[Callers] On Balances, Box circulates, Allemandes, Circles & Timing

[Chet Gray via Callers]

Thanks for your commentary, Erik.

In regards to the direction of balances before allemandes, I agree for the
most part, but I see one aspect you left out: eye contact. I know not
everybody uses eye contact when balancing towards someone, just as not
everybody uses eye contact in swings or allemandes, but many folks do, and
I know folks who find the eye contact first with one person, then with
another during a right-left (or left-right) balance to be not only very
satisfying, but an important social component of the figure.

I have a tendency to look at dances in a very technical manner, when
calling as well as when dancing or playing. I consciously try to let that
go when it is unnecessary. When deciding on the wording to use for a dance,
I try to consider whether it **really** matters to the momentum to specify
what direction the dancers balance in, or to let them enjoy it as they will
(coming from what may be a last bastion of hands-across-star-by-default, I
do this for star grip as well).

For a different point, if the balance before the allemande is by one hand
only—instead of, say, from a wave—balancing toward-away-from the person
often makes more physical sense than a half-supported forward-back.

In regards to circles, circumference, and styling, I love the points you
make. I enjoy when callers bring up (carefully selected) style notes for
oft-ignored aspects of the dance, such as how radial distance affects speed
(and, therefore timing) in not only circles, but allemandes and
two-hand-turns. My recent crusade (to be a bit hyperbolic) has been
"turning takes time" during down-the-halls. Time will tell how effective it
is at alleviating line drift...

On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 4:31 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> There’s been a discussion on balancing forward & back, or right & left, or
> starting the balance left, then right when the balance precedes a left
> allemande. And there’s been a discussion on the timing of circles. Like,
> does a circle left ¾ take 6 or 8 beats? And how long should a circle  left
> 1¼ take?
>
>
>
> *Balances & Direction*
>
>
>
> I think it was Cammy Kaynor who told me he always teaches, “Balance in the
> direction you’re going to go.” This, as stated, is obvious in a box
> circulate: you’re going to go forward after the balance. It’s also obvious
> in a Rory O’More type balance: the balance is right, then left making that
> right slide or twirl gratifying. And it’s the one place where we do teach
> the left then right balance, to make that slide/twirl left so cool. Now,
> consider the allemande:
>
>
>
> The initial motion of an allemande is forward. The connection of arms is
> what turns the forward motion into a circular motion. It is not very
> satisfying to balance right—tension in the left arm—then left—no tension in
> the left arm—then go into an allemande left. But a forward & back creates
> some loss of tension in both arms, then tension in both arms, and you can
> even favor tension in the left arm facilitating a wonderful launch into
> that left allemande. When doing this there is no need to alter our “normal”
> right then left balance. Thus I’ve strongly adopted the above rule: *Balance
> in the Direction you’re going to go*. And remember: the initial direction
> of an allemande—any allemande—is forward. Thus following this rule yields
> satisfying results whether the balance precedes a left or a right
> allemande. I try to bring this up whenever I teach a dance.
>
>
>
> *Circles, Allemandes, & Circumference*
>
>
>
> Back in the old days (when I started dancing in the 1980s), callers could
> and would give styling points. We did dances where, in 8 beats, we might
> allemande left once, dances with an 8 beat 1½ allemande, and dances, like
> Hull’s Victory, where we’d make it twice around in 8 beats. Some of us were
> taught that we could get a good connection and give good weight by varying
> the circumference of the circle we traveled. Keep arms wide, travel a
> larger circle, and once around in 8 beats feels great! Pull in close, and
> you can make it around twice in 8 beats.
>
>
>
> At times there has been discussion about how a circle left ¾, swing
> someone is a 6, then 10 beat set of figures. I think of it as 8 & 8, but
> let dancers do whatever they want. Then we have a circle left ¾, ring
> balance, California twirl. The timing of this is definitely 8, 4, 4.
>
>
>
> It is easy to have a good connection, give good weight in a circle ¾, and
> make it last 6 or 8 beats by expanding or contracting the circle. Aware
> dancers will adjust to make the move fit the timing of the dance. Circle
> left ¾ into a balance: make the circle bigger so the path is a bit longer.
> Want that extra two beats of swing? Contract the circle, and get there
> early…
>
>
>
> I do agree that a circle left 1¼ in 8 beats does not work well. So, make
> the circle a bit bigger and turn it into a zesty 12 beats.
>
>
>
> Erik Hoffman
>
> Oakland, CA
>
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