Import1 August 2016

import1@lists2.sharedweight.net

1 participants
47 discussions

Re: [Callers] On Balances, Box circulates, Allemandes, Circles & Timing

by Read Weaver via Callers

I’d say the place where the timing on circle 3/4 is crucial is when it’s circle 3/4 and pass through to the next. Either this move is being called more frequently or it’s being done (make that “done”) as 8+0 more frequently than was true up until a few years ago, because as a dancer I run in to bad timing with it a lot more than I used to. I’d urge callers to either avoid dances that end with this, or explicitly teach it as 6+2 in the walk through, and again while calling as needed. It invariably leads to many many instances of starting the next move (with a new couple) late, either everyone arriving late or some arriving late and some on time. Read Weaver Jamaica Plain, MA http://lcfd.org > On Aug 21, 2016, at 4:31 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > ... > Circles, Allemandes, & Circumference > ... > At times there has been discussion about how a circle left ¾, swing someone is a 6, then 10 beat set of figures. I think of it as 8 & 8, but let dancers do whatever they want. Then we have a circle left ¾, ring balance, California twirl. The timing of this is definitely 8, 4, 4. > > It is easy to have a good connection, give good weight in a circle ¾, and make it last 6 or 8 beats by expanding or contracting the circle. Aware dancers will adjust to make the move fit the timing of the dance. Circle left ¾ into a balance: make the circle bigger so the path is a bit longer. Want that extra two beats of swing? Contract the circle, and get there early… >

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by Cheryl Joyal via Callers

This is one of my favorites too!! Cheryl Joyal 630-667-3284 Sent from my iPhone On Aug 23, 2016, at 8:33 PM, Bob Green via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: The dance I like for introducing the ladies chain, if I have a band that will work with me on tempo, is Carpet Vectors by Robert Cromartie. The tempo has to stay on the slow side so that the circles left and right are not rushed. The sequence is a circle left and chain to your partner, then circle right and chain back to your neighbor. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/344-carpet-vectors-b… Bob Green > On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 10:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello all, > > I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as possible? > > Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? > Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? > What move best precedes the chain to set it up? > What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? > Other factors you consider? > > I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I think about: > > I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion would snowball. > > Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful dance angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. > > For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy line is another new piece. > > Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new thread ;-) > > Take care, > > > -- > Luke Donforth > Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by Bob Green via Callers

The dance I like for introducing the ladies chain, if I have a band that will work with me on tempo, is *Carpet Vectors *by Robert Cromartie. The tempo has to stay on the slow side so that the circles left and right are not rushed. The sequence is a circle left and chain to your partner, then circle right and chain back to your neighbor. http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/344-carpet-vectors-b… Bob Green On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 10:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello all, > > I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new > dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies > chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific > dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as > possible? > > Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? > Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? > What move best precedes the chain to set it up? > What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? > Other factors you consider? > > I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I > think about: > > I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't > whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion > would snowball. > > Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced > dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new > dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new > dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful dance > angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to > teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to > completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. > > For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not > convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 > chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star > is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star > wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great > progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. > chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or > after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side > of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with > chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I > don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy > line is another new piece. > > Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple > glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight > have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly > won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new > thread ;-) > > Take care, > > > -- > Luke Donforth > Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com> > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by Ron Blechner via Callers

