reach out. Hand out cards. Posters.
• Outreach to people who have inquired - or dropped out. Standard emails and more personal calls and mailings.
• Demos. Or chances to try it.
• Special events. Spaghetti feed. Ice cream social. GET EMAILS.

2. SIGN UP FOR LESSONS

• Welcoming! Get latecomers in.
• Friendly dancers talk to them during breaks.
• Fun & Success. Food. Laughter.
• Understand future options. Announcements through the night. Why square dance. And paper info.
• Help them envision taking lessons.
• Partial scholarships available.
• Messages after Free Intro – and to anyone else interested. It’s not too late for Lesson 1 (or future lessons).

5. SUPPORT THE PROGRAM

• Be a part. Inclusion. Support all clubs. No negativity.
• Join a club. Welcome & recognize.
• Lots of communication.
• Make it fun, even meetings.
• Angel. Help out.
• Don’t overwhelm new members.
• Don't fade away. Check on those who have missed. Invite back.
• Bring friends. Publicize. Wheresthedance.com.

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4. KEEP DANCING Mainstream, workshops & beyond

• LOTS of fun opportunities to dance.
• Reach out to those who aren't showing up.
• Keep in people's radar – messages, Facebook, events
• Establish a CLEAR vision of next steps; simple FOCUSED announcements; email/written summaries.
• Friendly, fun, welcoming.
• Make sure everyone succeeds.
• Call to the floor.
• Workshops create success squares.
• Dances. Good dancers adopt those having problems.
• Angels can dance for free at lessons.

3. STAY IN LESSONS

• Those who can, pay in advance.
• LOTS of friendly angels. Encouragement.
• Nice name badges, photos.
• Fun!! Success experience. Break up disaster squares. Call to the floor.
• Walk-thru review before lessons.
• Slower-paced review weekly.
• The other night that week is free.
• Keep in touch and provide Info: Resources. Moves taught. Videos. Newsletters. Reminders.
• Follow-up with people who miss. Emails, phone calls, make up. Help into the next lessons.

The Cycle of Square Dance Retention

1. IN THE DOOR ***

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• Free Introduction to Square Dancing – no obligation, but lessons start NEXT WEEK.
• Publicize: Libraries, doctors, workplace, neighborhood websites, gym, churches, newspapers, yard signs.
• Online calendars and radio stations.
• People reach out. Hand out cards. Postcards.
• Posters all over town. Let dancers report where.
• Social media and website – I’ll talk more about this.
• Outreach to people who came before, or inquired, or didn't come over the summer. Repeated.
• Standard emails, and more personal calls & mailings.
• Demos. Private parties. GET EMAILS! Give cards.
• Special events. Spaghetti feed. Ice cream social.

LOTS of Opportunities to take Lessons

The Typical Olympia Teaching Timeline

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• You can take the 10-week Basic once or many times. Everyone repeats Basic when they take Mainstream.
• You can dance Basic at least 1x a week – and 2x a month at dances.
• You could choose a similar schedule with SSD, but a 12-week initial teach would complicate things and leave more dancers “stranded” at SSD for the summer.

LOTS of publicity

1. Cards and Posters

All Roads Lead to Lac-A-Do!

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Dancers report where they publicized.

Time to Start Square Dancing – Free Introduction & Lessons start Sep 12^th!

You’ve tried it before and life got in the way? Don’t worry. It’s always a good time to come back to the fun of square dancing.

Mark your calendar! Olympia Area Square Dancers are holding a Free Intro to Square Dancing on Thursday, September 12^th. It’s only 8 weeks away. For those who want to take lessons, we hold Lesson 1 on September 19^th. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m.

It’s time to kick up your heels, have a blast, get fit, and make lifelong memories! Reach out to your friends, family, or even come solo and join the thriving square dancing community.

For more information:

• See our website: www.OlympiaSquareDance.com
• See us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/156933187665599/
• Email: Dance@OlympiaSquareDance.com
• Phone Nancy at 360.438.1284

We have lots of new, enthusiastic dancers who love getting out of the house and dancing after the restrictions of the past few years. They want to share their new passion with you.

Please share with anyone who wants to get active and have a good time. We hope to see you there!

P.S. There are advantages to starting on Thursdays, However, if you can’t make Thursdays, we will offer a Free Intro and lessons on Mondays starting October 7^th.

2. Emails

Emails to those who have tried it before. A longer example:

Go out dancing – Try it for Free!

