Hi, Maia, all,

I have seen a few choices at our weekly dance, and Louise when she called for us did a great job.  I think some of the things that have been said in this thread kind of work well, and I have continued to adjust the way I teach based on some of the things I have seen and have read.  Having people try both roles is great.  

I am not sure I'd go into the history of genders because that will get the nugget of info in dancers' heads that the roles have a loose base in gender.  I think we might consider never even talking gender at all.

One issue that has befuddled me is actually how to deal with the experienced dancers who join the lesson as the ringers.  We love our experienced dancers coming early to help out!  Except, I'd like to not have experienced dancers put their own agenda into the lesson by forcing gender roles if they are not fans of gender free dancing.  I've seen that done and then the lesson becomes gendered even as I insist on teaching in a gender free way.  I think finding ways for people to try both roles at times of the lesson certainly is ideal to continue to reinforce gender free dancing, but I don't think that experienced dancers should be going against the instructor and forcing gendered dancing.

Perry