Re: [Callers] How do you balance? (Was High-energy dances)

When I teach a balance - I go over the footwork very quickly (step for & back) and then tell them not to worry about that part - the balance really happens in the arms - not the feet and emphasize keeping a strong connection with the other dancer(s) as you move toward them and back and using the balance to create the 'lead' or momentum in the direction you need to go for the next move.  Thinking about footwork just makes it more complicated than it needs to be and they will figure out what works for them. Mac McKeever ________________________________ From: Read Weaver <rweaver(a)igc.org> To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net> Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 1:10 AM Subject: Re: [Callers] How do you balance? (Was High-energy dances) When I teach a balance, I mostly describe it as a way to move away from your partner to give you the chance to pull in toward your partner, whether it's for a swing, a box the gnat, etc. Any move within the phrasing that allows you to do that is fair game. The simplest is either step in on the right, step out on the left, although some find in-2-3, out-2-3 more intuitive. Step-stamp-step-stamp is the one I actively encourage people to not do, as 1) it's generally done in such a way that it doesn't put you in a position to pull in to the next move, and 2) it makes you look like a yahoo. --Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org On Apr 24, 2013, at 8:46 AM, John Sweeney wrote: _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)sharedweight.net http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers