[Organizers] Tips for a swing workshop

[John Sweeney]

In the video that Larry recommends (great video in general), re the lady's
left hand,  Sue says, "and pushes into his shoulder blade".

 

Please don't!  It is unnecessary and uncomfortable!

 

In fact I disagree with getting the lady to try and reach the man's back at
all. Her hand resting on his upper arm is a far nicer connection.

 

For the details, read on:

 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

 

An essay on the lady's left hand in a swing:

 

Yes, I know some very well-respected American callers who teach a swing with
the lady's left hand on the back of the man's shoulder blade.

 

I believe that there are many challenges associated with this:

 

1) The man, who, on average, has longer arms, reaches under the lady's arm
to very easily reach her shoulder-blade.  The lady, with her (on average)
shorter arms and probably starting from lower down, has to reach OVER the
man's arm to get to his shoulder-blade.  Yes, some ladies can reach.  But in
my experience many ladies cannot easily reach and still be comfortable.

 

2) If they can just reach, many ladies then, instead of just placing their
hand on the man's shoulder-blade (so that when centrifugal force increases
they can resist it) they actually press into the man's shoulder-blade.  I am
not sure if this is just bad technique, but I suspect it may be partially to
do with the fact that they can only just reach so they press so that their
hand doesn't slip.  It can be quite uncomfortable for the man.

 

3) Even if the lady's arm is the same length as the man, and she is the same
height, she still has to reach over his arm, so it automatically pulls you
closer together than you need to be, and even closer if her arm is shorter.
While there are fun swing variations where we get really, really close, in a
standard buzz-step swing I don't believe that being forced closer together
is desirable.

 

4) It is not necessary if the man's hand is well placed.  Each person should
support their own weight, so all the connection is doing is resisting
centrifugal force and, in 50 years of swinging, I have never found that a
problem.

 

5) It is quite common for the lady to twirl under the man's arm at the end
of a swing. If the lady twirls counter-clockwise that is not a problem.  But
if she twirls clockwise then she will break her arm.  Probably not a problem
if the lady is completely in control of the twirl - she just prepares for it
by moving her arm, but if the man takes some part in initiating the twirl
(which I believe is very common) then if he tries to twirl her and she
reacts slowly, then either the twirl fails or she gets hurt.  Of course if
the lady's left hand is just resting on the man's upper arm she can twirl
either way without a problem.  The hand just slides off easily.

 

6) In complex flourishes, such as a Texas Tommy/Apache Whip exit from a
swing, then you really do need some lead and follow, and it is nearly always
the man leading the lady.  A move like that is impossible if the lady's left
hand is on the man's back.  Believe me I have tried it!

 

I hope that helps you understand why I always teach the lady to leave her
relaxed left arm resting on the man's upper arm. :-)

 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

 

            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

 

 

From: Organizers
<organizers-bounces+john=modernjive.com at lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of
Larry Koplik via Organizers
Sent: 18 June 2019 22:32
To: organizers at lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Tips for a swing workshop

 

Here's a video that Princeton Country Dancers created
about the buzz step swing that might be helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaVSVtPRwlA

Larry Koplik

On 6/18/2019 4:01 PM, Karlsruhe Contra Dance via Organizers wrote:

HI all,

I know, we learn to swing by swinging with other experienced dancers. But my
problem is a lack of experienced dancers.

I would love to help my dancers get a bit more out of their swings the next
time I have the chance to offer a proper workshop (other than "the basics")
There is potential there. 

I was thinking of possibly selling it as "swings and swing flourishes" - but
based on the level, the flourishes won't have to be terribly creative. 

I have never participated in a workshop of this type.  Can any of you point
me to some resources or tell me about experiences that you have had? Or
other ideas?

Thanks!
Rebecca in Karlsruhe, D.






_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
Organizers at lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Organizers at lists.sharedweight.net>

http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sharedweight.net/pipermail/organizers-sharedweight.net/attachments/20190619/42edf18a/attachment.html>