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Quicksilver Country Dancers,
Inc., (QCD) is a gender-neutral country dance community that
holds monthly English Country and contra dances in the Atlanta area.
QCD
produces and supports gender-neutral country dancing.
Gender-neutral dancing (also called gender-free or global terminology)
is a growing tradition of inclusivity that is used by the following
dance communities:
Lavender Country & Folk Dancers,
Sun Assembly English
Country Dancers, and
The
Heather & The Rose Country Dancers
The Heather and Rose Dance Community in Oregon, which grew out of the
teaching and philosophy of Carl Wittman, describe QuickSilver's
philosophy as well as their own when they say:
“Our philosophy is based upon community and
inclusiveness. The emphasis is the whole of the dance community and the whole of the dance. We promote community
and inclusiveness by teaching with global terminology, by not using gender to determine
who dances on what side or with whom….at our dances you get to know and dance with everyone.
"Global terminology uses language that refers to people's positions
within the dance rather than gender. Since there are usually uneven numbers of men and
women, it helps avoid confusion and is more equitable to the majority gender by eliminating
translation problems (e.g. I'm a woman but dancing the man's role so when they say man they mean
me). It also promotes community spirit by being inclusive - removing a barrier for and not
discriminating against the majority gender. Global terminology has the added benefit of simplicity and clarity,
usually requiring fewer words when teaching.
"Teaching with global terminology supports the way we dance. We don't
worry about who is on what side or dancing with whom - we encourage people to dance
in all positions of the dance. When you come to our dances you will find men dancing with men, women
dancing with women and women dancing with men on either side of the dance. Gender balance is not an
issue; everyone who wants to dance can. We feel this inclusiveness builds a stronger community - you get to know
and dance with more people and everyone has an equal chance to dance . . . it is also more
welcoming to same gender couples. Added benefits come from dancers learning the whole dance rather than
just one side of it (you become a better dancer by learning all aspects and knowing the
whole pattern of the dance). Everyone in the room is a potential dance partner.”
QCD holds monthly English/Contra dances on the First OR Third Sunday
afternoons of every month, from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., in Decatur,
Georgia. We often go out to dinner afterwards at a local
restaurant. Check our
Calendar and
Directions pages for our dance dates and
location.
QCD agrees with Jane Austen, who, in Emma, had this to say about
English country dancing, the dance form from which contra dancing
originates:
"It may be possible
to do without dancing entirely. Instances have been known of young people passing many, many months successively without being at any ball of any description, and no material injury accrue either to body or mind; but when
a beginning is made--when the
felicities of rapid motion have once been, though slightly, felt--it must be a very heavy set that does not ask for more.
(emphasis added.)
Once a start is made, it's impossible not to ask for more, so Come Dance
with Us!
QCD IN THE NEWS!! Download the Southern Voice article here ->
SOVO Article
QCD is
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are gratefully
accepted, and can be mailed to QCD at:
QuickSilver Country Dancers, Inc.
PO Box 451373
Atlanta, GA 31145
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