<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Thanks, John, for reminding me about that elbow/hand swing. Haven't used it in years, but I know the kids would be in awe of me using it (lol). <br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">I did try to teach the ballroom hold swing once several years ago -- awkward. Never tried it again.<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Thanks for sharing those mixers. I may be able to use one or two of them next year.<br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 12:01 PM, John Sweeney <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:john@modernjive.com" target="_blank">john@modernjive.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi Linda,<br>
Do you try to teach them a Ballroom Hold Swing? I.e. a standard contra swing? I never use that for one night stands.<br>
<br>
For first-timers I always teach them to put their right forearms together, gently hook their hand around their partner’s elbow, with the thumb below so that they can’t grip, make a hook with their left hands and join them underneath. And don’t lean back! This gives really good connection with space between them. The space means that they can each do any footwork (walk, skip, polka, chassis, buzz) without worrying about stepping on each other. The space also makes it more comfortable from a personal viewpoint.<br>
<br>
I love the Gypsy into a Swing – I teach them to start the Gypsy, "join right arms, join left hands, swing". I always demonstrate and most of them then make a decent job of swinging.<br>
<br>
Or you can always do it as a Two-Hand Turn – nice big oval at shoulder level.<br>
<br>
But no, I wouldn’t do Tony's dance with first-timers. My standard first timer circle mixer is my:<br>
<br>
Virginia Reel Circle Mixer #24<br>
<br>
A1: Partner Arm Right; Partner Arm Left<br>
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A2: Partner Dosido; Partner Seesaw<br>
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B1: Partner Gypsy Meltdown<br>
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B2: Promenade around the circle; Men (those on the inside) move on then face new partner<br>
<br>
Or Diane Silver’s Kid's Chaos Mixer #3 - Scatter (Mixer)<br>
<br>
A1: (In fours) Circle Left; Circle right (Slip)<br>
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A2: Star Right; Star Left<br>
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B1: Neighbour Two Hand Turn; Partner Two Hand Turn<br>
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B2: Partner Promenade (Scatter) and find a new couple<br>
<br>
Make sure some of you promenade in random directions and against the flow.<br>
OK to end up as 1, 2, 3, 4 couples together – chaos!<br>
<br>
Alt B1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido<br>
<br>
Alt B1: Partner Swing/Turn; Neighbour Swing/Turn – makes it a Mixer<br>
<br>
Or Dosido the one you brought, now Dosido someone new - Promenade with this one<br>
<br>
Happy dancing,<br>
John<br>
<br>
John Sweeney, Dancer, England <a href="mailto:john@modernjive.com">john@modernjive.com</a> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574<br>
<a href="http://www.modernjive.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.modernjive.com</a> for Modern Jive Events & DVDs<br>
<div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5"><a href="http://www.contrafusion.co.uk" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.contrafusion.co.uk</a> for Dancing in Kent<br>
<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:arial black,sans-serif">Looking forward,</span><br><br><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><i>Linda S. Mrosko</i><br></font></font></b></font></font></div><div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2">102 Mitchell Drive<br></font></font></font></font></b></font></font></div><div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2">Temple, Texas 76501<br></font></font></font></font></b></font></font></div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2">(903) 292-3713 (Cell)<br></font></font></font></font></b></font></font><div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2">(903) 603-9955 (Skyp<i><font color="#000000">e)</font></i></font></font></font></font></b></font></font><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><i><font color="#000000"><br><a href="http://www.contradancetx.com" target="_blank">contradancetx.com</a></font></i></font></font></font></font></b></font></font><br></div><div><font size="2"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif"><b><font color="#cc33cc"><font size="4"><font color="#000000"><font size="2"><i><font color="#000000"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*" target="_blank">www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*</a> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)<br></font></i></font></font></font></font></b></font></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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