Re: [Callers] Lead/Follow in a Swing

The middle of a swing is a beautiful (almost) symmetrical move with the man and lady (almost) completely equal. I added the "almost"s because it is traditional for the man to place his right arm under the lady's left arm causing a small, but important, asymmetry. Of course you can do completely symmetrical swing (Galway Swings, Northumberland Swing, Ceilidh Swing, Sweetheart Swing, etc.), and indeed, especially in the more reserved UK, I always go for a Galway Swing when I meet a man for a swing. (Galway Swing = start an Allemande Right, use your left hand to cup your partner's right elbow, buzz-step and fly!) But in a swing there is also the entry and exit. Question 1: In your community if one partner twirls under the other person's arm while entering or exiting a swing, then is it the man or the lady that twirls? In my experience, watching countless dancers in many US states and UK counties over the years, it is the lady who twirls 99% of the time. Question 2: When you do that type of twirl, do you find it easier if, as a man, you provide a good lead, or, as a lady, you follow well? In my experience (mainly as a man) then it is MUCH easier to execute those twirls without effort and on time if the lady is a good follower. Then there are more complex swing-exit-flourishes such as an extended Apache Whip (the last part of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLttdtKOHs then raise your arm so that the lady keeps turning under it). Also Ladies' Chains where the lady wants to twirl half a dozen times. These work MUCH better if there is good lead and follow (in fact, you can do a lot of damage in an extended Apache Whip exit if you DON'T have good lead and follow). Question 3: In a swing, who decides when to stop turning? Have you ever been jerked by someone deciding to stop the swing earlier than you had planned? Or been left late for the next move by someone carrying on for an extra turn when there is no time? Is there lead & follow in deciding when to stop? So, yes, the middle of a swing doesn't involve lead and follow. But taken as a whole maybe it does! :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent