Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms

To speak a bit more to the question of whether terms (gender-neutral or not) should make reference to "leader" and "follower," and whether this is a dynamic that a) does and b) should exist in contradance-- The lead/follow dynamic exists different amounts for various people, and can change depending on night, partner, set, etc. It is rather fluid--most good follows lead sometimes as well, for instance, to guide their lead into an allemande or something. This is also, as far as I know, the case with other dance forms as well. I don't have an awful lot of experience, but I know that in waltz, for instance, if the gent is about to run into someone, the lady gives a little extra pressure to redirect him and avert the crash. So yes, to a large extent, contra is certainly an equal-opportunity dance. But so are most partner dances. The amount of equality, the fact that sometimes the follow performs a lead-like function, the fact that one may back-lead (and easily!) does not diminish the existence of a lead/follow dynamic in certain parts of the dance, if executed by two capable dancers.