How did you grow your balboa scene?
When I moved to Chicago in 2008, there were about ten balboa dancers in the city. These dancers were super committed and had been showing up for years to a weekly balboa practice. They had grown their skills and were solid intermediate/advanced balboa dancers. However, with no regular beginner class, the group had trouble replenishing new dancers as people moved on from the group. Here is what I did to grow my scene:
- I started traveling a lot more balboa events to grow my dancing and build my network.
- Along with others in the group, I helped establish regular beginner classes.
- I created a Facebook group and put everyone in it who even mentioned they might be interested in balboa.
- I started a weekly practice that was open to all. This helped grow the scene and gave dancers of all levels a place to focus on balboa.
- I used Facebook and email to market like crazy. I sent lots of personal invitations to balboa events and spent a lot of time marketing.
- I had balboa brunches that were potluck social events where individuals brainstormed how we could grow the scene.
- We did “bal bombs” where balboa dancers would show up to dance to bal-friendlly music.
- With another dancer, I helped establish a monthly social dancer with a beginner taster lesson. This really helped build our community and provided motivation for learning more balboa.
- As the scene grew, we had additional classes for intermediate and advanced dancers.
- I started offering private lessons. This was a great way for people to get lessons that worked in their schedules.
- I brought in instructors. I started small by bringing in one instructor. Then, I brought in two instructors. Over time, it grew into an annual event: Great Lakes Balboa Escape.
- I delegated tasks to get more people involved in organizing.
- I taught workshops around Chicago to help build the regional scene.
- I encouraged people to travel to events – posting on our Facebook page, making announcements, and putting out fliers for other balboa events.
- I trained new teachers and gradually gave others more leadership and teaching opportunities.