On 7/5/2016 11:32 AM, Susan Pleck via Callers wrote:
Hi folks,

I'm to lead a workshop/extended intro lesson at a local dance this Saturday on gender-free dancing/dancing the "other" role/switching roles.  Not having done this before, I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice about what this should include.  For the gender-free aspect, I'm not sure there's much to discuss, really; ir'd be more just giving dancers a chance to practice responding to different terms.  For dancing the other role, though, what points of emphasis do you think would be most useful?  Two that come to mind are swing positioning/giving weight, and figures such as a chain where the actions of the two roles are different.

I think swing practice from the "other" position, with coaching, is a good idea.

Also, like it or not, most flourishes are led by the gent/band/lark role, and that's pretty different when you switch.  So a few words on leading (including that you don't have to have flourishes at all,  better never than late bt when "late" is, that leads are invitations and can be declined without prejudice, that twirls are generally accomplished by the follow rather than by the lead) and on following (being aware that people are gonna try to lead you in stuff,  how to decline leads you don't want to follow) might be helpful.

-- Alan