Echoing thoughts from: Jeff K Don V Jerome G Gabrielle T I'll add: they DO have a good use: special events where you have a themed shadow session.
In dance, Julian Blechner He/Him Western Mass On Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 5:04 PM Amy Wimmer via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I have a few shadow swing dances in my collection. I don't know why I keep > them because I don't call them. > > There is a history of problem dancers (PDs) in my area who are typically > male presenting, and robins complain that these people stalk them, both in > the dance hall and outside, hold them too closely, are rough, etc. These > PDs also tend to make rude remarks, especially to LGBTQ+ dancers. People > avoid them at all costs. There used to be a few folks I would avoid for > those same reasons. To be sure, I always asked them to stop their > troublesome behavior, but there was a handful who refused to comply. > > Forming a club of "acceptable only" dancers? No. Training those PDs is my > goal, both as a caller and as a dance organizer. My fellow organizers and I > have been taking statements from complainants, talking to the PDs about > their behavior, and suggesting alternatives. If it gets heated we ask them > to take a break from dancing until they can behave more politely. > > That's why I don't call shadow swings. > > To be clear, our community has, as a whole, gotten way more accepting of > gender fluidity/queer, and is a very welcoming body. That means that folks > who don't want to accept dancers they think are too different from them > don't attend as often as they used to. It's also known in the area that we > organizers don't tolerate bad behavior. > > I think if you told the dancers before line-up that you're going to call a > shadow-swing dance it would give them a chance to choose their spots with > that in mind. > > -Amy > > On Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 7:39 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Prompted by some recent conversations, I’m curious how folks here feel >> about shadow swings! >> >> 1. As a caller, do you: >> A) not have an issue with shadow swings, and program them freely >> B) not tend to program them just bc they don’t come up in your >> repertoire, but have no issue with them >> C) not program shadow swings as a matter of principle >> D) some secret fourth thing (feel free to elaborate!)? >> >> 2. How do you feel about shadow swings as a dancer? >> >> Will weigh in with my thoughts later, both to avoid biasing the >> conversation from the outset, and also because I’m currently in transit 😅 >> >> Thanks for participating in the data gathering! >> >> Cheers, >> Maia >> >> -- >> Maia McCormick (she/her) >> 917.279.8194 >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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