What Maia listed is exactly how I teach the courtesy-turn moves. (I wonder if Maia got it from me... I think I stole it as a combination from Peter Stix and Jack Mitchell). Without a beginner lesson, I teach the courtesy-turn in place, then add the pull-by to the front of it. This also works to quickly teach a chain when the gents role is doing it. ;) My favorite basic chain-teach dances involve chaining to a neighbor*: Baby Rose, David Kaynor A Nice Combination, Gene Hubert The Missing Piece, Bronwyn Woods (which may also go by another name. Chain to balance, Petronellas) Simplicity Swing, Becky Hill (only if the this is like, the third dance, since it's a busy dance) and mine, Mistakes Happen; Have Fun (I put in all of my beginner lesson basic ingredients in it: circle, Alle N, star, chain, 2 swings) Best, Ron * Unless the crowd is 99% experienced and I know new dancers are not dancing with each other, then I may do it with a chain-to-partner. On Aug 23, 2016 1:12 PM, "Maia McCormick via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Real interesting discussion! My two cents on the order of teaching: I've > been having good luck lately with teaching in the following order-- > 1) promenade the ring > 2) turn around to promenade the opposite direction (lady walks forward and > gent walks back, i.e. CCW rotation--get everyone used to turning in the > right direction) > 3) promenade across the set ("gents, identify your own left shoulder. Now > identify that other gent's left shoulder. That's how you're going to pass > each other") > 4) R/L through *with a demo* > 5) ladies chain > > On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 12:58 PM, Aahz via Callers < > callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> On Tue, Aug 23, 2016, George Mercer via Callers wrote: >> > >> > Just a note: I always teach the right and left through. It is a >> > simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much sense >> > for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers >> > are crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with >> > the dancer directly across, then left-hands on the side and you >> > courteously help each other turn via a courtesy turn. >> >> Most of my teaching has been in a square dance context, but I teach Pass >> Thru, Courtesy Turn before I teach R&L Thru. And I teach sashayed >> Courtesy Turn -- probably wouldn't bother with that in a contra context. >> >> There's a regular argument in the square dance community about whether >> it's better to teach the handed version or no-hands version of calls >> first (e.g. California Twirl vs Partner Trade). I overall favor the >> handed calls first because it's better body flow and the guide makes it >> easier to learn the call. However, I switch with R&L Thru because >> learning how to take and drop hands while passing is a bit of a tricky >> skill for many people (the biggest culprit usually being Square Thru). >> -- >> Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 >> http://rule6.info/ >> <*> <*> <*> >> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists?

