12 May
2013
12 May
'13
11:08 a.m.
Maia wrote:
That's a really good point. I mean, one way would
be to focus my study only
on people who self-identify as being "in" the contra community... but, how
would you suggest I go about finding people on the fringes? I feel like my
sample size will be kind of biased by who I'm friendly with, which is
pretty much the quote unquote 'young hip flashy' dancers (who tend to be
super comfortable switching roles, largely queer, considerably poly and
sexually liberal, etc.).
Last night I attended the "Queer Youth Leadership Awards" dinner in our
county. State representatives, city council members, county supervisors,
and many other leaders in the community came out to celebrate queer youth
who have excelled in leadership in their high schools, etc.
Obviously there is some significant progress being made in our society
toward tolerance of differing personal relationships and preferences. I am
delighted with how well the contra dance movement has worked to adapt to
these changes. This is certainly an area where some study would be useful
for callers and organizers of contra dances.
Maia also wrote:
I also want to find the people who consider
themselves "contra community" but feel uncomfortable dancing switch, or
might look at a male-male and female-female couple and say "hey, why don't
you split up and pair off m/f?"
I wouldn't say that the idea of a "contra community" is a myth, but I would
question the usefulness of this concept in any objective study. I fear
that the idea of a "self-identified" community of contra dancers is almost
always a projection of the one making that determination. That's why, in
my study, I worked to obtain the most random sample I could of all those in
the hall at our dances.
I suspect that almost all of those in leadership positions in the contra
dance movement are enthusiasts of multiple dance forms, (defined as dancing
each form at least six times a year. Please let me know if this is not the
case for you, personally.) About HALF of those in the hall at our open,
public contra dances, however, will rarely, if ever, attend any other type
of social dance. Contras are their primary, or sole social dance activity.
I suspect that most of those who are most comfortable with switching roles
are also multiple dance form enthusiasts. The function of social dance as
a "mating ritual" may be much less significant for hard-core multiple dance
form enthusiasts.
Interesting.
- Greg McKenzie
West Coast