SQUARE DANCING!

• Get out more
• Make new friends
• Get more exercise
• Challenge your brain
• Laugh more
• Have more fun

Thursday September 12th

6:30 p.m.

• At Lac-A-Do Hall, 1721 46^th Ave NE, Olympia.
• Couples, singles, & families welcome, ages 10 and up.
• No experience necessary. If you have a good time, we teach lessons starting Sept 19^th.
• For more information, see our website www.OlympiaSquareDance.com. or call 360.438.1284.
• Sponsored by Olympia Area Square Dancers

Please share with your friends!

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Emails to interested non-dancers:

3. Social Media

• Facebook –
• Our groups. We have a group for dancers AND a page for interested non-dancers.
• Find many local groups – Best in Olympia, New in Olympia, Olympia Events, etc.
• Others: Neighborhoods, social organizations, churches, etc. have facebook pages or websites. Use both posts and events.
• Next Door – Lots of folks from different areas. Make a sample.
• Online calendars – most radio stations, chamber of commerce, Thurstontalk, etc.
• A good website. Open with lesson info.
• Other: Instagram? Tiktok? Podcasts? Meet up? AA? Parents without Partners?

What info goes in a good poster or blurb?

• Date, Time, Location
• Open to couples, singles, and families
• No experience necessary.
• Cost - especially if free.
• Why square dance? Be creative, but be sure to touch on the fun, friendship, and fitness aspects. We often add phrases like: It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet. You’ll be dancing right away. All types of music. Imagine you are someone who doesn’t know yet that they would love square dancing. What words would catch your attention?

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• A good eye-catching picture is worth a thousand words of advertising. Try to use a picture that shows dancing - either real people or an image. Can the reader see themselves there? We try to use pictures that show all ages or indeterminate ages. And a variety of clothing. Too many fluffy petticoats can scare some people away.

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Timing!

GREAT RESOURCES AND IDEAS

• Lane and Gail Johnston – Rainier Council
• Joint publicity
• Same start week & lesson plan
• Different days of the week
• Walk-through reviews
• Bob and Sheila Blackburn – Kitsap
• Booth at the County Fair
• Kitsap-wide initiatives
• Newsletters
• Radio Talk Shows
• Demonstrations
• Signs in Car Windows
• Yard / Intersection

signs

• Home school groups

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Publicity Resources

• Square Dance Tech – Lots of free, no copyright images, customizable videos, etc. https://squaredancetech.com/
• Callerlab Marketing Manual: https://callerlab.org/download/marketing-manual/
• Callerlab Site for New Dancers: https://livelivelysquaredance.com/
• USDA webinars – videos https://www.usda.org/WEbinar/Videos.php
• Olympia Area’s Publicity Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IHPTRI_HL9nzRPDlYdhbfXdqIMjXNz-brWTIq77oM_w/edit?usp=sharing

Memes and ads:

• Square Dance Flyers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SQUAREDANCEFLYERS
• Memes for . . . Dancing: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2813247028823613
• Whirl Twirl: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550557371812
• WA State Pix: https://www.squaredance-wa-pics.org/

Olympia’s Website: https://www.olympiasquaredance.com/

Cards: https://www.vistaprint.com OR www.gotprint.com

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Student Name Badges: https://name-badges.com/

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OASDI Website QR Code

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Examples of our customized Square Dance Tech videos:

• Take me Dancing: https://youtu.be/6M6NeGXDLao
• Square Dancing in Olympia. Try it! (youtube.com) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaPC98NPaA4

2. SIGN UP FOR LESSONS

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• Welcoming as they show up. Get latecomers in.
• Friendly dancers talk to them during breaks.
• Fun & Success. Food. Laughter.
• Understand future options. Announcements through the night. Why square dance. And paper info.
• Help them envision taking lessons.
• Partial scholarships available.
• Messages after Free Intro – and to anyone else interested. It’s not too late for Lesson 1 (or future lessons).

​

Successful publicity = a diverse crowd.

EMAIL:

We are so glad you joined us for the Free Introduction to Square Dancing on Thursday. Hope you had as much fun as we did.

Here's the answers to some of your questions: - Lessons. If you would like to take square dance lessons, please join us this Thursday, September 19th at 6:30

- Bring a friend (or two).  New dancers can still come to Lesson 1 on Sept 19th.  We will start over from the beginning - a review for you, and a chance to catch up for them. After Lesson 1, we won't be taking new students in this class, but there will be other opportunities. Share the fun, fitness and friendship of square dancing with someone you know.

- What if I will have to miss some lessons?  Usually it's not a problem to miss one week.  We'll give you a way to study the moves and have a review the next week. If you miss two or more weeks, it can make life challenging because the lessons build on one another. But you can always drop back into the Monday class which is a month behind.

What if Thursdays just don't work for me?  We start Monday lessons at Lac-A-Do Hall in 2024 with a Free Introduction on October 7th, and first lesson on October 14th. 

Feel free to email me or my husband Glenn (one of our callers) by replying to this message - or call with questions. Phone is 360-438-1284.�Hope to see you Thursday!

3. STAY IN LESSONS

• Those who can, pay in advance
• LOTS of friendly angels. Encourage; guidelines.
• Nice name badges, photos
• Fun!! Success experience. Break up disaster squares.

Call to the floor. Teach to different learning styles.

• Walk-thru review before lessons.
• Slower-paced review one afternoon a week.
• Attend the other night that week for free.
• Keep in touch and provide Info: Resources, moves taught. Encourage videos. Newsletters. Reminders.
• Follow-up with people who miss. Emails, phone calls, make up. Help into the next lessons.

EMAIL EXAMPLE - AFTER LESSON 2:

Square Dance News for our Monday class.

Hi there, Monday square dance class. Hope you all had a good time at Lesson 2 on Monday. We did! We look forward to seeing you for Lesson 3 on Monday March 4^th at 6:30. There will be an optional walk-through review at 6 p.m. (every week from now on). It’s great if you have missed a week or just want a little extra review.

You have now learned all the moves for Lesson 1 and 2. Remember that you can always find Lesson Resources at the bottom of the Lesson Page on our website: https://www.olympiasquaredance.com/lessons. The Basic 48 10 Week Lesson Plan shows exactly what we teach each week. The Links to Videos of Moves shows how to find a video of each move we teach (in the order we teach).

Here's what we will teach on Monday at Lesson 3. Most of these moves are quite simple and it will give us plenty of time t

o further practice what you have learned.

• Star thru
• Box the gnat
• Wrong way grand
• Right and left thru
• Wheel Around
• Dive Thru

PLANNING AHEAD – Some exciting events

• Your First Real Saturday Dance will be on March 16^th. This is the Flutterwheels Chili Cook-Off Dance – and they will dance at YOUR level from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It’s a lot of fun. You can enter a pot of chili in the contest, or just come and dance and eat chili. Some folks will be wearing traditional square dance clothes. It can be fun to dress up – but it’s not required. We have a special student discount admission price of $6 for adults.
• The Graduation Dance for the Thursday Class will be on Saturday March 23^rd at 7 p.m. You are invited and we will dance at your level in the first part of the dance. You know many of the folks who will be graduating as they come out and help at your lessons.
• Sunday March 24th, there is an afternoon dance at your level from 1-2 p.m., sponsored by the Do-Si-Do’s. LeoCatt will be calling for that hour. The themes for the dance is "The Jig is up."

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday. Be sure and let me know if you have to miss. Come a few minutes early if you can.

Nancy – Lesson Coordinator

VIDEO LINKS

4. KEEP DANCING Mainstream, workshops & beyond

• LOTS of fun opportunities to dance.
• Reach out to those who aren't showing up.
• Keep in people's radar – Messages, Facebook, events.
• Establish a CLEAR vision of next steps; simple FOCUSED announcements; email/written summaries.
• Friendly, fun, welcoming.
• Make sure everyone succeeds.
• Call to the floor.
• Workshops create success squares.
• Dances. Good dancers adopt those having problems.
• Angels can dance for free at lessons.

SQUARE DANCE NEWS WEEKLY MESSAGE: An example

Hi. Dear Square Dance Friends!  I can’t tell you how much it meant to have the good angel turnout on Thursday for the start of Mainstream lessons.  It helped so much.  I am excited about this big and enthusiastic class. Please come as you are able.

