There are only 49 dances on Jeff's list, so I went to each website and took a quick look around. Of the dances that are still clearly running and list the terms they use on their website (somewhere I could find it), the overwhelming majority use Larks+Robins. The only other terms with any representation are Larks+Ravens and one mention of positional calling. "Not mentioned" means they don't say what role terms are used in a place I could find (even if they say it's gender-free etc -- some don't even say that much). "Not running?" means it appears the series is no longer putting on dances, or still on hiatus from the pandemic. If they are holding dances, the website is out of date. This of course misses dances that are not in or up to date on Jeff's list. Amherst MA: http://amherstcontra.org Not mentioned (‘what is contra’ page mentions gents+ladies but it seems to be a general description not specific to this dance) Amherst MA: https://engage.hampshire.edu/organization/contradancecollective Not running? Arden DE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ardencontra/ "Arden uses gender-free role terms (usually larks and robins, and sometimes positional calling.)" Belfast ME: http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org/ Larks+Robins Berkeley CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/berkeley_wed/ Larks+Robins Blacksburg VA: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/contrafolk Private site Blacksburg VA: https://www.facebook.com/ContraFolkVT/ Not running? Was Larks+Ravens Brooklyn NY: http://www.brooklyncontra.org/ Not mentioned Cambridge MA: http://www.bidadance.org/ Larks+Robins Carrboro NC: http://firstsaturdaycontra.com/ “callers will use the terms Larks and Ravens (or Robins)” Charlottesville VA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/984316375582303/ Larks+Robins Chicago IL: https://www.facebook.com/QueerContraChicago/ Larks+Robins? Their "about" description mentions both Ravens and Robins, so probably this is an editing oversight: “Instead of gender roles, dancers choose whether to dance the Lark role or the Raven role. One role extends their Left arm for the ballroom swing and stands on the Left at the end of it (it's the Lark!) The Robin extends their Right arm for that swing and ends it standing on the Right.” Cincinnati OH: https://www.facebook.com/GFCinci/ Not running? Concord MA: http://mondaycontras.com/ Larks+Robins Concord MA: http://www.neffa.org/Thurs.html Larks+Robins Denver CO: http://www.cfootmad.org Not mentioned Edinburgh Scotland: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghContra/ Larks+Robins Glen Echo MD: https://www.facebook.com/ContraSonic/ Not running? Halifax Canada: https://www.facebook.com/HalifaxContraDances/ Larks+Ravens They seem to have a new website too: https://www.halifaxcontra.ca/ Hayward CA: https://sfbaycontra.org/ Not mentioned Jamaica Plain MA: http://www.lcfd.org/jp/ Larks+Robins Los Angeles CA: http://www.caldancecoop.org/california-twirl/ Not mentioned Milwaukee WI: https://www.mkecontra.org/ Not mentioned Minneapolis MN: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiesqueercontra Larks+Robins Monterey CA: http://montereycontradance.org Not mentioned Montpelier VT: http://capitalcitygrange.org/dancing/contradancing/ Not mentioned Montreal Canada: http://www.contramontreal.org/ Larks+Robins New York NY: http://cdny.org/ Larks+Robins (in the caller info page) New York NY: http://www.villagecontra.org Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Northampton MA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1311451995547490/ Larks+Robins Oakland CA: http://www.queercontradance.org/circleleft.html Larks+Robins Oberlin OH: https://www2.oberlin.edu/stuorg/contra/ Not running? (Was Larks+Ravens 2017-2019) Olympia WA: https://oly-wa.us/southbaygrange/contra.php Larks+Robins (but listed per dance as if it could change) Orlando FL: https://contraknights.org/ Not mentioned Petaluma CA: http://www.nbcds.org/ Not mentioned Portland ME: http://portlandintowncontradance.com/ Not running? Portland ME: https://www.commonfloorcontra.dance/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: http://contraremix.com/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: https://portlandcountrydance.org/pdxcontra-info/ Not mentioned Providence RI: https://www.facebook.com/ProvidenceCommunityDance/ Private site Sacramento CA: http://www.sactocds.org/ Not mentioned San Jose CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/san_jose/ Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Santa Cruz CA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/contrasantacruz/ "usually using gender neutral role terms (Larks / Robins)." Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/emeraldcity Larks+Robins Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/lakecity Larks+Robins Stillwater OK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/acontraaffair/ Not running? Swarthmore PA: https://thepac.center/events/contra-dance-2023-02-14 Not mentioned Toronto Canada: http://www.tcdance.org/ Larks+Robins Warren RI: https://www.facebook.com/eastbaycontradance.net/ Not running? The Facebook page says it's "closed" and posting seems to have been taken over by Worcester, a more gendered dance (“If there is an excess of one gender, it is customary for women to dance men's parts (and vice versa)”) On Wed, 2023-03-08 at 17:32 -0500, Jeff Kaufman via Organizers wrote:

