Noted contra dance caller Chris Ricciotti has just published a 45-page "Gender-free Dancing Caller's Manual and History." You can now access the fruit of Chris's hard work, a manual for callers calling gender-free dances, and a fascinating and well-researched history of gender-free and same-sex dancing, at the LCFD.ORG web site, under News and Articles. Look for the article "Gender-free dancing caller's manual and history", in PDF format (2.2 MB). <http://www.lcfd.org/> This publication, and my Friday evening "Role-free Contras" session at NEFFA, may be of particular interest to callers. Whether or not you have any social interest in role-free dancing, it is useful for callers to have some experience with the concept. If you are a man who has never danced the traditional ladies' role, you have no experience of what it feels like to be placed on the right following a swing, or how to start a ladies chain. Similar experiences are lacking for female callers who have never danced the traditional gents' role. As a caller, you select dances that may emphasize one role or another, and you guide the dancing of both gender roles. Your calling skills will naturally improve as you gain greater insight into movement and choreography as it affects both roles. ... Bob ---------------------------------------------------- Robert Jon Golder 164 Maxfield Street robertgolder(a)comcast.net New Bedford, MA 02740 (508) 999-2486 voice