Claire: Thank you for sharing the reaction to grief that you experienced on the dance floor. Many callers and dancers gave tributes to my late wife, the caller Linda Leslie, in the weeks and months following her sudden death. Sometimes I was able to fully participate, but at other times I had to limit my participation (as you did in regard to Kim Yerton), or be absent. Grief for the individual can wax or wane over time, and recovery of one’s equilibrium is not a steady-state development. However, as we remain a part of the dance community, I think that the dance community as a whole is better able to help buffer our individual responses to grief over time. So I think that a brief statement on mic about someone’s passing, followed immediately by a dance that celebrates the person’s life, is appropriate. All we can do is speak as sensitively as possible, recognizing that the announcement will be more challenging for some dancers than for others. We should direct attention away from ourselves at the mic and toward the deceased’s life and the community’s simultaneous experience of loss and celebration, and promptly start the celebratory dance. As I said at Linda’s memorial dance, everything ends and it’s always sad - but everything begins again, begins anew, and that gives us the opportunity for joy. What I meant was that although the individual life ended, the life of the dance community continues. Best wishes … Bob > On May 8, 2024, at 1:19 PM, Claire Takemori via Contra Callers &lt;contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: > > Hello dear callers. > > I have a question about when a caller brings up a recent passing during a public dance. > > When Kim Yerton passed, I heard about it the day before and grieved. The next day the caller dedicated a dance to her and I almost had to leave the dance. Left the line to get away from listening to the words about Kim. I realize this is my own reaction and sensitivity. > > Wondering what y’all say on mic about a recent passing and dedication, as it could be a surprise to some dancers? > > At a recent ECD weekend, the caller dedicated a dance to Christine Robb and said to dance it with appreciation and joy as that is what she would’ve wanted instead of grief and sorrow. > > Thanks for sharing your thoughts. > > Claire Takemori (Asheville NC) > >> On May 8, 2024, at 1:00 AM, contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net wrote: >> >> Send Contra Callers mailing list submissions to >> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject or >> body 'help' to >> contracallers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> contracallers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >> than "Re: Contents of Contra Callers digest..." >> >> Today's Topics: >> >> 1. Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Greenleaf) >> 2. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Mary Collins) >> 3. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Angela DeCarlis) >> 4. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Lisa Greenleaf) >> 5. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Andrew Stout) >> 6. Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 (Luke Donforth) >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Tue, 7 May 2024 13:26:02 -0400 >> From: Greenleaf &lt;laleaf(a)gmail.com&gt; >> Subject: [Callers] Tony Parkes 1949-2024 >> To: Trad Callers &lt;tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt;et>, >> callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Message-ID: &lt;C8230451-0C50-4187-9911-786FD26405F0(a)gmail.com&gt; >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >> >> Caller Tony Parkes passed away yesterday with his wife, Beth, at his side. He will be missed. >> >> At the lovely Tony Parkes tribute at this year’s Neffa Festival, Beth spoke of how Tony was touched and surprised that so many people were telling him about his impact on their lives. Well, yes, Tony! He was a true treasure. >> >> Lisa Greenleaf >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 2 >> Date: Tue, 7 May 2024 14:00:35 -0400 >> From: Mary Collins &lt;nativedae(a)gmail.com&gt; >> Subject: [Callers] Re: Tony Parkes 1949-2024 >> To: Greenleaf &lt;laleaf(a)gmail.com&gt; >> Cc: Trad Callers &lt;tradcallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt;et>, >> callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Message-ID: >> &lt;CAB0qS-zEJJOfuc8-D=A4ucoBCkMH1RVHu5uBaUWoCqRoRH=KPQ(a)mail.gmail.com&gt; >> Content-Type: multipart/alternative; >> boundary="000000000000f5d6830617e0f7e5" >> >> Lisa, >> >> Thanks for sharing this. I am calling Friday and will certainly add a Tony >> aspect to the evening. His insights, support & dance writing will be >> sorely missed. >> >> Mary Collins >> >> "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who >> couldn't hear the music." - Nietzsche >> >> “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning >> to dance in the rain!” ~ unknown >> >> >> On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 1:27 PM Greenleaf via Contra Callers < >> contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: >> >>> Caller Tony Parkes passed away yesterday with his wife, Beth, at his side. >>> He will be missed. >>> >>> At the lovely Tony Parkes tribute at this year’s Neffa Festival, Beth >>> spoke of how Tony was touched and surprised that so many people were >>> telling him about his impact on their lives. Well, yes, Tony! He was a true >>> treasure. >>> >>> Lisa Greenleaf >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> >>