Here Here, Jacob! I'm a no thumb sort of gal. Arthritis and general grip and grab lends to self-protection. I can give considerate and dance worthy weight and connection with no thumb. I have had bruises from the tight finger clench. I've been hurt with the twists and turns...
Erik, I also concur with the change of language on wrist "grip". I tell new folks (not helping with the "regulars", sigh) to be conscious of weight in the "wrist style" star. I demonstrate how connection is not shown when the hand hold stars are all over the place, and I show how the "weight" of the wrist style (I've heard wagon wheel?) is hurtful or counter productive to "connection". I also point out height challenges and how to be considerate towards them. Again, not helpful to the "regular" dancer that ignores all this. Also, I have talked with many who have developed, as I have, a shoulder/ neck problem. This seems to come from inexperienced dancers or assertive regular dancers (not terribly good dancers) when they FORCE a turn, especially at an incorrect time. I'd love to hear from someone how to describe to a dancer who wants to twirl what the correct timing is - can someone give me a good way to put this out there? Laurie West Michigan >________________________________ > From: Jacob Bloom <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:37 PM >Subject: Re: [Callers] First-time Contra Dancers and similar figures > > >As for the no-thumb allemande: Years ago, I started having a problem with >my left thumb aching for days after a dance, from the allemande lefts. >This started almost 30 years ago, so I can't blame that problem on >advancing age. As far as I'm concerned, doing an allemande without locking >thumbs is an improvement which has been made necessary by the modern >tendency to do an allemande all the way around in four beats instead of six >or eight. I'm always delighted when I run into another dancer who gives me >a no-thumb allemande. Anything that prevents injury is a good thing. > >Jacob Bloom >[email protected] > > >On Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 12:00 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 00:03:40 -0700 >> From: Erik Hoffman <[email protected]> >> To: jean francis <[email protected]>, Caller's discussion list >> <[email protected]> >> Subject: >> >> Re: [Callers] First-time Contra Dancers and similar figures >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> >> >> [1] An aside: many people call this the "wrist grip" form. I encourage >> us all to remove the word "grip" from out teaching lexicon, as gripping >> has led to griping, and that (IMHO) horrid no-thumb allemande... The >> connection is through hooks and surfaces to lean on, not through >> gripping. And, although I don't like the no thumb allemande, when do I >> teach this form of star, I encourage all five fingers, thumb included, >> going over the top of the wrist in front - no grip. >> >> erik hoffman >> ~oakland, ca >> >_______________________________________________ >Callers mailing list >[email protected] >http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers > > >
