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Vol 2.1
Spring 2010
Welcome to
the second issue of our new online newsletter! Each issue of
FUSTA Footwork will continue to live entirely online as a mini-website. Each issue will
be archived online for a year, and accessible through FUSTA.us. Our hope is
to bring you a newsletter full of rich content that can help improve us as
professionals, Highland dancing globally, and FUSTA as an organization. If
you have any thoughts or feedback, we would love to receive it. The only
way to make this newsletter better is for the members to take an active
part in its content, whether by providing us with content or simply
offering suggestions for content. We want this newsletter to reflect the
membership and not just the editorial staff. We welcome any suggestions
and constructive criticism. Please
let us know and enjoy the second issue of FUSTA Footwork online!
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of FUSTA! In addition
to the USIR in Traverse City, Michigan, the Midwest has been actively
promoting this event as a "Weekend of Dance" and will be offering a wide
array of competitive events for Pre-Premier and Premier dancers.
The USIR and surrounding events are certainly a
highlight of the competitive year and each region works very hard every 6
years to plan a memorable event. I know that Bree Erin Brownlee, Kira Van
Steenkiste, Christie Freestone (Co-Chairs and FUSTA Liaison) and the
Organizing Committee have spent countless hours planning every detail for
this year's USIR and "Weekend of Dance" events. Thank you for all your
hard work!
With a successful USIR in place to cater to the
needs of our Premier dancers, I think we need to direct our attention to
also focus on how we can encourage new students to join Highland Dancing.
As they say in politics, we need to start at the "grassroots level"
attracting new dancers and inspiring a new generation of young people to
learn, excel, and compete in this traditional art form. They will not only
be learning dance steps but so many life lessons that are a part of the
Highland Dancing experience.
As you may be aware, over the past few years there
has been a decline in the number of dancers attending competitions and
Championships in the U.S, not to mention registering with FUSTA.
Unfortunately, some Highland Games have experienced financial difficulties
and have been forced to cancel their events. Whether this is due to the
economic downturn or a combination of factors is difficult to say, but I do
think FUSTA needs to consider all approaches to revitalize the number of
dancers in the Pre-Premier categories as well as encourage the Premier
dancers to continue competing. FUSTA Competition Organizer information,
which is now included in the Association of Scottish Games and Festivals
Manual will hopefully assist Games and Dance Competition Organizers and in
turn boost competitor numbers. I hope you will continue to encourage your
dancers to participate in as many competitions in your area as possible.
Consider organizing car pools to cut down on everyone's expenses for the
weekend. As a teacher, pick one competition that you've never been to and
try to encourage your students to come along for a "dancing adventure".
As teachers, look for opportunities to perform
demonstrations at schools, nursing homes, and girl scout meetings.
Participate in local parades, Tartan Day events, anything you can do to
increase the visibility and attract new students to Highland Dance
schools. Summer may be the perfect time to sponsor a "Bring a Friend to
Dance Class" day! Offer "incentives" (free class, a trip to the ice cream
shop, a highland dancer bumper sticker - something to generate the
enthusiasm) to the current dancers if their friends sign up. Did one of
you students place well at a recent competition? Send an article in to the
local newspaper! Did your school raise money for a cause? Contact the
local TV station and let them know. The possibilities are endless! I would
appreciate hearing any ideas you may have and would encourage you to
discuss this at the regional level. In addition, I will look forward to
discussing this during the open discussion at the FUSTA AGM this August.
In the meantime I plan to form a committee to provide assistance to
teachers on how to attract new dancers to their schools.
FUSTA can be proud of how far we have come in the 30
years since our founders first met. Now we need to build for the future of
FUSTA and Highland Dancing in the United States, inspiring young dancers to
become a part of the exciting adventure that is Highland Dancing.
Anne Donlan
FUSTA President
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