On occasion, I have the opportunity to lead hour long groups for elders in low income housing as a "DJ". Last night I had just such an opportunity for 66 elders at a Hallowe'en celebration. My challenge was, and always seems to be, if people are sitting around tables, how do I get them to move.
I brought in music from their era, a few "Halloween" songs which they might recognize, and some props. Included in the music was Monster Mash, Ghostbusters, Witchy Woman, and That Ole Black Magic. I was dressed in "wizardess" garb, with a witch's hat, and streaked my hair with orange. For props, I had orange and black streamers stapled together to "extend" the movement, and a large gauzy white cobweb.
While I was able to get people to interact some, and move some from their sitting positions, many looked half-hearted in their efforts, and some merely looked on. There were about a dozen who periodically would get up on their feet and actually dance. They were ready to have fun. The rest, I think, were concerned about looking ridiculous.
Whereas, if I have people sitting in a single large circle, or concentric circles, the culture seems to allow for a greater level of participation. Maybe people sitting around tables just don't have the necessary culture to move. I wonder if that is because they are looking at each other, and then feel foolish, as opposed to looking at me and the several who are willing to "make fools" of ourselves and getting the requisite permission that they need.
The streamers did help, and people used them throughout the group. They were especially inventive in using the streamers in a sit down tango. I liked one group member's suggestion that people dramatically turn their heads to one side, and then the other. With the cobweb, people got up to help spread the cobweb out. We stretched and poked arms and heads through the cobweb, getting people who were sitting engaged in holding on as well. Then, switching metaphors, I put on the limbo, and had us move beneath the cobweb. That was a big hit.
One thing that boggles my mind is that people are more than willing to make fools of themselves to the Chicken Dance. I don't get it.
Technically, it would have helped had my speakers been louder for such a big room. And having a wireless microphone would also help with such a big crowd. I always try to get the facilities to set folks up in a circle, but sometimes it isn't possible.
I wonder how other group leaders trying to get elders to move deal with the situation of people sitting around tables.
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