Contra Callers

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Homophobia in contradancing? (Was: flirty contra dances?)

by Maia McCormick

I just don't accept that men not wanting to dance with other men necessarily has anything to do with homosexuality. Not to derail the flirty contradances discussion any further, but I wanted to put in my two cents. And to be fair, I *can* only speak about the US here, but I suspect much of this will apply to the UK as well. At the very least, I want to explain how men not wanting to dance with other men almost certainly has something to do with homosexuality and fear thereof--and you can decide yourself whether or not that explanation applies in the UK. If dancing with another man is not a particular male dancer's first choice, because they prefer to dance with women, or it's too complicated to work out the lead/follow dynamics, or what have you, that I can accept. But men being so averse to dancing with other men that it makes them decidedly uncomfortable to participate in a same-sex swing? Seems homophobic. (And of course, there may be other reasons behind this... but homophobia seems the simplest explanation for the majority of cases.) I'll explain. "Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender." I would argue that the reason for this discomfort with same-sex swinging stems from the men not wanting to be perceived as gay. NOT THAT THIS IS (necessarily) A CONSCIOUS SENTIMENT! I think it mostly stems from societal attitudes that are, at this point, incredibly deeply embedded. But, think about how much more social license female friends have to touch each other than male friends do. How men are expected to be constantly reinforcing and proving their masculinity by talking about sex, cars, etc. Think about the implications of the phrase "no homo"--that being suspected to be gay would be *the worst thing, oh my god* and one must avoid it and make disclaimers about their actions. Here's a superbowl ad from a few years back<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oooij6sQYgI>: look at how a) men kissing is hilarious and b) when they've done something gay, these guys freak out and need to reassert their manliness. Again, I'm not saying this is how any of the contra-men in question would react to, say, an accidental gay kiss... but these are the social norms that we're working within. So to me, two men being uncomfortable with close physical contact *absolutely* says, "no, we don't want to get too close or we'll seem/be gay," that is, a fear of homosexuality (or perception as such, or implication of such), that is, homophobia. But, I'm really curious what other explanations you can offer for this discomfort. It's just that, to me (being a gender studies major and all), this seems like the most obvious one. But I really am eager to hear alternate explanations. Forgive the gender-studies rant, I just get nerdily excited about this stuff! I hope that was somewhat coherent, but if I lost you anywhere, I can certainly clarify (or someone else can jump in and say it again more lucidly). Cheers, Maia 2013/4/10 Colin Hume <colin(a)colinhume.com> > On Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:30:58 -0400, Dave Casserly wrote: > > I'm not really sure what you're trying to say with your analogy > > here. Do you mean that people in England are actually more > > homophobic, and that people in America should accept that because, > > well, we wouldn't want English people coming here and telling us > > what's right and what's wrong either, when they don't know our > > culture and haven't danced here? If so, then you're right, that's > > a premise I disagree with. > > Dave - > > According to Wikipedia (and other online sources), > > "Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings > toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as > being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender." > > I just don't accept that men not wanting to dance with other men > necessarily has anything to do with homosexuality. But I can see that > we have radically different attitudes, and I don't want to get into a > long argument about it! Since you probably won't be calling contras > in England it's not that relevant. > > Colin Hume > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers >

12 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Fruit Punch choreography

by Dugan Murphy

The dance is called "Fruit Punch" by Diane Silver. To be clear, the choreography (Becket formation) is A1 With couple on L diagonal, Yearn to new Neighbors and fall straight back (8); Ladies Allemande Right 1.5 (8) A2 Neighbor Balance & Swing (16) B1 Take hands in a ring and balance the ring (4); Pass through to a short wavy line across (neighbor right hand, ladies left hand) (4); Balance the wave (4); Neighbor allemande Right .5 (2); Men pull by the left (2) B2 Partner Balance and Swing Dugan Murphy Skowhegan, Maine www.duganmurphy.com On Sun, Apr 7, 2013 at 12:00 PM, <callers-request(a)sharedweight.net> wrote: > Send Callers mailing list submissions to > callers(a)sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > callers-request(a)sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > callers-owner(a)sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Fruit Punch choreography (Rich Goss) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 09:23:23 -0700 > From: Rich Goss <richgoss(a)comcast.net> > To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Callers] Fruit Punch choreography > Message-ID: <5205567C-41B3-4E6A-9221-AE7348B4A664(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > I came across this old thread. I'm unclear on the exact name (is it Punch > or Bunch?) and the author (is it Diane Silver?) > > Cool dance! > > Thanks, Rich > > > On Aug 23, 2012, at 4:54 AM, Bree Kalb <bree(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > > > Joy, I got Fruit Bunch from Diane a couple of years ago. Yes, it is a > Becket. The A part is correct. Here's the B: > > > > B1 Take hands in a ring > > Balance the ring; pass thru to a wave*, > > Balance the wave > > Neighbor allmd Rt 1/2; Men pull by the Left to Partner > > B2 Partner Bal and Swg > > > > *still with same Neighbors, women in the center; neighbor on your right > > > > > > -----Original Message----- From: Joy Greenwolfe > > Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 1:00 AM > > To: Caller's discussion list > > Subject: [Callers] Fruit Punch choreography > > > > Fruit Punch by Diane or? > > I have Improper written down, but it looks like a Becket. > > > > A1 With couple on L diagonal, Yearn to new Neighbors and fall straight > > back (8) > > Ladies Allem R 1+1/2 (8) > > > > A2 N Balance & Swing (16) > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 104, Issue 7 > *************************************** >

12 years, 1 month

Fruit Punch choreography

by Joy Greenwolfe

Speaking of dances with missing details, I have a great dance called Fruit Punch. Diane Silver called it at Bogue Banks Boogie a few years ago. Not sure who wrote it (maybe Diane?). I evidently wrote it down wrong since it doesn't progress but instead keeps sending the dancers back and forth. Someone said it felt like it was missing a circle somewhere. Does it start with a circle left half way into a slide left? Does anyone have the correct choreography? I haven't heard back from Diane yet about this question. What I have is this: Fruit Punch by Diane or? I have Improper written down, but it looks like a Becket. A1 With couple on L diagonal, Yearn to new Neighbors and fall straight back (8) Ladies Allem R 1+1/2 (8) A2 N Balance & Swing (16) B1 Take hands in a ring. Balance the ring (4) Pass through to an ocean wave (4) Balance the wave (4) N Allemande R x1 (4) B2 Ladies Allemande L 1+1/2 to partner (8) Partner swing (8) Thanks for any clarification anyone might have. Joy Greenwolfe Durham, NC

12 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] new dance

by lcpgr＠yahoo.com

Great! I'll be calling tonight if the crowd is right <br/>Lp<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

12 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] new dance

by Tom Hinds

Laurie, I think it's a keeper and is called Kate's Departure. Kate Brady, was a dance organizer in C'ville until she moved to Colorado. Tom

12 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Suggestions for particularly flirty contra dances?

by Jerome Grisanti

Alan, Since the move called Mad Robin has been mentioned so often, I hope you consider calling the eponymous English dance (billed as such, of course, don't want to cause riots). Easy enough for dedicated contra dancers but different enough (proper, and with 2-hand turns instead of swings) to offer variety. And if people want to substitute swings, they may. And how they end that swing can offer some other interesting variations. Frankly, I find that an occasional two-hand turn in a contra offers plenty of potential for flirtation (with room for it to remain merely friendly). --Jerome -- Jerome Grisanti 660-528-0858 http://www.jeromegrisanti.com For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats

12 years, 1 month

is this dance new?

by Tom Hinds

I just wrote a dance and wanted to know if it's unique. I'm pretty sure the A1 is borrowed from another dance. D-imp A1 Circle left. Mad Robin (face partner and do-si-do neighbor). A2 Hey, women pass left shoulders B1 Women pass left shoulders and swing partner B2 Ladies chain, forward and back. Tom

12 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 104, Issue 3

by Jim Hemphill

5. Re: Suggestions for particularly flirty contra dances? (Maia McCormick) Another flirty dance originally written for Valentines day. It's not a simple dance but the Poussette - "Cupids Hey" sequence is very flirty *Cupid's Hey* improper by Jim Hemphill A1 Long lines forward (4) then poussette* (6), Start Cupids hey (6), A2 Partner Gypsy and Swing B1 Promenade Ladies Chain B2 Ladies allemande right once around Neighbor swing *Teaching notes: A1 The Poussette is not quite a half way around, starting from the center, gents start backing, ladies forward, clockwise around the other couple. As couples come back towards center in poussette, drop hands as ladies backing across pass each other. Cupid's hay; While maintaining the face to face orientation of the poussette, looking cross set at your partner, couples slide to the side, ladies left/gents right so ladies pass each other face to face, gents will see the back of their neighbor as they slide by in front. Couples then step, ladies back gents forward, and slide to the side the other way, ladies right/gents left so gents pass face to face, then continue across into a gypsy. ------------------------------

12 years, 1 month

A Unique calling style

by Michael Fuerst

I just returned from Pigtown Fling dance weekend outside of Cincinnati, with featured caller Susan Petrick, who has a unique, effective style for teaching dances. During walk-throughs she never stops talking. The time callers often pause and wait for the dancers is instead filled usually with her telling about either the position the dancers will be after the figure, or advice about a flourish or end effects. Thus very few dances, even the more intricate ones, required a second walk-through. Susan noted her pleasant surprise rarely needing a second walk-through, noting the collective skill of the dancers, but her technique contributed. Even if during the walk-through dancers are chatting and miss the figure, they know where they should end up and correctly position themselves. I speculate that if Susan had realized what the collective skill level of the dancers would be, she might have chosen a slightly more challenging set of dances for the two general sessions (Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon) she called. This contrasts with Colin Hume's equally distinctive and effective style of making very witty remarks while teaching a dance to hold the dancers' attention. Callers can usefully copy Susan's technique. I doubt many callers can mimic Colin. Michael Fuerst 802 N Broadway Urbana IL 61801 217-239-5844

12 years, 1 month

Bree's question

by Tom Hinds

> > Hey Tom,I don?t have your personal email, so hope you check this > list often. You posted this dance in January. I?m considering > calling it soon and would love to know if it has a name. Bree, It's called Kate's Departure. Kate Brady, one of our wonderful dance organizers is leaving C'ville to start a new life in Colorado. I and other callers have tested it out and I believe it's a keeper. T > Thanks,Bree KalbCarrboro, NCTom Wrote:I just wrote a dance and > wanted to know if it's unique. I'm pretty > sure the A1 is borrowed from another dance. > > > D-imp > A1 Circle left. Mad Robin (face partner and do-si-do neighbor). > > A2 Hey, women pass left shoulders > > B1 Women pass left shoulders and swing partner > > B2 Ladies chain, forward and back. > > > Tom > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)sharedweight.net > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > > End of Callers Digest, Vol 103, Issue 17 > ****************************************

12 years, 1 month

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