Don,
That is why Gents wear long sleeves all year in MWSD.
No skin too skin.
Rich
On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 8:19 PM Don Veino via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Not to mention a lot less sweaty skin contact!
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
>
Hi all,
I’m going to add a controversial note. I also loathe the many poor allemandes I get, unweighted, awkward handed, arm pulled in like a chicken wing, what have you. As a MWSD, I have come to love the forearm allemande for arm turns. Callerlab made the switch some years ago, and at first I was like, wut??? But it’s a position which save everyone’s hands and wrists, and even shoulders, is intrinsically very stable, and makes the chicken wing almost impossible. I started using it for dances with revolving doors, as a dancer, because those turns are so brief and necessarily tight and need a quick strong connection. I was so pleased I began using them elsewhere. People generally go along with it. I have been wishing Contra could just switch to this for all allemandes. I know it would be an uphill struggle to get everyone on board. But I had to put it out there.
Currently I still teach an old fashioned allemande. I demonstrate and emphasize meaty parts of the thumb together, fingers curled around the base of the opposite’s thumb, flat wrist. And I always add that the thumb itself is an injurious device which lands at a tender spot if depressed, so leave it loose. Then I demonstrate how to produce enough connection to make a 2 person unit that turns on a post. I’m sure everyone on this list has similar teaches.
If teaching this allemande was ever going to work, it would have by now. I suspect it’s failure as a hold is why callerlab opted for the forearm hold instead.
My 2c,
Andrea N
Arlington VA
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 17, 2019, at 6:01 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> John Sweeny below hoped we callers would teach more about hand turns and the like.
>
> I’ve been thinking on this for quite a while. Years ago I had a discussion with Brad Foster. We both lamented the loss of the allemande with mildly interlocking thumbs to the modern overprotective thumb against the side of the palm allemande. At that time I think I was still in Santa Barbara, thus it must have been pre 1994. I wrote an article for our dance rag called, “If Allemande Left, Where’d Allemande Go?”
>
> I talked about what I do when someone grips my hand—and I think all of us should remove that word, “grip” from our caller’s vocabulary…
>
> But the most important thing I discussed is:
> Our Wrist is Strongest When It’s Straight
> Our Fingers are Strongest When Curved
> Thus, however one does an allemande, it should be a hook, with curved fingers and a straight wrist.
>
> Lately I’ve seen teachers promote the straight fingers, bent wrist, and flat palm method. The almost always makes one person’s wrist uncomfortable. Not as bad as when someone draws the others hand into that almost-Aikido-put-them-on-the-ground position, but usually quite uncomfortable.
>
> Thus I hope most of us learn the curved fingers, straight wrist, no grip, and, no thumb clamping allemande, ECD hand turn, two hand turn type hand connections.
>
> ~Erik Hoffman,
> Oakland, CA
>
> From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of John Sweeney via Callers
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2019 2:09 PM
> To: 'Caller's discussion list' <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Name that Dance
>
> Hi Rich,
> I would just call it a “Big Set Mixer”. It is a slight variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a 32 bar sequence that works for their dancers.
>
> While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I really wish callers would teach the dancers just a tiny bit about how to do better hand/arm turns and swings :-)
>
> Happy dancing,
> John
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
> http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Ditto all that.I tell dancers (and demonstrate) that only my ring and pinky fingers are wrapped around the base of the other's thumb and the rest of my hand is loose. I think that helps them understand that this isn't a "power" move (read "arm wrestle"), but more gentle but with a good connection, flat wrist, imagine a pole where our hands are and we're walking around the pole.
Let's keep working on this!
Donna Hunt
-----Original Message-----
From: Bree Kalb via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Martha Wild <mawild(a)sbcglobal.net>
Cc: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Sent: Sat, May 18, 2019 8:37 am
Subject: Re: [Callers] Hand Turns & Safety
This is a long term project of mine: to teach and encourage what I call “the physical therapist approved” way to Allemande. I don’t seem to be making much progress so am delighted that others care about it, too.
On Fri, May 17, 2019 at 8:55 PM Martha Wild via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hear, hear! My sentiments exactly! How on earth are you supposed to “give weight” (in the proper way, just a tiny bit so you are both part of a unit) and get around each other with a flat, palm to palm contact? The only way that works is that people bend their wrists so that they have some purchase on the other person. Which hurts my now no longer flat wrist! So wrong, painfully wrong. Please, please, please, stop teaching a flat hand allemande. It doesn’t work. Curved fingers, straight wrist, the thumb is just sort of loose and not doing much. Thank you for bringing that up, Erik!Martha
On May 17, 2019, at 3:01 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
John Sweeny below hoped we callers would teach more about hand turns and the like. I’ve been thinking on this for quite a while. Years ago I had a discussion with Brad Foster. We both lamented the loss of the allemande with mildly interlocking thumbs to the modern overprotective thumb against the side of the palm allemande. At that time I think I was still in Santa Barbara, thus it must have been pre 1994. I wrote an article for our dance rag called, “If Allemande Left, Where’d Allemande Go?” I talked about what I do when someone grips my hand—and I think all of us should remove that word, “grip” from our caller’s vocabulary… But the most important thing I discussed is:
- Our Wrist is Strongest When It’s Straight
- Our Fingers are Strongest When Curved
- Thus, however one does an allemande, it should be a hook, with curved fingers and a straight wrist.
