18 Feb
2014
18 Feb
'14
7:45 a.m.
Don's photo illustrates the "OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not
the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com>wrote;wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I try
to preface any "style points" with a fellow dancer with "it would help me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like I'm asking a favor of them to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good form
from them generally thereafter, so much the better. I've not had a negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common where I dance. As a picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note I'm torqued slightly in these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=shari…
-Don
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18 Feb
18 Feb
9:12 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris <lindsay(a)tsmworks.com>wrote;wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the
"OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com
wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I
try
to preface any "style points" with a
fellow dancer with "it would help me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts
the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like
I'm asking a favor of them to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good
form
from them generally thereafter, so much the
better. I've not had a
negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices
described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common
where I dance. As a
picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note
I'm torqued slightly in these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=shari…
-Don
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
10:39 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
George, that's an interesting point, and I'm glad you mentioned it, because
it's definitely one that hadn't really entered my consciousness. I've
definitely experienced a forceful allemande approach as, while not *the* norm,
definitely a viable means of entering an allemande. The force level I'm
referring to is roughly equivalent to a high five--I don't know if that's
the sort of thing that would cause you pain, or if you're talking about
even harder allemandes. It seems to me to be a way of adding energy to the
dance, and even more specifically, a rhythmic accent (both in terms of the
physical contact and the noise it produces)--akin to a foot stop or the
claps on a petronella.
All that said, I'm glad you pointed out that it's not for everyone. I'll
definitely be more mindful in the future. I haven't really had the
experience of going in for a forceful allemande approach and meeting
someone who's not reciprocating--there's something about the wind-up that
provides a clue, I think--but I'll certainly keep an eye out. Yay for not
hurting people!
Maia
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 9:12 AM, George Mercer <geopmercer(a)gmail.com> wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande
discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris <lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
to
these
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=shari…
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the
"OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not
the
> intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
>
> Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
> injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
> their whole hand- ick).
>
> "Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
> promote good ones.
>
> --------------------
> Lindsay Morris
> CEO, TSMworks
> Tel. 1-859-539-9900
> lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com
> wrote:
>
> > [Lots of other posts trimmed...]
> >
> > Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I
> try
> > to preface any "style points" with a fellow dancer with "it
would help
me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts
the
> issue totally on me and makes it sound like I'm asking a favor of them adjust to
my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good
form
from them generally thereafter, so much the
better. I've not had a
negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices
described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common
where I dance. As a
picture
> is worth a thousand words, here it is (note I'm torqued slightly in > due to holding the camera with the other
hand for the photo -- the
normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
-Don
_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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10:46 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
Dear George,
I am so glad that you brought up this issue. I have noticed it, too,
and also see that the whacking has become a prelude to a balance
(yikes!) for some dancers. It will be interesting to hear from callers
how we might approach this challenge. For me, although I have no
particular arm or shoulder problems, I simply don't like the gesture.
Usually I do say something like "a gentle connection works better for
me", or a related sharing. But I have also used the "ouch!" with
success.
I wonder if it comes from "high five"??
Linda
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande
discussion, but it
has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past
decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a
percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm
issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a
jolt all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm
back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it
up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate?
This may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as
the death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris
<lindsay(a)tsmworks.com>wrote;wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the
"OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's
not the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at
risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb
with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit
all, I
try
to preface any "style points" with a
fellow dancer with "it would
help me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior.
Puts
the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like
I'm asking a favor of
them to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further
good
form
from them generally thereafter, so much the
better. I've not had a
negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere
in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices
described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common
where I dance. As a
picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note
I'm torqued slightly
in these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the
normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=shari…
-Don
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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_______________________________________________
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Callers(a)sharedweight.net
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10:49 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
Great point.
