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Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Donna Hunt via Callers

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] dances in unusual formations

by Jeremy Gmail via Callers

Any 32 bar rag will usually do J From: Callers [mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Bree Kalb via Callers Sent: 01 November 2015 12:18 To: Donna Hunt; callers(a)sharedweight.net 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] dances in unusual formations

by Bree Kalb via Callers

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Jack Mitchell via Callers

I second David's Triplet -- was recently posted on this list, so you should be able to find it. Would love to see Square Line Special, though. On Sun, Nov 1, 2015 at 1:00 AM Paul Wilde via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Donna, > > Levi Jackson Rag, for 10. Becoming a local favorite when numbers permit. > One I really like is David's Triplet #5 by David Smuckler. (It has a hey > for 6, or do it w/ hands to introduce a grand R & L). Nice dance. > > Another quirky one that is a hybrid contra/square is Square Line Special > by Gary Roodman. > Lots of ways to mix things up in the B part. > > best regards, > Paul > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > -- Jack Mitchell Durham, NC

9 years, 1 month

[Callers] A Rededication & Renaming of a Dance Formerly Known as Jeff's Gypsy

by Paul Wilde via Callers

Jeff's Gyre & Gimble DI A-1 1s Gyre & Gimble (R Sh) A-2 Down Hall Line of 4, 2s Hand Cast 1's (or trn as cpl), return B-1 Circle L 1X (all are back to orig DI) Pass N-1 by R and Gyre N-2 by L B-2 N-1 Gire & Gimble (R Sh) Notes: This dance needs room, so best to keep lines short. Using the hand cast in A-2 means you will also need space width wise. The effect in the B part is of sweeping figure 8s along the side of the set. Tunes w/ ECD feeling work well. The terms will need defining for the first or second time you use them w/ a group, but I suspect people might willingly adopt them w/ a smile. Thanks for suggesting this. Lovely. This dance was written in honor of Jeff Ratch, a dear friend and dancer who left us much too soon. Jeff was able to make me howl w/ laughter quicker than anyone I've met. It was hard to explain to people as we danced back in at the end of a line why I was so hysterical. Jeff, if you've been keeping tabs on us, I hope you get a huge belly laugh. Let us continue to revel in joyfulness, gentleness, and remain respectful of others. Paul PS It felt appropriate to rephrase this dance, written as a memorial, on the cusp of Halloween & All Souls Day, esp. w/ the extra hr thrown in to help blur the lines a little more. If you try it, please let me know how it was received.

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Gypsy

by janet via Callers

This is an excellent example of what I pointed out previously ... different uses of the same word in different contexts, where one may be considered derogatory and another quite the opposite. Homo, as in homosexual, appears to derive from the Greek translation meaning one in the same. However, the genus and species of humans is Homo sapien, and homo refers to a genus with several species that are closely related to humans, including Homo neandrathal. It derives from the Latin meaning mankind. When a person calls someone a homo, as in homosexual, they often mean it as deragatory. But I'm pretty sure no one would take offense to being called human. In the dance community, gypsy is not meant to be offensive, but quite the opposite is viewed as a positive term. Education of other meanings is useful, and goes both ways. It would be equally useful to educate the woman who brought this up that in our community it had a different meaning that generally means to travel. Janet Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Read Weaver via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Date: 10/31/2015 12:09 PM (GMT-05:00) To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gypsy I've known at least one person who sincerely thought “homo” was a perfectly acceptable term, carrying no particular negative connotations. Whether or not she held negative views herself, she needed to learn that she was mistaken about the connotations, and if she didn’t want to be offensive, she needed to change the word she used. Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On 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. _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

9 years, 1 month

[Callers] Easy Civil War Era Wholesets

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for some EASY wholeset dancers for a Civil War event that is mostly teenage boys. Wholesets seem to be the best option, but I am open to othe suggestions. Virginia Reel is an obvious choice. Peace & Thanks! Rich

