In an earlier email, David Casserly shared the following link, which defines the approach very, very well! http://heatherandrose.org/terms.shtml Linda
On Jun 1, 2015, at 12:37 PM, Perry Shafran <ps...@yahoo.com> wrote: > It would help tremendously if we could have a discussion on what "global > terminology" is and an example of choreography that is called with such > terminology. The concept is one I have not heard of before. > > Perry > > From: Linda Leslie via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Andrea Nettleton <twirly-g...@bellsouth.net> > Cc: Caller's discussion list <call...@sharedweight.net> > Sent: Monday, June 1, 2015 10:33 AM > Subject: [Callers] Global terminology in contra dances > > In Jamaica Plain, MA, the ECD dancers use Window Wall and Clock Wall, rather > than left/right file. It is different global terminology, but works very > well. I don’t know the history of why these words were chosen, but I could > probably find out. The dancers also line up without identifying a partner, as > discussed at Brooke’s site. This tradition is really quite lovely. I have had > the opportunity to call this dance many times, so the terminology is very > second nature to me. > > For me, the major challenge with incorporating global language into contra > dances has to do with ending the swing. So many contra dances depend on the > dancers having learned that the lady/lark/barearm/ruby/right file end on the > right. > How do we help completely new dancers learn this? > Do we say “swing your Neighbor and change places”? Swing your Partner and > change places”? > I recognize that experienced dancers will know this instinctively; just as > many dancers line up and automatically form improper lines at many contra > dances. > > But I am curious about how callers out there see us helping the new folks, > without using any role language at all. > > Thanks! > Linda > > > > > > > On Jun 1, 2015, at 11:59 AM, Andrea Nettleton via Callers > <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > In previous discussions here, on FB, and privately with organizers at > Hampshire over the last two years, I have discussed the possible use of > global terminology for gender free contra. I would contend that if used, > everyone would become more aware of the structure of dances. Only the most > unusual figures/sequences would be unable to be called. The addition of > first and second corner positions to the arsenal makes it possible for same > role dancers to also be called upon to dance together without reference to > gender. Second corners chain, or first corners allemande L 1 1/2 for > example. It would have to be agreed that this refers to those standing in > those positions at that moment. In ECD we use first and second corners to > refer to the people, first and second diagonals for the positions. But since > we use diagonal to refer to those across and over one set, this seems > unhelpful. Simply corner positions works better. I'm glad some folks are > trying it out at last. I had hoped for an opportunity myself before now. > Cheers, > Andrea > > Sent from my iOnlypretendtomultitask > > On Jun 1, 2015, at 8:37 AM, Jim Hemphill via Callers > <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> The recent discussions on this topic inspired me to try an experiment in >> gender free calling. Last night I called the contra dance in St. Louis >> using gender free calling without telling anyone. The experiment was a >> great success. I received lots of positive feedback on the evenings dance. >> At the break and after the dance I made a point to ask several dancers, >> some were callers as well, if they noticed anything different or unusual >> about the dances or how I taught them. One person noticed that there were >> more dances that included a swing in the center for couple 2 than usual. No >> one I talked to noticed that the calls and teaching were gender free. >> >> It took some extra time to construct a fun, diverse 3 hour program, but it >> is certainly possible. Re-labeling the dancers is not the only way to call >> gender free. >> >> If you are interested in the program I used or the larger collection of >> gender free dances I chose the program from, send me an email, >> arcadia...@gmail.com. >> >> Thanks, >> Jim Hemphill > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >
