[Callers] Giving Weight

Maia McCormick via Callers callers at lists.sharedweight.net
Thu Jun 25 07:43:56 PDT 2015


Someone in my community who teaches swings often likes to explain the
sharing of weight as, "If my partner let me go, I would stumble a step or
two, but not fall." Seems to be a good benchmark when used in conjunction
with some of these other explanations.

One I've had in my head for a while now but not actually used is explaining
it in terms of that amusement park ride where you're in a big, really
fast-rotating cylinder and the floor drops out--you're held against the
wall and it feels like your entire back is pushing against the wall. That's
how sharing weight in a swing should feel--it's not a lean (which, as
Jonathan aptly points out, to many people suggests a bend at the waist),
it's a sort of pressing back with your entire torso against your partner's
hand.

On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 11:20 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I do 2 hand turn first.
> On Jun 24, 2015 4:22 PM, "Rich Sbardella via Callers" <
> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> My main concern is how to acquire that tension/counterweight in a swing,
>> if you do not lean back.
>> Rich
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 3:33 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers <
>> callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>>> 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
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>>
>>
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