Years ago when I ran the Sunday night dance at Glen Echo MD I brought in Tom Hinds the 1st Sunday of each month for 6 months to talk about etiquette while he taught & called. Clearly the people who needed the information most knew he wasn't talking to them.
I wanted to make sure all know that my edit from the full concert didn't capture Noah's pre-performance disclaimer of how this is just "poking fun. No hard feelings. He later said on Facebook that these are NOT in any way blanket cold hard rules that can be applied to all men everywhere." all in good fun! Not scientific truth. As for Etiquette for the Gals, Noah said he is staying WAY away from that! :-)"
When I ran the Sunday night contra at Glen Echo I booked Tom Hinds for the 1st dance of the month for 6 consecutive months to talk about/teach dance etiquette. All the people who needed the talk KNEW he wasn't talking to them.
Well, this was brave, imaginative, and insightful. But I think it really is just about half of the truth. Men don't have a monopoly on bad form on the dance floor.
Maybe you are such a nice guy you don't realize there are a few men (women too) out there who don't know the difference between flirting in a cute way and what feels like being hit on. Ladies like the first and flirt back. Most hate the second and should say so if they feel uncomfortable. Often we avoid that man in future and roll our eyes in the bathroom. Seems to me the Great Bear guys were equal opportunity bashers in good fun. Perhaps you could write Contra E for the Ladies and put it out there.
To what? Define your terms. Do you see flirting as an immoral act? What constitutes flirting, a smile? The eye to eye gaze during the swing is a most personal invasion of privacy and very uncomfortable for some people. Do you look away? Do you close your eyes? Just don't be so arrogant and condescending. I have represented people on both sides of sexual harassment and the biggest problem is the foisting of standards on others without clear cut definitions. Your standard here is aged based. Sorry to tell you this but the country as a whole has advanced beyond as based discrimination. So its you that has to change. If someone is inappropriately hitting on someone else, define what the inappropriate conduct is and enforce it for all. You will be old and apparently bitter some day so this is for your benefit.
bobunetic I wanted to make sure all know that my edit from the full concert didn't capture Noah's pre-performance disclaimer of how this is just "poking fun. No hard feelings. He later said on Facebook that these are NOT in any way blanket cold hard rules that can be applied to all men everywhere." all in good fun! Not scientific truth. As for Etiquette for the Gals, Noah said he is staying WAY away from that! :-)"
Thanks for clarifying. The song touched upon an issue that we have to carefully deal with. It is easy for some of our older, single men to feel ostracized at the dance and with them sitting out more than their share when the count is uneven and they not feeling comfortable in male/male dancing. I don't wish for them to feel additional anxiety for stepping up and asking a younger woman to dance. All things in moderation. I am not saying the issue of inappropriate conduct is not there but each community has to identify what is improper so we don't scare off those who may not feel welcome in the first place.
I'm 59. If I ask a young woman to dance, it to dance, not flirt. She could always decline! Eye contact while swinging, I was taught that was GOOD etiquette. What about Gypsy figure, you are supposed to flirt!
Wish they had been around when I was contra dancing in the sevenites! This is the best! Love it!
Years ago when I ran the Sunday night dance at Glen Echo MD I brought in Tom Hinds the 1st Sunday of each month for 6 months to talk about etiquette while he taught & called. Clearly the people who needed the information most knew he wasn't talking to them.
These young men are brilliant. Play and speak on !
I wanted to make sure all know that my edit from the full concert didn't capture Noah's pre-performance disclaimer of how this is just "poking fun. No hard feelings. He later said on Facebook that these are NOT in any way blanket cold hard rules that can be applied to all men everywhere." all in good fun! Not scientific truth. As for Etiquette for the Gals, Noah said he is staying WAY away from that! :-)"
Noah is very insightful. I have run into all of the "characters" he mentions :)
thanks for that. you two are fantastic
you guys in wise! Come visit Contra Dance Wellington, NZ!
Nothing us females did not already know and also 'poke fun at' ! Good job Noah.
This is absolutely fantastic!
Whoa, guys, hilarious and containing grains of truth. Well done!
The most Emmy-worthy thing I've ever seen in my life!
Lyrics are.posted here: www.alexkg.com/contra-dance-etiquette-for-the-guys/
Caution: the page this links to has been abandoned and you’ll end up at a Chinese-language casino (as of October 2022).
Wonderful people & ContraDance
Full concert is now posted
The Great Andrew and Noah Concert
I'll post full concert once I can upload and gain ok to post from the Bears..
Love this!
LOL I love this SO much!!!!
the state of contra dancing is sad
This is gold
I notice they didn't rag on DC or the Mid-West. That's nice.
When I ran the Sunday night contra at Glen Echo I booked Tom Hinds for the 1st dance of the month for 6 consecutive months to talk about/teach dance
etiquette. All the people who needed the talk KNEW he wasn't talking to them.
What's the Mountain West, chopped liver?
Well, this was brave, imaginative, and insightful. But I think it really is just about half of the truth. Men don't have a monopoly on bad form on the dance floor.
maybe not, but men are most likely to do inappropriate stuff, just like they are in most other situations (such as the average workplace).
Maybe you are such a nice guy you don't realize there are a few men (women too) out there who don't know the difference between flirting in a cute way and what feels like being hit on. Ladies like the first and flirt back. Most hate the second and should say so if they feel uncomfortable. Often we avoid that man in future and roll our eyes in the bathroom. Seems to me the Great Bear guys were equal opportunity bashers in good fun. Perhaps you could write Contra E for the Ladies and put it out there.
So the contra police has now deemed that flirting is now age based and disrespectful towards women.
You gotta be kidding me to even say that.
If you even have to say that, it's you that needs to change...good luck!
To what? Define your terms. Do you see flirting as an immoral act? What constitutes flirting, a smile? The eye to eye gaze during the swing is a most personal invasion of privacy and very uncomfortable for some people. Do you look away? Do you close your eyes? Just don't be so arrogant and condescending. I have represented people on both sides of sexual harassment and the biggest problem is the foisting of standards on others without clear cut definitions. Your standard here is aged based. Sorry to tell you this but the country as a whole has advanced beyond as based discrimination. So its you that has to change. If someone is inappropriately hitting on someone else, define what the inappropriate conduct is and enforce it for all. You will be old and apparently bitter some day so this is for your benefit.
bobunetic I wanted to make sure all know that my edit from the full concert didn't capture Noah's pre-performance disclaimer of how this is just "poking fun. No hard feelings. He later said on Facebook that these are NOT in any way blanket cold hard rules that can be applied to all men everywhere." all in good fun! Not scientific truth. As for Etiquette for the Gals, Noah said he is staying WAY away from that! :-)"
Thanks for clarifying. The song touched upon an issue that we have to carefully deal with. It is easy for some of our older, single men to feel ostracized at the dance and with them sitting out more than their share when the count is uneven and they not feeling comfortable in male/male dancing. I don't wish for them to feel additional anxiety for stepping up and asking a younger woman to dance. All things in moderation. I am not saying the issue of inappropriate conduct is not there but each community has to identify what is improper so we don't scare off those who may not feel welcome in the first place.
I'm 59. If I ask a young woman to dance, it to dance, not flirt. She could always decline! Eye contact while swinging, I was taught that was GOOD etiquette.
What about Gypsy figure, you are supposed to flirt!