Hello Bev! I'm dancing in Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins this weekend, so only time for a short note -
I echo some of David's comments..... How about focusing on the beauty of a coutesy turn, flowing nicely into a Left Hand Star? (one of my favorite combo of figures at the moment!). I think so much is lost by twirling / getting twirled in those courtesy turns. I noticed last nite in Denver that there were MANY great courtesy turns which I loved! off my soap box, for now, Karen Fontana --- David Millstone <[email protected]> wrote: > Bev outlined some excellent strategies for her upcoming workshop, and asked > for > additional suggestions. > > As a challenge, how about calling a dance with traditional figures and asking > those present to dance it without embellishments? Could be a contra corners > dance (four counts for each turn, leaving no time for extra twirl before the > balance and swing. Could be something with right and left over and back, four > counts to cross and four counts for a courtesy turn-- yes, four for each, > does > make you slow down a little, rather than doing an extra twirl around simply > because there's time to do it if you race through the figures. Could be > somethng > with ladies chain over and back and a pleasant courtesy turn on both sides. > Could be a dance (older version of Petronella, say) where for nearly 3/4 of > the > dance the inactives are truly inactive and need to stay engaged while > resisting > the temptation to squeeze in extra swings. > > My point? One way the more experienced dancers befuddle the newcomers is by > demontrating every possible embellishment, so that newer dancers don't have > an > opportunity to learn the basics. If all you see on down the center four in > line > is a California twirl, you don't learn the timing of a courtesy turn to > return. > If all you see for balance is Variation #27b with additional syncopated foot > stomps on the afterbeat, you don't learn a simple pas-de-basque or step-kick. > If > a swing inevitably ends with an extra twirl-the-lady-under, you don't learn > to > get your balance and your orientation for the ensuing ladies chain. > > In short, one way experienced dancers can best help new dancers is by dancing > better-- uh oh, there I said it!-- themselves. > > David Millstone > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > [email protected] H650-691-9663
