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  Contra Syncretist
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Links to Music & the Mainstream

10/3/2012

 
Over the course of every month or two I find relevant things online; today's installation includes Celtic music fusing with electronica and some contra dance links to the mainstream -- be it through newspapers, new dancer outreach, or making sure our community stays a safe and fun place.

Music

An interview with Dave Martin about fusing together Celtic and electronica (hmm, sound like anyone we know about?); his Big Fat Electric Ceilidh sounds like a really neat project. (Also, I was particularly tickled by this video of ceilidh dancing in a club-scene-like setting.)

Mainstream

"Dance the Night Away" article in the Syracuse [NY] New Times -- article about contra dancing from the angle of the Van Norstrand clan and the Phylla Mae Fall Fest

Others Doing (Beginners') Contra Dance Lessons Via Online Videos -- From the Atlanta, GA community; one of the many series out there that encompasses the basics of contra dancing for new dancers, before one gets hooked and goes to find flourishes. I happened across it and find it to be particularly thorough. Video #8 has useful reminders for more advanced dancers as well.

...And if any of you haven't seen Penelope Weinberger's post on the "Stuff Contra Dancers Say..." community yet, go now. With both traditional and techno contra, it's really important that we keep the safe, fun atmosphere that helps to keep the community aspect strong. Unwelcome advances on the dance floor are profoundly NOT okay and we shouldn't have to put up with people not understanding the meaning of the word "no" (and while fortunately, it seems to be less common than in other spaces, unfortunately it still happens). Her post is a very succinct way of clarifying that point. Transcript is under the cut, since apparently you have to be logged into Facebook in order to see it (but it was apparently handed out on flyers at last Sunday's FSGW dance):

"Ensuring a safe, comfortable dance atmosphere; an open message from the (FSGW) dance chair.

Dear dance community;

All the dancers in our community deserve to be safe and and deserve to dance in an environment free from the fear that they will be subjected to inappropriate behavior.

Certainly accidents happen --there was an injury at a recent dance-- but we can minimize the risk. We can also ensure a safe, comfortable dance environment.

If we implement these two guidelines we will have a safer, better, more welcoming dance community:

1. If someone is dancing in a manner that hurts you (too tight grip, arm wrenching, yanking, pushing, stomping, etc.), or in a manner that exposes you to inappropriate touching (too close holding, non-accidental or repetitive brushing against you inappropriately, un-invited “sleaze-dancing” grinding, etc.), please tell them or tell me. If you are not comfortable telling me, ask someone to tell me.

2. If I (or a member of my committee, under my direction) approach you to discuss your dancing or behavior, please hear me out. Alternatively, if a fellow dancer approaches you to discuss your dancing or behavior please hear them out. Even if you disagree, think about how you might modify your behavior to help others feel safer and more comfortable.

Thank you

Penelope Weinberger
FSGW Dance Chair
"
Perry
10/8/2012 11:42:18 am

Thank you for publishing Penelope's note. Y'know, the incident that led to this really angered me, and I think that we all need to be aware of our attitudes on the dance floor and remember that the other dancer should have as much fun as you and also be comfortable. It made me sad to hear of a number of really good people essentially stop contra dancing, especially at Glen Echo, because they feel pushed around against their will. I think we need to give more of an emphasis these days on safety and etiquette in dancing. I'd like to see people twirl ONLY when they KNOW that their partner would enjoy it, and when they don't know, use regular courtesy turns, and don't twirl after a swing. Your enjoyment should never be at the expense of others. I've had other people zing me around, and at 250 lbs if they are zinging me around, they are dancing with too much force. And one thing that I'm glad you're not posting (or at least I haven't seen any yet) are dips - I for one don't want any more dipping accidents. I am not a big fan of it. It has led some communities to focus more on dips and less on good dancing overall. I think thanks to the incident at Contrastock, it has led to a good discussion nationwide on safety AND etiquette in contra dancing - one that we need to have I think.

dest/jess(ie)/etc.
10/10/2012 06:18:56 am

I actually enjoy dips--and triwls, and sleaze swings, and all sorts of other flourishes--a great deal. But i agree with steve & ryan that they really need to be taught in person for safety's sake, and i think there's some merit to not doing them unless you are A. with someone you already know enjoys them or B. have observed this person enjoying them with others, and even then it's good to either ask or at the very least build up to them. The follow needs to have every opportunity to say "no thanks" and have that respected. Heck i've had folks i won't let do certain flourishes with me because i know that they aren't reliable about doing it safely/respectfully.
The tricky part with dips and lifts is that a lot of follows don't know how to refuse a dip or lift lead safely. Hrmm...maybe *that's* something that should be a friday flourish?

Rebecca
6/10/2013 04:19:14 am

I recently found out that safety issues can go beyond just flourishes. (I'm going to preface this by saying that I am very bony and tend to bruise easily.) Our group has had a couple of complete and utter accidents that gave us a wake-up call on safety flourish-wise (A dislocated (previously injured not while dancing) shoulder and an attempt at a black eye in the space of a week). One thing I hadn't realized can be an issue for both genders, but guys especially--wedding rings. I am currently sporting a 1/4 inch bruise halfway between my thumb and my wrist from a bunch of allemandes with a guy wearing a wedding band. (We were walking dances and I was the other lead, so we probably did 20 or so allemandes together.) I love a good, strong allemande--where your hands meet with a slight "thwap" and and you effortlessly sling around each other, but we do need to be careful when starting an allemande grip to be gentle putting down fingers. Those rings are made of metal, and especially repetitive sudden contact can hurt!


Comments are closed.
    This project has concluded as of mid-2013 (with an epilogue posted mid-2016) but we hope to see you soon on a contra dance floor! Meanwhile, head over to our Facebook page for upcoming techno contra events and other items of interest.

    The 100+ Friday Flourish videos can still be found on YouTube.

    Author

    I dance with abandon. I play with glowsticks. I look for music that is conducive to one or both. I play behind cameras.  I write about all of the above. I'm based in Glen Echo's contra dance community outside of Washington, D.C., but I'm happy to go dance afield when I can. Lather, rinse, repeat. Always repeat.

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