On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers
<callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hi All,

I recently had the opportunity to call a contra to a group of rank

beginners

in a difficult situation: outdoors, on sloping concrete, without
amplification for either myself or the band, to people not expecting a
dance, with a band mostly unfamiliar with either contra or fiddle tunes,

who

had no opportunity to practice or choose tunes. It was a staff party

with a

barnyard theme. Granted, this particular good of people is accustomed to
being spontaneous and silly at times, most are in their 20's, and it's a
liberal, accepting group.

The organizers wanted to use the terms "cows" and "chickens" instead of

any

other usual terms for dancers. When they arrived at the party each person
chose a name tag with either a cow or a chicken on it. They didn't know

it,

but this determined which role they'd play in the dance. I arbitrarily

chose

to "put the chicken on the right, because the chicken is always right."

(I

keep chickens, and they ARE always right)

There was not time for much of a lesson, either. It'd have been much

easier

if everyone had joined the dance at the beginning. All said, just about
everyone had a really great time, myself included. The band was hyped up

to

try another dance evening later in the week, though that never

materialized.

I never mentioned gender in any way. That part just seemed to not matter.
They were dancing with their friends. It didn't matter that they weren't
experts or even very good.

I was heartened and encouraged to try something like this again, perhaps
with more widely used dancer terms.

-Amy