Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

Cara,

Further reading:

http://contradances.tumblr.com/post/132380206885/lead-and-follow-as-styles-not-roles-in-contra

Best,
Ron Blechner

On Jan 18, 2017 11:03 PM, "Cara Sawyer via Callers" <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi everyone again,
> Angela, Jeff thank you.
> I appreciate knowing the emotional attachment many had to the history of
> these calling terms. I had no clue. From where I was coming from, it was
> more of a logistical question for my calling aspirations, trying to figure
> out what is easiest for the dancers to understand. I have had personal
> experience with it being difficult to remember if I was a Band or Bare, it
> seems arbitrary and now I see that this is intentional. It is good to hear
> some of the rationale and what others have experienced.
>
> Best,
> Cara
>
> Sent to you using thumbs.
>
> On Jan 18, 2017, at 18:59, Jeff Kaufman  wrote:
>
> Hi Cara!
>
> There is definitely a history! Many dancers don't like lead/follow as
> terms because they either don't think contra has a lead/follow dynamic or
> they don't want to encourage lead/follow dancing.
>
> Some dance series, primarily ones with younger dancers, do use those
> terms, but there are enough dancers opposed to them that I don't see them
> as a potential community-wide replacement the way rubies/jets could be.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Jan 18, 2017 7:53 PM, "Cara Sawyer via Callers" <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>> I am quite new to the list and am only now embarking on learning to call,
>> but I have to ask a question I have had for awhile as a dancer that I now
>> need to understand as a caller: is there something wrong with Lead and
>> Follow?
>>
>> When I first encountered the creative alternatives in contra, I wasn't
>> sure what to think. I came to contra from a swing background and that is
>> what is used in workshops (and sort or in general now), since many people
>> switch in that dance style as well.
>>
>> Besides being an obvious description for the dancer role, it had the same
>> 1/2 syllables rhythm as Gent/Lady. And it seems to me to have the advantage
>> of being intuitively linked to how the dancer is thinking about
>> his/her/their role.
>>
>> Just curious if there is a history, I'm sure I am not the first person to
>> think of this.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Cara
>>
>> Sent to you using thumbs.
>>
>> On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:40, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using
>> Jets and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the
>> beginners' lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets'
>> palms face up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the
>> ground."
>>
>> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
>> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
>> for easy teaching.
>>
>> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
>> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
>> Ladies.
>>
>> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>>
>> Happy calling, everyone!
>>
>> Angela
>>
>> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>>>
>>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-d
>>> ancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>>>
>>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>>> --
>>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
>>> http://rule6.info/
>>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>>> ___
>>> Callers mailing list
>>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>>
>> ___
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>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>> ___
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>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
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> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Cara Sawyer via Callers]

Hi everyone again,
Angela, Jeff thank you. 
I appreciate knowing the emotional attachment many had to the history of these 
calling terms. I had no clue. From where I was coming from, it was more of a 
logistical question for my calling aspirations, trying to figure out what is 
easiest for the dancers to understand. I have had personal experience with it 
being difficult to remember if I was a Band or Bare, it seems arbitrary and now 
I see that this is intentional. It is good to hear some of the rationale and 
what others have experienced. 

Best,
Cara

Sent to you using thumbs. 

> On Jan 18, 2017, at 18:59, Jeff Kaufman  wrote:
> 
> Hi Cara!
> 
> There is definitely a history! Many dancers don't like lead/follow as terms 
> because they either don't think contra has a lead/follow dynamic or they 
> don't want to encourage lead/follow dancing.
> 
> Some dance series, primarily ones with younger dancers, do use those terms, 
> but there are enough dancers opposed to them that I don't see them as a 
> potential community-wide replacement the way rubies/jets could be.
> 
> Jeff
> 
>> On Jan 18, 2017 7:53 PM, "Cara Sawyer via Callers" 
>>  wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> I am quite new to the list and am only now embarking on learning to call, 
>> but I have to ask a question I have had for awhile as a dancer that I now 
>> need to understand as a caller: is there something wrong with Lead and 
>> Follow? 
>> 
>> When I first encountered the creative alternatives in contra, I wasn't sure 
>> what to think. I came to contra from a swing background and that is what is 
>> used in workshops (and sort or in general now), since many people switch in 
>> that dance style as well. 
>> 
>> Besides being an obvious description for the dancer role, it had the same 
>> 1/2 syllables rhythm as Gent/Lady. And it seems to me to have the advantage 
>> of being intuitively linked to how the dancer is thinking about 
>> his/her/their role. 
>> 
>> Just curious if there is a history, I'm sure I am not the first person to 
>> think of this. 
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> Cara
>> 
>> Sent to you using thumbs. 
>> 
>>> On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:40, Angela DeCarlis via Callers 
>>>  wrote:
>>> 
>>> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets 
>>> and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners' 
>>> lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face 
>>> up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."
>>> 
>>> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly 
>>> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make 
>>> for easy teaching. 
>>> 
>>> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral 
>>> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and 
>>> Ladies. 
>>> 
>>> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine. 
>>> 
>>> Happy calling, everyone! 
>>> 
>>> Angela
>>> 
 On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" 
  wrote:
 Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
 
