Couples consist of two people, traditionally but not necessarily one male and one female, referred to as the gent or gentleman and lady.
Each sub-group of two interacting couples is known to choreographers as a minor set and to dancers as a foursome.
At the same time, improper and Becket dances have become more common than proper ones as choreographers and dancers have come to desire greater neighbor interaction.
This is not a problem: the couple waits out one time through the dance and then comes back in, now heading in the opposite direction.
Notes: Gender-neutral dances (a modern, though still less common variation) define the traditional "gents" and "ladies" roles in a gender-free way, originally by having half of the dancers (those dancing the gents' role) wear an armband, though this has largely changed.
Other communities use other terms, including 'bands/bare arms' (replacing 'gents' and ladies') 'leads and follows', and 'gems and rubies', or any number of other determiners.
Gender-free dancing originally focused on "queer contra dances", focused on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities, and organized under the auspices of the Lavender Country and Folk Dancers.
More recently, this terminology has been adopted by many mainstream contra dances, especially in the U.S. Northeast and West Coast.
This requires more care and effort by the dance caller, but attempts to sidestep controversies over the merits of tradition and inclusivity.