Seminars

The USAWest Square Dance Conventions include a program of educational seminars as well as a full dance program. This page describes a few of the seminars that will be provided.

Hearing Enhancement Seminar

Over half of people greater than age 50 have a hearing loss significant enough to impact their understanding of speech, especially in a background of noise.  The average age of square and round dancers is increasing. Thus, the percentage of hearing impaired dancers is increasing! Background noise occurs at all dances, and may range from slight to extreme.  Noises such as heater or air conditioner fans, shuffling of feet on the floor, etc. all contribute to background noise.  If there is also conversation occurring on the sidelines, the background noise is increased.  Many halls have poor acoustics.  Dancers receive only auditory input of the call or cue.  There is no visual input to contribute to the dancers' ability to understand the command.  Rarely are the dancers in position to read the lips of the caller or cuer! Hearing aids are not always the answer.  Hearing aids increase all sounds, not specifically the sound that the dancer wishes to hear.  Hearing enhancement devices are designed to increase the dancers' ability to hear and understand the caller or cuer.  A dancer wears a wireless receiver that picks up the sound from a transmitter plugged into the amplifier.  Hearing enhancement units allow the dancer to hear "directly from the P.A.", without the sound passing through the air of the room.  This significantly reduces background noise, reverberation of the sound, etc., and provides the dancer with an increased ability to hear and understand the command.

To learn more about hearing enhancement you are invited to attend a seminar by Susan Healea on Friday and Saturday during the 9th USA West Square Dance Convention in Pendleton, Oregon.  Susan is an Audiologist. Audiologists specialize in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing loss.  Susan has been involved in square and round dancing throughout her life.  She started round dance cueing in 1986, and is widely known for her round dance choreography.  Susan has written several articles regarding the use of hearing enhancement in dancing.  She has also made several previous presentations on the topic, including at the Washington State Leadership Seminar and ROUNDALAB.  To contact Susan Healea directly, SusanHealea@hotmail.com.

Recruiting and Retaining Square Dancers

DON'T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

A Sure Fire, Tried and True, Recruiting and Retention Plan

Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of the square and round dance resurgence. Clubs from Southern California to Washington State have called to thank us for saving their clubs.

The plan does work if you are willing to make it work. You will be given hand out material that includes examples of the entire recruiting plan.

Presenter: Les and Paula Seeley
Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16, 2008
10 am - 12 noon

Please download and distribute this flyer.

Sew-and-Save

During the USAWest Square Dance Convention in Pendleton, Oregon, our Sew-N-Save program will present the opportunity for you to attend two unique and different sewing seminar sessions. Each will be offered on two different days.

Both sessions will appeal to both the new and experienced seamstresses. The classes will be highly interactive, so that you can ask your questions as you think of them. We encourage an exchange of ideas and information. Come prepared to learn, share, and enjoy the wonderful world of creative sewing without patterns.

A Bag for Any Occasion

This session will show you how to make many different types of bags without a purchased pattern. Using a ruler, paper, and other objects, you will make patterns for purses, book bags, shopping bags, gift bags, duffle bags, slip bags, or any other special purpose bag that you request. Hints will help you put zippers and or Velcro in your bags. You will also be shown how to calculate what size pockets you may want to add to your special bag and how to attach them to your bags. You will have the opportunity to look at step-by-step instructions and samples, and will take home handouts explaining exactly how to make bags on your own. This is an easy level class, for anyone who can turn on and thread a sewing machine. This class will also appeal to advanced seamstresses who normally do not make their own patterns and would like the freedom to express their creativity.

Making Tiered Skirts and "Broomsticking" Them

In this session, you will learn how to make any length tiered skirt without a pattern. You will be given a chart that explains how to compute the amount of fabric you need to purchase for each tier of your skirt . one of the trickier tasks in making a tiered skirt. You will learn how to interpret the chart and how to put fabrics together. Once we have gone through the chart and all of your questions have been answered, you will be shown how to put the skirts together. There will be many samples for you to examine, and handouts for you to take home giving you instructions on how to construct your own skirt. For those of you who enjoy wearing broomsticked skirts, you will also have an opportunity to learn how to give your skirt that unique crinkled look. Come and see how to use rubber bands and nylons to achieve this look.

Caller-Oriented Seminars

Two great one-hour seminars will be presented by Daryl Clendenin and Doug Davis, the only two Accredited Caller Coaches in the northwest.

"Gee, I'd Like To Be a Caller"

Get up-front advice and encouragement for any dancer interested in taking up the microphone. Find out where and how to start, and maybe even a bit of what not to do.

An Open Q and A Session for Club Callers

An opportunity to ask questions on whatever topics that can most help the callers in attendance.