Both Louisville Kentucky and Lexington Kentucky are opting for "caller's choice." I believe Berea Kentucky is doing the same. Callers have used gents/ladies, larks/robins and positional. On Thu, Mar 9, 2023, 7:46 PM Peter Simonyi via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Lawrence Barn Dance Association has also opted for "Caller's Choice". Personally (not speaking for LBDA) I don't especially like the terms Larks and Robins and am hoping something better comes along. We don't have a statement on our website, but I plan to work on that. On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 7:54 PM Kelly Tabor via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote:

Good discussion. The Bloomington, IN contra dance meets weekly. Our instructions to callers say: “Role Terms. Callers may choose what role terms to use. Whatever terms you use, please emphasize that these are roles that any dancer is welcome to choose. Try to refrain from using the words “man,” “woman,” “he,” “she” or other words that suggest a gender of the dancers.” In practice, our local callers all use larks & robins with occasional positional calling. At our once a month open mic night calling is where we might get a person or two who calls a dance using gents/ladies. It is helpful to learn that posting this information on our website might be a good practice. I will bring it up to the board, and we might also want to revisit whether we want to specifically state that most callers at our dance use the terms larks & robins. http://bloomingtoncontra.org/ In the list below, there is a question about whether the Cincinnati, OH dance is running. It is meeting weekly: http://cincinnaticontradance.org/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/2185335378145105 Of course, that is their original dance group, and not the Cincinnati gender-free contra dance group which is referenced in the list. The Cincinnati gender-free group had been running for about 16 months before Covid hit. To my knowledge, that gender-free dance group is not currently holding dances. Mary Jean Regoli Bloomington, IN Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows From: Joe Harrington via Organizers<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Thursday, March 9, 2023 11:16 PM To: A list for dance organizers<mailto:organizers@sharedweight.net> Subject: [Organizers] Re: Current use of terms Orlando, FL Currently larks+robins for the dances I call, which has been all of them so far, but we're moving to hiring callers, as our finances allow. Then it will be caller's choice, so long as it's gender-neutral. If we said "loons" rather than "larks", I'd be happier, as "larks" starts like "ladies". But, I think that ship has sailed. --jh-- On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 10:15 PM Sandy Seiler via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Lawrence Barn Dance Association has also opted for "Caller's Choice". Personally (not speaking for LBDA) I don't especially like the terms Larks and Robins and am hoping something better comes along. We don't have a statement on our website, but I plan to work on that. On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 7:54 PM Kelly Tabor via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Portland, OR 2/4/5th Saturdays are Larks and Robins. It's on the newcomer page and I'll get it added to the main contra page. Portland's 1/3rd Saturdays don't have a policy but have consistently been Larks and Robins this year Portland's Joyride dance has no policy but does announce terms ahead of the dance. On Thu, Mar 9, 2023, 5:38 PM Jerome Grisanti via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: Both Louisville Kentucky and Lexington Kentucky are opting for "caller's choice." I believe Berea Kentucky is doing the same. Callers have used gents/ladies, larks/robins and positional. On Thu, Mar 9, 2023, 7:46 PM Peter Simonyi via Organizers <organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: There are only 49 dances on Jeff's list, so I went to each website and took a quick look around. Of the dances that are still clearly running and list the terms they use on their website (somewhere I could find it), the overwhelming majority use Larks+Robins. The only other terms with any representation are Larks+Ravens and one mention of positional calling. "Not mentioned" means they don't say what role terms are used in a place I could find (even if they say it's gender-free etc -- some don't even say that much). "Not running?" means it appears the series is no longer putting on dances, or still on hiatus from the pandemic. If they are holding dances, the website is out of date. This of course misses dances that are not in or up to date on Jeff's list. Amherst MA: http://amherstcontra.org Not mentioned (‘what is contra’ page mentions gents+ladies but it seems to be a general description not specific to this dance) Amherst MA: https://engage.hampshire.edu/organization/contradancecollective Not running? Arden