[Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word

[Donna Hunt]

I've been using "walk'round" and it appears acceptable to the dancers.  "Walk around" is already in the MWS jargon so I'm not creating new jargon.  

If I haven't been told not to use "gypsy" by the organizers then when I teach I say "gypsy walk'round"  and which shoulder to use and how to do it.  During the dance, I simply say "walk'round".and then never say "gypsy" again.  That seems to anchor the experienced dancers to know what I mean and I teach to the new dancers so they understand what's expected of them.  

There are so many folks on either side of this argument that unfortunately the callers are stuck in the middle.  Guilty if you do and if you don't.  Some dance organizers won't take a stand, others say you must use it, others say you may not use it.  There are still dancers who don't know what all the fuss is about.  We all have heard of people from that ethnic group who are honored to have the term used (and loved) in our dance, just as we've heard that people are offended.  

Believe it or not, I recently received an anonymous written comment that some dancers were upset that another caller used "Men" and "Women" rather than "Gents" and "Ladies".  Seems like folks are getting more and more intolerant if things are not just the way they want them to be.  


Donna Hunt




 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Wild via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net>
To: John W Gintell <john at gintell.org>
Cc: Caller's discussion list <callers at sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tue, Mar 13, 2018 4:36 pm
Subject: Re: [Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word


I don’t think right shoulder round is going to make the grade. It’s descriptive, certainly, but it is long and unwieldy and can’t be easily shortened to anything recognizable as you eliminate calls in the dance. So, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be using it.
Martha



On Mar 13, 2018, at 12:53 PM, John W Gintell via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:


I think it would be best if only one term is used by callers at all dances. I think this quite important for beginners  (not necessarily just the first time) who face enough confusion learning the terminology. One of the reasons why beginners don’t return is that it is too confusing.


And I too like hearing right shoulder round because it is descriptive. 



On Mar 13, 2018, at 3:41 PM, Perry Shafran via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:



I happen to *like* right shoulder round and have liked it ever since three callers at a dance event used it and it went rather flawlessly.  I like the fact that it is actually descriptive in what you're doing.  I think that the more we try to invent made-up words to try to make it sound fun and whimsey, the more we are likely to upset dancers who don't like that we're changing terms as it is.  It may *sound* like a boring descriptor, but I feel my job as a caller is to describe the move and let the dancer decide what the mood is going to be for that individual dancer, based on their own feelings and their own connection to the music.  So I plan to stick with "right shoulder round".






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