Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Alan J Rosenthal via Callers]

>There's a dance called Black Nag (Playford 1670).  Should we avoid this
>in case people think it refers to a nagging black woman?

I don't see why.  Doesn't that obviously refer to a horse?  Is anyone
actually expressing concern about that name?  (Besides the fact that any
one dance name is heard much less often than the name of a dance figure.)

While the dance term "gip" or "whole-gip" of old seems quite possibly
not to have had anything to do with the term "Gypsy" in those days, I
think that its change to "Gypsy" was a confluence with the racial term,
and I think that it's perceived as a racial term in modern times.

regards,
Alan Rosenthal, dancing in and around Toronto, Canada.
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Colin Hume via Callers]

On Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:22:00 -0400, Alan J Rosenthal via Callers wrote:
> Imagine if there were a dance move entitled "Black-man swing"? (I think that 
> part of why "Gypsy" flies under the
> radar is because many people here don't immediately perceive it as a racial 
> term.)

There's a dance called Black Nag (Playford 1670).  Should we avoid this in case 
people think it refers to a nagging black woman?

There's a dance called The Black Boy (Ashover Book, c. 1764)

Black Jack (Pat Shaw, 1964)

Black Mountain Reel (Tom Hinds, 1991) - might this be a derogatory term for a 
place where black people live?

There's a Scottish dance of the same name (Derek Haynes)

This is all getting very silly and I agree with John Sweeney.

Colin Hume

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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Sam Whited via Callers]

I wrote something about this recently that may (or may not) be of
interest here (though it doesn't really say anything that others in this
thread haven't already said):

https://blog.samwhited.com/2019/07/right-shoulder-round/

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, at 14:56, Jeffrey Spero via Callers wrote:
> I apologize. But my point remains that ALMOST everyone who is debating
> this point is an outsider.

This is a self fulfilling prophecy. If we require minorities to stand up
for themselves, and in the mean time we continue to make them unwelcome
at our dances, they won't come to the dances and won't be able to make
their views known.

Also, as far as I see, no one is suggesting that Roma can't call
themselves whatever they want. They're just suggesting that white people
don't own every word, and maybe shouldn't assume that it's okay for them
to use a word which may be associated with persecution and fear.
As long as no one here is contradicting or pretending to know better
than people from a marginalized group that they're not a part of, it's
perfectly appropriate to try and make marginalized groups that we're not
a part of feel more welcome. If someone from one of these groups has
feedback on how this is done, we should be attentive and respect their
views and expertise.

—Sam
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Alan J Rosenthal via Callers]

I'm uncomfortable with the use of any racial term in the name of a
dance move.  Especially if it's an offensive racial term, but even if
it's a neutral racial term.

Imagine if there were a dance move entitled "Black-man swing"?
(I think that part of why "Gypsy" flies under the radar is because many
people here don't immediately perceive it as a racial term.)

Yes, I'm an outsider to Roma culture.  But I hope that Roma people, or
any people, don't feel like outsiders to the dance group.  Using their
name as a dance move implies that they are -- there would never be a
Contra dance move entitled "white-person swing".

regards,
Alan Rosenthal, dancing in and around Toronto, Canada.
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Julia Whiteneck via Callers]

I think that previous posters have made good points but I am offended by the 
idea that "outsiders" can't be sensitive. Doesn't it make sense that the 
majority, educated, should be the driving force behind "no ethnicity slurred" 
and not leave it in our culture especially in a community that espouses joy and 
unity and shared weight, literally?
Julia


From: Callers  on behalf of Jeffrey 
Spero via Callers 
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 10:56 AM
To: Isaac Banner 
Cc: Callers@Lists.Sharedweight.net 
Subject: Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

I apologize.  But my point remains that ALMOST everyone who is debating this 
point is an outsider.

