10 Mar
2024
10 Mar
'24
1:36 p.m.
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(a)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
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