24 Mar
2011
24 Mar
'11
9:27 p.m.
On 3/24/2011 10:51 AM, Tina Fields wrote:
This is such a rich topic, key for making the
dances inclusive and fun. John,
thanks for opening it up. It would make a great hands-on workshop at a dance
camp.
In the meantime, I've not heard two terms you used. What are:
* a "Lindy Anchor" (on Lines Forward & Back)
* A "North Country Ladies' Chain"?
I have no idea what a "Lindy Anchor" is, but Hugh Stewart describes a
North Country Ladies' Chain this way in his Elements of English Country
Dance (<http://www.srcf.ucam.org/round/dances/elements>): In a /North Country Ladies Chain/ the woman follows
the same path, but
the man collects her with his left hand, holds it above her head so she
goes under his arm and then while he still faces in the same direction
he transfers her hand from his left to his right so that they end
standing side by side holding inside hands. Rather than fumbling to
change hands behind his back an accepted alternative is for the man to
turn to keep looking at her as he changes hands.
(I'm having trouble picturing it; I'd have to
get up from the computer
to try it).
It's easier done than said. Key: The man stays largely in place rather than
moving over to the place the woman just vacated to meet the incoming woman.
Ladies pull by right and give left to the opposite man.
Ladies go behind opposite while men continue facing in, so the man's left hand
goes behind him and up over his shoulder She goes under (actually backs under,
I think), drops his hand, and comes out in the vacated lady's place and takes
his near hand (his right, her left). She's probably doing some kind of
footwork while this goes on, maybe ranting.
(This is bloody hard for the man to lead, and it's somewhat silly for
"Elements" to describe his doing the transferring of hands. Leave it up to the
lady.)
The accepted alternative where the man turns to keep looking at her is
essentially just the contra 'twirl under and face in'.
-- Alan
===============================================================================
Alan Winston --- WINSTON(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL Phone: 650/926-3056
Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025
===============================================================================