On Oct 8, 2019, at 6:16 AM, Isaac Banner 
mailto:ibanne...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Hey Jeff,

Not **us** non-roma folk, thank you. My family on my mother's side were a part 
of the culture and none of us appreciate the folks telling us not to worry and 
that we don't need to be offended.

Isaav

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 8:10 AM Jeffrey Spero via Callers 
mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
But Isaac… isn’t that what people on BOTH sides of the issue are doing? There 
are VERY few Roma in the contra community, and we’ve heard from very few 
overall on this issue.  Mostly it’s just us non-Roma folk arguing amongst 
ourselves about what WE perceive how a majority of the Roma people feel about 
this.  And that does apply to people who are both for and against using the 
term “gypsy” to describe a contradance move.  Aren’t we ALL saying what is 
right or wrong for people who are from another heritage?

And now I am bowing out of this controversy as it seems never-ending and very 
divisive.

Jeff



> On Oct 8, 2019, at 5:57 AM, Isaac Banner via Callers 
> mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote:
>
> Hey John,
>
> If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur, you 
> wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call it, so 
> drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be offended 
> about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you get to 
> dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for others how 
> they ought to experience and respect their racial identity, thanks.
>
> Isaac
>

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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Jeffrey Spero via Callers]

I apologize.  But my point remains that ALMOST everyone who is debating this 
point is an outsider.

> On Oct 8, 2019, at 6:16 AM, Isaac Banner  wrote:
> 
> Hey Jeff,
> 
> Not **us** non-roma folk, thank you. My family on my mother's side were a 
> part of the culture and none of us appreciate the folks telling us not to 
> worry and that we don't need to be offended.
> 
> Isaav
> 
> On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 8:10 AM Jeffrey Spero via Callers 
> mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> 
> wrote:
> But Isaac… isn’t that what people on BOTH sides of the issue are doing? There 
> are VERY few Roma in the contra community, and we’ve heard from very few 
> overall on this issue.  Mostly it’s just us non-Roma folk arguing amongst 
> ourselves about what WE perceive how a majority of the Roma people feel about 
> this.  And that does apply to people who are both for and against using the 
> term “gypsy” to describe a contradance move.  Aren’t we ALL saying what is 
> right or wrong for people who are from another heritage?
> 
> And now I am bowing out of this controversy as it seems never-ending and very 
> divisive.
> 
> Jeff
> 
> 
> 
> > On Oct 8, 2019, at 5:57 AM, Isaac Banner via Callers 
> > mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> 
> > wrote:
> > 
> > Hey John,
> > 
> > If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur, 
> > you wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call 
> > it, so drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be 
> > offended about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you 
> > get to dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for 
> > others how they ought to experience and respect their racial identity, 
> > thanks. 
> > 
> > Isaac 
> > 
> 
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

I am working on a shared document, if only because it takes a lot of time
and work to educate people and I'd like a resource with lots of links that
people can easily share. If you'd like to positively contribute, please
email me directly contraron at gmail dot com.

It's the 21st century. We're smart people who love history, right?

"G*psy" has its etymology back to mistaking olive-skinned peoples from
India and Persia for Egyptians. It's _always_ been a racial term, and it's
always been a slang that was put on Romany. While some groups have
reclaimed the term, this is not the majority, and, like f*ggot to LGBTQ
people, or the N word to Africans and African Americans, the word simply
isn't white people's word, even if someone has "given you permission" to
use it.

When Cecil Sharp introduced it, so far research I've seen shows he didn't
use "gip" it in the racial sense. It was a Morris dance word that had no
roots in Romance languages. Sometime after in the 20th century, probably
because of homonym confusion, other callers and dancers assumed it was
"g*psy".

Romancing nomadicism:
So, y'all have Jewish friends, right?
You all know the diaspora, and thousands of years of nomadicism by Jews was
_forced_, right?
You know that it was forced because of racism and anti-Semitism, and Jews
have suffered greatly, culminating in the Holocaust, right?

It's nearly identical to Romany oppression. Their nomadicism has been
forced. They have the same myths, same racist stereotypes of baby stealing
and dark magic. They've been denied citizenship and forced to relocate
century after century in Europe. They suffered over a million deaths in the
Holocaust.

Why, then, would we romanticize their forced nomadicism?

In dance,
Ron Blechner


On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 9:16 AM Isaac Banner via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hey Jeff,
>
> Not **us** non-roma folk, thank you. My family on my mother's side were a
> part of the culture and none of us appreciate the folks telling us not to
> worry and that we don't need to be offended.
>
> Isaav
>
> On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 8:10 AM Jeffrey Spero via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> But Isaac… isn’t that what people on BOTH sides of the issue are doing?
>> There are VERY few Roma in the contra community, and we’ve heard from very
>> few overall on this issue.  Mostly it’s just us non-Roma folk arguing
>> amongst ourselves about what WE perceive how a majority of the Roma people
>> feel about this.  And that does apply to people who are both for and
>> against using the term “gypsy” to describe a contradance move.  Aren’t we
>> ALL saying what is right or wrong for people who are from another heritage?
>>
>> And now I am bowing out of this controversy as it seems never-ending and
>> very divisive.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Oct 8, 2019, at 5:57 AM, Isaac Banner via Callers <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hey John,
>> >
>> > If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the
>> slur, you wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to
>> call it, so drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should
>> be offended about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean
>> you get to dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for
>> others how they ought to experience and respect their racial identity,
>> thanks.
>> >
>> > Isaac
>> >
>>
>> ___
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>>
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Isaac Banner via Callers]

Hey Jeff,

Not **us** non-roma folk, thank you. My family on my mother's side were a
part of the culture and none of us appreciate the folks telling us not to
worry and that we don't need to be offended.

Isaav

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 8:10 AM Jeffrey Spero via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> But Isaac… isn’t that what people on BOTH sides of the issue are doing?
> There are VERY few Roma in the contra community, and we’ve heard from very
> few overall on this issue.  Mostly it’s just us non-Roma folk arguing
> amongst ourselves about what WE perceive how a majority of the Roma people
> feel about this.  And that does apply to people who are both for and
> against using the term “gypsy” to describe a contradance move.  Aren’t we
> ALL saying what is right or wrong for people who are from another heritage?
>
> And now I am bowing out of this controversy as it seems never-ending and
> very divisive.
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
> > On Oct 8, 2019, at 5:57 AM, Isaac Banner via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hey John,
> >
> > If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur,
> you wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call
> it, so drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be
> offended about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you
> get to dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for
> others how they ought to experience and respect their racial identity,
> thanks.
> >
> > Isaac
> >
>
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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Jeffrey Spero via Callers]

But Isaac… isn’t that what people on BOTH sides of the issue are doing? There 
are VERY few Roma in the contra community, and we’ve heard from very few 
overall on this issue.  Mostly it’s just us non-Roma folk arguing amongst 
ourselves about what WE perceive how a majority of the Roma people feel about 
this.  And that does apply to people who are both for and against using the 
term “gypsy” to describe a contradance move.  Aren’t we ALL saying what is 
right or wrong for people who are from another heritage?

And now I am bowing out of this controversy as it seems never-ending and very 
divisive.

Jeff



> On Oct 8, 2019, at 5:57 AM, Isaac Banner via Callers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hey John,
> 
> If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur, you 
> wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call it, so 
> drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be offended 
> about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you get to 
> dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for others how 
> they ought to experience and respect their racial identity, thanks. 
> 
> Isaac 
> 

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Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[Isaac Banner via Callers]

Hey John,

If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur,
you wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call
it, so drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be
offended about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you
get to dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for
others how they ought to experience and respect their racial identity,
thanks.

