IAGSDC Convention 2009: photos

[drscott]

I didn't take all that many pictures; halls are too dim, flash too flashy, to do well usually. But here's a few, and a link to a gallery of all the good ones taken during our visit to DC.




Squared up to dance....




rlegters and tdjohnsn




otterpop58 and excessor




Miscreants (aka zzbear) using my camera while I'm gone....


Gallery of many, many more.

Comments

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Curtis - my good friend Thom and I had a long, long talk recently about the future of gay rodeo. Our connections: He has particpated (and recently judged) for years; I was a "spouse" for years and am still a fan.

But the crowds these days remind me of your pics here ... i.e. lots of handsome men but few much younger than me (I'm 46). We decided gay rodeo isn't doomed, exactly but that it's destined to become less and less a mainstream social activity and eventually a very "niche" one. No one seems to know how to make it attractive to younger folks (both guys & girls).

Is there any talk about that last in square-dancing? If so maybe rodeo could learn something from you guys. Thanks.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

Yes, the aging gay square dance population is a subject of much discussion. Some younger people are coming in, but not many, and attendance is down in many areas.

Like rodeo, it requires a body of knowledge and a time commitment which creates a barrier to entry, and most young people don't have to time or attention span for it. Efforts to accelerate the program (it usually takes 8 months of once-a-week two-hour classes to reach the Plus level) have been tried. Many in the square dance community aren't interested in dancing at the low levels which could be learned quickly, and since they tend to be the most committed and drive the agenda of the governing boards, not much has been done to provide easier entry for casual activity shoppers.