DE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ardencontra/ "Arden uses gender-free role terms (usually larks and robins, and sometimes positional calling.)" Belfast ME: http://www.belfastflyingshoes.org/ Larks+Robins Berkeley CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/berkeley_wed/ Larks+Robins Blacksburg VA: https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/organization/contrafolk Private site Blacksburg VA: https://www.facebook.com/ContraFolkVT/ Not running? Was Larks+Ravens Brooklyn NY: http://www.brooklyncontra.org/ Not mentioned Cambridge MA: http://www.bidadance.org/ Larks+Robins Carrboro NC: http://firstsaturdaycontra.com/ “callers will use the terms Larks and Ravens (or Robins)” Charlottesville VA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/984316375582303/ Larks+Robins Chicago IL: https://www.facebook.com/QueerContraChicago/ Larks+Robins? Their "about" description mentions both Ravens and Robins, so probably this is an editing oversight: “Instead of gender roles, dancers choose whether to dance the Lark role or the Raven role. One role extends their Left arm for the ballroom swing and stands on the Left at the end of it (it's the Lark!) The Robin extends their Right arm for that swing and ends it standing on the Right.” Cincinnati OH: https://www.facebook.com/GFCinci/ Not running? Concord MA: http://mondaycontras.com/ Larks+Robins Concord MA: http://www.neffa.org/Thurs.html Larks+Robins Denver CO: http://www.cfootmad.org Not mentioned Edinburgh Scotland: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghContra/ Larks+Robins Glen Echo MD: https://www.facebook.com/ContraSonic/ Not running? Halifax Canada: https://www.facebook.com/HalifaxContraDances/ Larks+Ravens They seem to have a new website too: https://www.halifaxcontra.ca/ Hayward CA: https://sfbaycontra.org/ Not mentioned Jamaica Plain MA: http://www.lcfd.org/jp/ Larks+Robins Los Angeles CA: http://www.caldancecoop.org/california-twirl/ Not mentioned Milwaukee WI: https://www.mkecontra.org/ Not mentioned Minneapolis MN: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twincitiesqueercontra Larks+Robins Monterey CA: http://montereycontradance.org Not mentioned Montpelier VT: http://capitalcitygrange.org/dancing/contradancing/ Not mentioned Montreal Canada: http://www.contramontreal.org/ Larks+Robins New York NY: http://cdny.org/ Larks+Robins (in the caller info page) New York NY: http://www.villagecontra.org Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Northampton MA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1311451995547490/ Larks+Robins Oakland CA: http://www.queercontradance.org/circleleft.html Larks+Robins Oberlin OH: https://www2.oberlin.edu/stuorg/contra/ Not running? (Was Larks+Ravens 2017-2019) Olympia WA: https://oly-wa.us/southbaygrange/contra.php Larks+Robins (but listed per dance as if it could change) Orlando FL: https://contraknights.org/ Not mentioned Petaluma CA: http://www.nbcds.org/ Not mentioned Portland ME: http://portlandintowncontradance.com/ Not running? Portland ME: https://www.commonfloorcontra.dance/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: http://contraremix.com/ Larks+Robins Portland OR: https://portlandcountrydance.org/pdxcontra-info/ Not mentioned Providence RI: https://www.facebook.com/ProvidenceCommunityDance/ Private site Sacramento CA: http://www.sactocds.org/ Not mentioned San Jose CA: http://www.bacds.org/series/contra/san_jose/ Not running? (Was Larks+Robins) Santa Cruz CA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/contrasantacruz/ "usually using gender neutral role terms (Larks / Robins)." Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/emeraldcity Larks+Robins Seattle WA: http://seattledance.org/contra/lakecity Larks+Robins Stillwater OK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/acontraaffair/ Not running? Swarthmore PA: https://thepac.center/events/contra-dance-2023-02-14 Not mentioned Toronto Canada: http://www.tcdance.org/ Larks+Robins Warren RI: https://www.facebook.com/eastbaycontradance.net/ Not running? The Facebook page says it's "closed" and posting seems to have been taken over by Worcester, a more gendered dance (“If there is an excess of one gender, it is customary for women to dance men's parts (and vice versa)”) On Wed, 2023-03-08 at 17:32 -0500, Jeff Kaufman via Organizers wrote: _______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> _______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> _______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net> _______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- organizers@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers@lists.sharedweight.net> To unsubscribe send an email to organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net<mailto:organizers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net>

I've updated Palo Alto to mark it as gender free. Let me know if you see any other inaccuracies on trycontra.com. I haven't marked any of the "callers choice" dances as gender free: the way the site uses the label is for dances that are consistently gender free. Jeff On Fri, Mar 10, 2023 at 8:08 AM lsturgen--- via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: