Hi folks,
A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow during the walk thru!
I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments appreciated.
Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the dance right!
Thanks,
Karen Fontana
*****************
Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
Becket Contra
A1 - Slide Left
Cir Left 3/4
N Swg
A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
W Chain
B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
Shadow Swing
B2 - LL F&B
Gents roll shadow away
P Swg
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen Fontana
www.karenscontracorner.com
karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
(H) 650-691-9663
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen:
One of my favorite winter dances in "20 Below" by Bill Olson
Becket Formation
A1:
(8) Circle left 3/4 to a wave across
(ladies take left in the center, neighbors take right)
(4) Balance the wave
(4) Pass through to a new wave
A2:
(4) Balance the wave
(12) Neighbors swing
B1:
(8) Gents allemande left 1 1/2
(8) Half a hey
(Partners pass right on the outside)
B2:
(16) Partners balance and swing
Nothing like being in warm dance hall dancing the night away, when it is 20
below out side...
Jeff Petrovitch
Hey Everyone!
There are few dances I am in love as I am in love with this dance. I remember
the first time I danced this, and remember exactly how Nils told the story on
how it was written. That the dance had come to him a dream... What a great
story...
Anyway, I would completely agree with the introduction of the shadow right at
the beginning of the dance. The "bow to your partner next to you, bow to your
neighbor across from you, and bow to your shadow next to you on the other
side. It is a lot easier making this introduction, when everyone is sure of
where they are suppose to be, in this case in Becket formation.
Sometime when you call this sequence it helps to have a leading call to the
shadows swing. I always use something like this: "half a hey, now turn away
and shadows swing. I like the "turn away", because you are turning away from
your partner, to your shadow, it makes a really easy reference point, instead
says gents look up or ladies look down or look right or look left.
Thanks,
Jeff Petrovitch
Dear Karen,
I always try to have dancers identify their shadows before I begin actually teaching
the dance. For this particular dance, I believe that your shadow is actually
right next to you once the dancers are lined up in Becket formation (this is the
only way that the roll away with your shadow and swing your partner can work).
So once the dancers are in Becket formation, I would say something like this:
"Your partner is next to you on one side; turn away from your partner and find
your shadow next to you in line." This helps folks with orientation in the
dance once there is the need to find the shadow. Plus, it helps out those who
have never been introduced to the term. I have also found that it helps me out a
lot, too! I make sure that I understand the dance well before I am ready to call
it, and know exactly where to locate shadows. I can also then verify that
dancers are "getting" the dance during the walk through.
Have fun on Friday! Cheers, Linda Leslie> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:06:02 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104050602.74357.qmail(a)web30015.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi folks,
>
> A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
>
> I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow
> after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course,
> since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same
> person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
>
> For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
>
> Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
>
> Thanks,
> Karen Fontana
> *****************
>
> Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> Becket Contra
>
> A1 - Slide Left
> Cir Left 3/4
> N Swg
>
> A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> W Chain
>
> B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> Shadow Swing
>
> B2 - LL F&B
> Gents roll shadow away
> P Swg
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:12:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Winter or New Year's themes
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104051231.85983.qmail(a)web30014.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Again,
>
> I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner -
> Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter
> themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
>
> - "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
> - "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
> - "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
> - "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
>
>
> So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out
> worth mentioning?
>
> thanks,
>
> Karen Fontana
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:17:01 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43BBAEAD.6050200(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> Some time ago, I contacted Nils about this dance (because I had
> collected it without the title). You have the dance right, although when
> I did it the A2 was a R&L thru instead of a 1/2 promenade. Nils says
> that he calls it both ways, but that the swing to promenade transition
> is a favorite of his.
>
> As far as where their shadow is, here's how I think of it: If you
> reverse the last move of the dance, the roll away, their shadow is next
> to them both before and after. This is the way that Peter Amidon taught
> it and I copied him: "Bow to your partner, bow to your neighbor across
> the set, bow to your shadow next to you on the side of the set." It sets
> up a nice continuous rotation and identifies the three people you are
> going to interact with during the walk-thru.
>
> Chris
>
> P.S. Hope to see people at Ralph Page in a couple of weeks!
