I disagree re. lead and follow being the most accurate. I don't think of it as
residual baggage, but merely inaccuracy. In my experience, there just isn't a
leader and follower dynamic in contradancing. Not the way that there is in
other forms of partnered dance. Or that there historically may have been in
contra or its related genres.
It does seem that some women dancers depend on leadership from the gent role,
and some men dancers feel pressure to direct the non-gent role dancers. But I
don't think there's any lead/follow component inherent in the contra dance form.
All my opinion,
Chrissy Fowler
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Alternate Role Terms
>
> Why don't the terms "lead" and "follow" suffice? Is there just too much
> residual baggage there? Because to me, it seems like the most accurate pair
> of terms...
>
> Maia
