15 Feb
2012
15 Feb
'12
10:14 p.m.
Adding to Linda's good thoughts -
For a full hey I usually point out that people should end up in their starting place, and
if there are lots of newer dancers I may add "how you get there is just a detail, as
long as you don't crash into anyone else." Folks often chuckle at that point,
which I take as a good sign. But how to officially teach it? If most people are new
I've done the first walkthrough with hands, as in Grand R & L, then without
hands.
One thing that confuses a lot of new folks is how to turn and re-enter on the other side.
I've seem many people turn sharply back and collide. It sometimes helps to describe it
as a LH U-turn (or RH U-turn as the case may be), or to suggest pretending that
they're hooking their arm around an imaginary lamppost. Or pretend they are little
airplanes and have to "bank" to turn. Most kids (and some adults) embrace being
silly with the airplane idea, which makes the whole figure less intimidating.
For a half hey, it helps to point out they'll be diagonally across from their staring
place at the end (usually the same gender neighbor's spot).
Hilton Baxter
I agree with Tavi that heys don't have to be
perceived as a difficult
move. I use them all the time with newer dancers, using the following
guidelines:
A full hey which occurs anywhere but in the B2 is easier, since the
dancers do not have to progress out of the hey
A hey which ends up with a B & S, or gypsy and S (either P or N) will
smooth over any tendency to get a bit lost. Great dances that are
perfect examples are:
The Carousel by Tom Hinds
Flirtation Reel by Tony Parkes
There are many others!
Sometimes using a dance that introduces a half hey is a great way to
get folks ready for a full hey later on in the evening.
These dances add variety.
One other quick point that I thought about when Emily first posted,
but did not share at the time: I use four in line down the hall quite
a bit with new dancers. I have never found that it caused confusion
about location in space/the dance. Quite the contrary, it gives folks
encouragement to move to the music in a quite natural way, and is
another move that adds variety. I can understand avoiding these dances
because of space constraints. However, four in line down the hall to a
great march makes for wonderful dancing.
Cheers! Linda