From the Editor’s Desk
Welcome to the ABA news, communicating with and supporting the member clubs of the American Bop Association. This newsletter is your forum for discussing ABA events, activities, policies, business, the how and why we did that, and just plain old fashioned “pass the word” concerning the ABA and your club.
Topic of the Quarter
President Jim Laux has broached a topic dear to my heart.
We have attempted to get younger people involved since starting Buckeye Bop Club 7 years ago. However, what we found is the college student, late 20’s and early 30’s dancers’ to do some form of Lindy and other “Big Band” style dance. There was a “Lindy” track at “Beat the Heat” last event to accommodate the younger dancers. It was simultaneously a huge a success and a flop.
We have tried to get people in their mid 30’s to mid 40’s... They appear to be always too busy with activities involving their kid(s).
We have tried the younger set from about age 8 to 16. However, we can only seem to get 2 or 3 to have an interest and before we can involve more kids, they drop out.
Dancing at a bar is part of our club’s problem. Everyone has to be 21 or older to enter the bar due to State law. There does not seem to be anywhere to dance where it does not cost $500 to $1,000 for a couple of hours. Liability of being sue has created this problem.
Generally, new people tend to be singles in their late 40’s or older. There are couples learning to dance; however, they are doing so at dance studios and the studios seem to have a strangle hold on them. It appears that they encourage them to dance only at that studio.
Then there are the other hundreds of activities competing for time and money that did not exist a few years ago. This is a good thing, but it takes away opportunities to dance. Many private social clubs are experiencing a decline in membership for this very reason.
I think there needs to be a national push for dance awareness. I do not know how the Shag community seems to get so many kids involved in dance. I have tried asking several sources, and I have not received any response.
I do not disagree with Jim about the need; however, I think the suggested tactics do not work or are not enough to make any difference. There needs to be more done, but I do not know what that is.
So for the next Topic of the Quarter, let hear from everyone on their ideas and success stories in enticing younger dancers.
So, get your thoughts together and your pencils moving
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Other Articles
I think you may find the article by Ken and Debbie Butler from Mid-Ohio Boogie Club interesting and useful. Take a read, it may be just what you may need for your club.
The other article of interest is about the forth-coming “Let’s Dance U.S.A.” CD Volume 3 compiled for the Rhythm & Blues DJs. Take a look and consider purchasing some of these great CD’s for your club.
Thank-you, Jim