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by Tom Hinds via Callers

When this discussion started I decided to actually use honky instead of gypsy the next time I called. I would of course explain to the dancers this extremely important and delicate issue that is now confronting the contra dance community. Why not get a chuckle from the floor? I appreciate the suggestion of red neck but I think honky flows better. See the end of this email for calling examples. Several people have thanked me off list for what I said because they don't want to be seen as insensitive. Basically we think there's way too much mental effort and concern based on 1 person's complaint. That I'm actually taking time at all on this topic is a bad reflection on my judgment. Ron, I really want to know: since you started dancing have you thought badly of the Romani people because of the use of the word gypsy? Is there any caller or dancer out there who has thought badly about Romani people because of this call? At the time that I wrote my last email, I also wrote the following but decided not to send it because I didn't want to be seen as insensitive. Here it is. Maybe you'll get a chuckle. As a caller I've often used self-defecating humor to get dancers to relax. It shows that we callers are human and can make mistakes etc. It also takes the focus off of them and on to me. With that said I was thinking that we, the white majority in the US, might consider pointing the finger at ourselves in a joking way. This might show minorities that we to can take a joke and perhaps communicate that, in some situations, it's important not to take things too seriously. Let's do away with the call gypsy and replace it with honky. Here are some examples: "Honky your partner" or "Honky 'round your neighbor" or "ladies honky once and a half" If a Romani person ever complains to you tell them this: naming a move after an ethnic group is one of the highest honors of our dance community. The only other people to be so honored are the Dosidoes. Tom

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Gypsy

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Janet, I agree entirely re "gypsy"! But, please, not "Homo Sapien"! "Homo Sapiens" is the singular. The "s" on the end does not indicate plural. You can't take it off to make it singular. The plural is "Homines Sapientes". It hurts when I hear someone say it without the "s". :-( Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by April Blum via Callers

Brief Encounters for 5 couples longways proper. A total hoot. On Nov 1, 2015 8:12 AM, Donna Hunt via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Thanks everyone for great ideas. > It was late when I posted my request and I should mention that this is an English/Contra crossover weekend (Princeton Country Dancers Head for the Hills). > > I'm definitely looking for dances that don't fit a genre and appeal to contra dancers (ie swings and not too much inactivity). Am open to "barn" dances if there's something unusual (but not too much sashaying). > > > > Donna > Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com > Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com > Cell: 215-565-6050 > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bree Kalb <bree(a)mindspring.com> > To: Donna Hunt <dhuntdancer(a)aol.com>; callers <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Sent: Sun, Nov 1, 2015 7:18 am > Subject: Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations > > Levi Jackson Rag is a favorite of mine but not all bands know the tune. > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Donna Hunt via Callers >> Sent: Nov 1, 2015 12:10 AM >> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Subject: [Callers] dances in unusual formations >> >> >> >> Hi >> I'm doing a workshop on dances "outside the box" (ie, no squares or contras). >> Anyone have any interesting dances for contra dancers that fit the criteria? >>

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Gypsy / "Redneck"

by Read Weaver via Callers

In the season premiere of the U.S. tv show "Black-ish,” in an episode that tackles who can use what racial slurs, “negro” comes up and causes offense to Black characters. The following exchange occurs, between the protagonist’s consistently racist boss and the protagonist: “Well, in that case, maybe I should put a stop payment on the half-million dollar check that I just wrote to the United Negro College Fund.” “Come on, Mr. Stevens, be honest—you only wrote that check so you can say ‘Negro.’” “Well, I definitely don’t do it so I _can’t_ say it.” Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On Nov 1, 2015, at 5:53 PM, Jeff Kaufman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > On Nov 1, 2015 3:30 PM, "John Meechan via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: > > > > I have never heard the term gipsy used as a pejorative for Romany gipsies, in fact their national body is called the Gipsy Council. > > > > That might just mean it's an old organization. In the US the NAACP is a big national organization which stands for "national association for the advancement of colored people" but "colored people" is definitely not OK to use anymore. >

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by James Saxe via Callers

Jacob Bloom mentioned this dance: > Borrowdale Exchange - Scatter mixer > Formation: three couples in circle > > Circle left, Circle right > Forward and Back, partner dosido > Hands-across right hand star. Starting with the two people whose hands are lowest, each pair pulls their partner to them for a swing > Promenade with your new partner to make new sets I've also seen something similar where dancers mix only within their group of three couples (eventually getting original partners back) and throughout the whole hall. You can see a version called by Phil Jamison (under the name "Pull the Lady Through") here: http://squaredancehistory.org/items/show/301 (also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5KTs-yTI8 ) And here's an archived message where I described (as best I remembered it) a version I danced to the calling of Dolores Heagy: http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/callers-sharedweight.net/2014-March… Jacob also mentioned: > Billingsdale Pattern - Chip Hendrickson > Two couples in line, women back to back > > Hey for four > Dosido partner, Swing > Right hand star, Left hand star > Ladies Allemande R once and a half, Allemande L Neighbor. Start with Ladies back to back first two times, Gents back to back second two times. On page 81 of _Zesty Contras_, Larry Jennings describes both "Billingsdale Pattern" and his own variant of it, titled "Chippendal Ornament".) --Jim

