[Callers] Re: What are your favorite “style points?”

Hi Harris, Julian and others have already given you some great points. I never talk about weight. I refer to it as connection. See https://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#connection for more information. Thumbs: I have often thought of putting a sign on the door saying, “Leave your thumbs here – you don’t need them for the dance!”. Ask the dancers to make a Wrist-Lock Star – tell them to put their thumbs on top so that they can’t grip. Ask the dancers to hold hands in a circle – give them permission to tell their partners or neighbours if they are gripping with their thumbs. Swings: See https://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging for lots of hints and tips. Tell the dancers to get in a Ballroom-Hold ready for a Swing. Then ask them to relax! It is amazing how much just this one concept can improve a Swing. Tell the dancers to get in a Ballroom-Hold ready for a Swing. Give them permission to tell their partner where they are feeling pressure. There are lots of common faults: ladies pressing on the back. Men gripping too tightly. Hanging, clamping, gripping, leaning, etc. During a Swing you never get time to mention it, even if you dared. Most people don’t realise that they are causing their partner discomfort. Giving them permission to share information can really help. Allemandes: See https://contrafusion.co.uk/Allemande.html for some great tips and quotes from the callers on this list. The Allemande 1.5 times is the worst-performed move in contra dancing in my experience. Explain to the dancers that, although it may look like arm-wrestling, it is not! In fact, if your hand moves towards your body you lose! Just connect. Focus then on moving your feet quickly to get around. Increase the tension as little as possible to counteract centrifugal force and to keep the hands exactly half way between you. Timing: Circle three-quarters and Pass Through. The Circle is six steps, leaving the last two for the Pass Through. Lots of people think they have to use up all the music in the Circle then Pass Through at the beginning of the next phrase, arriving late for the next move. Down the Hall and Dixie Twirl or California Twirl: You only take four steps down the hall. I hope that helps. Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent