Re: [Callers] Role term survey responses

I’ve yet to personally encounter a request for terminology usage with which I can’t comfortably work. If an organizer(s) wants me to use “jets” and “rubies”, I’ll do it. Absent such a request, I usually state that my own use of the terms “gent” and “lady” has to do with choreography, not biology, and anyone can dance either role. I often say, “In your partnership, whoever wants to dance the lady’s (gent’s) role stand on the right (left)”, and, in walk-throughs, “whoever’s being the lady (gent) ______ (chain; allemande left; pass right shoulders; dos-a-dos; etc., etc.)”. Experienced dancers often contradict this advisory when they insist that a couple who haven’t crossed while waiting out at the end do so. In most instances, I believe the intent to be helpful, rather than homophobic. At family dances, when setting up a basic longways dance, I’ve long referred to one line as the “wolves” and the other as the "bears”. The animated howling and growling which usually ensue feel compatible with a light-hearted party atmosphere free of restrictive expectations and prejudices. I often wind up using the terms throughout the event. I like “global terminology” a lot and use it whenever practicable during a “regular” contra dance evening. However, I do find locally accepted and familiar role identifiers to be greatly helpful to the teaching/learning process in some circumstances. I think a lot about the belief that replacing the “gent” and “lady” everywhere would result in more people contra dancing. I suppose we’ll never know unless we try. I’m not sure why I’m not yet sure I want to. David Kaynor