23 Aug
2016
23 Aug
'16
12:58 p.m.
On Tue, Aug 23, 2016, George Mercer via Callers wrote:
Just a note: I always teach the right and left through. It is a
simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much sense
for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers
are crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with
the dancer directly across, then left-hands on the side and you
courteously help each other turn via a courtesy turn.
Most of my teaching has been in a square dance context, but I teach Pass
Thru, Courtesy Turn before I teach R&L Thru. And I teach sashayed
Courtesy Turn -- probably wouldn't bother with that in a contra context.
There's a regular argument in the square dance community about whether
it's better to teach the handed version or no-hands version of calls
first (e.g. California Twirl vs Partner Trade). I overall favor the
handed calls first because it's better body flow and the guide makes it
easier to learn the call. However, I switch with R&L Thru because
learning how to take and drop hands while passing is a bit of a tricky
skill for many people (the biggest culprit usually being Square Thru).
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