I have a few shadow swing dances in my collection. I don't know why I keep them because I don't call them.
There is a history of problem dancers (PDs) in my area who are typically male presenting, and robins complain that these people stalk them, both in the dance hall and outside, hold them too closely, are rough, etc. These PDs also tend to make rude remarks, especially to LGBTQ+ dancers. People avoid them at all costs. There used to be a few folks I would avoid for those same reasons. To be sure, I always asked them to stop their troublesome behavior, but there was a handful who refused to comply. Forming a club of "acceptable only" dancers? No. Training those PDs is my goal, both as a caller and as a dance organizer. My fellow organizers and I have been taking statements from complainants, talking to the PDs about their behavior, and suggesting alternatives. If it gets heated we ask them to take a break from dancing until they can behave more politely. That's why I don't call shadow swings. To be clear, our community has, as a whole, gotten way more accepting of gender fluidity/queer, and is a very welcoming body. That means that folks who don't want to accept dancers they think are too different from them don't attend as often as they used to. It's also known in the area that we organizers don't tolerate bad behavior. I think if you told the dancers before line-up that you're going to call a shadow-swing dance it would give them a chance to choose their spots with that in mind. -Amy On Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 7:39 AM Maia McCormick via Contra Callers < contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Prompted by some recent conversations, I’m curious how folks here feel > about shadow swings! > > 1. As a caller, do you: > A) not have an issue with shadow swings, and program them freely > B) not tend to program them just bc they don’t come up in your repertoire, > but have no issue with them > C) not program shadow swings as a matter of principle > D) some secret fourth thing (feel free to elaborate!)? > > 2. How do you feel about shadow swings as a dancer? > > Will weigh in with my thoughts later, both to avoid biasing the > conversation from the outset, and also because I’m currently in transit 😅 > > Thanks for participating in the data gathering! > > Cheers, > 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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