Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

I facilitate several communities of practice of various kinds around the country, and all are struggling to find ways to make the virtual communication between face-to-face meetings vibrant and meaningful. When working through this with my colleagues, I often use SharedWeight as an example of a

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

While we're complaining, I think I object to having dance terminology drawn from a dead writer's drug trip. As for “mad robin”, I'm still for renaming it “angry bird”. On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 9:25 PM, Jacob or Nancy Bloom via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Lewis Carroll may h

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Lewis Carroll may have defined the word that way on one occasion, but Humpty Dumpty defined the word as "to go round and round like a gyroscope." And Humpty Dumpty was an expert on getting words to mean what you pay them to mean! And William Butler Yeats said, in his poem The Second Coming, "Turn

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Martha, gyre is an excellent option,but now we'll have to develop a basic move called "chortle". It has such a ring to it. Rich On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 4:24 PM, Martha Wild via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Gyre makes me chortle. Could work. > Martha > > On Oct 29, 2015, at

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Sorry, but in 1855, in the magazine Misch-Masch, Lewis Carroll defined Gyre as follows: "Gyre, verb (derived from GYAOUR or GIAOUR, 'a dog'). To scratch like a dog." So, nope, nothing to do with gyration! And, I have always understood it to be pronounced with a hard "g" as in "give". My dictiona

Re: [Callers] gypsy

Good one! (I'm really liking the gyre suggestion and may try it out with English dancers this weekend.) -- Alan On 10/29/2015 2:21 PM, walter Daves via Callers wrote: Then Gypsy meltdown could be “gyre and gambol (sic) in the wabe.” This would be particularly true if the gypsy and swin

[Callers] gypsy

Then Gypsy meltdown could be "gyre and gambol (sic) in the wabe." This would be particularly true if the gypsy and swing are used as a "catch up" move when the couple is wabehind.

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Gyre makes me chortle. Could work. Martha On Oct 29, 2015, at 12:16 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers wrote: > I LOVE that word as a replacement for "gypsy." It makes absolute sense and > conveys the idea of the move perfectly. > -Amy > > On Oct 29, 2015, at 9:23 AM, bill fischer via Callers > wrot

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

I LOVE that word as a replacement for "gypsy." It makes absolute sense and conveys the idea of the move perfectly. -Amy On Oct 29, 2015, at 9:23 AM, bill fischer via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: blessings linda having read volumes of only occasionally interesting thoughts ab

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 18, Issue 17

While I agree in principle, I respectfully disagree in practice. My reasoning: 1. As great as this forum is, it represents just a small portion of the total contra dance community and therefore is a partial voice 2. Without magical powers, I doubt that even this forum will be able to a

[Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

blessings linda having read volumes of only occasionally interesting thoughts about this subject, i am delighted to give a powerful second to the suggestion of gyre the word’s use in the two works cited - two of my favorites - cements its appeal for me grateful for you!! cheers down the road...

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

"Controversial" is different from "political". We can discuss controversial topics without bringing up political affiliations. Please stop. On Oct 29, 2015 11:00 AM, "Aahz Maruch via Callers" < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On Thu, Oct 29, 2015, Ron Blechner wrote: > > > > Can we plea

Re: [Callers] Callers Digest, Vol 18, Issue 17

If the term is to be changed I think there should be agreement as to what the replacement is and not have a variety of terms. The health of many contra dance series is very dependent upon new dancers coming and having a good time so they return. There is a big vocabulary to learn and having it

[Callers] Derivation of "Allemande"

For those interested in the historical derivation of our terms: As Alan said, the Allemande was a couple dance from the late 1700s. In it, both hands were held, and the arms moved through various positions. This put the couple in much closer contact than they were in the minuet, in which the onl

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

We'd probably have a conversation much like this one. I hope we'll always have conversations like this when told something that we do is hurtful to someone. It would probably be a different conversation, though, since Germans have not been thought to be persecuted, stereotyped, and economically opp

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

On Thu, Oct 29, 2015, Ron Blechner wrote: > > Can we please not discuss politics on this list? Whether "gypsy" is an offensive term and the figure name should be changed is an inherently political discussion, so no. (Ditto similar discussions about gender-free dancer terms.) For that matter, I w

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Thanks, Erik for summarizing. It is very helpful to have the list below. I have one other suggestion to add for consideration for those who wish to make a change in terms. Gyre can be found in Carol’s “Jabberwocky" and Yeats’ "The Second Coming". It has the advantage of being one syllable, not

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

Erik, thanks for assembling that list. What we also need a list of is that of all of the categories to determine which terms are better than others. For example, I can start us off: - term should not sound too much like an existing contra dance term - clear and easy to say and hear on the mic/mon

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

Can we please not discuss politics on this list? Seriously. On Oct 29, 2015 9:51 AM, "Aahz Maruch via Callers" < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On Wed, Oct 28, 2015, Michael Fuerst via Callers wrote: > > > > I have been contra dancing for 30 years or so and this is the first > > time I'

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

" I suggest that you do some research into the countless number of times that "progressive" people have screwed over minorities who weren't in their own demographic."Inapplicable analogy.   By"screwing" you mean political or economic discrimination.   Contra dancers are not of any particular de

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

On Wed, Oct 28, 2015, Michael Fuerst via Callers wrote: > > I have been contra dancing for 30 years or so and this is the first > time I've encountered a question about "gypsy" being controversial. > The people who contra dance on average are well left of center > politically--people who would neve

Re: [Callers] Offensive terms and cultural norms

On Tue, Oct 27, 2015, Sargon de Jesus via Callers wrote: > > This has been a fascinating and edifying conversation regarding how and > when to use the term. At the risk of getting too deep in the philosophical > questions regarding use of the word "gypsy," I have a sincere and seriously > non-loade

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

On 10/29/15 2:45 AM, Jeff Kaufman via Callers wrote: On Oct 29, 2015 4:24 AM, "Erik Hoffman via Callers" > wrote: > > > No Hand Allemande (and I do think Allemande comes from "The German," a dance) > I wonder what we'll do if we discover that

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

On Oct 29, 2015 4:24 AM, "Erik Hoffman via Callers" < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > No Hand Allemande (and I do think Allemande comes from "The German," a dance) > I wonder what we'll do if we discover that to some Germans the French term "Allemande" is derogatory and they p

[Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

On the subject of gypsies and language, I've enjoyed reading the myriad comments, and find myself feeling ambiguous (which I define as feeling very strongly both ways). And, I know it's been thrashed about and we've a request for acknowledging that we are unlikely to change any opinions on this