Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Aahz Maruch via Callers]

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015, Tom Hinds wrote:
> On Jun 21, 2015, at 10:51 AM, Aahz Maruch via Callers wrote:
>>
>>With Ladies Chain, two dancers change places.  If they fail to execute
>>that part, it's likely that the progression will get affected.  That's
>>probably not going to happen with a swing that ends up with the dancers
>>sashayed or otherwise in the wrong place.
> 
> Aajz, I'm glad you pointed out that you're not calling much.  There are some
> other situations you might not have observed yet.  How about:

Note that I've been dancing contra *and* MWSD *and* IFD for more than a
quarter-century each (plus bits and pieces of ECD and Regency and ballet
and other dance forms).  I have a lot of observations and a lot of
opinions from that.  You might also note that I wrote my dance RAQ more
than a decade before I ever began calling, and my minimal contra plus
two years of MWSD calling haven't changed my opinions much:

http://rule6.info/dance_raq.html

> -the combination, swing neighbor, right and left through.  Let's assume a
> caller spends a great deal of time teaching the right and left through but
> little time on a swing.  If the dancers end the swing sashayed what happens
> just before the right and left through?   Confusion maybe?
> 
> -there's a neighbor swing at the end of the tune.  The beginning of the
> dance starts with an allemande or swing or some other move with a new
> neighbor.  How confusing is it for the beginners (and frustrating for the
> others) when they end the swing wrong?
> 
> I teach my beginning callers this:  If you don't get the newbies to
> correctly end a swing, the caller, the newbies and everyone else will be
> frustrated at various points during the evening.

That's true, but my observation is that people doing the wrong thing for
R Thru causes more breakdowns than people ending the swing on the
wrong side.  Quite possibly other people have different data points on
this subject, but I think I've got a long enough baseline to make my
opinion reasonable.

And the fact that many people teaching newcomers concentrate more on
things like R Thru than swing makes me suspect I'm not alone in my
perception.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Tom Hinds via Callers]

Several of you have asked about programming and how it relates to  
teaching the beginning workshop.   I'll get to that fairly soon as  
work is too demanding.


Before much time goes by I want to apolopize to everyone and  
especially Miai for one of my emails that was too intense.  I hope I  
didn't hurt your feelings Miai.


Later
T

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Aahz Maruch via Callers]

[rearranging quoted parts to make provenance clearer -- which is one
reason I strongly prefer inline quoting ;-) ]

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015, Maia McCormick via Callers wrote:
>> On Jun 21, 2015, at 3:44 AM, John Sweeney via Callers 
>>  wrote:
>>>
>>> I found it interesting that Ron said, "the buzz-step swing gets axed
>>> if I'm short on time".  If I only had time to teach one thing then
>>> the only thing I would teach would be the buzz-step swing, and how
>>> to finish it so you end up in the right place.  I can't think of
>>> anything else that newcomers can't learn during the walk-throughs.
>
> Tom, at a guess, Aahz is not talking about NOT spending time on
> the swing, nor about neglecting to teach dancers how to start/end
> one--just that the finer points of technique aren't a priority for the
> beginner's lesson.

Actually, I was.  I was responding to John's point above.  My dancing
experience is that a lot of newbies do end up sashayed and that it
causes fewer problems than some other kinds of miscues.  (Although I'm a
new caller, I've been doing contra for more than a quarter-century.)

> Of course any teacher worth their salt will teach that a swing always
> ends with the lady on the right. But I think all Aahz is saying is
> that, IF the dancers end the swing with the lady on the right, it
> doesn't really matter how they get there--fumbling through a swing
> happens, and it's easy to recover from, while moves that involve the
> rest of your hands-4 or the rest of the set have potential to cause
> way more disruption to the dance if botched.

