[Callers] yet another gypsy substitute (YAGS)

Jonathan Sivier via Callers callers at lists.sharedweight.net
Fri Feb 5 10:30:25 PST 2016


    I just had a thought for another possible substitute if we need to 
replace the term "gypsy".  This would be "vis-a-vis" (face to face).  I 
like this since it is in some sense similar to dos-a-dos (back to back) 
and makes them complimentary figures.  I think it suggests the 
importance of facing the person you are dancing with, making eye 
contact, though not necessarily staring, during the figure.  Since many 
of the figure names in country dance come from French words, sometimes 
corrupted by time and the folk process, it seems reasonable to borrow 
another French term.  I'm not aware of this term already being used for 
some other dance figure, let me know if it is.  Even though it has 3 
syllables instead of 2 I kind of like the sound of "vis-a-vis and swing!"

    Just putting it out there for your consideration.

Jonathan
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Jonathan Sivier
Caller of Contra, Square, English and Early American Dances
jsivier AT illinois DOT edu
Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html
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Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A: It depends on what dance you call!


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