[Callers] Boys and Girls

[Jeremy Child via Callers]

Nick: Some good stuff in those links - thank you.
Donna: I love the idea of identifying your role by saying "boy" or "girl".
Thanks for the link to your web pages.  I did try to look at your FB group
but got a "this content isn't available right now" error message.
Neal: I'm intrigued by the "not wearing bands/physical identifiers", and
more so by mid-tip role swapping.  How does the caller cope?  If xe is
purely using modules then there's no problem, but how does xe cope if xe is
sight calling?  OK xe could memorise 4 positions rather than just two
couples, but if the dancers are role swapping xe may not be able to tell
what FASR the square is in.
In my MWSD classes I insist that the "boys" wear a sash and the "girls"
don't - irrespective of actual gender. This is partly to make it easier to
see when the square has gone asymmetric, and partly to eliminate the idea
that "boy is the natural role of a man, so if a woman dances it she must be
marked out in some way (and vice versa)".
Jeremy

On 28 September 2016 at 18:54, Neal Schlein via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> My experience is basically the same as Donna's, although I'd say the
> gent/lady statement is less of a "convention" than a matter of simple
> practicality.  It usually gets said early in a dance or when actually
> necessary.
>
> In a square there is also no real need for ties/bands/vests/sashes for a
> simple reason: the set is fully aware of itself.  Everyone can see all of
> the couples upon squaring up; we help each other remember who does what
> anyway.  In a really scrambled set everyone figures it's a minor miracle if
> something doesn't break down regardless, and that's doubly true in clubs
> where people actively swap roles during the dance.  If it happens, you just
> regroup and try again.
>
> The frequent "Aack!  I'm a ____!" when allemande left or star thru are
> called is pretty funny, especially since it often comes from very
> experienced dancers...who then proceed to go the wrong way with supreme
> confidence.  (Callers are even more susceptible, since our line is, "Aack!
> I'm a DANCER!!!")
>
> Neal
>
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