[Callers] Re: Connection vs Giving Weight

I have started using allemandes as a way to explain "giving weight", when I lead a beginner workshop. The instruction I use is "Pull yourself around the other person", followed by doing it with noodle-arms for contrast. I also use the words "unsatisfying", and "zesty". Then we go back to the circle and use that same level of tension to hold the circle together while I ask a band member to play one AABB of a highly punctuated melody, such as La Bastringue. I lead/announce the first two direction switches and tell the group to listen to the music, count the beats to 8, and initiate the change in direction themselves. I also ask them to maintain the tension even during the direction change. I point out that the connection in our arms help us know when other people think it's time to switch direction. Then I say that all the moves where we are contacting other dances have approximately that same tension as connection.  Bob FabinskiRochester NY bobfab(a)aol.com On Fri, Jun 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM, Robert Setili via Contra Callers<contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: _______________________________________________ Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net