To be clear, I’m not advocating the use of “lead/follow” anywhere but in the preliminary session (or, if there is no session, in an experienced dancer briefing a first-timer friend on the way in). Like it or not, our heritage includes a few asymmetrical moves, and I think it’s more helpful to newbies to point out the asymmetry than to pretend it’s not there.
(I’m aware that some folks enjoy doing what an old-timer would call a reverse lead or a back-lead, with the robin leading the lark. But I believe that in practice it’s still relatively rare.) Tony Parkes Billerica, Mass. www.hands4.com<http://www.hands4.com/> New book! Square Dance Calling: An Old Art for a New Century (available now) From: John Sweeney via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2023 10:43 AM To: 'Shared Weight Contra Callers' <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: [Callers] Re: Gentlespoons/Ladles (from Rompin' Stompin') I agree completely with Tony, except… I don’t think it is a good idea to use the terms “leader” and “follower”. The only leader in the room is the caller. For flashy moves either person can briefly lead another – e.g. twirling the end person as you go Down the Hall in Lines of Four. That is gender-independent. For much more on the subject please see: http://contrafusion.co.uk/LeadFollow.html Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com<mailto:j...@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
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