[Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

[George Mercer via Callers]

I don't call much anymore.  I teach the courtesy turn all by itself from
the side of the set. It is a "courtesy." One person assists the other to
turn and arrive in the right position. Practice it from standing still --
at least twice so that the dancers are facing back into the set again. Then
I teach the ladies chain: ladies right-hand pull by across the set while
gents move into receiving or welcoming position, then both crossing ladies
and welcoming gents extend and joining left hands and while joining right
hands behind the ladies' waist the gent courteously assists her in turning
into the right place. Just a note: I always teach the right and left
through. It is a simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much
sense for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers are
crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with the dancer
directly across, then left-hands on the side and you courteously help each
other turn via a courtesy turn.  .

On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new
> dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies
> chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific
> dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as
> possible?
>
> Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back?
> Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner?
> What move best precedes the chain to set it up?
> What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed?
> Other factors you consider?
>
> I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I
> think about:
>
> I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't
> whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion
> would snowball.
>
> Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced
> dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new
> dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new
> dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful  dance
> angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to
> teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to
> completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner.
>
> For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not
> convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2
> chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star
> is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star
> wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great
> progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances.
> chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or
> after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side
> of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with
> chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I
> don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy
> line is another new piece.
>
> Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple
> glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight
> have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly
> won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new
> thread ;-)
>
> Take care,
>
>
> --
> Luke Donforth
> Luke.Donforth at gmail.com <Luke.Donev at gmail.com>
>
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>
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