[Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

[Jack Mitchell via Callers]

Richard said:
"My first dance with a courtesy turn may use it with a promenade,
depending on the crowd. Then move on to dances with a chain or R&L.
Once the turn is understood and well done, the others are easy."

And thus we come to why teaching moves with a courtesy turn is so much
easier in New England (where promenade and courtesy turn are both done in
the same position).  Oh how much easier if we all did a "New England
promenade."

J



On Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 11:47 AM Richard Hart via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I usually try to separate the courtesy turn from the chain. A courtesy
> turn is used in a number of moves, including R&L through, and a
> promenade. Practice that first with your partner. Man backs up and the
> woman gores forward, with arms around your partner's back. .Remember
> to stop facing the right direction, and as a caller remember to tell
> dancers which way to face. This can be done in a couple of minutes or
> so.
>
> My first dance with a courtesy turn may use it with a promenade,
> depending on the crowd. Then move on to dances with a chain or R&L.
> Once the turn is understood and well done, the others are easy.
>
> I agree with Erik (and Dudley!) The walkthrough and instruction should
> be short. They'd all rather be dancing, so don't introduce much new
> stuff in any single dance.
>
> And thanks for this discussion. I love seeing new dances to try and
> new possibilities to teach when there are a lot of beginners.
>
> 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
> >
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> >
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-- 
Jack Mitchell
Durham, NC
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