This article is kindly posted with the permission of the author; Dudley Laufman.
My neighbor plays left wing on a semi- professional co-ed ice hockey team. Not a wingette. Simply left wing. She plays the game. Her cousin plays goalie. Not goaliette, Goalie. She plays the game.
*************************************
In the contra dance The Money Musk there are no specific calls for either gender.
Right hand to your partner, turn once and a half around
Below one couple and forward six and back
Three quarters around, and forward six again
Three quarters around and right and left four
No fuss here, just get on with the dance
Please note that it is Forward six and back, not Balance. Where did that ever come from?
The music is Money Musk , and only that tune. Do not get bored or try to be clever with an alternate. Just that great tune, key of A thank you. Ernie Spense and I were side by side in a Money Musk one time, and the band switched to another tune. We dropped out. I told Peter Barnes (now Kate) that my feet wouldn't work on the alternate music and he wrote it in his book Dudley Says feet won't work if wrong tune for Money Musk.
Newt Tolman from Nelson, played an E flat sax, and would always asked to be excused to go out and have a drink when The Money Musk was announced.
At Pinewoods one time, a rather indignant woman told me I shouldn't say Ladies chain. Why not says I. Ladies of the night she replied. Shoud I say Womans Chain? No she said, that is not traditional. Good lord. So of course I continue to say Ladies Chain.
Enough of this language stuff. Let's get on with the dance.
Dudley Laufman
Canterbury, NH
