4 Mar
2020
4 Mar
'20
1:46 p.m.
I have always referred to the two sides of the set in terms of the
starting position ("home side") for each partner, in a given dance.
In a traditional "proper" dance, all ladies have the same home side, as
do all the gents; thus there is a ladies' line and gents' line.
In a modern "improper" dance, with 1s crossed over, each partner has a
home side. There is no ladies' or gents' line, but when you swing with
your partner, it's either on the gents' home side or the ladies' home
side, from your perspective as a couple. The same is true for
"indecent" formation; each partner has their own home side.
In Becket formation, both partners have the same home side. I often
emphasize to dancers to really notice that "this is OUR home side." It
remains your home side all the way up or down the set, but then switches
to the other side when you reach the end of the line, wait out, and then
begin progressing the other direction up or down the line.
- Diane
On 3/3/2020 6:34 PM, John Sweeney via Contra Callers wrote:
Hmmm… One side is the Men’s side (as defined by the need to be able to
draw your sword easily when facing the presence, even if your partner
has a wide dress). The other is the Ladies’ Side. If you are on your
own side you are Proper, if not you are Improper. (Substitute your
favourite words as necessary.)
I have never heard of any logical way that it can be used to refer to
a couple’s orientation without being confusing or ambiguous.
:-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
*From:*Chet Gray <chetgray+calling(a)gmail.com>
*Sent:* 03 March 2020 21:17
*To:* John Sweeney <john(a)modernjive.com>
*Cc:* Shared Weight - Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
*Subject:* Re: [Callers] Re: First composition! Has it been written?
I'm fine with that. There's clearly overlap between using "proper" and
"improper" to refer to the orientation of a couple and to refer to the
orientation of a (duple) minor set, and I suspect some regionalism as
to which is intended by the speaker.
— Chet Gray
dance caller
Louisville, KY
<chetgray+calling(a)gmail.com <mailto:chetgray+calling@gmail.com>>
(502) 419-7008 <tel:+1-502-419-7008>
On Tue, Mar 3, 2020 at 4:10 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers
<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
What’s wrong with “Second Couples Improper” if you don’t want to
say “Indecent”?
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com
<mailto:john@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
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