Lately I’ve seen teachers promote the straight fingers, bent wrist, and flat palm method. The almost always makes one person’s wrist uncomfortable. Not as bad as when someone draws the others hand into that almost-Aikido-put-them-on-the-ground position, but usually quite uncomfortable. Thus I hope most of us learn the curved fingers, straight wrist, no grip, and, no thumb clamping allemande, ECD hand turn, two hand turn type hand connections. ~Erik Hoffman, Oakland, CA From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of John Sweeney via Callers
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2019 2:09 PM
To: 'Caller's discussion list' <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Name that Dance Hi Rich, I would just call it a “Big Set Mixer”. It is a slight variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a 32 bar sequence that works for their dancers. While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I really wish callers would teach the dancers just a tiny bit about how to do better hand/arm turns and swings :-) Happy dancing, John John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574 http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs _______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Hear, hear! My sentiments exactly! How on earth are you supposed to “give weight” (in the proper way, just a tiny bit so you are both part of a unit) and get around each other with a flat, palm to palm contact? The only way that works is that people bend their wrists so that they have some purchase on the other person. Which hurts my now no longer flat wrist! So wrong, painfully wrong. Please, please, please, stop teaching a flat hand allemande. It doesn’t work. Curved fingers, straight wrist, the thumb is just sort of loose and not doing much. Thank you for bringing that up, Erik!
Martha
> On May 17, 2019, at 3:01 PM, Erik Hoffman via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> John Sweeny below hoped we callers would teach more about hand turns and the like.
>
> I’ve been thinking on this for quite a while. Years ago I had a discussion with Brad Foster. We both lamented the loss of the allemande with mildly interlocking thumbs to the modern overprotective thumb against the side of the palm allemande. At that time I think I was still in Santa Barbara, thus it must have been pre 1994. I wrote an article for our dance rag called, “If Allemande Left, Where’d Allemande Go?”
>
> I talked about what I do when someone grips my hand—and I think all of us should remove that word, “grip” from our caller’s vocabulary…
>
> But the most important thing I discussed is:
> Our Wrist is Strongest When It’s Straight
> Our Fingers are Strongest When Curved
> Thus, however one does an allemande, it should be a hook, with curved fingers and a straight wrist.
>
> Lately I’ve seen teachers promote the straight fingers, bent wrist, and flat palm method. The almost always makes one person’s wrist uncomfortable. Not as bad as when someone draws the others hand into that almost-Aikido-put-them-on-the-ground position, but usually quite uncomfortable.
>
> Thus I hope most of us learn the curved fingers, straight wrist, no grip, and, no thumb clamping allemande, ECD hand turn, two hand turn type hand connections.
>
> ~Erik Hoffman,
> Oakland, CA
>
> From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net>> On Behalf Of John Sweeney via Callers
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2019 2:09 PM
> To: 'Caller's discussion list' <callers(a)sharedweight.net <mailto:callers@sharedweight.net>>
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Name that Dance
>
> Hi Rich,
> I would just call it a “Big Set Mixer”. It is a slight variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a 32 bar sequence that works for their dancers.
>
> While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I really wish callers would teach the dancers just a tiny bit about how to do better hand/arm turns and swings :-)
>
> Happy dancing,
> John
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com <mailto:john@modernjive.com> 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
> http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html <http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html> for Live Music Ceilidhs
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk <http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/> for Dancing in Kent
> http://www.modernjive.com <http://www.modernjive.com/> for Modern Jive DVDs
>
> _______________________________________________
> List Name: Callers mailing list
> List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net>
> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ <https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/>
Hi Rich,
I would just call it a "Big Set Mixer". It is a slight
variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a
32 bar sequence that works for their dancers.
While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I
really wish callers would teach the dancers just a tiny bit about how to do
better hand/arm turns and swings :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Bill
Olson via Callers
Sent: 17 May 2019 21:12
To: Caller's discussion list <callers(a)sharedweight.net>; Rich Sbardella
<richsbardella(a)gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Name that Dance
Rich, No idea but here's the link put back together again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20AzpUhcl_E
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20AzpUhcl_E&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4Kat
Xcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaYhCf8Tc>
&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4KatXcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaYhCf8Tc
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20AzpUhcl_E&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4Kat
Xcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaYhCf8Tc>
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20AzpUhcl_E&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4Kat
Xcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaYhCf8Tc> Traditional English Barn Dance -
YouTube
Ceilidh Dance Berlin - Spring Session 2015 Music: Fiddlers 3 - Sounds like a
Square Dance!
www.youtube.com <http://www.youtube.com>
bill
_____
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers-bounces@lists.sharedweight.net> > on behalf of Rich
Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
<mailto:callers@lists.sharedweight.net> >
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2019 8:03 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: [Callers] Name that Dance
Can anyone put the title to this dance from the web?
https://www.youtube.com/watch
<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtu
be.com%2Fwatch&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce42870c598c94e6078c408d6db02d040%7C84df9e7f
e9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636937202457158329&sdata=sp2rRPep6qlqpiFb
4Kh7CzbSh5Ep0FkVcHNRhGmlo%2Bw%3D&reserved=0> ?
v=20AzpUhcl_E&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4KatXcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaY
hCf8Tc
John Sweeny below hoped we callers would teach more about hand turns and the like.
I've been thinking on this for quite a while. Years ago I had a discussion with Brad Foster. We both lamented the loss of the allemande with mildly interlocking thumbs to the modern overprotective thumb against the side of the palm allemande. At that time I think I was still in Santa Barbara, thus it must have been pre 1994. I wrote an article for our dance rag called, "If Allemande Left, Where'd Allemande Go?"
I talked about what I do when someone grips my hand-and I think all of us should remove that word, "grip" from our caller's vocabulary...
But the most important thing I discussed is:
* Our Wrist is Strongest When It's Straight
* Our Fingers are Strongest When Curved
* Thus, however one does an allemande, it should be a hook, with curved fingers and a straight wrist.
Lately I've seen teachers promote the straight fingers, bent wrist, and flat palm method. The almost always makes one person's wrist uncomfortable. Not as bad as when someone draws the others hand into that almost-Aikido-put-them-on-the-ground position, but usually quite uncomfortable.
Thus I hope most of us learn the curved fingers, straight wrist, no grip, and, no thumb clamping allemande, ECD hand turn, two hand turn type hand connections.
~Erik Hoffman,
Oakland, CA
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of John Sweeney via Callers
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2019 2:09 PM
To: 'Caller's discussion list' <callers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Name that Dance
Hi Rich,
I would just call it a "Big Set Mixer". It is a slight variation of the one in the Community Dances Manual. Callers just make up a 32 bar sequence that works for their dancers.
While it is a good example of all ages having fun together, I really wish callers would teach the dancers just a tiny bit about how to do better hand/arm turns and swings :-)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs
Can anyone put the title to this dance from the web?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=20AzpUhcl_E&fbclid=IwAR2cUdLxooGD3zONkK4KatXcca3B3spscqRK26CLlOFcVgzPuEPaYhCf8Tc
Thanks!!!!
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Thursday, May 16, 2019, 1:31 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hello all,Just a quick note to say there is a facebook page called "Community Dance", and we would love anyone to post community level dance videos (preferred) or descriptions on the page.Thanks,Rich
On Thu, May 16, 2019 at 12:06 PM Ann Fallon via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Do you know "Double Double This This"? It can be done as a mixer or keeper.
Concentric circles, partners facing each other
Partners tap 2 fists together at chin's height 2 times: "Double, double"Partners tap 2 hands together, palms together 2 times: "This, this"Partners tap 2 fists together 2 times: "Double, double"Partners tap 2 hands back to back 2 times: "That, that"Partners tap fists 1 time, and open palms 1 time: "Double, this"Partners tap fists 1 time, and backs of hands 1 time: "Double, that'Partners tap 2 fists together 2 times: "Double, double"Partners tap open palms together 1 time and backs of hands 1 time: "This, That!"Repeat the above with same partner (or shift to the next person in the circle if making it a mixer)B Right hand allemande your partner;Do si do partnerLeft hand allemande partnerDo si do partner
At this point you can throw in an elbow swing or a promenade. I've done it with ages 9-10, never tried it with younger.
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Abell via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Callers(a)Lists.Sharedweight.net <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>; John Sweeney <john(a)modernjive.com>
Sent: Wed, May 15, 2019 8:51 am
Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for "fun" dances
I'm sure there is already a thread on this somewhere, but I'm wondering what are your favorite dances for those in the 4-10 year old range. Specifically, dances that are not mixers since many younger dancers prefer to stay with a particular partner the whole time. I have a number of good ones already (Alabama Gal, Haste to the Wedding, La Bastringue, etc), but I'd like to expand my existing collection of dances geared towards "little ones".
Let 'em rip!
From: Callers <callers-bounces(a)lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of John Sweeney via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 9:58 AM
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Looking for "fun" dances Since so many people enjoy the contrary circling in The Wheel, you might
enjoy this one as well:
Suicide Square
http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?view=1&id=9
It is extremely chaotic! You can reduce the chaos slightly by getting the
band to stop randomly during the circling, at which point everyone grabs a
partner; the band waits a few seconds while everyone finds a partner and
decides whether they are Heads or Sides, then gives two notes and starts the
next Heads Gallop.
I modify it to give a bit more recovery time:
Start in a big square around the room
A1: Head couples take partner in a ballroom hold and gallop eight steps
into the centre and back
A2: Sides gallop eight steps into the centre and back
B1: All the men form an outer circle facing in, while the ladies form an
inner circle facing out. All circle left then find a new partner
B2: Partner Swing - stop early enough to decide whether you are now
Heads or Sides - Heads get ready to gallop
There is also The Muffin Man Jig:
http://www.ceilidhcalling.co.uk/danceviewpage.php?view=1&id=11
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
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List Name: Callers mailing list
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Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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List Name: Callers mailing list
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Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
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Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
_______________________________________________
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