On 2/17/2014 6:39 PM, Aahz Maruch wrote: This is probably one of those things that is easier to show than it is to explain in words. However, I'll give it a try. I think referring to "interlocking" could be a confusion. I wouldn't tell anyone to interlock their hands or thumbs. Instead I like to tell people to hook their fingers behind the other person's thumb, between the thumb and the wrist, and to keep their thumbs in the "thumbs up" position, not closing them on the other persons hand. That way either person can easily let go without any problem by just straightening their fingers. Nothing is holding their hands together except their own bent fingers. The hands and wrists should be held straight, without twisting or bending, so that when the fingers are straightened they will point at the other person's face (or thereabouts). Arms should be held with with a slight bend in the elbow, adjusting the distance between the dancers by bending the elbows greater or lesser, to enable them to get around in more or less time depending on the time allowed for the figure. All force should be straight along the arms from the shoulder of one person to the shoulder of the other, with no side force. That way it is easy to give the appropriate amount of "weight" without any twisting or bending of the wrists. In fact, I think that optimally both shoulders of both dancers, as well as their elbows and hands, should all lie in the same plane, perpendicular to the floor. So you might start by having the two dancers stand facing in opposite directions, pointing their (right) shoulders at each other, then extent their (right) arms towards the other person and hooking their fingers around the other's thumb/wrist junction, keeping their own thumbs pointing straight up. Jonathan ----- Jonathan Sivier Caller of Contra, English and Early American Dances jsivier AT illinois DOT edu Dance Page: http://www.sivier.me/dance_leader.html ----- Q: How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? A: It depends on what dance you call!