This debate has been had on one of these lists in the recent past, I believe, though I’m not in a good place to look it up. Or it might have been in one of the Facebook groups.
The “opposite” in square dancing is the opposite-role person across the set from you, not the same-role person diagonal from you. I would avoid “opposite” for this reason, and I would instead use it for the opposite-role person across from you in a 4x4.
“Opposite” is three syllables. “Neighbor’s partner” is four. It’s not so much of a stretch, given how rarely it’s needed. I’ve never used it in a beginner workshop and have never even thought about it being missing. (My workshop is enough to do the first dance, not a comprehensive overview.)
More frequently, we hear “other lark” and “other robin” or just “larks” and “robins” before describing a move they do. If larks are dancing with larks and robins are dancing with robins, it’s rare they are doing the same thing but yet you can’t just say “everyone.” Can anyone give an example of a dance where it’s needed? I know they said in a workshop, not a dance, but now I’m curious if it’s actually never needed.
—jh—
The word I'm coming up with is "opposite", but I'm also not sure that person is necessarily relevant enough to need a name (especially in the beginner lesson)...
I've used several designations, depending on the context:
Same-role neighbor
Diagonal neighbor
Diagonal
Or I might have fun pointing out that your neighbor's partner is also your partner's neighbor, but you can call 'em Jay.
Jerome
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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