by Ron Blechner via Callers

It's also really similar to Tom Hinds' Frederick Contra (but only gents DSD and order of moves is different) as well as Linda Leslie's Autumn Leaves (but no allemande / chain). I also dislike chain -> progress to balance; it never flows right for me as a dancer. And it defeats the whole purpose of a glossary move dance if a caller has to rely on doing the move (chain) in a way where one or both role has to do it differently from almost every other time it's called. Thus, what's the point of trying to teach a chain, if the caviat is "it'll be different every other time". The allemande to balance can be a reach, I agree. But since the do-si-do is only really a 6 beat move, I like the allemande->do-si-do next progression and think it's sufficiently glossary. I just added Troxler to my box, but with the allemande variation. Best, Ron On Aug 22, 2016 10:58 AM, "Luke Donforth via Callers" < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Thank you to everyone who chimed in; fun to hear about all the versions > and folks preferences. > > I, personally, am glad my (digital) box is big enough for all of the > variations. I can see instances where I'd use any of them. With > predominately new dancers on the first duple improper of the evening, I > think the ladies on their own for an allemande would fare better than the > "help" gents can give on the courtesy turn of a chain. I agree with Jack > that chain->face new neighbor can be a tough transition. But Troxler's is > straightforward enough that you could use it to focus on teaching a chain > to new dancers; with a forgiving squishy entry into the DSD. And I haven't > broken a hundred times yet with Nice Combination, but I'm sure I will. > > Thanks again. This discussion has even got me thinking about another thing > I'd like to discuss on shared weight. > > On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 4:56 AM, Bob Isaacs <isaacsbob(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > >> Hi All: >> >> >> While I appreciate Jack's comments about the chain/B&S progression, that >> is more of a teaching issue than a choreographic one. More important is >> how much assistance those in the ladies role can get from their partner in >> B2b. In a chain they can get that from the joined hands in the long >> lines. But for the allemande L they need to let go from their partner and >> are on their own. That help would occur if Luke's dance finished with a >> ladies allemande R 1 1/2, but that would not flow as well into the next >> neighbor dosido. So I'll stick with Nice Combo/Troxler's on the >> Loose/Forgotten Treasure - >> >> >> Bob >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of >> Jack Mitchell via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> >> *Sent:* Sunday, August 21, 2016 10:27 PM >> *To:* Linda Leslie; Luke Donforth >> *Cc:* Callers(a)Lists.Sharedweight.net >> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists? >> >> Though I know that there are lots of traditional dances with a ladies >> chain (turn away) new N...., I am really not crazy about them. Ok....I'll >> admit it, I actively dislike them. Particularly for new dancers, and >> particularly going to a discrete move like a balance. It requires the lady >> to extricate themselves from a previous neighbor (who *should certainly >> not* twirl and forget, but frequently does), and requires the (polite) >> gent to turn away from their direction of progression to get new ladies >> pointed in the right direction at the end of the courtesy turn before the >> gent can progress (and for that matter, requires the courtesy turn to be >> either done more quickly, or otherwise to be cut short to get everyone >> going in the right direction. (don't even get me started on dances that >> have a butterfly whirl -> turn away to a new neighbor). (There are dances >> -- like Punctuated Raindrops -- that have that progression, that I will >> still call a) because they're great dances other than that and b) because >> the timing of the progression isn't discrete -- if you're late to start the >> allemande L, it's ok, the timing will work out in the wash.) </rant> >> >> The ladies allemande L progression, 1) puts the ladies in a bit more >> control, 2) allows the caller to point out where they're going, and who >> they're going to and 3) leaves a free hand available to reach out to the >> new neighbor. Even with similarities in the rest of the dance, I think >> that is really enough to make it a distinct (and a more accessible) dance >> from the ones mentioned. >> >> Jack >> >> On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 9:53 PM Linda Leslie via Callers < >> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> This dance is virtually the same as Troxler’s on the Loose, by Chris >>> Ricciotti. The only difference in Chris’ dance is that the final move is a >>> ladies chain. >>> Beth Parkes also wrote a dance that is mostly the same: Forgotten >>> treasure. She begins the dance with a N B&S, and ends it with a chain as >>> well. >>> Linda >>> >>> On Aug 21, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers < >>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>> > Hello all, >>> > >>> > I was trying to find an easy and accessible dance, a real glossary >>> basic contra. >>> > >>> > I feel like this must already exist, but I'm not finding it in my >>> notes. Someone got a prior? >>> > >>> > Type: Contra >>> > Formation: Duple-Improper >>> > >>> > A1 ----------- >>> > (8) Neighbor Do-si-do >>> > (8) Neighbor swing, end facing down the hall >>> > A2 ----------- >>> > (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) >>> > (8) Return and Bend the line >>> > B1 ----------- >>> > (6) Circle Left 3/4 >>> > (10) Partner swing >>> > B2 ----------- >>> > (8) Long lines, forward and back >>> > (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 >>> > >>> > The B2 could be W DSD 1.5, although I like the allemande for the >>> connection for brand new dancers. I specifically chose the left hand to >>> leave the women facing towards their new neighbor. >>> > >>> > I know it's really close to a bunch of other stuff. B2 could be C L >>> 3/4, balance and pass through; or chain to left hand star à la The Nice >>> Combination; etc. >>> > >>> > Barring it already having been named by someone else, I'm going to >>> call it "Having Fun with PAM" to keep track of it in my box; since I just >>> got back from the fabulous PAMFest (Peacham Acoustic Music Festival). >>> > >>> > Thanks. >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Callers mailing list >>> > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net >>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >>> >> -- >> Jack Mitchell >> Durham, NC >> > > > > -- > Luke Donforth > Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com> > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by Aahz via Callers

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016, George Mercer via Callers wrote: > > Just a note: I always teach the right and left through. It is a > simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much sense > for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers > are crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with > the dancer directly across, then left-hands on the side and you > courteously help each other turn via a courtesy turn. Most of my teaching has been in a square dance context, but I teach Pass Thru, Courtesy Turn before I teach R&L Thru. And I teach sashayed Courtesy Turn -- probably wouldn't bother with that in a contra context. There's a regular argument in the square dance community about whether it's better to teach the handed version or no-hands version of calls first (e.g. California Twirl vs Partner Trade). I overall favor the handed calls first because it's better body flow and the guide makes it easier to learn the call. However, I switch with R&L Thru because learning how to take and drop hands while passing is a bit of a tricky skill for many people (the biggest culprit usually being Square Thru). -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by George Mercer via Callers

