Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

What is DBD?


What’s a DBD dance like?

I don’t want to take another long set of lessons. How do I get started in DBD?

I’m afraid that I’ll cause the squares to break down. I’ve seen folks dancing DBD. Why aren’t they smiling?

I dance Advanced or Challenge. So, obviously I can dance DBD.

Is DBD for me?

Where can I dance DBD?

How can I join the Central PA Google Group and keep in touch?

What is DBD?

DBD stands for “Dance by Definition”. It includes but goes a bit beyond “Extended Applications” and APD (All Position Dancing”). In DBD, the caller uses the standard definition of the call, as defined by Callerlab®. But, the starting formations and each dancer’s position may be decidedly different. Perhaps the best description we’ve heard of DBD is “Extreme Applications.” Callerlab® has defined two sets of “Applications” for the basic calls: “Standard Applications” are those positions that a caller can be quite sure will be successfully completed by the vast majority of dancers. In general, these are the positions that are taught in New Dancer programs. “Extended Applications” are positions that may give the average dance floor some trouble, and may need some extra cues or a walk-through for dancers to succeed. “Extreme Applications” aren’t defined by Callerlab® or anyone else. These are the products of the caller’s imagination and may need experienced dancers, caller help, or both in order to succeed. They may include unusual formations or fractions of calls. An example may help demonstrate this. The “Standard Application” for Scootback might be parallel right-handed waves with all the same gender facing in. An “Extended Application” might be left-handed waves with opposite genders facing in. An “Extreme Application” could include a Quarter-Tag starting formation (Heads Pass the Ocean from a squared set.) It might also be Scootback once and a half. DBD is specifically NOT “Take No Prisoners.” The goals are entirely different. In DBD, the goal is success, with thinking required. If the dancers have trouble, the caller will get the floor moving again and work the trouble spot. In “Take No Prisoners”, the goal is to give the dancers trouble. When the dancers have trouble, it’s up to them to get things moving again, without the caller’s help. Callers may use DBD to do this, but as just one of the tools rather than the focus. DBD is also not “Arky” dancing, although dancing DBD can help your Arky dancing. Arky is dancing the opposite gender. In DBD, dancers retain their original gender, regardless of position. For the few moves that are defined as “men / women”, the men always do the man’s part and the women do the woman’s part. So, the men don’t have to learn how the lady does “slide thru.” However, most definitions aren’t sex-specific, so learning to do those moves from other positions will help when you dance Arky.

What’s a DBD dance like?

Most importantly, you can expect the same as at every square dance – Good People Having FUN! Beyond that, also as with every dance, the experience varies with the particular caller and that day’s “floor” (the dancers who show up for the dance.) One caller may emphasize left-handed formations; another may put the men where the ladies normally are; yet another may concentrate on unusual formations or concepts. It’s rarely the same from one dance to the next. At least in this area, most of the clubs are smaller groups. This can lead to better success, with the caller more able to keep an eye on every dancer and provide the help everyone needs. Our callers are more than willing to explain or walk through troublesome choreography during the breaks, if the dancers want. You just have to ask.

I don’t want to take another long set of lessons. How do I get started in DBD?

Basically, you start dancing DBD. It’s not like moving from Mainstream to Plus. There is no separate defined list for DBD. You already know (or should know) all the moves. It’s simply a matter of using them in a new way. One way you might start is at one of the All Day DBD workshops in the area. Bill Harrison runs one such workshop in July (Dillsburg PA). Liberty Stars (Warminster PA) typically has an All Day DBD program in October. These programs generally start from the beginning, assuming no DBD experience, and build skills through the day. You could also go to an “Intro to DBD” at a festival to get started. Most of the DBD groups effectively operate as workshops, and welcome solid Plus dancers. The callers come to the dance with choreography in mind; ready, willing, even anxious to explain and demonstrate the things that cause the dancers difficulty.

I’m afraid that I’ll cause the squares to break down.

Most of our dancers recognize that breaking down is a learning opportunity. We understand that we aren’t stretching and growing if we can complete everything with no difficulty.

I’ve seen folks dancing DBD. Why aren’t they smiling?

DBD dancing does take a bit more thinking than the average dance. Many people simply don’t smile when they’re thinking.

Let us assure you, we ARE having fun. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t come back as often as we do.

I dance Advanced or Challenge. So, obviously I can dance DBD.

Well, you most likely have the right attitude to doing DBD. But, it’ll probably still take some practice. As we said, DBD isn’t another level. DBD is more of a thought process, while the higher levels can be simply another list of calls. Dancing at a higher level doesn’t generally give a lot of practice for the levels below and the “interesting” choreography is generally reserved for the higher level moves. The lower level moves are used simply to set up the formation.

That said, you may have some advantages. You may recognize something as one of the higher level moves, called directionally. You may also recognize, understand, and have experience with some of the concepts that the caller might use.

Is DBD for me?

There’s no simple answer to this. If you’ve just graduated from a new dancer program, DBD is probably not for you. If you’re an experienced dancer, the following tool may give you some idea.

In each row, pick the statement you most agree with. Few people will select all B’s, but the more B’s you choose, the more of the DBD mindset you already have. You may already be dancing “soft” DBD and not even recognize it.

By the way, this doesn’t grade you as a dancer. It’s just a tool. We know that DBD isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. We know many very good dancers who would pick mostly A’s.