>
>
> Karen Fontana wrote:
>
> >Hi folks,
> >
> > A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
> >
> > I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the
> shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of
> course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the
> same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
> >
> > For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
> >
> > Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Karen Fontana
> > *****************
> >
> > Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> > Becket Contra
> >
> > A1 - Slide Left
> > Cir Left 3/4
> > N Swg
> >
> > A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> > W Chain
> >
> > B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> > Shadow Swing
> >
> > B2 - LL F&B
> > Gents roll shadow away
> > P Swg
> >
> >
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> > Karen Fontana
> >www.karenscontracorner.com
> >karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> >(H) 650-691-9663
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Callers mailing list
> >Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 2
> **************************************
Hi Again,
I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner - Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
- "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
- "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
- "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
- "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out worth mentioning?
thanks,
Karen Fontana
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Karen Fontana
www.karenscontracorner.com
karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
(H) 650-691-9663
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Dear Karen,
I always try to have dancers identify their shadows before I begin teaching the dance. For this particular dance, I believe that your shadow is actually right next to you once the dancers are lined up in Becket formation (this is the only way that the roll away with your shadow and swing your partner can work). So once the dancers are in Becket formation, I would say something like this: "Your partner is next to you on one side; turn away from your partner and find your shadow next to you in line." This helps folks with orientation in the dance once there is the need to find the shadow. Plus, it helps out those who have never been introduced to the term. I have also found that it helps me out a lot, too! I make sure that I understand the dance well before I am ready to call it, and know exactly where to locate shadows. I can also then verify that dancers are "getting" the dance during the walk through.
Have fun on Friday! Cheers, Linda Leslie
> A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
>
> I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the shadow
> after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of course,
> since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the same
> person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
>
> For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
>
> Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
>
> Thanks,
> Karen Fontana
> *****************
>
> Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> Becket Contra
>
> A1 - Slide Left
> Cir Left 3/4
> N Swg
>
> A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> W Chain
>
> B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> Shadow Swing
>
> B2 - LL F&B
> Gents roll shadow away
> P Swg
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 21:12:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: Karen Fontana <karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Callers] Winter or New Year's themes
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20060104051231.85983.qmail(a)web30014.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Hi Again,
>
> I'm calling two dances this weekend. Friday nite is an "Beginner -
> Intermediate" crowd. Saturday "Beginner".
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for some good dances with New Year's or Winter
> themes? Here's a list Jeremy Korr and I already brainstormed:
>
> - "Dancing the Winter Away", Jim Kitch
> - "Winter Wedding" Steve Zakon - Anderson
> - "MY-NY Happy Returns" Carol Ormand
> - "Snow Dance" Gene Hubert
>
>
> So, all of you who called or danced to New Year's dances, anything stand out
> worth mentioning?
>
> thanks,
>
> Karen Fontana
>
>
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
> Karen Fontana
> www.karenscontracorner.com
> karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> (H) 650-691-9663
>
> <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 06:17:01 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Head of the Bed - Revisited
> To: Callers Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43BBAEAD.6050200(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> Some time ago, I contacted Nils about this dance (because I had
> collected it without the title). You have the dance right, although when
> I did it the A2 was a R&L thru instead of a 1/2 promenade. Nils says
> that he calls it both ways, but that the swing to promenade transition
> is a favorite of his.
>
> As far as where their shadow is, here's how I think of it: If you
> reverse the last move of the dance, the roll away, their shadow is next
> to them both before and after. This is the way that Peter Amidon taught
> it and I copied him: "Bow to your partner, bow to your neighbor across
> the set, bow to your shadow next to you on the side of the set." It sets
> up a nice continuous rotation and identifies the three people you are
> going to interact with during the walk-thru.
>
> Chris
>
> P.S. Hope to see people at Ralph Page in a couple of weeks!
>
>
> Karen Fontana wrote:
>
> >Hi folks,
> >
> > A few weeks ago, there was some discussion about Nils Fredland's dance: "Head
> of the Bed" (see below).... I was about to call it a couple of wks ago, and
> although I had memorized the dance (thanks, Tom H!)..., on the way driving to
> the dance, I realized I wasn't sure when to introduce and identify the shadow
> during the walk thru!
> >
> > I remember dancing it, and I think I re-call the caller introducing the
> shadow after the N Swg end of A1, which would be on the diagonal? And then, of
> course, since it's Becket, the shadow can be introduced in the beginning: the
> same person on the same side one beyond your partner ..... (help!)....
> >
> > For those who have called it, how and when do you introduce the shadow during
> your teaching? I hope to call it this Friday nite (Jan 6), so quick comments
> appreciated.
> >
> > Any additional teaching notes appreciated..... and also pls cfm I got the
> dance right!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Karen Fontana
> > *****************
> >
> > Head of the Bed by Nils Fredland
> > Becket Contra
> >
> > A1 - Slide Left
> > Cir Left 3/4
> > N Swg
> >
> > A2 - w/ N 1/2 Promenade
> > W Chain
> >
> > B1 - 1/2 Hey, W start pass Rt Sh
> > Shadow Swing
> >
> > B2 - LL F&B
> > Gents roll shadow away
> > P Swg
> >
> >
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> > Karen Fontana
> >www.karenscontracorner.com
> >karen_fontana(a)yahoo.com
> >(H) 650-691-9663
> >
> > <>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Callers mailing list
> >Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 2
> **************************************
Looks great! Since you've walked it through with some dancers, do you
remember how long the neighbor swing was?
Tom
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. New Dance - Ashokan Flirtation (Chris Weiler)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:21:06 -0500
> From: Chris Weiler <chris.weiler(a)weirdtable.org>
> Subject: [Callers] New Dance - Ashokan Flirtation
> To: Shared Weight <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <43B9A752.9090501(a)weirdtable.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Hi all,
>
> Hope you all had a great holidays and wonderful New Year celebration. I
> (with a few friends) spent New Year's Eve at Ashokan (in NY state). A
> great time was had by all.
>
> During some down time while I was taking some time to relax, I mulled
> over some ideas for a new dance and came up with this new one. I walked
> it through with a few dancers, and it seems to work. Whether it's
> enjoyable to dance is yet to be seen. I would enjoy hearing any feedback
> that people have.
>
> Ashokan Flirtation
> Chris Weiler
> Duple Improper
> A1
> Long Lines forward & back
> Neighbor do-si-do
> A2
> Ladies lead Left Shoulder hey
> When Gents pass 2nd time, catch left hands and Allemande once to Partner
> B1
> Partner Swing
> B2
> Gents Allemande Left once
> Gypsy partner once around
> Gents cross set (swing wide and pass right shoulders) for Neighbor Swing
>
> Happy New Year!
> Chris
>
> http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 17, Issue 1
> **************************************
Hi all,
Hope you all had a great holidays and wonderful New Year celebration. I
(with a few friends) spent New Year's Eve at Ashokan (in NY state). A
great time was had by all.
During some down time while I was taking some time to relax, I mulled
over some ideas for a new dance and came up with this new one. I walked
it through with a few dancers, and it seems to work. Whether it's
enjoyable to dance is yet to be seen. I would enjoy hearing any feedback
that people have.
Ashokan Flirtation
Chris Weiler
Duple Improper
A1
Long Lines forward & back
Neighbor do-si-do
A2
Ladies lead Left Shoulder hey
When Gents pass 2nd time, catch left hands and Allemande once to Partner
B1
Partner Swing
B2
Gents Allemande Left once
Gypsy partner once around
Gents cross set (swing wide and pass right shoulders) for Neighbor Swing
Happy New Year!
Chris
http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
Lynn:
I think that dance transitions and progressions is one of the most interesting
things about the whole subject of contra dance choreography. As a dancer, I
think the transition from a “ladies chain” to a “circle left” is an
interesting changing of momentum, i.e. there is more responsibility on the
gents/leaders to position the ladies/followers for the next dance movement.
If this transition is awkward, I think that the gents/leaders are positioning
the ladies/followers in the “wrong position” for the next dance movement.
For example: Too much spinning equals too much disorientation, which equals
poor timing, which equals “awkward transition”. I think that each
transition has a different set of options with that transition, and depending
on the skill of the dancer, the dancer is going to be more or less comfortable
with the different set of options with that transition.
Also if a transition seems awkward, I like to think of different transitions
that are similar, but do not feel as awkward, for example the transition from
a “ladies chain” to “ladies do-si-do”. In the dance, “Scout House
Reel” by Ted Sannella there is the transition from a “ladies chain” to a
“ladies do-si-do”. As a gent/leader, the lead from my right hand to my
lady’s/follower’s left hand after the “ladies chain and courtesy turn”
would be a slight pull by my right hand to her left hand, in this case a pull
into the center for the “ladies do-si-do”. In the case of the transition
from a “ladies chain” to a “circle left”, it would still be a slight
pull from my right to her left hand into the “circle left”.
