I agree that it is important for beginners to learn the traditional way to do a figure in order to fully understand the dance and that some people prefer a courtesy turn when it makes the dance flow nicely However Traditionalism can be overemphisized to the point of snobery. As has been mentioned it is not our job to educate, but to entertain and dancers should certainly not be discouraged from -- or, even worse, made to feel "looked down upon" for -- dancing the way they find most fun. Let them twirl, let them stomp, and as much as it pains me to say it, let them clap. They like it. I like it. It's fun. ~Nathaniel Jack
Quoting Karen Fontana <[email protected]>: > 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 > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > -- Nathaniel Jack
