9 Feb
2012
9 Feb
'12
1:16 a.m.
I like star promenades and frequently call contras and squares that include that figure.
I watching these for some time I frequently see something a little different.
Often the dance leaves the ladies (assuming the gents are the ones doing the allemands) in
a spot a little distance from where they need to be for the gents to connect with them.
This leads to reaching or mild scrambling to make that connection. I have not noticed
ladies starting across the set - but would rather see them step toward the gent as he
approaches.
This is not unlike another pet peeve of mine - where the corners in contra corners just
stand there with their left hand in the air (sometime even instructed to do so by the
caller). This forces the active couple to almost chase them around.
Dancers who become momentarily inactive need to be aware of their upcoming role and put
themselves back into the action in the proper place and space rather than making the dance
come to them - and when they do it is more enjoyable for everyone.
Mac
________________________________
From: Marlin Whitaker <marlinw(a)gmail.com>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Star Promenade - communicate the feeling of a good one?
What Amy said. Hear, hear.
It is very unpleasant to arrive at the spot where I am supposed to meet
a lady to start a star promenade but find her already part way across
the set, so I have to chase her to try to catch up with her. Usually
that happens in time for the butterfly whirl, but that's too late to
have the "satisfying, connected" star promenade that Alan is looking for.
-- Marlin
On 02/08/2012 12:55 PM, Amy Cann wrote:
Hmmm. I agree with everything below except for:
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As to the star promenade/butterfly whirl, the
non-allemander* should be
moving before the person he/she is going to promenade
with gets there. *
This may be true in some cases, but I think the caller needs to be careful
here - I would choose
"be ready to be swept up" instead.
I have very clear memories of dancing the inside part of a star promenade
and having a VERY unsatisfying time of it, just like in the original post.
The main problem? The outsides kept "helping" me by starting to walk round
the star before I got there and really latched on.
It didn't feel like a mini, gentle, star-shaped game of crack-the-whip, it
felt like a bunch of outsides promenading around a little track while the
insides trotted to catch up, their inner hands hooked together in a tangle
that had no functional purpose.
Bleh.
The ones that felt the best were the ones that waited until my arm was
truly around their waist, and then *hung back a little* .
When dancing the outside, it felt to me that "giving weight behind myself"
made it work best.
Just my two cents.
Oh, and BTW:
calling Amy Cann's "Sweet Music"
(*great* dance),
Nope. :)
I mean, yep, it is a great dance, but --
Amy Kahn, rhymes with "John", lives in western NY and wrote the dance
"Sweet Music".
Amy Cann, rhymes with "Dan", lives in Vermont and wrote the tune
"Catharsis" and the dance "High Five."
Cheers,
Amy
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