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@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@gmail.com>
Sent: 03 March 2020 21:17
To: John Sweeney <john@modernjive.com>
Cc: Shared Weight - Contra Callers <contracallers@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

 

 

On Tue, Mar 3, 2020 at 4:10 PM John Sweeney via Contra Callers <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@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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