[Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word

Bob Hofkin bhofkin at middleJ.com
Wed Mar 14 07:52:41 PDT 2018


Andrea,

The discussions make it clear that: (1) there is a need to use 
terminology other than "gypsy," at least in some venues, and (2) there 
is no generally-agreed substitute term.

A lot of callers see that as an impediment to clear and concise 
teaching/calling. I have certainly experienced confusion and annoyance 
as a dancer. I believe that the folk process will provide a solution, 
but I appreciate the efforts to accelerate what could otherwise take 
many years to resolve.

I appreciate the reports of what different callers are trying and their 
degree of success. At the same time, it makes a lot of sense to avoid 
rehashing the same arguments, as you suggest. Right now, we're in an 
empirical phase--trial and error--and rapid dissemination of results 
seems like the way to go. If that process suggests a few good 
candidates, it might be time to debate their merits.

Bob

On 3/14/2018 03:31, Andrea Nettleton via Callers wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>      Here we are once more, sharing our likes and dislikes, our preferred term (I’ve shared and still like whimsy, but look-see got my attention) of the moment.  But why are we circling this wagon again? Though everyone is polite, and thankfully we haven’t begun to rehash whether gypsy is a slur or not, I also see no fresh approach, no new insight, to clarify for one and all a single, simple, right answer.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sure there is one.  But I’m positive we won’t get there by having more of the same back and forth we’ve already had.  While I  R eyelemande my neighbor, you’re going to R shoulder round yours, and as far as I can tell, that’s where we are and will be.  Could we please maybe back away from the specifics a bit, and see if we can generate a new way of framing the debate?  And if we can’t, just let the experiment continue without rehashing the already well trodden ground?
> Thanks,
> Andrea
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 13, 2018, at 11:53 PM, Cara Sawyer via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Jo Mortland of the Chicago Barn Dance group here came up with Dipsy. Nice and silly and sounds similar enough it requires no explanation. Sort of like Kipsy!
>>
>> Guess what they say about great minds is true!
>>
>> Sent using two thumbs
>>
>>> On Mar 13, 2018, at 14:41, 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".
>>>
>>> Perry
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Martha Wild via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net>
>>> To: Caller's discussion list <callers at sharedweight.net>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 2:03 PM
>>> Subject: [Callers] More substitute terms for the g-word
>>>
>>> Interesting discussion on the Portland Country Dance Community Facebook page. Lots of great suggestions. A lot of people really don’t like “right shoulder round” (I’m one of them). I tried one of their suggestions last night - Kipsey - and it worked amazingly well. Easy to say, particularly when you are cutting down the calling to one word (what do you do with right shoulder round? shoulder? Ick.) And everyone can hear the similarity and knows what to do. I had tried spiral for a while and people just seemed confused. The other suggestion that I noticed today was from Susan Michaels - “look-see” That has the virtue of a similar rhyming two syllable call, and it’s upbeat and fun and has emphasis on facing the other person. Check out the discussion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/62950211264/permalink/10155943260651265/
>>>
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