That is true, but it's also true IMO that dancers ending up on the wrong
side of the set causes more problems than ending up sashayed after
swinging.
-- 
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  <*>   <*>   <*>
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Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Maia McCormick via Callers]

Oh, one more thing: my local dance (CDNY) often holds a "swinging workshop"
at the break, to teach the finer points of swing, talk about the buzz step
explicitly and give pointers, reiterate the important stuff like giving
weight, etc. This often works pretty well, and might be a good model: a
beginners' lesson at the start of the evening that teaches a simple walking
swing and focuses on the hold, frame, giving weight, where to end the
swing, how to swing safely, etc., and a "swing workshop" at the break to
teach buzz step to those who want to learn it (and refine the buzz-step of
those who have picked it up not-all-that-well), as well as reiterate all of
the technique points about weight and safety.

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 1:52 PM, Maia McCormick  wrote:

> Tom, at a guess, Aahz is not talking about NOT spending time on the swing,
> nor about neglecting to teach dancers how to start/end one--just that the
> finer points of technique aren't a priority for the beginner's lesson. Of
> course any teacher worth their salt will teach that a swing always ends
> with the lady on the right. But I think all Aahz is saying is that, IF the
> dancers end the swing with the lady on the right, it doesn't really matter
> how they get there--fumbling through a swing happens, and it's easy to
> recover from, while moves that involve the rest of your hands-4 or the rest
> of the set have potential to cause way more disruption to the dance if
> botched.
>
> I agree that the buzz-step is not the be-all, end-all of contra swing!
> I've been dancing for going on 5 years and I pretty much exclusively
> walk-swing, because I find it more comfortable and easy to control, and
> don't actually like swinging extremely fast.
>
> John mentions the bad habits that even experienced dancers may have while
> swinging, such as:
>
> - grip, clamp, squeeze, hang, press
> - hold their partner in the wrong place so it is uncomfortable
> - use too much strength and try to do silly things like making their
> partners feet leave the floor
> - lean sideways or backwards
> - start twirls too late and when they are facing the wrong way so that they
> end up in the wrong place
>
> I find it pretty telling that this list of habits actually has nothing to
> do with footwork! In my opinion, the reason to teach walking swing instead
> of buzz-step to beginners is that there's SO MUCH ELSE to concentrate on.
> The more things we can abstract away, the easier a time beginners will have
> learning what's left. If you're focusing on strange new footwork (and I
> find that buzz-stepping beginners tend to think that the buzz-stepping is
> the most important part of the swing, and concentrate more on that than on
> their frame), it's harder to pick up things like giving weight, a proper
> hold, etc. But everyone already knows how to walk!
>
> I would also add that I would much rather dance with someone doing a
> funky/odd/strange/unpracticed walking swing than a
> funky/odd/strange/unpracticed buzz step. I find that there are fewer ways
> to mess up a walk, and that there's less potential for your partner to be
> uncomfortable or perhaps harmed than with one of those galloping,
> out-of-control excited-pony buzz step swings.
>
> Just my two cents!
>
> Cheers,
> Maia
>
> On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 1:38 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> I love John's idea of teaching the buzz step as individuals first,
>> then as couples. The most frequent complaints I hear from men is that
>> women hang on them and don't hold up their own weight during a swing.
>> The most frequent complaint I hear from women is men pulling them off
>> their feet and going too fast. If they can learn to hold themselves
>> upright on their own first, then everyone will have a much more
>> enjoyable experience.
>>
>> -Amy
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jun 21, 2015, at 3:44 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <
>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > Yes, of course I always tell dancers that they can walk instead of
>> buzz, but
>> > the buzz-step is so much more fun that it seems crazy not to teach it
>> when
>> > every dance is going to have a swing and usually two.
>> >
>> >  Yes, I love swinging, and have been loving it for fifty
>> years
>> > now, but why does every new dance have to have two swings?  Oh no, not
>> > Neighbour Balance & Swing, Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing again - that's
>> > half the dance gone with nothing new or interesting in it! (And
>> changing the
>> > Circle Left 3/4 to Men/Ladies Allemande 1 & 1/2 does not make it more
>> > interesting!)  I write lots of dances with one or zero swings - a
>> zero-swing
>> > dance can have so much good stuff in it that the dancers don't even
>> notice
>> > there is no swing; they are having too much fun. It always puzzles me
>> when
>> > people take a great one-swing dance and re-choreograph it to add a
>> second
>> > swing, losing part of what made it a great dance just for the sake 

