Re: [Callers] Borrowing call terminology from modern square dancing

Jean wrote: First of all, I want to assure all new callers, and other lurkers out there that I—and I’m sure most other list participants—would love to hear your thoughts, regardless of where, for whom, or how often you call. I believe this list is an open forum and there are no experience requirements. You need not be authorized by anyone to post here and I’m sure that Jean did not mean to indicate otherwise. This was probably just an unfortunate choice of words putting out an unfortunate implicit message. My own experience is that almost all callers are very supportive of new and aspiring callers and we would love to address your questions and to hear your ideas, no matter how “at odds” they are with *any* of the callers we know. All of us are students, and all of us have much to learn. Each of us can contribute to that learning, regardless of how often or where we call. This tradition needs your input, experiences, and creative ideas about how to evolve this art and to reach out in creative ways to other populations and venues with this amazing art form. I, for one, would be very interested in hearing any ideas that are “at odds” with conventional wisdom. So, I got three responses to my last post: A “Good Lord!” a “Good Grief,” and a “Me Too” supporting the above comment by Jean. This is not the first time I have been criticized on this list for expressing ideas that do not conform to the established frame of most callers. I suspect that I and the “dozens of callers” Jean knows have many ideas that we share. Those ideas get posted here frequently so I see no need to repeat them. Beyond Jean’s statement above, there were no comments whatsoever about the substance of my post—not on or off of this list. Only that it was “at odds” with the most common views of callers. Contemporary dance calling is a peculiar activity in which one authorized person, using a powerful public address system, stands in front of a hall full of people who are pleased to do virtually *everything* the caller tells them to do. I suppose it should be no surprise to anyone that this role of “dance caller” is a magnet for authoritarian personalities. This is not to disparage authoritarian personalities. These folks are very disciplined, precise, loyal, and they have a strong affinity to tradition and convention. They are the parents, teachers, police, firefighters, doctors, and warriors who serve and defend our communities. They are conventionalists by habit. They are the keepers of our traditions. All of us, I believe, share these qualities to at least some degree, and we need to be aware of that tendency. But authoritarian mental frames also have a dark side and we need to guard against being too dependent upon external authorities. As callers we are authorized to wield a tremendous power in the dance hall, and we need to temper our authoritarian habits by reminding ourselves that we are always servants of the dancers, the musicians, and the larger community. Our allegiance to any “tradition” (whether real or imagined) has to be subservient to a deep sense of service to the people we call for. If the tradition does not serve those people, it will become a tool for oppression. (The Third Reich was built upon a deep and profound respect for national traditions, both true and fabricated.) I come here for new ideas, stimulation, and honest feedback, and I assume that others are interested in ideas that are different from their own. I really appreciate those who actually read my posts and who respond with their perceptions, ideas, and critiques. I particularly appreciate those who critique my ideas with analysis or personal experiences. I believe that all callers need to cultivate a high regard for feedback. And I think callers need to seek out feedback—particularly negative feedback. This is how we learn the most. That requires being a bit circumspect with regard to our own performance as a caller, and with regard to how we view the tradition we are evolving. Don’t take it personally! We need to keep our minds separate from the tradition—and the discussion itself—to see any of it clearly. If we fall prey to authoritarian frames of thinking we will be forever mired in conventionalism. Our dance traditions are, after all, living traditions. Without change, the traditions—as well as those who “follow” the traditions—will never evolve. That requires new ideas that will always be “at odds” with the conventionalist orthodoxy. Authoritarian thinking is, after all, rooted in fear. We seek security through our conformity, or we seek acceptance through the power of controlling others. So I encourage all of us to take courage and speak out. There are more than 150 people on this list. I would hope to hear a wider range of views and ideas. Conformity may buy acceptance with some but it will not make you a better caller. Let’s not fall prey to the fear of being “at odds” with the “common wisdom” that pervades in our traditions. Our diversity is our strength and I would love to hear your ideas. I believe that would be helpful to all of us. Anyway, it seems like a good idea to me.