Maia et al, I struggle with this as well. Typically I've been sharing a wee bit of history i.e. some dances have been around since George Washington's time and were written for Gents & Ladies. So I line up long ways and indicate that historically one line was gents and the other ladies. Talk a wee bit about proper dance. (Keep in mind WEE BIT, not a history lesson, a sentence.) Then I introduce the modern concept of gender free and indicate the Lark line & the Robin line and that it is not a gender but a position. Then I flow into alemande, do-si-do, hands 4, position in the hands four (ones & twos), swing and where to end...now Introduce improper and where Larks & Robins are now. If at this time people who prefer gendered position, will naturally move to that place. Then I add stars, right & left through, chain. Done.
This sometimes feels awkward and I struggle through it. Mostly it works, sometime really well, sometimes not so much, sometimes I just ignore all of it and just teach a simple dance and do teaching as walk through. Going to a callers' gathering next (this coming weekend) Saturday and hopefully we can talk about this there. Love all the sharing. Mary Collins WNY On Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:48 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hey there, hive mind, > > When you're calling larks and robins, during the lesson, how do you > a. explain the roles to the new folks, and > b. put the beginners into roles for the duration of the lesson? > > I've seen "try swinging in both roles and see which feels better", I've > seen "unless you have a preference, whoever is standing on the right of > your partnership is the robin for now", I've seen "pick whichever bird you > like better", I've seen "the robin's role is a little easier so do that if > you feel less confident"... > > I'm curious what folks here do and in what kind of distribution, and how > you find it works for you in practice. > > (Please please please let's not relitigate gender-free contra or the bird > terms in this thread. If you really must, please make a separate thread.) > > Swingingly, > Maia > > > -- > Maia McCormick (she/her) > 917.279.8194 > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net > To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-le...@lists.sharedweight.net >
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