Isaac

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 5:10 AM John Sweeney via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Since the topic has been re-opened…
>
>
>
> First, please may I clear up a couple of points of confusion.
>
>
>
> The original version of the Gypsy dance move did not involve eyes.  The
> first known mention of eyes is in America in 1983.  Dancers outside the
> modern contra genre do not always lock eyes.  Indeed, in 1911 Cecil Sharp
> defined two moves, the Whole-Gip Facing Centre and the Whole-Gip Facing
> Outward, the second of which definitely didn’t involve eye contact!
>
>
>
> English is a rich and varied language wherein many words have multiple,
> different meanings. This is one of them! In this context the word Gip or
> Gypsy is a historical dance term. It has nothing to do with the people
> known as gypsies.
>
>
>
> Roma and gypsy are not synonymous.  One of the definitions of gypsy is
> just “traveller”.  Dance Gypsy just means a dancer who travels.
>
>
>
> For lots more background on the Gypsy move please see
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html.
>
>
>
> = = = = = = = = = = =
>
>
>
> However, if you insist on linking the two together, the move and the
> person, then please read on.
>
>
>
> I am sorry, but I do not believe that the word “gypsy” is intrinsically a
> racial/ethnic slur.  To be a slur it would have to be used in a way that
> the context and tone make it a slur.  If I call someone a “stupid gypsy” in
> a nasty tone of voice then it would be a slur.  But, of course, I could
> say, “stupid blonde”, “stupid Irishman” or “stupid child” in a nasty tone.
> None of these make the individual words “blonde”, “Irishman” or “child”
> into slurs.  Context and tone are crucial in making an ordinary word into a
> slur.  In the context of a dance there is no slur intended, and none should
> be inferred.
>
>
>
> If it was intrinsically a slur then would these, and countless other,
> organisations use it in their names or descriptions?
>
> Gypsy Council USA https://twitter.com/gypsy_usa
>
> The National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups
> http://www.nationalgypsytravellerfederation.org/
>
> Friends Families and Travellers https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/
>
>
>
> The Pope started his address to the Pilgrimage of Gypsies with, “Dear
> gypsy friends”.
> https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2015/october/documents/papa-francesco_20151026_popolo-gitano.html
> I don’t believe that he intended it as a slur!
>
>
>
>  I have been teaching dance for nearly 50 years, using the words “Half
> Gyp”, “Whole Gyp” and “Gypsy” and of the thousands of people I have taught,
> not a single one has ever suggested that it might be a slur in that context.
>
>
>
> I am Irish and have cousins who call themselves gypsies and who would be
> most upset at the suggestion that the word is intrinsically a slur.
>
>
>
> Rather than remove the word from our vocabulary, surely we should instead
> be trying to make the word positive.  Fight back against those who use
> words nastily and reclaim our language.
>
>
>
> When all the gypsy organisations in the world declare that it is a slur
> and change their names then I might start to believe it, but until then
> please consider just explaining to anyone who asks (IF anyone ever asks)
> that the dance move is a completely different use of the word, and because
> of its context cannot possibly be a slur.
>
>
>
> Happy dancing,
>
>John
>
>
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England   j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
>
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music
> Ceilidhs
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
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Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 66, Issue 2

[Liz Burkhart via Callers]

I love the wider conversation this has generated! (Thanks Heitzso for
sharing my original post.) I also discovered that on long trips, my mileage
went from around 45-48 on the highway to closer to 53 MPG when I just drove
the speed limit - it'd probably be even better if I kept it at 55. It makes
for a more relaxed drive if I give myself tons of time to go a moderate
speed (and stop for breaks for a little hike or lunch). I made my
automobile purchase with fuel economy in mind - I drive an 04 Jetta TDI
5-speed, can't afford a Prius! My mechanic friend advised me on this, as
electric cars and hybrids need batteries replaced more often, and those are
built from materials mined unethically in terms of often using
slave/child/unfairly paid labor as well as it being devastating for the
environment from where its sourced.