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers

I've found You Married My Daughter But Yet You Didn't to be a good alternative tune for Levi Jackson Rag. Jacob On Sun, Nov 1, 2015 at 7:17 AM, Bree Kalb via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Levi Jackson Rag is a favorite of mine but not all bands know the tune. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Donna Hunt via Callers > Sent: Nov 1, 2015 12:10 AM > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] dances in unusual formations > > > > Hi > I'm doing a workshop on dances "outside the box" (ie, no squares or > contras). > Anyone have any interesting dances for contra dancers that fit the > criteria? > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Gypsy / "Redneck"

by Ron Blechner via Callers

"who on this list believe that contra dancers have a negative view of the Romani people because of the word gypsy?" Over the last few days, as this conversation has spilled out onto a few forms of social media, I have now heard specific stories about people who are Roma and/or have Roma heritage who are folk dancers in dance forms that use "gypsy" as a term, and are offended directly. As to your question, do you consider "negative" to include "reinforcing stereotypes"? Maybe? What if we had a dance move called "redneck". Sure, there's plenty of find country folks in America who proudly self-describe as a "redneck". There are songs written about them. There are people who dress up for Halloween as them. etc. Does that mean that there aren't also plenty of people who have been called "redneck" as a slur against the stereotype of "dumb, rural, ignorant yokels"? I find the parallels compelling enough where I'm now seriously leaning off the fence... -Ron Blechner On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 10:37 AM, Tom Hinds via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > In my opinion the offended women actually helped spread a stereotype she > didn't like. Who on this list knew that Romani women had a reputation for > being (I can't remember, was it) sexual? Not me. Okay, it was the caller > she complained to who put it out there, but she started it. Should the > caller feel defensive or should the caller turn the issue around if it's > appropriate? > > I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO KNOW, who on this list believe that > contra dancers have a negative view of the Romani people because of the > word gypsy? Anyone? > > For me the more important issue is education. I learned another tidbit > about the Romani people. Yes I understand how people can be sensitive, but > perhaps this woman needs to learn something about us before jumping to > conclusions. > > Tom > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >

9 years, 1 month

[Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Playford1651 via Callers

You could try the contra modified version of Wendy Crouch's Winter Solstice (square with an extra couple). Renamed Swinging Solstice for the other side of the Pond. Features a grand square for 5 couples! Progression is clockwise. Although they do not feature swings she has Silver Thread ( 3 couples in a line), which can be prove a challenge even for experienced ECD dancer; and Sussex Martlets (3 couples in a delta formation). Graham Knight

9 years, 1 month

[Callers] Fwd: Itty-bitty dances, triplets, odd numbers

by Paul Wilde via Callers

Donna, Here are the figures for the three suggestions I sent. David's Triplet # 5 (David Smuckler). It has a lovely hey for 6 w/ a P Gyre & Swing to finish. A-1 1s cast to bottom, ret up inside and cast around w/ same gender 2s All face P, dsd 1 1/4 to wavy line of 6, P in RH A-2 Bal wave, P Al R 1/2 reform (luv it) wave, Bal pull by P by RH into (Hands may help at first) B-1 Hey for 6, when next you see your P B-2 P Gyre & Gimble, end facing up to be proper, new top cpl. Levi Jackson for 5 cpls. 1 top cpl and 2 pairs of sides, horseshoe shaped. A-1 Sides R & L across set, ones walk to center slot btw 2 prs of sides (traffic island) Sides R & L back, ones finish walking to bottom of set and cast out back to top A-2 While top cpl is walking back to place, sides circle left (hands 4) 1X All face P and Do Si Do 1X B-1 5 Ladies Star R (Leave 1, pass 1, turn w/ the next, guys NEED to help out here) Again, 5 Ladies Star R (leave 1, pass 1, turn the next) Set needs to tighten up for B-1 B-2 Prom your new P 1 pl CCW & (balance if time) and swing your new P. New Tops. Square Line Special Octet by Gary Roodman starts w/ 2 hands 4 DI not too far apart. A-1 Lines of 4 at side F & B Trade places w/ person across in a very leisurely R Sh Gyre (lots of time on this 1) A-2 Face same person and RH balance, pull by, pull by L w/ N w/in your hands 4 Swing the next you meet (now you have broken out of hands 4) end in a sq. B-1 Heads F & B Head Ladies Chain B-2 Heads go out to R and Circle L 1X w/ Sides, til heads are bk to bk in ctr. Sides arch, heads pop thru, go around nearest side to from lines at side. With the right group, you can have lots of fun w/ this. If the Sides go out to R to circle w/ Heads, Heads arch, sides pop, and you have turned the set 90 degrees (surprise) and lines at head go F-B. You can basically call whatever you want in the B-1 to make things fun, but use your best judgment, it can get confusing dancing this the first time. I'm still looking at ways to get the entire set to mix Ps. As presently written, not everyone gets to be a P to all 4 dancing the opposite roll. Would love some insights how to make this happen in a simple fashion (at least at first). Paul

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Martha Wild via Callers

Levi Jackson can be done perfectly well to other tunes, though of course it is best with it's own tune. Ragtime Annie (A and B parts only) is a nice compromise that some bands know. Martha On Nov 1, 2015, at 4:17 AM, Bree Kalb via Callers wrote: > Levi Jackson Rag is a favorite of mine but not all bands know the tune. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Donna Hunt via Callers > Sent: Nov 1, 2015 12:10 AM > To: callers(a)sharedweight.net > Subject: [Callers] dances in unusual formations > > > > Hi > I'm doing a workshop on dances "outside the box" (ie, no squares or contras). > Anyone have any interesting dances for contra dancers that fit the criteria? > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

9 years, 1 month

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