Feedback for the 2009 Black and White Ball and Dance Lessons during Fanime

Okach · July 01, 2009, 11:35:39 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I believe that is possible, though, to waive the fee if there is a certain occupancy level reached by the event. However, I realize that there probably isn't anything of the sort with the Fairmont...

ewu · July 01, 2009, 11:42:46 PM

Quote from: Okach on July 01, 2009, 09:56:39 PM
Barring further developments, I think this is the perfect floor. Here's the site: http://www.americanportabledancefloors.com/about.shtml.

It's unfortunate that they only offer rental and installation in NY, NJ, and CT. We may look into a local renter that carries this particular type, but bear in mind that this year three different floors needed to be joined due to the size of our floor. We try to provide the best and most fun environment that we can, but are often limited by various constraints outside of our control.

Keep on throwing ideas out so that we may continue to improve our events!

Okach · July 01, 2009, 11:57:47 PM

Ah, that's if you were getting it directly from the factory. Try out this guy: http://apdfloors.com/home/index.php and tell him that Alfred who does West Coast Swing said hi when you contact him.

And in the interest of full disclosure this is me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvHn_-V-DJQ

BSaphire · July 05, 2009, 10:19:52 AM

Quote from: LordMoufMouf on June 04, 2009, 08:12:11 PM
Thank you. I absolutely love dance (I do ballet), but as a cosplayer I found myself with rather little time to attend the lessons, since most of my outfits would not be suitable for the lessons, and getting in and out of cosplays takes a huge amount of time, since I have to restyle wigs and do makeup. I guess I'll just have to try harder to get some time to attend them next year.

You are not alone in this one ^^) I did not have the time to attend any of the lessons and would love to have something in the evening. Hopefully jemz can work on this. :)

I was only an observer at the ball this year but if anyone who teaches these dances would like to teach me then I'm game ;D The waltz would be a great start for me if that helps :D .

michiko nakano · August 08, 2009, 01:12:34 PM

OH MY GOD The Black and White ball was so gloriously wonderful!! I'm a dreamer... the kind that thinks about gentlemen and ladies waltzing and being graceful and all that, and when I heard there was going to be a ball I think I screamed! It far surpassed everything I expected-- The classes alone were enough to make me happier than I've ever been. I didn't expect there to be any ballroom dancing at an anime convention, but there was! Anime and dancing are the two things I live for!!!!! To have had them both at the con still makes me smile every day!

SUGGESTION: split the ball. have the first two or three hours be "strictly ballroom," in the sense that it can be open to people who took the classes or already know how to dance. This way, people who are serious about ballroom can have their chance to have fun before the floor has a chance to split open or get sticky. What was that sticky stuff anyways? 0_o After the first two or three hours, they can have all the other people come. This won't completely stave off those who think they can dance, but can't; but it should help. In the schedule, they can put down that the first part is for ballroom dancing, and the second part is for everyone. Hope this helps!!

Okach · August 14, 2009, 09:05:36 PM

It's a good suggestion, but it doesn't really solve the issue since there's still going to be issues with filtering the first few hours unless we have the ballroom police...which is subject to interpretation as to who is qualified for the "Strictly Ballroom" part of the dance.

michiko nakano · August 14, 2009, 10:40:06 PM

Very true. But granted, most of the people who were the problem last year (i.e. the ones who were standing in the middle of the dance floor talking, or just doing non-ballroom dancing) probably knew they weren't ballroom dancers and went for either the dressing-up part, the prom type dancing, or because their other non-ballroom dancing friends wanted them to go with them. So if those people saw that the first couple hours were just for serious ballroom dancers, they'd probably understand and just come later when then can jump around and caramelldanse and stuff. This would result in the first couple hours being at least less crowded, even though there will always be shenanigans.

Okach · August 14, 2009, 11:24:13 PM

Fair nuff. I wasn't there, so I'm basing my opinion on previous dances. I would say three hours would be adequate and depending on the time, would satisfy the hardcore dancers and let the randomers have dinner :).

michiko nakano · August 15, 2009, 12:13:56 AM

Solved! ^__^

Okach · August 15, 2009, 10:43:04 PM

Haha, if only everything in life could be that simple.

tkdteo · August 17, 2009, 09:22:42 AM

We will take the splitting of the times into consideration for the Ball this year. Please remember though this event is supposed to be for everyone to participate in. There were a few things that we need to address from this past year's BWBall, but I also do think that there were some high points of the dance also. As of right now we are still in the planning stages of things and we are taking all suggestions into consideration.

- Jim
BWBall Head 2010

Okach · August 18, 2009, 12:19:59 AM

Actually, there is no enforcement policy in play for proficiency with the latest suggestion - it's more of an encouragement for the driven to be early birds. After 9PM, it's more of a everybody into the pool thing.

Of course, it wouldn't exactly be too much overhead to do something like give some sort of pass out at all the classes (which are open to everyone) and just restrict the first few hours to classgoers.