Contra Callers

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4388 discussions

by Ron Blechner via Callers

"who on this list believe that contra dancers have a negative view of the Romani people because of the word gypsy?" Over the last few days, as this conversation has spilled out onto a few forms of social media, I have now heard specific stories about people who are Roma and/or have Roma heritage who are folk dancers in dance forms that use "gypsy" as a term, and are offended directly. As to your question, do you consider "negative" to include "reinforcing stereotypes"? Maybe? What if we had a dance move called "redneck". Sure, there's plenty of find country folks in America who proudly self-describe as a "redneck". There are songs written about them. There are people who dress up for Halloween as them. etc. Does that mean that there aren't also plenty of people who have been called "redneck" as a slur against the stereotype of "dumb, rural, ignorant yokels"? I find the parallels compelling enough where I'm now seriously leaning off the fence... -Ron Blechner On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 10:37 AM, Tom Hinds via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > In my opinion the offended women actually helped spread a stereotype she > didn't like. Who on this list knew that Romani women had a reputation for > being (I can't remember, was it) sexual? Not me. Okay, it was the caller > she complained to who put it out there, but she started it. Should the > caller feel defensive or should the caller turn the issue around if it's > appropriate? > > I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO KNOW, who on this list believe that > contra dancers have a negative view of the Romani people because of the > word gypsy? Anyone? > > For me the more important issue is education. I learned another tidbit > about the Romani people. Yes I understand how people can be sensitive, but > perhaps this woman needs to learn something about us before jumping to > conclusions. > > Tom > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Gypsy

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Janet, I agree entirely re "gypsy"! But, please, not "Homo Sapien"! "Homo Sapiens" is the singular. The "s" on the end does not indicate plural. You can't take it off to make it singular. The plural is "Homines Sapientes". It hurts when I hear someone say it without the "s". :-( Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by April Blum via Callers

Brief Encounters for 5 couples longways proper. A total hoot. On Nov 1, 2015 8:12 AM, Donna Hunt via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Thanks everyone for great ideas. > It was late when I posted my request and I should mention that this is an English/Contra crossover weekend (Princeton Country Dancers Head for the Hills). > > I'm definitely looking for dances that don't fit a genre and appeal to contra dancers (ie swings and not too much inactivity). Am open to "barn" dances if there's something unusual (but not too much sashaying). > > > > Donna > Web Site: donnahuntcaller.com > Email: dhuntdancer(a)aol.com > Cell: 215-565-6050 > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bree Kalb <bree(a)mindspring.com> > To: Donna Hunt <dhuntdancer(a)aol.com>; callers <callers(a)sharedweight.net> > Sent: Sun, Nov 1, 2015 7:18 am > Subject: Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations > > Levi Jackson Rag is a favorite of mine but not all bands know the tune. > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Donna Hunt via Callers >> Sent: Nov 1, 2015 12:10 AM >> To: callers(a)sharedweight.net >> Subject: [Callers] dances in unusual formations >> >> >> >> Hi >> I'm doing a workshop on dances "outside the box" (ie, no squares or contras). >> Anyone have any interesting dances for contra dancers that fit the criteria? >>

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] dances in unusual formations

by Bree Kalb via Callers

9 years, 10 months

dances in unusual formations

by Playford1651 via Callers

You could try the contra modified version of Wendy Crouch's Winter Solstice (square with an extra couple). Renamed Swinging Solstice for the other side of the Pond. Features a grand square for 5 couples! Progression is clockwise. Although they do not feature swings she has Silver Thread ( 3 couples in a line), which can be prove a challenge even for experienced ECD dancer; and Sussex Martlets (3 couples in a delta formation). Graham Knight

9 years, 10 months

A Rededication & Renaming of a Dance Formerly Known as Jeff's Gypsy

by Paul Wilde via Callers

Jeff's Gyre & Gimble DI A-1 1s Gyre & Gimble (R Sh) A-2 Down Hall Line of 4, 2s Hand Cast 1's (or trn as cpl), return B-1 Circle L 1X (all are back to orig DI) Pass N-1 by R and Gyre N-2 by L B-2 N-1 Gire & Gimble (R Sh) Notes: This dance needs room, so best to keep lines short. Using the hand cast in A-2 means you will also need space width wise. The effect in the B part is of sweeping figure 8s along the side of the set. Tunes w/ ECD feeling work well. The terms will need defining for the first or second time you use them w/ a group, but I suspect people might willingly adopt them w/ a smile. Thanks for suggesting this. Lovely. This dance was written in honor of Jeff Ratch, a dear friend and dancer who left us much too soon. Jeff was able to make me howl w/ laughter quicker than anyone I've met. It was hard to explain to people as we danced back in at the end of a line why I was so hysterical. Jeff, if you've been keeping tabs on us, I hope you get a huge belly laugh. Let us continue to revel in joyfulness, gentleness, and remain respectful of others. Paul PS It felt appropriate to rephrase this dance, written as a memorial, on the cusp of Halloween & All Souls Day, esp. w/ the extra hr thrown in to help blur the lines a little more. If you try it, please let me know how it was received.

