Thoughts on gender balancing and gendered dance in general

[playfulfordian]

The other day, I got a Facebook message promoting a dance event. The relevant bits are quoted here, "It is NOT too late to register for X and get the Early Registration Discount! We are about half way full - just a few weeks into Registration so ...Gentlemen, please register soon and take one of our wait-listed ladies out of suspense!! Couples:

Comments

[meanfreepath]

What kind of dance event was it that was doing the gender-balanced registration? I've never seen anyone do something like that for any of the Scottish, contra, or English events I've been to. I'd certainly feel somewhat uncomfortable about it.

I don't think two women should be broken up so that two men don't have to dance together, at least in a social dance. There are circumstances in a class where perhaps it might be worth considering from a pedagogical point of view (e.g. in a beginner SCD class struggling to learn a figure like the rondel, just so that people aren't having to keep both roles straight at the same time). I'm also fine with a coupled man and woman each dancing the opposite gender role, so long as other dancers in the set are aware of it and aren't likely to be thrown off in surprise (so, for instance, I think gender-switching is fine in an experienced 8-person SCD set, but perhaps not in a long contra line with lots of beginners).

I've danced with men before, both in Scottish and contra, and I've been to some gender-free contras. I seldom actively seek to dance with men, but I'm comfortable doing so, particularly if it's necessary to complete a Scottish set. In contras I have encountered fewer men than women who are reticent about giving weight, although that might mostly stem from men who are comfortable dancing with other men tending to be experienced dancers. Unless I know the dance is straightforward, I am hesitant to dance as a woman, but that is primarily from lack of practice. One of the local SCD teachers here does make a point of stating that persons of either gender should aim to be comfortable with dancing either role, and attaining that comfort level is certainly on my list of things to improve on as a dancer.

[playfulfordian]

This particular event was contra (with, I believe, one little session of English).