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 roles.

I’ve been contra-dancing for over 50 years, most of that time in the female role. 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 would have been less anxious and might have avoided several unfortunate relationships.

I want us to reach good non-gendered terminology. I’m most interested in the work people are doing on positional calling. Larks and robins isn’t my favorite solution but it is better than a gendered approach.