[Callers] Hand Turns & Safety

[Folk Dance]

I agree with John's concerns over gripping in the forearm hold, and the
increased security of the elbow cup - provided dancers are reminded that
thumbs do not belong in the soft, vulnerable inside of elbows!

However, I think the full elbow cup grip gives up a certain freedom of
disengagement and if we tried to use it universally would result in some
awkward transitions - balance the wave to swing through for instance would
be clunky with an elbow cup.  A well taught hooked or flat  hand (properly
vertical and balanced!) hand allemande would be my preference.

I'm not sure I'm clear on the "flat" grip issues - could someone give me a
clear definition of what they consider to be this problematic option?

Bob

On Tue, May 21, 2019 at 10:19 AM John Sweeney via Callers <
callers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Hmm… I seem to have stirred up a hornet’s nest!  It is great to see
> discussion on this important topic.
>
>
>
> There are two very different forearm holds.
>
>
>
> *** In front of the elbow ***:
>
> This is the MWSD version. Callerlab defines it as:
>
> “Forearm: The arms are held past the wrist but not past the elbow joint.
> Each dancer places the hand on the inside of the arm of the person with
> whom he is to work. The fingers and thumb are held in close. The center of
> the turn will be at the joined arms, so, while turning, each dancer is
> moving equally around the other.”
>
>
>
> I think this is what Andrea is describing (my apologies if I am wrong).
>
>
>
> I don’t like this one.  Sorry.
>
>
>
> The connection is not as good as it could be.
>
> Good connection can often only be achieved by gripping the other person’s
> arm.
>
> It provides the opportunity to grip hard.
>
> I often find that, due to different arm lengths, the gap between by thumb
> and index finger is pressed against the inside of the other person’s upper
> arm. This can be uncomfortable.
>
>
>
> The one I do like is:
>
>
>
> *** Behind the elbow ***:
>
> Put your thumb beside your fingers. Curve your hand. Place your forearms
> together. Place your curved hand behind your partner’s forearm, just above
> the elbow.  Get close enough so that your upper arm is vertical.
>
>
>
> This is a great connection.
>
> There is no need to grip.
>
> You are close together so that you can turn really well.
>
> It is very effective for 1.5 turns.
>
> Thumbs are not involved so the chance of gripping is greatly reduced.
>
> It can be achieved instantaneously.
>
> There is little opportunity to mess it up.
>
>
>
> You can see it being used in this video:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_wncJcFPVo
>
> There is a good example 5 seconds in - look at the second couple on the
> right (two ladies - one in grey).
>
>
>
> We use this hold for all sorts of dances in the UK.  It is great for Strip
> the Willow and Lock Chain Swings (i.e. Grand Right and Left where you don’t
> pull by, instead you turn 1.5 times with each dancer).
>
>
>
> I would thoroughly recommend this as an alternative Allemande style.
>
>
>
> Try them and see what you think.
>
>
>
> (P.S. The really sad thing about that video Is the swings.  If only the
> caller had told them to take the same forearm hold and join left hands
> underneath, then they could have had so much more fun swinging!)
>
>
>
> (P.P.S. I love this dance.  Nottingham Swing.  I spent my first 50 years
> in Nottingham, so I have been dancing this dance for nearly 50 years now
> and I still love it.)
>
>
>
> (P.P.P.S. The dance is actually from Northamptonshire - 50 mile south.)
>
>
>
>             Happy dancing,
>
>                    John
>
>
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john at modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
> 940 574
>
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music
> Ceilidhs
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
>
>
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