Hard to naysay vigor and enthusiasm in dancing, yet I get hurt that way too
sometimes. Guess all a caller can do is encourage respect and attention.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 10:46 AM, Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>wrote;wrote:
Dear George,
I am so glad that you brought up this issue. I have noticed it, too, and
also see that the whacking has become a prelude to a balance (yikes!) for
some dancers. It will be interesting to hear from callers how we might
approach this challenge. For me, although I have no particular arm or
shoulder problems, I simply don't like the gesture. Usually I do say
something like "a gentle connection works better for me", or a related
sharing. But I have also used the "ouch!" with success.
I wonder if it comes from "high five"??
Linda
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some
time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a
percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt
all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This
may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the
death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris <lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the "OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's
not
the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I
try
to preface any "style points" with a
fellow dancer with "it would help
me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts
the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like
I'm asking a favor of them
to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good
form
from them generally thereafter, so much the
better. I've not had a
negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices
described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common
where I dance. As a
picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note
I'm torqued slightly in
these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the
normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/
edit?usp=sharing
-Don
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________ 
19 Feb
19 Feb
12:41 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
The Wham Connection is an example of the non-smooth connection, and, I
think should be used with a lot of caution. The problem is, in the
negotiation of connection, it's a one-sided deal. Another place that
this sometimes occurs is the "push-off" at the end of an allemande.
These mover seem OK, for people who are familiar with each other and
have a pre-negotiated (even if it's unspoken) agreement that they like
this kind of connection seem OK.
And, it comes back down to, how do we teach these points? I do think at
least pointing out that every connection requires that instant
negotiation. Things that come into the decision process are:
familiarity: those of us who come a lot know who's in for the
spins, and who we have to get to know first
peripheral awareness: keeping our eyes open as we come into a minor
set, seeing how a person dances
Just to name two.
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 2/18/2014 7:49 AM, Lindsay Morris wrote:
Great point.
Hard to naysay vigor and enthusiasm in dancing, yet I get hurt that way too
sometimes. Guess all a caller can do is encourage respect and attention.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 10:46 AM, Linda Leslie <laleslierjg(a)comcast.net>wrote;wrote:
Dear George,
I am so glad that you brought up this issue. I have noticed it, too, and
also see that the whacking has become a prelude to a balance (yikes!) for
some dancers. It will be interesting to hear from callers how we might
approach this challenge. For me, although I have no particular arm or
shoulder problems, I simply don't like the gesture. Usually I do say
something like "a gentle connection works better for me", or a related
sharing. But I have also used the "ouch!" with success.
I wonder if it comes from "high five"??
Linda
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande discussion, but it has
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
been a source of personal pain for me for some
time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a
percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt
all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This
may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the
death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris <lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the
"OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not
> the
> intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
>
> Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
> injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
> their whole hand- ick).
>
> "Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
> promote good ones.
>
> --------------------
> Lindsay Morris
> CEO, TSMworks
> Tel. 1-859-539-9900
> lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com
>
> wrote:
>>
> [Lots of other posts trimmed...]
>> Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I
>>
> try
>
>> to preface any "style points" with a fellow dancer with "it would
help
>> me
>> if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts
>>
> the
>
>> issue totally on me and makes it sound like I'm asking a favor of them
>> to
>> adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good
>>
> form
>
>> from them generally thereafter, so much the better. I've not had a
>>
> negative
>
>> reaction to this since I started doing it.
>>
>> BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
>> contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices
>>
> described
>
>> to this point). I find this to be fairly common where I dance. As a
>>
> picture
>
>> is worth a thousand words, here it is (note I'm torqued slightly in
>> these
>> due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the
>> normal
>> connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
>>
>>
>> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/
> edit?usp=sharing
>
>> -Don
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
>> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>>
>> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
> _______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
9:42 p.m.
New subject: Hand Manners
Perhaps suggesting to our new dancers that if they're not sure what
level of energy to use when making contact, to err on the side of
gentleness? Or if there's a dance that you like to call where you
notice a lot of high-impact connections, that announcement could be made
during the walk-through.
Kalia
On 2/18/2014 9:41 PM, Erik Hoffman wrote:
The Wham Connection is an example of the non-smooth
connection, and, I
think should be used with a lot of caution. The problem is, in the
negotiation of connection, it's a one-sided deal. Another place that
this sometimes occurs is the "push-off" at the end of an allemande.
