[Callers] Gypsy Wrap-Up

[Winston, Alan P. via Callers]

Very nicely done!

-- Alan


On 11/2/2015 3:31 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I finally composed a response to the original complainant. Here it is, 
> followed by an almost instant reply from him (yes, it is a male):
>
> Hello Mr.__________,
>
> Thank you for letting us know about your experience at our dance. I am 
> glad our community was so welcoming and friendly to you. I hope you 
> remember that in the future.
>
> As for the term "gypsy," it has been used in contra dancing for 
> decades, and is not my invention. I am sorry you were offended by my 
> use and description of it. It is my habit to let dancers know the name 
> and author of each dance I call, and "gypsy" is in the title of that 
> dance. I regret my description of the move as "flirty." I thank you 
> for reminding me that some people are uncomfortable with that, and I 
> will no longer suggest it. As for the name of the move itself, you are 
> correct in that it has never been meant as a pejorative. I cannot, 
> however, change it on my own. Contra is a folk dance and the folk 
> process takes time. There is no governing body in charge of naming the 
> terms used in contra dancing. When someone invents a new move they 
> give it a name and it gradually works its way into the vernacular.
>
> I can assure you that callers nationwide are discussing this and other 
> terms we use which we are learning are offensive to others. We are 
> endeavoring to change what we can, but you might imagine that coming 
> to a consensus between many hundreds of callers is neither swift nor 
> sure. This is especially true, given the lack of a governing body.
>
> For my part, I have decided to remove the term "gypsy" from my calling 
> and am searching for a substitute. It is not in my power to rename 
> dances. At Emerald City Contra Dance we book approximately 25 
> different callers every year, from across the United States and 
> beyond. I am just one. Please understand that if you return to our 
> dance you may hear that term used again, until such time as awareness 
> has spread as far and wide as the callers themselves.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Amy Wimmer
> Caller and ECCD Organizer
>
> His response:
>
> Thank you for your very thoughtful and informative response. I feel 
> much better about continuing to attend, hearing that there is an 
> awareness of this issue and conversations happening about it.
>
>
>
>
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