I don't call much anymore. I teach the courtesy turn all by itself from the side of the set. It is a "courtesy." One person assists the other to turn and arrive in the right position. Practice it from standing still -- at least twice so that the dancers are facing back into the set again. Then I teach the ladies chain: ladies right-hand pull by across the set while gents move into receiving or welcoming position, then both crossing ladies and welcoming gents extend and joining left hands and while joining right hands behind the ladies' waist the gent courteously assists her in turning into the right place. Just a note: I always teach the right and left through. It is a simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much sense for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers are crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with the dancer directly across, then left-hands on the side and you courteously help each other turn via a courtesy turn. . On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 11:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers < callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello all, > > I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new > dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies > chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific > dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as > possible? > > Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? > Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? > What move best precedes the chain to set it up? > What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? > Other factors you consider? > > I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I > think about: > > I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't > whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion > would snowball. > > Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced > dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new > dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new > dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful dance > angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to > teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to > completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. > > For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not > convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 > chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star > is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star > wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great > progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. > chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or > after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side > of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with > chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I > don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy > line is another new piece. > > Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple > glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight > have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly > won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new > thread ;-) > > Take care, > > > -- > Luke Donforth > Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com <Luke.Donev(a)gmail.com> > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by John Sweeney via Callers

Hi Luke, It depends on the skill levels in the hall. If I have a lot of first timers or perpetual beginners I use a very simple dance like http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/ChainnHey.html For teaching I would much rather do the chain there and back to give more practice; the Yearn means that the dancers are set up ready to start the chain (no guarantee they will be in the right place after a beginner swing!); and the ladies flow out of the second chain to start the hey. By the way, I see you put the apostrophe in “gent’s chain”, so surely it should be “ladies’ chain” ☺ Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent

7 years, 7 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by Yoyo Zhou via Callers

On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 8:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hello all, > > I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new > dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies chain > for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific dance, > what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as possible? > > Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? > Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? > What move best precedes the chain to set it up? > What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? > Other factors you consider? Definitely for the first introduction to courtesy turn, just one chain ("half chain") and with neighbor. My choice of dance depends on the crowd and what issues they are having, and whether the beginners have enough experienced neighbors to help them. For instance, sometimes they struggle to end a swing or courtesy turn on the correct side. Entering a courtesy turn from a swing (or long lines) is fine even if dancers don't end on the left/right correctly. Going from courtesy turn into a ladies allemande or do si do is also fine if they don't end on the left/right correctly. One thing that occurred to me while pondering left hand stars was: what happens if the courtesy turn doesn't end on time but 4 beats late? How forgiving is the next move? With some figures like forward and back, or ladies allemande, it's easy to see what's going on and skip ahead. With left hand stars, though, it *looks* like it's easy to see what's going on, but there is a temptation to join in the star wherever (disorienting for what follows, usually progression) or dash madly to get into the right place (stressful). Or the whole star is late. And it's not intuitive to many dancers (even experienced) where they need to join into the star; it's less familiar than, say, a circle. And I've also seen dancers struggle with letting go of the star to find the next neighbor. As you've said, I think there are choreographic needs that could be filled here - there is a common sequence that looks like 4. chain to P 5. ladies allemande/do si do 1 6. P swing which it would be great to do with neighbors instead. Here's a suggestion - I'm ready to believe Bob (or another choreographer) has written it already: becket A1: slice left to meet new N; ladies chain to N A2: ladies allemande right 1; N swing B1: down the hall, turn as couples B2: circle left 3/4; P swing Yoyo Zhou

7 years, 8 months

Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?

by via Callers

To a neighbor so the knowledge gets passed around. Half a chain bc if they get behind and discombobulated on both halves of a full chain it's harder for them to fix. Preceded by a partner swing and by Long lines so they are definitely in the correct place. (Callers have time to cue "end with the lady on the right and long lines go forward and back" and then chain) Followed by ladies do something in the middle. They get the flow that sends them in and I find that humans dancing the lady's role tend to be a little more reliable as dancers. So to have the ladies lead the figure after a chain which some dancers will find confusing might be more successful and can give whoever is dancing he gents role a few seconds of recovery time. Nice topic! Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 22, 2016, at 11:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hello all, > > I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as possible? > > Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? > Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? > What move best precedes the chain to set it up? > What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? > Other factors you consider? > > I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I think about: > > I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion would snowball. > > Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful dance angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. > > For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy line is another new piece. > > Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new thread ;-) > > Take care, > > > -- > Luke Donforth > Luke.Donforth(a)gmail.com > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

7 years, 8 months

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Import1 August 2016