Maia et al,

I struggle with this as well. Typically I've been sharing a wee bit of history i.e. some dances have been around since George Washington's time and were written for Gents & Ladies. So I line up long ways and indicate that historically one line was gents and the other ladies. Talk a wee bit about proper dance. (Keep in mind WEE BIT, not a history lesson, a sentence.)  Then I introduce the modern concept of gender free and indicate the Lark line & the Robin line and that it is not a gender but a position. Then I flow into alemande,  do-si-do,  hands 4, position in the hands four (ones & twos), swing and where to end...now 

Introduce improper and where Larks & Robins are now. If at this time people who prefer gendered position, will naturally move to that place. Then I add stars, right & left through, chain. Done.

This sometimes feels awkward and I struggle through it. Mostly it works, sometime really well, sometimes not so much, sometimes I just ignore all of it and just teach a simple dance and do teaching as walk through. 

Going to a callers' gathering next (this coming weekend) Saturday and hopefully we can talk about this there.

Love all the sharing.

Mary Collins

WNY

On Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:48 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hey there, hive mind,

When you're calling larks and robins, during the lesson, how do you

a. explain the roles to the new folks, and

b. put the beginners into roles for the duration of the lesson?

I've seen "try swinging in both roles and see which feels better", I've seen "unless you have a preference, whoever is standing on the right of your partnership is the robin for now", I've seen "pick whichever bird you like better", I've seen "the robin's role is a little easier so do that if you feel less confident"...

I'm curious what folks here do and in what kind of distribution, and how you find it works for you in practice.

(Please please please let's not relitigate gender-free contra or the bird terms in this thread. If you really must, please make a separate thread.)

Swingingly,

Maia

--

Maia McCormick (she/her)

917.279.8194

_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net