[Callers] Advice about "gypsy"

[Chris Page via Callers]

"Gypsy" comes from Cecil Sharp, when he was trying to name a figure that
appeared in the literature of two dancers going around each other.

My hearsay understanding is that he named it after some Romani dances he
knew of where partners didn't touch each other.

-Chris Page
San Diego, CA

On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 12:12 AM, Amy Wimmer via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I taught a dance this evening that included a ladies' gypsy. I received
> the email below a few minutes ago. In teaching it I wanted to convey that
> it is a flirty, eye contact sort of move. This person was obviously
> offended. I am at a loss for how to respond, except to apologize for
> offending.
>
> I'm pretty sure I described the move accurately. I meant absolutely no
> offense. I didn't make up the name for the move, but don't want to make
> excuses. Does this move need a new name? How would you respond?
>
> -Amy
> Seattle
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *Subject:* *First time at your event*
>
> This evening, I came to one of your dances for the first time. I was
> impressed by the friendliness of the dancers, the quality of the musicians,
> and the overall fun of the dance.
>
> And then we got to a dance in which we were told we would be learning a
> step named after an offensive term for Romani people. And I felt
> uncomfortable. And then when the step was taught, it became clear that the
> term was so named based on stereotypes of Romani women as being overly
> sexual. And I became more uncomfortable.
>
> I assume that this was not done maliciously, but rather out of an
> unawareness of the ways that that term has been used to denigrate Romani
> people throughout history (much the same way that many other racial slurs
> have been used in the past by well-meaning people before they became aware
> that those terms were hurtful and harmful to those disadvantaged groups).
>
> Nonetheless, it felt shockingly offensive to me, all the more so in the
> context of a community that appeared to be so welcoming and accepting.
>
> Until that point, I had a very enjoyable time dancing at your event. I've
> been a dancer in a variety of communities for many years now, and aside
> from that issue, this was probably the best first experience I've had when
> meeting a new dance community. It was a shame that some presumably
> unintentional racial insensitivity had to ruin what was otherwise such a
> positive experience.
>
>
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>
>
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