I happened to play on Saturday night for Queer Contra Chicago, a dance series that prefers to use bands/ bares. I've called for that series as well. Two things stood out: The first is that during the workshop someone asked the caller if he'd heard the larks/ ravens terminology, and said they thought it was easier to remember larks = left, ravens = right. The second is that every time the caller said "bands," in addressing the floor, I jumped, because I thought he was talking to the musicians and I had missed something. I wouldn't have noticed that as a caller, I think. For what it's worth.... Meg
On Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 7:28 AM Delia Clark via Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I have informally polled some members of my band and they prefer > gems/rubies to jets/rubies, for all the reasons others have stated, so I’m > going to take that out for a test drive at the upcoming wedding I’m calling > for two women. If I gain any more insights from that, I’ll share them here! > > > On Jun 1, 2015, at 2:25 AM, Erik Hoffman via Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > > It's funny, but there's a part of me that finds all of these different > words a little weird. In a way, I'm not sure I like any of them. But I do > like the sense of liberation they give -- the level of comfort that's > appearing at dances for people dancing with anyone. In my area, the SF Bay > Area, men are definitely getting more comfortable dancing with men. Around > here -- as opposed to outlying areas -- there has always been a level of > tolerance, but the level of acceptance is growing. > > I think my sense of weirdness -- slight discomfort -- comes from both > working to change my habits, and from the sense of the terms being > contrived. OK, my thought/feelings are changing, and my mind is starting to > think of this use as being creative rather than contrived. Also, use is > working in my favor: the more I call using Larks and Ravens, the more > comfortable it's getting for me, and I'm feeling it's less "contrived." But > it has been a bit of a hurdle for me to overcome. > > As for liking jets & rubies, I have the same problem many do: the multiple > meaning of the word "jet." OK, I can be told it's a jem, but a machine to > fly, developed by the military, designed for aggressive fighting, then > given to the public for high-carbon footprint travel is my first thought -- > extremely masculine. > > Second thought that comes to an old geezer like me is a gang in New York's > West Side, about which there is a story, which is also masculine... > > Jet as a gem would be slow to replace the other two. So, were I to try > these, I'd go for gems & rubies. But we'll stick with Larks & Ravens for a > while... > > ~erik hoffman > oakland, ca > > On 5/28/2015 12:30 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers wrote: > > For those interested in gender free contra dance terms: > > 1. Do you like or dislike jets / rubies ? > 2. How would gems / rubies compare? > > In dance, > Ron Blechner > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing > [email protected]http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<> > > Delia Clark > PO Box 45 > Taftsville, VT 05073 > 802-457-2075 > [email protected] > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >
