Hi Mary, I’m curious, how do you find that the roles do or don’t break down along gendered lines when you introduce them with this bit of history? I’d assume that the implication that a role is traditionally for (men/women) would bias people into dancing along gendered lines, but I’ll admit I haven’t actually tested that hypothesis.
Cheers, Maia -- Maia McCormick (she/her) 917.279.8194 On Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 1:36 PM Mary Collins <[email protected]> wrote: > Maia et al, > > I struggle with this as well. Typically I've been sharing a wee bit of > history i.e. some dances have been around since George Washington's time > and were written for Gents & Ladies. So I line up long ways and indicate > that historically one line was gents and the other ladies. Talk a wee bit > about proper dance. (Keep in mind WEE BIT, not a history lesson, a > sentence.) Then I introduce the modern concept of gender free and indicate > the Lark line & the Robin line and that it is not a gender but a position. > Then I flow into alemande, do-si-do, hands 4, position in the hands four > (ones & twos), swing and where to end...now > Introduce improper and where Larks & Robins are now. If at this time > people who prefer gendered position, will naturally move to that place. > Then I add stars, right & left through, chain. Done. > > This sometimes feels awkward and I struggle through it. Mostly it works, > sometime really well, sometimes not so much, sometimes I just ignore all of > it and just teach a simple dance and do teaching as walk through. > > Going to a callers' gathering next (this coming weekend) Saturday and > hopefully we can talk about this there. > > Love all the sharing. > Mary Collins > WNY > > > On Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:48 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Hey there, hive mind, >> >> When you're calling larks and robins, during the lesson, how do you >> a. explain the roles to the new folks, and >> b. put the beginners into roles for the duration of the lesson? >> >> I've seen "try swinging in both roles and see which feels better", I've >> seen "unless you have a preference, whoever is standing on the right of >> your partnership is the robin for now", I've seen "pick whichever bird you >> like better", I've seen "the robin's role is a little easier so do that if >> you feel less confident"... >> >> I'm curious what folks here do and in what kind of distribution, and how >> you find it works for you in practice. >> >> (Please please please let's not relitigate gender-free contra or the bird >> terms in this thread. If you really must, please make a separate thread.) >> >> Swingingly, >> Maia >> >> >> -- >> Maia McCormick (she/her) >> 917.279.8194 >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> >
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