[Callers] Another approach to Gender Free calling

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

Jim,

I think this approach is great for adding more dances with choice. ...
but at some point, people want advanced dances and/or medleys, and
limiting the move-set I don't find an acceptable compromise.

-Ron

On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 7:22 PM, Jim Hemphill <arcadian35 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Proper Dance, gender free yet not too simple
> A1 Neighbor allemande left 1 1/2
>      1st corners allemande right 1 1/2
> A2 Scoop your partner as you go by, star promenade then butterfly
>      2nd corners swing in the center, then separate
> B1 Partner balance and swing
> B2 Take hands in a ring, balance and petranella
>      Couple 2 swing in the center, end facing up
>
> Dances can have variety and challenges without gender reference.  In this
> dance, as long as you make clear in the teaching that after the neighbor
> allemande left 1 1/2 if you are facing in, you are a 1st corner so you
> allemande right, if facing out you are a 2nd corner, get ready to be scooped
> you can end the swings any way you want.
>
> Ron, you are certainly right that not all dances can be easily taught in
> this manner, but in no way are all of these type of dances simple.  I
> struggled with translating a "choose your noun" for ladies or gents because
> that is how I learned and think about the dance roles. The translation
> process adds a layer of complexity  for me.  I am just offering a different
> approach that works for me.
>
> Thanks
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 3:40 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers
> <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> RE: Dave:
>>
>> Clockwise / counterclockwise - too wordy, and some people have trouble
>> with this regardless.
>>
>> Hey: What about on the left diagonal? Along the set?
>>
>> I also really don't like the blaming of the dance if it's not 100%
>> intuitive. Plenty of dances flow great but have a counter-intuitive
>> element. Restricting dances to those without counter-intuitive moves
>> is basically saying, "Sorry, if we want to be genderfree, we need to
>> put a cap on how difficult a dance is. Sorry genderfree dancers, you
>> aren't allowed to dance too advanced."  That's a big problem.
>>
>> Rollaways can *not* be handled from left to right - who does the
>> rolling is not indicated at all!
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 1:23 PM, Dave Casserly
>> <david.j.casserly at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Also with regard to Ron's questions, numbers 2 and 3 (who-leads-whom and
>> > who-walks-forward) can be handled by using the terms "clockwise" and
>> > "counterclockwise."  As to 4 (who passes whom for a hey), I agree with
>> > Bob
>> > that if the dance is good, it should be obvious, but even if not, "pass
>> > left
>> > shoulders in the middle for a hey for four" can only be interpreted one
>> > way,
>> > so that fixes the issue of referring to roles.  Roll-aways can be
>> > handled
>> > with "roll away from the left to the right" or "roll away from the right
>> > to
>> > the left."
>> >
>> > I'm not saying that it's perfect, but it is actually quite doable to
>> > call a
>> > dance without referring to roles at all, even without resorting to first
>> > or
>> > second corners.
>> >
>> > Perry asked for an example of a dance with global terminology used.
>> > Here's
>> > one (just picking a common, typical dance):
>> >
>> > Square Affair, by Becky Hill
>> >
>> > A1 Long Lines, 1st corners chain (or just say "chain" if you're dealing
>> > with
>> > experienced dancers and don't want to use the corners terminology)
>> > A2 Balance and pull by partner, pull by neighbor, balance and pull by
>> > partner, pull by neighbor
>> > B1 New neighbors balance and swing
>> > B2 Circle 3/4, partner swing
>> >
>> > Perry, you also mentioned that you are trying to figure out how global
>> > terminology would work for proper dances.  I have always called proper
>> > dances using global terminology without even thinking about it.  For
>> > Chorus
>> > Jig, for instance, why would you ever need to use the term "gent" or
>> > "lady"?
>> > Down the outside, back, down the middle, back and neighbor
>> > around-the-waist
>> > turn, 1s turn contra corners, 1s balance and swing.  Nothing that any
>> > particular role does that the other role isn't doing at the same time.
>> >
>> > On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 9:41 AM, Bob Morgan via Callers
>> > <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> With regard to Ron's questions
>> >>
>> >> 1. Would be easily covered by 1st or 2nd corners walk forward to a wave
>> >>
>> >> 2. Again can be done with reference to corners
>> >>
>> >> 3. Not so familiar with these.
>> >>
>> >> 4. You usually only need an obvious first pass person so not an issue I
>> >> think
>> >>
>> >> 5.  If you're facing out you turn, if you're facing across you walk is
>> >> how
>> >> I call it anyway
>> >>
>> >> Bob
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 5:09 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers
>> >> <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Andrea, how would you handle the following:
>> >>>
>> >>> 1. Lines of one role/position to the center to a wavy line, as in Trip
>> >>> to
>> >>> Lambertville, et all?
>> >>>
>> >>> 2. Indication of who walks forward / backs up in a gypsy star?
>> >>>
>> >>> 3. Indication of who-leads-who, such as in Ramsay Chase, Pedal
>> >>> Pushers,
>> >>> Jurassic Redheads, etc.
>> >>>
>> >>> 4. Indication of who is passing while calling a hey.
>> >>>
>> >>> 5. Indication of who crosses, who turns in a box circulate?
>> >>>
>> >>> 6. Indication any other role/position specific move that I haven't
>> >>> mentioned? Turn over right shoulder, as in Fairport Harbour?
>> >>> Rollaways?
>> >>>
>> >>> None of these fall under the "most unusual figures" as you stated.
>> >>>
>> >>> Ron
>> >>>
>> >>> On Jun 1, 2015 11:59 AM, "Andrea Nettleton via Callers"
>> >>> <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> In previous discussions here, on FB, and privately with organizers at
>> >>>> Hampshire over the last two years, I have discussed the possible use
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> global terminology for gender free contra.  I would contend that if
>> >>>> used,
>> >>>> everyone would become more aware of the structure of dances.  Only
>> >>>> the most
>> >>>> unusual figures/sequences would be unable to be called.  The addition
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> first and second corner positions to the arsenal makes it possible
>> >>>> for same
>> >>>> role dancers to also be called upon to dance together without
>> >>>> reference to
>> >>>> gender.  Second corners chain, or first corners allemande L 1 1/2 for
>> >>>> example.  It would have to be agreed that this refers to those
>> >>>> standing in
>> >>>> those positions at that moment.  In ECD we use first and second
>> >>>> corners to
>> >>>> refer to the people, first and second diagonals for the positions.
>> >>>> But
>> >>>> since we use diagonal to refer to those across and over one set, this
>> >>>> seems
>> >>>> unhelpful.  Simply corner positions works better.  I'm glad some
>> >>>> folks are
>> >>>> trying it out at last.  I had hoped for an opportunity myself before
>> >>>> now.
>> >>>> Cheers,
>> >>>> Andrea
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Sent from my iOnlypretendtomultitask
>> >>>>
>> >>>> On Jun 1, 2015, at 8:37 AM, Jim Hemphill via Callers
>> >>>> <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The recent discussions on this topic inspired me to try an experiment
>> >>>> in
>> >>>> gender free calling.  Last night I called the contra dance in St.
>> >>>> Louis
>> >>>> using gender free calling without telling anyone.    The experiment
>> >>>> was a
>> >>>> great success.  I received lots of  positive feedback on the evenings
>> >>>> dance.
>> >>>> At the break and after the dance I made a point to ask several
>> >>>> dancers, some
>> >>>> were callers as well, if they noticed anything different or unusual
>> >>>> about
>> >>>> the dances or how I taught them.   One person noticed that there were
>> >>>> more
>> >>>> dances that included a swing in the center for couple 2 than usual.
>> >>>> No one
>> >>>> I talked to noticed that the calls and teaching were gender free.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> It took some extra time to construct a fun, diverse 3 hour program,
>> >>>> but
>> >>>> it is certainly possible.  Re-labeling the dancers is not the only
>> >>>> way to
>> >>>> call gender free.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> If you are interested in the program I used or the larger collection
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> gender free dances I chose the program from, send me an email,
>> >>>> arcadian35 at gmail.com.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Thanks,
>> >>>> Jim Hemphill
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
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>> >>>
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>> >>
>> >>
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > David Casserly
>> > (cell) 781 258-2761
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