These mover seem OK, for people who are familiar with each other and
have a pre-negotiated (even if it's unspoken) agreement that they like
this kind of connection seem OK.
And, it comes back down to, how do we teach these points? I do think at
least pointing out that every connection requires that instant
negotiation. Things that come into the decision process are:
familiarity: those of us who come a lot know who's in for the
spins, and who we have to get to know first
peripheral awareness: keeping our eyes open as we come into a minor
set, seeing how a person dances
Just to name two.
~erik hoffman
12:51 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
I suppose it's something I sometimes do--I think of it as punctuating the phrasing
(it's something I'd only do if I can do it right on the beat). I think I
particularly like it when I've been consistently finding people who are either ahead
of or behind the phrasing, and then find someone who's right on it. Not being able to
clap with someone (e.g., dancers at the end of the line & the move is
forward-and-back), which I think is comparable in force, would come as a surprise to me,
warranting a "Gentle, please" sticker on the person for whom it's a problem
(though I realize all you have to do to avoid that clap is not put up your hand, which you
can't really do on an allemande).
--Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande
discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
8:41 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
I like Erik's 2 rules:
Rule 1: Hooks, not grips
Rule 2: Connect Smoothly -- no jerking, please
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 12:51 AM, Read Weaver <rweaver(a)igc.org> wrote:
I suppose it's something I sometimes do--I think
of it as punctuating the
phrasing (it's something I'd only do if I can do it right on the beat). I
think I particularly like it when I've been consistently finding people who
are either ahead of or behind the phrasing, and then find someone who's
right on it. Not being able to clap with someone (e.g., dancers at the end
of the line & the move is forward-and-back), which I think is comparable in
force, would come as a surprise to me, warranting a "Gentle, please"
sticker on the person for whom it's a problem (though I realize all you
have to do to avoid that clap is not put up your hand, which you can't
really do on an allemande).
--Read Weaver
Jamaica Plain, MA
http://lcfd.org
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande
discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past
decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty
good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a
percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a
variety of hand/arm
issues
and the percussive impact of the initial
allemande contact sends a jolt
all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced
to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up
so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether.
When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This
may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has
the same result as the
death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other
allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
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12:32 a.m.
New subject: Hand Manners (was: Dances with three or more allemandes)
OSHA?? Really??? You mean the government has finally recognized the
beauty and joy of contra dancing (as opposed to contra gun-slinging)?
And, it is an interesting discussion. I started my more formalized
thoughts after a discussion with Brad Foster about our mutual sense of
displeasure at this "government approved" version of the allemande.
Aahz mentioned that I'm a big person. It's true. Still, I know and have
taught protective techniques that will work with a person of any size,
and I've had had my hand twisted using this "avoid the thumb" hold: when
it, too, turns into a grip.
Now there is a place where I strongly advocate what I call, "The Rule of
No Thumbs." That's in circles. I find it very uncomfortable when a thumb
clamps down on the back of my hand. It's another place where the
practice of "hooks" is preferred, no thumb-clamps necessary. And, no
grips! Or I gripe...
And, as I've stated before, with so many divergent opinions, I think we
should teach the basic rule of safe practices:
Rule One: Hooks, not Grips
Rule Two: Connect Smoothly -- no jerking, please
Remember, every connection is a negotiation, and it should be easy to
back out or say "no."
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 2/18/2014 4:45 AM, Lindsay Morris wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the
"OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
lindsay(a)tsmworks.com
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_net(a)veino.com>wrote;wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I try
to preface any "style points" with a fellow dancer with "it would help me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like I'm asking a favor of them to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good form
from them generally thereafter, so much the better. I've not had a negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common where I dance. As a picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note I'm torqued slightly in these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=shari…
-Don
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9 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
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Erik Hoffman -
George Mercer -
Kalia Kliban -
Linda Leslie -
Lindsay Morris -
Maia McCormick -
Read Weaver