One person who I know will be at the event is a gay man. I imagine him watching the performance and deciding that there is no place for him and his partner in this community.

I was recently asked if my ECD community could perform some dances at an event. I’m really torn about asking the organizers if they want to do this. (I’m pretty sure they do.) I don’t want the world to see…

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It saddens me that an activity that has so much to offer to our wider culture, at a time that we need it desperately, is being hijacked by those with a leftist political agenda

I have been contra dancing for 35 years. Today, I am an organizer of a dance community in the Midwest. Over the years I’ve very much enjoyed the diverse, open, accepting culture of the contra dance community. In my experience,…

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Gendering is an issue. An equally important issue is the touching of another dancer without permission.

I play fiddle for dances so also have an observer’s seat for the dancing. Gendering is an issue. An equally important issue is the touching of another dancer without permission. Examples would be placing a hand on the back or…

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I also got sent home once because I came straight from work and was wearing pants instead of a skirt. Those days are past, thank goodness.

I am pursuing being a positional contra caller. It will make me a better caller, if I can figure out how to do it well, and I think it will make our dancers better, too. Our contra group is open…

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Gender free terms lower people’s expectations about the person coming toward them in line, allowing them to just enjoy rather than attempt control

I prefer gender free role terms because I find myself freer to dance either role, because as a female presenting person the regular comments about why I’m in the ‘wrong’ place (when I’m not) or comments about how I’m a…

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We had encountered more animosity in that one dance in our regular dance community than all the previous years dancing there combined!

I have been to many dances where gendered calling is the norm and it consistently leaves me frustrated and at times has made me question whether to continue. In gendered calling communities I have experienced the expectations of what I…

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I was in my 20s and 30s in the 1980s and 1990s when the dances were such flirt-fests. I wish I could redo that time with the sensibilities of today

I love being able to dance either role. It has opened up a whole new world to me. I used to be bored, but now I know that I can give myself a pleasant challenge at any time by switching…

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Dancing the “ladies” role hurts my right hip. It was a lovely relief when we switched to larks & robins to not be called a “gent” 100 times in an evening!

I am a 65 year old woman. For years I exclusively danced the “gent” role because dancing the “ladies” role hurts my right hip. It was a lovely relief when we switched to larks & robins to not be called…

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Gendered language and expectations mean that I can’t dance with half of the dancers in the room

I want to be able to dance with all of my friends, and gendered language and expectations mean that I can’t dance with half of the dancers in the room, which sucks. People should be able to dance with everyone.

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It’s brought tears to my eyes and given me hope that I could begin to feel fully respected and celebrated for dancing whichever role I want, without criticism, without having to defend myself

Growing up in our Contra, Square, and English dance communities, I’ve always danced both roles, because why not? Children aren’t born with binary gender beliefs — those limits are taught and imposed. As a cisgender little girl dancing in the…

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