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Gypsy

by janet via Callers

This is an excellent example of what I pointed out previously ... different uses of the same word in different contexts, where one may be considered derogatory and another quite the opposite. Homo, as in homosexual, appears to derive from the Greek translation meaning one in the same. However, the genus and species of humans is Homo sapien, and homo refers to a genus with several species that are closely related to humans, including Homo neandrathal. It derives from the Latin meaning mankind. When a person calls someone a homo, as in homosexual, they often mean it as deragatory. But I'm pretty sure no one would take offense to being called human. In the dance community, gypsy is not meant to be offensive, but quite the opposite is viewed as a positive term. Education of other meanings is useful, and goes both ways. It would be equally useful to educate the woman who brought this up that in our community it had a different meaning that generally means to travel. Janet Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: Read Weaver via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Date: 10/31/2015 12:09 PM (GMT-05:00) To: callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> Subject: Re: [Callers] Gypsy I've known at least one person who sincerely thought “homo” was a perfectly acceptable term, carrying no particular negative connotations. Whether or not she held negative views herself, she needed to learn that she was mistaken about the connotations, and if she didn’t want to be offensive, she needed to change the word she used. Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On Oct 31, 2015, at 10:37 AM, Tom Hinds via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > In my opinion the offended women actually helped spread a stereotype she didn't like. Who on this list knew that Romani women had a reputation for being (I can't remember, was it) sexual? Not me. Okay, it was the caller she complained to who put it out there, but she started it. Should the caller feel defensive or should the caller turn the issue around if it's appropriate? > > I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO KNOW, who on this list believe that contra dancers have a negative view of the Romani people because of the word gypsy? Anyone? > > For me the more important issue is education. I learned another tidbit about the Romani people. Yes I understand how people can be sensitive, but perhaps this woman needs to learn something about us before jumping to conclusions. _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

9 years, 10 months

Easy Civil War Era Wholesets

by Rich Sbardella via Callers

I am looking for some EASY wholeset dancers for a Civil War event that is mostly teenage boys. Wholesets seem to be the best option, but I am open to othe suggestions. Virginia Reel is an obvious choice. Peace & Thanks! Rich

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Gypsy Synopsis

by John Sweeney via Callers

Pleas could you clarify how you intend to pronounce "gyre"? I have been saying "gyre" with a hard "g" as in "give" or "gimble". But if it is related to "gyrate" then maybe people are using a soft "g" and making it sound like "jire". Which do you use? Thanks. By the way, I am still having major problems with understanding why the word needs to be changed. "Gypsy" is not inherently bad. Just Google, say, "gypsy pope" and you will find countless articles in countless papers and other media (including Vatican Radio) referring to "gypsies". Are they and the pope all racist? And that is just one example. It is only racist if you use tone or context to make it so. But that can apply to just about any word. And in a dance environment it is definitely not racist. If anyone ever asks me (and I doubt it will ever happen) I will tell them that we call people who travel to dances "dance gypsies", just using the word to mean someone who travels; the move likewise is just a move where you travel around each other. No deep meaning! Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

9 years, 10 months

Re: [Callers] Progressive politics? Ha, ha

by Aahz Maruch via Callers

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 never use an ethnically offensive > word.(Finding a bumper sticker at a contra dance gathering supporting > a Republican candidate is quite impossible.)As you noted, language > evolves, and the use of "gypsy" in contra dancing never had any > offensive baggage or intent. Given the thousands of left-wing contra > dancers who have guiltlessly gypsied over the years, having a single > individual (who may not well be a member of the allegedly offended > group) come to a dance, and for some reason makes the connection she > did, does not seem adequate to drop the word. <belly laugh> Your suggestion that progressive people promoting political correctness always stick to their progressive principles is risible. 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. To save you a bit of time, here's one specific example that consumed large amounts of time and emotional energy in one of my other social groups: http://fanlore.org/wiki/RaceFail_%2709 > Your examples of "nigger" and "faggot" are not comparable, as they are > today often sill used with intended hate. Please re-read the messages pointing out that in Europe, particularly, "gypsy" still definitely gets used as a hateful slur. And I don't know enough about *ALL* of American culture to presume that "gypsy" isn't used that way here in significant subcultures. Certainly "gyp" (as a verb) does get used. -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

9 years, 10 months

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