i also strongly agree! i *never* teach a buzz-step swing. i *do* demo a
swing with one person walking and one person buzzing, and point out to them
that they can walk to matter what the other person is doing.
i also tell them that after awhile, they will "feel" the buzz step, and when
they do, they should go ahead and try it out.
in my mind, it's more important to explain to everyone that they need to
carry their own weight during a swing. i also tell them that it's important
to swing in a way that's comfortable for both people, and "comfortable" is
the important word here.
also, the swing is the first thing i teach - it's the one figure that's
guaranteed to be in every dance. as soon as they figure out "lady on the
right" and the pointy hands thing, i'm ready to line them up.
it's my perception that if they can get oriented at the end of a swing and
be comfortable with that, they don't have much trouble getting oriented once
they're in line. so i teach the swing first, they are scattered around the
area. i explain about the pointy hands, then have them swing and end with
the pointy hands facing me. doing it again, face down the hall. do it
again, face the stage. they lady's always on the right, they get used to
following instructions - lots of info about orientation and position in a
small, coherent lump in a short time!
i see so many people swinging poorly these days, especially at places like
the thursday night dance and greenfield - the focus always seems to be how
many twirls/dips you can fit in, and there is no comprehension of the
musical phrase. i also hear a lot of guys complaining about chronic right
shoulder pain...
i'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on the current state of the
swing and what we, as people trying to set good examples in our communities,
might do about it. even if we teach new dancers good form, what can be done
about poor form from experienced dancers?
barb
http://www.barbkirchner.us
----Original Message Follows----
From: [email protected]
Reply-To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Callers] Teaching a Swing
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:25:13 +0000
I heartily agree with Chris on the stepping or walking swing for beginners!
My husband, Bob Golder, who has been dancing for 30 years, and several other
very experienced dancers, only do a walking swing. They can keep up with the
fastest of buzz step swinging partners, and are very smooth. The stepping
swing is easy to teach, and is a natural movement for dancers. In addition,
it keeps them moving smoothly. I always tell them that when they are ready,
and feel it in the movement, they will naturally begin buzz step swinging.
And even if they don't, walking swings can be just as terrific!
And in general to everyone, it is very enjoyable to be on this email list!
The discussions and suggestions are thought provoking and very helpful.
Thanks to everyone!
warmly, Linda Leslie
>
> Hi Tom,
>
> I agree with all but two of these. Here's why I disagree:
>
> 2) Beginners have a delay in their reaction times to calls. They have to
> process the call, translate it to what they know before they can tell
> their bodies what to do. This is unlike an experienced dancer who has
> muscle memory tied directly to the ears (or something like that). 8^)
> When I have called to dances with a high percentage of beginners, the
> dances with 8 count swings, by the time the dancers get into swing
> position and start turning, they can't even get around once sometimes. 8
> count swings also indicate a higher piece count in the dance and make it
> more difficult. I have had better luck with 12 count swings when dealing
> with beginners.
>
> 8) I am convinced that (with rare exceptions) when you teach someone
> anything about the swing, they only can move up one notch along the
> learning curve. They can only keep one instruction in mind when they are
> practicing the swing. It took me a long time to learn how to buzz step
> well and to incorporate it in such a way that didn't cause discomfort
> for my partner. Since the swing is one of the first, hardest and most
> common moves that they learn, it needs to be easy and quick to learn.
> That's why I teach the walking swing. They have enough to learn about
> posture, frame and dealing with eye contact. Why burden them with extra
> information when they already know how to walk forward and it will work
> just as well? By all means, let them know that the buzz step exists and
> show them what it looks like. But also let them know that they don't
> have to do it for a swing to be fun. I can show someone how to do a
> walking swing in less than 30 seconds and have them dancing and their
> mind will be clear enough to learn the other calls that they are being
> taught. I have seen too many people befuddled by the buzz step and in a
> daze while the first dance is being taught.
>
> Hmmm... I guess that number 8 touched a nerve... 8^)
>
> Happy Dancing,
>
> Chris
>
> http://www.chrisweiler.ws/
>
>
> Tom Hinds wrote:
>
> > It occurred to me that many of the behaviors on this list are due to
> >insecurity (dancing with other beginners, waiting to be asked etc.)
That got
> >me to thinking about what callers can do to make sure the beginners have
a
> >good experience. So, I've come up with my own list for callers. These
items
> >may contain items that some may not agree with. But this may generate
some
> >good discussion.
> >
> >10 things a caller can do to help beginners have a good experience:
> >
> >1) Prepare a logical program that starts easy and builds.
> >
> >2) Like a professional dance teacher, warm up muscles slowly. Use
dances
> >with 8 count swings (max) early in the evening. Keep the first couple
of
> >dances shorter. New and not so new dancers are entering the hall and
you want
> >them up and dancing sooner rather than later,
> >
> >3) Be prepared well enough so that you don't have to use cards. Watch
the
> >dancers. Watch the dancers.
> >
> >4) Encourage everyone to dance with everyone else. When a dance ends,
> >suggest that those who just danced ask those sitting out for the next
dance.
> >
> >5) Demonstrate what smooth dancing looks like (especially if many
newbees are
> >skipping).
> >
> >6) Teach safe dancing - like proper allemandes. If you see dancers
dancing
> >out of control take measures to make sure that they don't hurt anyone.
> >
> >7) If you make a mistake, admit it. Often if something doesn't work,
the new
> >dancers think it's because of them.
> >
> >8) Teach the buzz step swing in the beginning workshop. Teach it well.
> >
> >9) If a dance has a tricky move, show the dancers how to perform the
move
> >with finesse. If the dance has a challenge in the timing department,
> >communicate to the dancers how to be on time.
> >
> >10) If you call a challenging dance and the new dancers look a bit
confused,
> >tell the crowd that that was a very difficult dance and that they
handled it
> >very well (this one from Ted Sannella). If the dance was so challenging
that
> >sets broke down, tell the dancers that you picked a bad dance (in other
words
> >it's you, not them).
> >
> >Tom Hinds
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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>
> End of Callers Digest, Vol 19, Issue 11
> ***************************************
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