Also, on the swing, I generally would suggest that people do a
"gendered" and not a "symmetrical" swing. Some sort of swing where
there are two hands on backs and two hands clasped. It's a good
reminder of which part you're dancing, and it also makes it easier to
put the "lady" on the right at the end of the swing.
Beth Molaro's "Dance a Mile in your Partner's Shoes" workshop about 10
years ago is what got me started swapping back and forth. When she
does her workshop, it's mostly a dance, with style tips put in. I've
been thinking about putting a workshop together myself, and might look
at starting with a dance that plays with the roles within the dance
(Chained Men, by Gene Hubert comes to mind), and then talking about the
swing position, also about hand direction when taking hands -- "gents"
hands palms up, "ladies" palms down -- which also helps with the
remembering which part you're dancing. Maybe do a nice basic dance,
probably including a chain and encourage people to try dancing the
other part. Then maybe a couple of symmetrical dances, and encourage
people to switch during the dance...when they get to the end....or when
they swing their partner....or whenever they can figure out a way to do
it. ;-)
Let us know how it goes!
Jack Mitchell
At 05:27 PM 9/9/2009, you wrote:
Barbara,
The two things that are most confusing when changing genders are the
chain
and the swing.
For the chain, you might review courtesy turn and also the twirl.
Make sure
twirlers know their hand should be directly over the head of the
twirlee,
and their hand should remain open (not gripping).
When I mentioned to one group that the twirler's hand should remain
open, a
roar of women's voices said "Yes!" and I just added, "gentlemen, the
twirlees have spoken..."
--Jerome
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 19:59:44 -0500
> From: "Barbara Groh" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: [Callers] workshop ideas
> Message-ID: <5FA24AD8CD704FACAB0B65CA47B4C4AC@Babs>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Hey, y'all,
>
> I'm going to be facilitating a "gender-swap" w.s. at Moondance in
a few
> days. I've never been to a workshop on this topic, and I thought
I would
> solicit ideas from the group. Has anybody been to (or perhaps
led) a
> gender-swap session? Any gems you can share with me on what
worked well
> or
> what didn't?
>
> Thanks!!
> Barbara
>
> --
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> [1]http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
> For the good are always the merry,
> Save by an evil chance,
> And the merry love the fiddle
> And the merry love to dance. ~ William Butler Yeats
>
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1. http://www.jeromegrisanti.com/
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