 http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
 
 I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
 seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
 away from "bands" and "bares".
 --
 Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
 http://rule6.info/
   <*>   <*>   <*>
 Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
 ___
 Callers mailing list
 Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
 http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>> ___
>>> Callers mailing list
>>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>> 
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>> 

Re: [Callers] Contras which feature a "Dublin Bay" figure

[QuiAnn2 via Callers]

I’ve also written a dance with this down the hall figure in it. I like to call 
it early in the evening since it’s very connected and has “rest” time for each 
couple. I haven’t run it through the Shared Weight gauntlet to see if anyone 
else has written it. Please let me know if it’s already out there.

Pivot the Line
by Jacqui Grennan, 5/1/2016
Contra/Improper/Easy

A1 ---
Four steps down the hall, turn alone, rejoin hands in lines of 4
Four more steps down the hall, walking backwards
Four steps up the hall, turn alone, rejoin hands in lines of 4
Four more steps up the hall, walking backwards. Bend the line
A2 ---
(16) 2’s gypsy RIGHT/swing, face up to same N’s
B1 ---
(16) Same N B&Sw
B2 ---
(8) 1’s DSD across set
(8) 1’s P Sw (2’s get ready for DTH, 1’s end the swing facing down between new 
neighbors).



> On Jan 17, 2017, at 3:48 PM, Tavi Merrill via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Thanks to Linda, Mac, and Jonathan for their responses. So far for dances 
> featuring "Dublin Bay" variants, i have: 
> 
> contra variants of the figure, in best-guess chronological order: 
> Leaving Home - Al Olson
> Jim's Reel - Steve Schnur 
> Handsome Young Maids - Sue Rosen
> Please Don't Call Me Surely - Lynn Ackerson (Lynn says this is very similar 
> to Olson's dance)
> Crossing the Streams - Nicholas Rockstroh 
> 
> figure exactly as it appears in Dublin Bay:
> Doublin' Back - Erna-Lynne Bogue
> 
> The reason for my question around the move's history is that i've written a 
> new dance featuring it, and was curious who first imported it from ECD to 
> contra. So far i've gotten works-on-paper nods from a couple fellow 
> choreographers, and a previous version of this dance was successfully tested. 
> Might as well put it out there, as i'm pretty sure it hasn't been written 
> before. 
> 
> Here 'tis:
> 
> Belfast Bay (becket R) 
> 
> from improper: circle left three and swing partner to end facing UP the hall: 
> 
> A1. in lines of four, reverse "Dublin Bay" variant: 
> 
> 
>take four steps backwards, turn toward partner to face down, take four 
> steps forward; 
> 
>repeat, returning up the hall, and bend the line to a ring
> 
> A2. Ring balance, ladies draw gents over to 
> 
>N1 neighbor swing
> 
> B1. Long lines forward & back 
> 
>N2 neighbor swing
> 
> B2. Ring balance, ladies draw gents over to 
> 
>Partner swing
> 
> Here, the "Dublin Bay" figure (as it’s more commonly seen in contra, a 
> modified “down the hall”) has been inverted to make the starting formation a 
> line of four facing up - intended for those times a caller wants all dancers 
> facing the stage. The sequence’s overall design was driven by the intention 
> to facilitate band introductions before a break or goodbyes before a final 
> waltz, with dancers beside their partner. As a last dance before the break, 
> the A1 figure can be walked without “bend to a ring,” and voila! Dancers are 
> in lines of four facing up ready for announcements; the rest is simple enough 
> to run no-walk-through. 
> 
> Compact variation! Start instead with dancers facing DOWN the hall and make 
> A1 the original “Dublin Bay” figure: lines of four facing down take four 
> steps backwards (toward the stage), four steps forwards; turn alone to face 
> up, and repeat. Voila! Lines of four facing up. 
> 
> Dancers waiting out at the ends should join in the long lines. 
> 
> In honor of Chrissy Fowler and the Belfast Flying Shoes dance in Belfast, 
> Maine. 
> 
> On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 3:46 PM, Linda Leslie  > wrote:
> Al Olson used the move in his dance “Leaving Home”. It was published in Give 
> & Take by Larry Jennings in 2004. Larry spent a number of years putting this 
> book together, so the dance was written well before this. I did not find the 
> dance in Zesty Contras, Larry’s fist book, published in 1988; but this might 
> mean that Larry did not have space to include it, rather than it had not been 
> written yet.  If I were of a betting nature…..I would bet that the dance was 
> from the 1980’s, maybe 1990’s. 
> Linda
> 
> On Jan 16, 2017, at 5:20 PM, Tavi Merrill via Callers 
> mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> 
> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Dance genealogy question: The figure first appearing in "Dublin Bay" (aka 
>> "We'll Wed and We'll Bed," its title in Playford) morphed in contra into a 
>> modified "lines of four down the hall." 
>> 
>> I know a version of it from Sue Rosen's dance "Handsome Young Maids," where 
>> dancers facing down take four steps forwards, turn alone, and continue down 
>> the hall with four backward steps, then repeat the figure to return up the 
>> hall. 
>> 
>> I'm curious how many other contras this figure, or a version of it, appears 
>> in. Does anyone know of other dances? And any astute dance historians out 
>> there know what the first contra to use this figure is?  
>> 
>> Tavi
>> __

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Angela DeCarlis via Callers]

Yes, Cara, definitely a history! Thank you for inquiring.

Another argument I've heard against Lead/Follow is that if we change the
role known up to now only as "Gents" to "Leads," and likewise "Ladies" to
"Follows," we could unwittingly be reinforcing the cultural notion that
only men can be leaders and that women can only be follows.  This is not
the most common argument used (see Jeff's comments), but it is the one I
most often cite, since I do prefer contra to include the *option *for a
lead-follow dynamic.  Either way, while most partner dances do have this
dynamic absolutely and inherently, contra does not have to include it and
since we're already using gendered terms that have for generations
described gendered roles that we're trying to move away from, switching to
Lead/Follow has proved a less-popular choice.

Hope this helps!

Angela

On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 7:59 PM, Jeff Kaufman via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hi Cara!
>
> There is definitely a history! Many dancers don't like lead/follow as
> terms because they either don't think contra has a lead/follow dynamic or
> they don't want to encourage lead/follow dancing.
>
> Some dance series, primarily ones with younger dancers, do use those
> terms, but there are enough dancers opposed to them that I don't see them
> as a potential community-wide replacement the way rubies/jets could be.
>
> Jeff
>
> On Jan 18, 2017 7:53 PM, "Cara Sawyer via Callers" <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>> I am quite new to the list and am only now embarking on learning to call,
>> but I have to ask a question I have had for awhile as a dancer that I now
>> need to understand as a caller: is there something wrong with Lead and
>> Follow?
>>
>> When I first encountered the creative alternatives in contra, I wasn't
>> sure what to think. I came to contra from a swing background and that is
>> what is used in workshops (and sort or in general now), since many people
>> switch in that dance style as well.
>>
>> Besides being an obvious description for the dancer role, it had the same
>> 1/2 syllables rhythm as Gent/Lady. And it seems to me to have the advantage
>> of being intuitively linked to how the dancer is thinking about
>> his/her/their role.
>>
>> Just curious if there is a history, I'm sure I am not the first person to
>> think of this.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Cara
>>
>> Sent to you using thumbs.
>>
>> On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:40, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using
>> Jets and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the
>> beginners' lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets'
>> palms face up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the
>> ground."
>>
>> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
>> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
>> for easy teaching.
>>
>> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
>> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
>> Ladies.
>>
>> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>>
>> Happy calling, everyone!
>>
>> Angela
>>
>> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>>>
>>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-d
>>> ancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>>>
>>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>>> --
>>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
>>> http://rule6.info/
>>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>>> ___
>>> Callers mailing list
>>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>>
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
> ___
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> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Jeff Kaufman via Callers]

Hi Cara!

There is definitely a history! Many dancers don't like lead/follow as terms
because they either don't think contra has a lead/follow dynamic or they
don't want to encourage lead/follow dancing.

Some dance series, primarily ones with younger dancers, do use those terms,
but there are enough dancers opposed to them that I don't see them as a
potential community-wide replacement the way rubies/jets could be.

Jeff

On Jan 18, 2017 7:53 PM, "Cara Sawyer via Callers" <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello all,
> I am quite new to the list and am only now embarking on learning to call,
> but I have to ask a question I have had for awhile as a dancer that I now
> need to understand as a caller: is there something wrong with Lead and
> Follow?
>
> When I first encountered the creative alternatives in contra, I wasn't
> sure what to think. I came to contra from a swing background and that is
> what is used in workshops (and sort or in general now), since many people
> switch in that dance style as well.
>
> Besides being an obvious description for the dancer role, it had the same
> 1/2 syllables rhythm as Gent/Lady. And it seems to me to have the advantage
> of being intuitively linked to how the dancer is thinking about
> his/her/their role.
>
> Just curious if there is a history, I'm sure I am not the first person to
> think of this.
>
> Thanks!
> Cara
>
> Sent to you using thumbs.
>
> On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:40, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets
> and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners'
> lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face
> up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."
>
> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
> for easy teaching.
>
> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
> Ladies.
>
> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>
> Happy calling, everyone!
>
> Angela
>
> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers"  net> wrote:
>
>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>>
>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-
>> dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>>
>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>> --
>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
>> http://rule6.info/
>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Cara Sawyer via Callers]

Hello all,
I am quite new to the list and am only now embarking on learning to call, but I 
have to ask a question I have had for awhile as a dancer that I now need to 
understand as a caller: is there something wrong with Lead and Follow? 

When I first encountered the creative alternatives in contra, I wasn't sure 
what to think. I came to contra from a swing background and that is what is 
used in workshops (and sort or in general now), since many people switch in 
that dance style as well. 

Besides being an obvious description for the dancer role, it had the same 1/2 
syllables rhythm as Gent/Lady. And it seems to me to have the advantage of 
being intuitively linked to how the dancer is thinking about his/her/their 
role. 

Just curious if there is a history, I'm sure I am not the first person to think 
of this. 

Thanks!
Cara

Sent to you using thumbs. 

> On Jan 18, 2017, at 10:40, Angela DeCarlis via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets 
> and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners' 
> lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face up, 
> towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."
> 
> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly that 
> we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make for 
> easy teaching. 
> 
> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral 
> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and 
> Ladies. 
> 
> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine. 
> 
> Happy calling, everyone! 
> 
> Angela
> 
>> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" 
>>  wrote:
>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>> 
>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>> 
>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>> --
>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
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Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Read Weaver via Callers]

East coast GF English, to the extent it does anything specific, does left 
up/right down. West coast does right up/left down.
http://lcfd.org/gf-ecd-calling-conventions.html 


(I think it’s a really good idea, btw, to avoid the jet = penis analogy. If 
someone wants to buy me one of these, 
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3b/75/c1/3b75c16ce2c7c75f0d2e2dbff2f4eff0.jpg
 

 , I’ll promise to wear it at dances that use jets/rubies.)

Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org

> On Jan 18, 2017, at 11:49 AM, Bob Morgan via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Angela reminded me of a point I've been thinking about for a while.  Why not 
> right palm up, left palm down?  This would be symmetrical and role neutral.
> 
> Bob
> 
> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 4:40 PM, Angela DeCarlis via Callers 
> mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> 
> wrote:
> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets 
> and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners' 
> lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face up, 
> towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."
> 
> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly that 
> we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make for 
> easy teaching. 
> 
> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral 
> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and 
> Ladies. 
> 
> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine. 
> 
> Happy calling, everyone! 
> 
> Angela

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Angela DeCarlis via Callers]

Agreed with Jeff totally, on both points.  I teach role swap workshops
periodically, and palm direction is the single best indicator of role there
is.  Ties, bands, pins, etc aren't nearly as versatile or useful,
especially when you intend to switch roles mid-dance.  Because of that, I'm
pretty religious about teaching palm direction early and often.

(Good question, though!)

On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 11:50 AM, Jeff Kaufman 
wrote:

> I really like the current up/down system for (a) remembering which role
> I'm dancing (b) signaling which role to others
>
> On Jan 18, 2017 11:49 AM, "Bob Morgan via Callers" <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Angela reminded me of a point I've been thinking about for a while.  Why
>> not right palm up, left palm down?  This would be symmetrical and role
>> neutral.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 4:40 PM, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using
>>> Jets and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the
>>> beginners' lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets'
>>> palms face up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the
>>> ground."
>>>
>>> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
>>> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
>>> for easy teaching.
>>>
>>> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
>>> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
>>> Ladies.
>>>
>>> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>>>
>>> Happy calling, everyone!
>>>
>>> Angela
>>>
>>> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" <
>>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>>
 Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)

 http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-d
 ancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/

 I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
 seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
 away from "bands" and "bares".
 --
 Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
 http://rule6.info/
   <*>   <*>   <*>
 Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
 ___
 Callers mailing list
 Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
 http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

>>>
>>> ___
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>>>
>>>
>>
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>>
>>

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Jeff Kaufman via Callers]

I really like the current up/down system for (a) remembering which role I'm
dancing (b) signaling which role to others

On Jan 18, 2017 11:49 AM, "Bob Morgan via Callers" <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Angela reminded me of a point I've been thinking about for a while.  Why
> not right palm up, left palm down?  This would be symmetrical and role
> neutral.
>
> Bob
>
> On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 4:40 PM, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using
>> Jets and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the
>> beginners' lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets'
>> palms face up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the
>> ground."
>>
>> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
>> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
>> for easy teaching.
>>
>> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
>> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
>> Ladies.
>>
>> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>>
>> Happy calling, everyone!
>>
>> Angela
>>
>> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>>>
>>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-d
>>> ancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>>>
>>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>>> --
>>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
>>> http://rule6.info/
>>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>>> ___
>>> Callers mailing list
>>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>>
>>
>> ___
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>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>
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>
>

Re: [Callers] Contras which feature a "Dublin Bay" figure

[April Blum via Callers]

I recall dancing one called Doublin Back. And I have written one called Doublin 
Dublin. 
April Blum On Jan 16, 2017 5:20 PM, Tavi Merrill via Callers 
 wrote:
>
>
> Dance genealogy question: The figure first appearing in "Dublin Bay" (aka 
> "We'll Wed and We'll Bed," its title in Playford) morphed in contra into a 
> modified "lines of four down the hall." 
>
> I know a version of it from Sue Rosen's dance "Handsome Young Maids," where 
> dancers facing down take four steps forwards, turn alone, and continue down 
> the hall with four backward steps, then repeat the figure to return up the 
> hall. 
>
> I'm curious how many other contras this figure, or a version of it, appears 
> in. Does anyone know of other dances? And any astute dance historians out 
> there know what the first contra to use this figure is?  
>
> Tavi

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Bob Morgan via Callers]

Angela reminded me of a point I've been thinking about for a while.  Why
not right palm up, left palm down?  This would be symmetrical and role
neutral.

Bob

On Wed, Jan 18, 2017 at 4:40 PM, Angela DeCarlis via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets
> and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners'
> lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face
> up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."
>
> And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
> that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
> for easy teaching.
>
> Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
> language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
> Ladies.
>
> That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.
>
> Happy calling, everyone!
>
> Angela
>
> On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers"  net> wrote:
>
>> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>>
>> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-
>> dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>>
>> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
>> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
>> away from "bands" and "bares".
>> --
>> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
>> http://rule6.info/
>>   <*>   <*>   <*>
>> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
>> ___
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>
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>
>

Re: [Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Angela DeCarlis via Callers]

When I called at PICD (the Portland ME dance), I really enjoyed using Jets
and Rubies. One silly thing I enjoyed any the terms during the beginners'
lesson was coaching palm direction based on the terms: "Jets' palms face
up, towards the sky; Rubies' palms face down, towards the ground."

And yes, I realize that *both* are gemstones and that some feel strongly
that we should steer away from the "airplane" association, but it did make
for easy teaching.

Jets and Rubies is also more forgiving for callers new to gender-neutral
language, since the terms are so linguistically comparable to Gents and
Ladies.

That all said, I also like Larks and Ravens fine.

Happy calling, everyone!

Angela

On Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM, "Aahz via Callers" 
wrote:

> Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)
>
> http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/
> contra-dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/
>
> I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
> seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
> away from "bands" and "bares".
> --
> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6
> http://rule6.info/
>   <*>   <*>   <*>
> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>

[Callers] Another vote for "jets" and "rubies"

[Aahz via Callers]

Not that Portland, the other Portland.  ;-)

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/01/09/news/portland/contra-dancing-takes-a-gender-neutral-spin-in-portland/

I personally would prefer to settle on "larks" and "ravens" because that
seems to have more traction -- but it doesn't matter as long as we get
away from "bands" and "bares".
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html