9 years, 1 month

[Callers] A new(?) dance, written with a gyre

by Luke Donforth via Callers

Hello all, Linda Leslie's suggestion of gyre as a replacement for gypsy bubbled around in my brain and a new (I think) dance percolated up. It has a twist that isn't the gyre (which I consider just new nomenclature); women casting out of the swing to travel from one minor set to another (similar to gent's movement in Scoot by Tom Hinds). I haven't gotten to test it with dancers yet, as I just finished running it through with pegs on my desk; but I wanted to share it in support of a new term. A Gyre for Linda by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CCW A1 ----------- (4) Pass through to an ocean wave (ladies left, catch right with partner) (4) Balance the short Wavy line (2) Walk forward (3) Shadow gyre right 1/2 (3) Gents gyre left 1/2 in the middle A2 ----------- (16) Neighbor gyre right and swing B1 ----------- MEANWHILE FIGURE: (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 WHILE women cast cw around whole set one woman’s place (8) 1/2 Hey, passing partner by right shoulder B2 ----------- (16) Partner gyre right and swing at home As for the other aspects that have been discussed: I pronounce it with a softer g sound. For reasons unclear to me, gyre has different accepted pronunciations; but (to my knowledge) gyration doesn't. As for using the term (which I clearly support); it costs me nearly nothing to switch and helps make the dance more accessible for some; both in dropping a term some find offensive and making the name more descriptive of the move. My job as a caller is to help share the joy of dancing, and if this does that I'm in favor of it. -- Luke Donforth Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com>

9 years, 1 month

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

by John Sweeney via Callers

Pleas could you clarify how you intend to pronounce "gyre"? I have been saying "gyre" with a hard "g" as in "give" or "gimble". But if it is related to "gyrate" then maybe people are using a soft "g" and making it sound like "jire". Which do you use? Thanks. By the way, I am still having major problems with understanding why the word needs to be changed. "Gypsy" is not inherently bad. Just Google, say, "gypsy pope" and you will find countless articles in countless papers and other media (including Vatican Radio) referring to "gypsies". Are they and the pope all racist? And that is just one example. It is only racist if you use tone or context to make it so. But that can apply to just about any word. And in a dance environment it is definitely not racist. If anyone ever asks me (and I doubt it will ever happen) I will tell them that we call people who travel to dances "dance gypsies", just using the word to mean someone who travels; the move likewise is just a move where you travel around each other. No deep meaning! 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] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

by Joe Micheals via Callers

I am NOT "progressive". It is another loaded term in my opinion. To assume most of the (silent) people on this list serv are progressive is...........probably true! I am sensitive to people's dignity and would not intentionally offend anyone. I find the Gypsie issue troubling but do not have a solution. Create another CallerLab to standardize terms and meanings? probably not. All that said I agree with everything George says. I wanted to emphasize the point George makes on the terms Gents & Ladies. Those terms "print" in the hearer's ear (harder consonants). When you have music and distractions on the dance floor you can lose the "WO" of women and it can be confusing. Even in the "all position terms" these print the best on the dance floor in my experience. Cheers! -Joe (Independent in Seattle) On Oct 30, 2015, at 11:50 AM, George Mercer via Callers wrote: > I am a free speech kind of guy and about as progressive as they come. Political correctness is a loaded term that I avoid at almost all costs. There is no constitutional provision to claim a right to not be offended. Neither should there be one. The world and life are just to complex and complicated for that. > > Having said that, I'll add that it is wise to remember that it is better to be nice than it is to be not nice; it is better to encourage people to be nice rather than not nice; it is better to create and enhance an environment where people will want to be nice and not be not nice. That's human kindness, thoughtfulness and making the world better, not politics or language manipulation. > > The discussion has been interesting and, for me, profitable, so I'll leave it with this. I will continue to use the "g" word as necessary while at the same time endeavoring to find good workable (for me and others) alternatives. I will continue to use "allemande" until such time as I may have to change, I prefer it to "turn," which in dancing can have a whole different and therefore confusing meaning. I liked the reference to "gents and ladies" being class-based terms. They are and, as someone who has spoken out upon hearing someone say, "He is a classy person" or "she did that with class" I have thought long and hard about the usage in contra dancing. Still I prefer them to "men and women" which for me is clumsy and on the dance floor sound very similar. While I use active and inactive on my dance cards, I rarely use them when instructing or calling, I find them even clumsier. Lead and follow are also rarely functional. So until I find something better, "Gents and ladies" it is. The terms are indeed class-based, but other words are religion-based, or ethnic-discrimination-based, even ageism-based and sexism-based. Language is kind of that way. And English is confusing and cluttered enough without making more rules. Clarity appears to me to be all important. For that matter, the same thing applies to numbering couples of neighbors #1, 2, 3, etc. They can be problematic and vaguely imply status, but for the moment they're what I've got. If you want to get into it even proper and improper can have issues. In the mean time, I'd rather dance than call -- at least until the body gives out -- so much of this is just theory for me. Lets keep working on it and discussing it as friends Thanks, George Mercer >

9 years, 1 month

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