Scout House Reel – Ted Sannella
Duple Improper Formation
A1:
(8) Down the hall four in a line (active couples in the center)
(8) Turn alone and return
A2:
(8) Circle left
(8) Ladies chain
B1:
(8) Ladies do-si-do 1 ½
(8) Neighbors swing
B2:
(8) Long lines forward and back
(8) Active couple swing
I think the transition from a “right and left through” to a “circle
left” is very similar, because it is not so much the transition from a
“ladies chain” to a “circle left” or a “right and left through” to
a “circle left”, but the transition from a “courtesy turn” to a
“circle left.
I think the transition from a “swing” to a “star left” or “star
right” is at least in my opinion not the best transition. “In some
dances, depending on what follows the star, I can
replace the star with a long line forward and back, which fixes it.” – I
would like to think that every dance is a certain way, because the dance
composer wanted the dance that certain way, so I do not think it is the place
of anyone, caller, dancer, dance composer to “fix” another dance
composer’s dance.
My only advice about dance collecting is something that was passed on to me
from my friend, Lisa Sieverts, which was passed on to her from Larry Jennings,
and that is that the caller should be intimately familiar with the dance he or
she is calling. There are a lot of callers that walk around with a box of
three hundred dances in them, and I find it very hard to believe that, that
caller is intimately familiar with three hundred dances, and when I say
intimately familiar I mean that the caller should have those dances memorized.
The dance card is there for a reminder…
If you have your head stuck in a card, you are missing perhaps the best part
of calling, in my opinion. So, that may be a little off base from where you
were going with your question, but that is just my take on it. There are a
lot of good dances out there, there are a lot of good dance composers out
there, but how many dances do you remember off the top of your head, how many
dances to you love to dance, even if the dance is called three times in one
night. There are always going to be dances that stand out in your head, and
of course there is always a certain level of personal preference that comes
into play…
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Petrovitch
Lynn,
I'm glad you're looking at your dances in detail. You've made me think about an aspect of programming that I've forgotten about. There was a time when I used to program most of my dances of the evening to be flowing and having good transitions. In the DC area I'd throw in a dance or two that had an awkward moment. Many of the dancers in that area dance 1-4 nights a week. They dance the dances that flow and have good transitions all of the time. You might even say that many of them could be a little bored by some of the common transitions that flow (and therefore are used in many dances) The awkward move or transition was a new puzzle for them to play with. It made them think and adjust. Of course the level of the dance had to fit the skill level of the crowd.
I can remember as a dancer enjoying the non flowing or bad transition on occasion (one an evening). Sounds strange but I've heard others mention the same thing. And of course not everyone will enjoy this. As we all know you can't please everyone 100%. Maybe it's save to say that we try to please the average.
By the way, Bob Dalsemer once made a good point in this regard. He said that many of the transitions that we now consider as good transitions were considered awkward years ago when they were first introduced.
Tom
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Questionable figure transitions (lynn ackerson)
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> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 15:07:33 -0800 (PST)
> From: lynn ackerson <callynn1(a)pacbell.net>
> Subject: [Callers] Questionable figure transitions
> To: callers <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Message-ID: <20051212230733.60116.qmail(a)web81608.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
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> Hi all. Several times a year I go through my cards and try to throw out dances that turned out not to be as great as I thought they were when I collected them. This round, several transitions are sticking out for me as being awkward. The first is a ladies chain to a circle L with the same group of 4. The courtesy turn ends with both dancers' momentum going more toward a circle R than circle L. I find this transition even worse when the ladies chain is on the L diagonal followed by a circle L with the couple across. On a R&L through followed by a circle L, I recommend that the dancers use a California twirl instead of a courtesy turn and that gets around that courtesy turn to circle L transition. Am I being a bit too anal about this? There are just so many dances available, I feel like I need to get down to this level of detail to weed some out.
>
> The second transition that I see a lot, especially in Cary Ravitz dances is swing to star (L or R) in same group of 4. For this one, one of the swingee's needed hand will be around their swinging partner and it's awkward to extricate it to make the star. In some dances, depending on what follows the star, I can replace the star with a Long Lines F&B which fixes it.
>
> I talked to several of you at NEFFA about another transition that really bugs me: from a hey which has a R shoulder pass in the middle to a swing on the side. Whoever finishes the hey first, has to make an immediate change in momentum (since they just passed L on the side) to get into a swing. Some dances alleviate the problem by using a balance and swing instead of just a swing, but that only works if there's enough time.
>
> Any thoughts? Like I said, I'm getting way down to the details to come up with reasons to weed out dances. Do you have suggestions for making these transitions smoother? Are there other transitions you personally try to avoid?
>
> Thanks,
> Lynn
>
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