As usual, context matters a lot. When I was dancing in Boston, there were plenty of cisgender men (in addition to other non-cis-woman genders) wearing skirts. Now that I'm back in Florida, seeing a non-woman in a dress or skirt is highly unusual, but no one causes a stink about it. In fact, the only time I can remember seeing a skirt on a non-woman at my local dance was recently: a sparkly dress on a little boy (or nonbinary or trans kid, unknown).
I can't speak to Maia's notion that maybe skirts are less popular now OTHER than to add my own anecdata: I've stopped wearing skirts to dances largely for gender reasons. I'm a nonbinary person who dances the left-hand and right-hand roles at my dance equally, and have found that folks' perception of me goes better when I wear pants. Maybe there are other AFAB folks who are queer-coding more by wearing skirts and dresses less? Ang (they/them) On Thu, Sep 12, 2024 at 5:35 AM Robert Matson via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > This is a fun question. > > I'd propose that people wearing clothing styles that are contrary to > tradition occurs where there's acceptance and encouragement for play and > self-expression, generally. From that perspective, I'm landing on the > thought that it's not a "which came first," the flourishes or the skirts, > but rather what came first is an environment that nurtures the > extra curlicue or do-dad for no reason other than it's someone's idea of > fun. > > To share some of my rabbit hole as I explored skirted clothing and dance, > here're a few videos I enjoyed seeing: > > Skirts for dance without twirls: > > "HAWAII - 1960s - Men and women perform hula dances in grass skirts in > Hawaii." > > https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-3417132785-hawaii---1960s-men-women-perform-hula > > "Solomon islands - 1931 - in this ethnographic film, alleged cannibals of > the solomon islands are introduced as a particularly bloodthirsty tribe." > > https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1110464247-solomon-islands---1931-this-ethnographic-film > > Pina Bausch!! The most ordinary clothing is a costume. > IDAS FRÜHLINGSOPFER | THE RITE OF SPRING | Pina Bausch > https://youtu.be/z3vZeAmcjf4?si=UAXnjHvk6hDUT9-Q > > Comic dance. > Swan Lake Act II - Little Swans - Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo > https://youtu.be/F83BbbtoX8Q?si=2srNnSp3AzdFJjyx > > Graham. > Martha Graham performing “Letter to the World” (also called “The Kick”), > 1940. > Photo by Barbara Morgan (public domain) > https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martha-Graham > > > Hope you enjoy those. > > Rob > Conway, AR > > - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Robert Matson > Innovation Media Corp. > The Innovation Works, Inc. > Cell: (917) 626-2675 > >> >> >> >> On Wed, Sep 11, 2024 at 8:30 PM David Chandler via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > I started dancing in NY/NJ in the 1970's, and called contra and English >> until mid-80's - and then had about a 15 year hiatus. Before my break I >> only remember one male (to judge from facial and body hair) who regularly >> wore dresses or skirts to dances. After I returned to dancing, there was a >> gradual increase, though in the beginning it seemed some men chose kilts as >> a way to mute the statement. And then.... >> > >> > I should note that my memory is not known for being accurate, so this >> is just an observation, not a definitive statement. A source for more >> extensive information would be CDSS, which has pictures from camps for many >> years; and the Pinewoods archives also have many pictures. If one lives >> near the U. of New Hampshire, the CDSS archives are there and should be a >> useful source. >> > >> > David >> > >> > On Wed, Sep 11, 2024 at 7:42 PM Joe Harrington via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> Seems the edge of memory here so far is around 1990. Does anyone have >> access to a photo or video archive from before, say at the CDSS? >> >> >> >> —jh— >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Sep 11, 2024 at 7:25 PM Bob Hofkin via Contra Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> On 09/11/2024 15:11, Louise Siddons via Contra Callers wrote: >> >>> > separate the garment from its gendered connotations >> >>> >> >>> Louise, >> >>> >> >>> I started wearing skirts because they were more comfortable than jeans >> >>> over a fairly substantial knee brace. Turns out they are better for >> >>> ventilation, too. >> >>> >> >>> I definitely enjoy the twirl effect, and find the skirt a practical >> tool >> >>> for guiding the directionally-challenged through a hey. I've had fun >> >>> making up silly answers when asked why I'm wearing a skirt, always >> >>> trying to communicate the contra community's openness and acceptance, >> >>> which goes far beyond fashion choices. >> >>> >> >>> Bob H (Nevada) >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >>> 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] >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > 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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