As for Dance Gypsy (which btw is not a word I use to describe myself), I
think the bigger question is, why do we celebrate the people who drive or
fly the furthest to get to events all across the country, and indeed the
world, without taking into consideration their carbon footprint? I get the
joys and benefits of traveling for dance, I do it all the time. But I
wonder - how many others feel that it's unsustainable?

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 1:32 AM  wrote:

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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Callers digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>1. Re: [Organizers] contra dance gypsy & fuel consumption
>   (Paul Wilde)
>2. Re: [Organizers] contra dance gypsy & fuel consumption
>   (Mac Mckeever)
>3. Re: [Organizers] contra dance gypsy (Becky Liddle)
>4. Re: [Organizers] contra dance gypsy (Mac Mckeever)
>
>
> --
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2019 14:54:51 -0400
> From: Paul Wilde 
> To: "Heitzso <" ,
> organiz...@lists.sharedweight.net,  callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> ,
> musici...@lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy & fuel
> consumption
> Message-ID:
> <
> cacyeusmm8qihakh3oicv91xcqv6xcrrr+upmbxo7g8dh-9b...@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Hey all,
>
> This is a long email, as it includes three posts.
>
> First, I hope people don't mind, but I'm ccing,
> callers and musicians list here, as I think
> we can collectively bring about a major shift
> in habits w/ our concerted hive intelligence.
>
> I am including the original two posts near the top of
> this email, so callers/musicians list people can
> see where this started.  PLEASE feel free to
> cut out the original lengthy posts when replying.
>
> First:
>
> On 10/7/19, Heitzso via Organizers 
> wrote:
> > I'm a believer that climate change is a real threat.
>
> > I'm also a believer that our culture desperately needs activities
>that bind people together rather than fractures them apart, and
>I believe contra dance is an excellent way to do that.
>(sharing weight, dancing with everyone, ...)
>
> > I've mentioned the issue of how do we change our contra culture
>to minimize our carbon footprint from traveling to non-local contra
>dances to my wife, Jennifer Horrocks, a few times over the years
>(she sews and sells contra dance dresses all over the country).
>
> > Recently Liz Burkhart (on this email's "to" list) posted on Facebook
>about her trying to alter her contra lifestyle to minimize her contra
>carbon footprint.
>
> > Cut-and-pasting from her post:
>
> >> I've spent years with a contra habit that takes me to roughly one
> dance weekend per month. The closest, besides our own, was 83 miles
> away and the furthest was 795 miles. I am acutely aware that this is an
> incredible amount of distance to be covered for just one weekend (sometimes
> a week) for a pleasurable activity. It's been weighing on me more and more,
> as it's becoming painfully obvious that our lifestyles aren't sustainable.
> My
> lifestyle at home is mostly pretty simple, but I feel this nagging guilt
> when I do something extravagant, like drive to Vermont for YDW. Although
> we did our best to cram up to 6 people and our stuff in a van, we still
> consumed a lot of fuel to make it happen. Some people flew, which consumes
> even more.
>
> >> I think I'd like to work on decreasing the amount of out-of-town events
> I go to, and try to find alternative ways to get there. Carpools are great
> and much better than driving solo, but we could do more. One dancer this
> 

Re: [Callers] [Organizers] contra dance gypsy

[John Sweeney via Callers]

Since the topic has been re-opened…

 

First, please may I clear up a couple of points of confusion.

 

The original version of the Gypsy dance move did not involve eyes.  The first 
known mention of eyes is in America in 1983.  Dancers outside the modern contra 
genre do not always lock eyes.  Indeed, in 1911 Cecil Sharp defined two moves, 
the Whole-Gip Facing Centre and the Whole-Gip Facing Outward, the second of 
which definitely didn’t involve eye contact!

 

English is a rich and varied language wherein many words have multiple, 
different meanings. This is one of them! In this context the word Gip or Gypsy 
is a historical dance term. It has nothing to do with the people known as 
gypsies.

 

Roma and gypsy are not synonymous.  One of the definitions of gypsy is just 
“traveller”.  Dance Gypsy just means a dancer who travels.

 

For lots more background on the Gypsy move please see  
 http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html. 

 

= = = = = = = = = = =

 

However, if you insist on linking the two together, the move and the person, 
then please read on.

 

I am sorry, but I do not believe that the word “gypsy” is intrinsically a 
racial/ethnic slur.  To be a slur it would have to be used in a way that the 
context and tone make it a slur.  If I call someone a “stupid gypsy” in a nasty 
tone of voice then it would be a slur.  But, of course, I could say, “stupid 
blonde”, “stupid Irishman” or “stupid child” in a nasty tone.  None of these 
make the individual words “blonde”, “Irishman” or “child” into slurs.  Context 
and tone are crucial in making an ordinary word into a slur.  In the context of 
a dance there is no slur intended, and none should be inferred.

 

If it was intrinsically a slur then would these, and countless other, 
organisations use it in their names or descriptions?

Gypsy Council USA   https://twitter.com/gypsy_usa

The National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups  
 
http://www.nationalgypsytravellerfederation.org/

Friends Families and Travellers   
https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

 

The Pope started his address to the Pilgrimage of Gypsies with, “Dear gypsy 
friends”.  

 
https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2015/october/documents/papa-francesco_20151026_popolo-gitano.html
 I don’t believe that he intended it as a slur!

 

 I have been teaching dance for nearly 50 years, using the words “Half Gyp”, 
“Whole Gyp” and “Gypsy” and of the thousands of people I have taught, not a 
single one has ever suggested that it might be a slur in that context.

 

I am Irish and have cousins who call themselves gypsies and who would be most 
upset at the suggestion that the word is intrinsically a slur.

 

Rather than remove the word from our vocabulary, surely we should instead be 
trying to make the word positive.  Fight back against those who use words 
nastily and reclaim our language.

 

When all the gypsy organisations in the world declare that it is a slur and 
change their names then I might start to believe it, but until then please 
consider just explaining to anyone who asks (IF anyone ever asks) that the 
dance move is a completely different use of the word, and because of its 
context cannot possibly be a slur.

 

Happy dancing,  

   John   



John Sweeney, Dancer, England   j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 
574  

http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs 
   

http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent   
   

http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs

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Re: [Callers] Fuel-efficient dancing

[Nick Cuccia via Callers]

On 10/7/19 5:43 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers wrote:

>
> Looking forward to hearing other people's thoughts on this.
>
> Kalia Kliban in slightly-inaccessible Sebastopol, CA
>
I used to maintain BACDS's page describing how to get to (and, maybe,
from) BACDS dances ().  It was an example
of benevolent self interest -- at the time, I had neither car nor
drivers license, and transit was how I got to and from dances.  The page
can use a bit of polish (some of the restaurant options are no longer
around, and it's missing info for how to get to the Hayward contra or
San Jose First Unitarian dances).

At one point, I had prepared similar information for how to at least get
to NBCDS and NBCDS-adjacent dances (this was close to 20 years ago, so
the venues at that time would've been the Santa Rosa and San Rafael (in
the Masonic Hall) contras, plus the long-defunct contras in Sonoma,
Sebastopol, and St. Helena/Calistoga, and the long-defunct contra/family
dance in Fairfax).  I had provided them to NBCDS back then, but nobody
seemed interested, and I can't blame them; transit options in Marin and
Sonoma Counties (let alone Napa County) are extremely limited if you're
not within a mile of Golden Gate Transit's 101 bus lines, or the SMART
trains today.

Including transit and neighborhood guides (local restaurants and
watering holes, etc.) isn't a lot of work, but it does require someone
to do it, and that's always a challenge.  The same is true for
organizing carpooling, although there are many options
(www.groupcarpool.com and  www.ridesharing.com are a couple of examples)
for helping organize ridesharing that weren't around twenty or even ten
years ago.

--Nick (in even more inaccessible Merced, CA)

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