[Callers] Giving Weight

[Kalia Kliban via Callers]

On 6/24/2015 11:29 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote:
>
> How do you descibe giving weight, and how do you teach it for circles,
> allemandes, and, swings?
> Rich
> Stafford, CT

In my beginner sessions, I have them form a ring and then circle left 
and right a couple of times.  Then I ask them to bend their elbows and 
feel "that springy tension between you and the dancers next to you.  If 
you can keep that elasticity while you're connected to other dancers, 
then you're all supporting each other as you circle and turn, and it 
makes everything easier."  And then we circle again, with the extra bit 
of sproing, and then do the same with allemandes.  Just for fun, 
sometimes I'll have them go back to the floppy arms, just to feel the 
difference.  I also let them know that with a little bit of tension in 
the connection, it's easier for the person they're dancing with to give 
them physical cues.

And I know there's a better word than tension, and I'm pretty sure I've 
used it in the past, but right now I can't think of it.

Kalia
Sebastopol, CA