Here's what's coming up:

• Thursday Mainstream Lessons Lesson 2 this week. We start Mainstream right at 6:30 – no Basic before then (though we will look at some of the basic moves from nonstandard positions during these lessons). These lessons will last for 7 weeks, and will be completed before our big Memorial Day festivities. We will also review the previous Thursday’s Mainstream lesson about 8:15 on Mondays. We look forward to another nice graduation at the beginning of Memorial Day Weekend.
• Monday lessons Lesson 8 next Monday – so we’re getting to some of the interesting stuff. We so appreciate all who come out. And after each Basic Lesson we review the Mainstream lesson from the week before.  This week we had exactly 6 squares with no extras -  It would have been nice to have a little cushion. :)
• On April 15th Flutterwheels will commemorate Tax Day. It’s a Hobo Dance and some folks will be wearing their best rags. We will serve Hobo Stew and encourage people to “turn out your pockets” to contribute to the New Roof for Lac-A-Do fund. Bring a can of vegetables (not sauerkraut or beets of okra) for the stew. If you want to bring something extra, rolls, cornbread or desserts are welcome. The first part of this dance will be at the Monday student level – followed by full Mainstream. 
• The Square Ones will celebrate their 41^st Anniversary with a Plus Dance on Saturday April 22^nd. Pulled pork dinner at 6:30. Rounds at 7:30. Plus Dance at 8.  (Since we started Mainstream lessons I haven’t always kept up with all the Plus dancing in these emails.  But this seems like an event worthy of some extra publicity.)
• The Do-Si-Dos will sponsor a Mainstream Dance on Sunday, April 23rd from 2 - 4 with Gunter Monroe calling.

5. SUPPORT THE PROGRAM

• Be a part. Inclusion. Support other clubs.
• Join a club. Welcome & recognize. Social events.
• Lots of communication. Facebook, email, newsletters.
• Make it fun, even meetings. No negativity or gossip.
• Angel. Help out.
• Don’t overwhelm new members with responsibilities.
• Don't fade away. Check on those who have missed for a bit. Invite back.
• Bring friends. Publicize.

Wheresthedance.com

A rising tide lifts all boats!

In

the Door

Stay in Lessons

Sign up

for Lessons

Keep Dancing

Support the Program

1. IN THE DOOR

• Free Introduction to Square Dancing – no obligation, but lessons start NEXT WEEK.
• Publicize online, papers, yard signs, senior news, neighborhood websites, churches, doctors, gyms, libraries, etc.
• People reach out. Hand out cards. Posters.
• Outreach to people who have inquired - or dropped out. Standard emails and more personal calls and mailings.
• Demos. Or chances to try it.
• Special events. Spaghetti feed. Ice cream social. GET EMAILS.

2. SIGN UP FOR LESSONS

• Welcoming! Get latecomers in.
• Friendly dancers talk to them during breaks.
• Fun & Success. Food. Laughter.
• Understand future options. Announcements through the night. Why square dance. And paper info.
• Help them envision taking lessons.
• Partial scholarships available.
• Messages after Free Intro – and to anyone else interested. It’s not too late for Lesson 1 (or future lessons).

5. SUPPORT THE PROGRAM

• Be a part. Inclusion. Support all clubs. No negativity.
• Join a club. Welcome & recognize.
• Lots of communication.
• Make it fun, even meetings.
• Angel. Help out.
• Don’t overwhelm new members.
• Don't fade away. Check on those who have missed. Invite back.
• Bring friends. Publicize. Wheresthedance.com.

​

4. KEEP DANCING Mainstream, workshops & beyond

• LOTS of fun opportunities to dance.
• Reach out to those who aren't showing up.
• Keep in people's radar – messages, Facebook, events
• Establish a CLEAR vision of next steps; simple FOCUSED announcements; email/written summaries.
• Friendly, fun, welcoming.
• Make sure everyone succeeds.
• Call to the floor.
• Workshops create success squares.
• Dances. Good dancers adopt those having problems.
• Angels can dance for free at lessons.

3. STAY IN LESSONS

• Those who can, pay in advance.
• LOTS of friendly angels. Encouragement.
• Nice name badges, photos.
• Fun!! Success experience. Break up disaster squares. Call to the floor.
• Walk-thru review before lessons.
• Slower-paced review weekly.
• The other night that week is free.
• Keep in touch and provide Info: Resources. Moves taught. Videos. Newsletters. Reminders.
• Follow-up with people who miss. Emails, phone calls, make up. Help into the next lessons.

The Cycle of Square Dance Retention

KEY POINTS!

​

• It takes a lot of people working together.
• No one perfect answer. Try lots of things.
• All area clubs participate. Our Advanced & Challenge dancers are among our most dedicated angels.
• It takes a few years to build momentum. But then your new dancers contribute SO MUCH!