Thank you. Andrea!
I'd like to repeat the point that the terms lead/follow are implicitly
communicating to (some) male dancers that they are in charge. Not only does
this create pressure, but I think it contributes to a growing trend I'm
noticing at my local dance; fairly new male dancers assume I'll happily
follow their lead and seem dismayed (even insulted) if I choose not to. This
sets up a dynamic of conflict rather than the friendly cooperation I
consider the soul of contra dancing.
Bree Kalb
Carrboro, NC
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrea Nettleton
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2013 4:51 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Lead/Follow in a Swing
Sometimes a dance weekend comes along just in time. So I am at Chattaboogie
in TN, and thought very hard about what was going on between me and all the
people I danced with, and I think I finally understand why, in my mind,
lead/follow are actively bad terms to use in contra, and why when we teach
the idea of flourishes, I really don't want anyone thinking of one role as
lead, and the other as follow.....
