3 Sep
2011
3 Sep
'11
11:01 a.m.
John Wrote:
It looks as though I may have not
understood exactly where you were suggesting that the lady should place
her hand. And I still don't understand statements
such as "make him
pull her through the swing" and "holding on to the gent a little bit so
that he isn't the only one working during the swing". If you both keep
your own balance and work the swing with your feet, then the upper
bodies should be an effortless, relaxed symmetrical, counter-balanced,
coupling that both parties can enjoy.
I suspect we won't get any further with this discussion
unless we continue it on the dance floor.
This is a wonderful example of why psychomotor skills cannot be taught
solely with words.
I see swinging as a complex skill that is learned and re-learned, primarily
on the dance floor and, sometimes, in workshop settings. We need continuing
education in this instance. I would gently suggest that this skill is *not
*one that can be addressed well in the optional first-timer's orientation.
The need is community-wide and too much information on someone's first night
can be very disheartening to some learners. I do teach the swing in
orientations but I keep it very simple and introduce it by looking at my
watch about 10 minutes into the orientation and telling the group that "we
seem to have covered all of the basics so I'm going to use this extra time
to show you one figure that is pretty unique to contra dance. It's called
the 'buzz-step swing.'" When I am asked about other figures (often the hey)
I just assure the questioner that their more experienced partner will show
them what to do during the dance.
John also wrote:
Sorry if I sound a bit passionate about
this topic, but I
love swinging, and have had so many bad experiences because of ladies
who push, pull, lean, drag, lift, squeeze, strangle, clamp, grip, dig in
or hang off the man!
Notice that most of the words used above to describe problems with swinging
can reasonably be traced to nervous tension in a newcomer. Most of the
complaints I hear about dancing with first-timers can be attributed to the
newcomer's low confidence and their fear of doing something wrong. This is
a problem that can be addressed, without adding more information--which is
likely to *increase *the tension for some dancers. Putting newcomers at
ease and building their confidence makes them a lot more fun to dance with!
It also makes them more open to learning.
This is why it is so important to finish a first-timer's orientation on
time, giving everyone the feeling that they have learned all of the skills
they need in order to partner with the regulars and to be successful.
Just a thought,
Greg McKenzie