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Very nicely done!<br>
<br>
-- Alan<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/2/2015 3:31 PM, Amy Wimmer via
Callers wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div>Hi All,<br>
<br>
</div>
I finally composed a response to the original complainant. Here
it is, followed by an almost instant reply from him (yes, it is
a male):<br>
<br>
<div>Hello Mr.__________,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thank you for letting us know about your experience at our
dance. I am glad our community was so welcoming and friendly
to you. I hope you remember that in the future.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">As for the term "gypsy," it has been used in
contra dancing for decades, and is not my invention. I am
sorry you were offended by my use and description of it. It is
my habit to let dancers know the name and author of each dance
I call, and "gypsy" is in the title of that dance. I regret my
description of the move as "flirty." I thank you for reminding
me that some people are uncomfortable with that, and I will no
longer suggest it. As for the name of the move itself, you are
correct in that it has never been meant as a pejorative. I
cannot, however, change it on my own. Contra is a folk dance
and the folk process takes time. There is no governing body in
charge of naming the terms used in contra dancing. When
someone invents a new move they give it a name and it
gradually works its way into the vernacular.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I can assure you that callers nationwide are
discussing this and other terms we use which we are learning
are offensive to others. We are endeavoring to change what we
can, but you might imagine that coming to a consensus between
many hundreds of callers is neither swift nor sure. This is
especially true, given the lack of a governing body.</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">For my part, I have decided to remove the term
"gypsy" from my calling and am searching for a substitute. It
is not in my power to rename dances. At Emerald City Contra
Dance we book approximately 25 different callers every year,
from across the United States and beyond. I am just one.
Please understand that if you return to our dance you may hear
that term used again, until such time as awareness has spread
as far and wide as the callers themselves.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
<span></span></div>
<div><span>Sincerely,</span></div>
<div><br>
<span></span></div>
<div><span>Amy Wimmer</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span>Caller and ECCD Organizer<br>
<br>
</span></div>
<div><span>His response:<br>
<br>
</span>
<div>Thank you for your very thoughtful and informative
response. I feel much better about continuing to attend,
hearing that there is an awareness of this issue and
conversations happening about it. </div>
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