While I must admit that of all the gender neutral terms that I've seen passed around I prefer larks and ravens. First choice is still men and ladies but it is mostly up to the community. Now comes larks or robins for some reasonable concerns. What do we do if we are to use robins and call a dance with a 'mad' robin? Not that it might be confusing for the dancer in the robin roll but are we not now describing the person in the robin roll as an angry dancer? I'm sure someone will consider it some type of derogatory reflection.  It seems as though whatever terms one might use, someone will be offended. At sometime we must realize that the terms we use are not used to degrade or humiliate anyone and that reasonable people can come to reasonable solutions if they choose to.

Karl 

I wish people who document dances on the forum would not write things like “ladies’/robins’ chain”.  We all know what you mean if you say either “ladies’ chain” or “robins’ chain”.  You don’t need to say both.  Trying to parse a dance with extra words scattered throughout it can be very confusing.

 

As a member of the AAAA (Association for the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe) I always appreciate a “Ladies’ Chain”.

 

I also use Men and Ladies almost exclusively since I find those to be the clearest words to use over a PA.  If I do need to use other words occasionally for a specific community, then I am unlikely to use “Larks” as it is too much like “Ladies” but means the person in the traditional Man’s role!

 

            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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