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Maia McCormick via Callers]

Tom, at a guess, Aahz is not talking about NOT spending time on the swing,
nor about neglecting to teach dancers how to start/end one--just that the
finer points of technique aren't a priority for the beginner's lesson. Of
course any teacher worth their salt will teach that a swing always ends
with the lady on the right. But I think all Aahz is saying is that, IF the
dancers end the swing with the lady on the right, it doesn't really matter
how they get there--fumbling through a swing happens, and it's easy to
recover from, while moves that involve the rest of your hands-4 or the rest
of the set have potential to cause way more disruption to the dance if
botched.

I agree that the buzz-step is not the be-all, end-all of contra swing! I've
been dancing for going on 5 years and I pretty much exclusively walk-swing,
because I find it more comfortable and easy to control, and don't actually
like swinging extremely fast.

John mentions the bad habits that even experienced dancers may have while
swinging, such as:

- grip, clamp, squeeze, hang, press
- hold their partner in the wrong place so it is uncomfortable
- use too much strength and try to do silly things like making their
partners feet leave the floor
- lean sideways or backwards
- start twirls too late and when they are facing the wrong way so that they
end up in the wrong place

I find it pretty telling that this list of habits actually has nothing to
do with footwork! In my opinion, the reason to teach walking swing instead
of buzz-step to beginners is that there's SO MUCH ELSE to concentrate on.
The more things we can abstract away, the easier a time beginners will have
learning what's left. If you're focusing on strange new footwork (and I
find that buzz-stepping beginners tend to think that the buzz-stepping is
the most important part of the swing, and concentrate more on that than on
their frame), it's harder to pick up things like giving weight, a proper
hold, etc. But everyone already knows how to walk!

I would also add that I would much rather dance with someone doing a
funky/odd/strange/unpracticed walking swing than a
funky/odd/strange/unpracticed buzz step. I find that there are fewer ways
to mess up a walk, and that there's less potential for your partner to be
uncomfortable or perhaps harmed than with one of those galloping,
out-of-control excited-pony buzz step swings.

Just my two cents!

Cheers,
Maia

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 1:38 PM, Amy Wimmer via Callers <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> I love John's idea of teaching the buzz step as individuals first,
> then as couples. The most frequent complaints I hear from men is that
> women hang on them and don't hold up their own weight during a swing.
> The most frequent complaint I hear from women is men pulling them off
> their feet and going too fast. If they can learn to hold themselves
> upright on their own first, then everyone will have a much more
> enjoyable experience.
>
> -Amy
>
>
>
> > On Jun 21, 2015, at 3:44 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> > Yes, of course I always tell dancers that they can walk instead of buzz,
> but
> > the buzz-step is so much more fun that it seems crazy not to teach it
> when
> > every dance is going to have a swing and usually two.
> >
> >  Yes, I love swinging, and have been loving it for fifty
> years
> > now, but why does every new dance have to have two swings?  Oh no, not
> > Neighbour Balance & Swing, Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing again - that's
> > half the dance gone with nothing new or interesting in it! (And changing
> the
> > Circle Left 3/4 to Men/Ladies Allemande 1 & 1/2 does not make it more
> > interesting!)  I write lots of dances with one or zero swings - a
> zero-swing
> > dance can have so much good stuff in it that the dancers don't even
> notice
> > there is no swing; they are having too much fun. It always puzzles me
> when
> > people take a great one-swing dance and re-choreograph it to add a second
> > swing, losing part of what made it a great dance just for the sake of
> even
> > more swinging. 
> >
> > I found it interesting that Ron said, "the buzz-step swing gets axed if
> I'm
> > short on time".  If I only had time to teach one thing then the only
> thing I
> > would teach would be the buzz-step swing, and how to finish it so you
> end up
> > in the right place.  I can't think of anything else that newcomers can't
> > learn during the walk-throughs.
> >
> > Question: If you were calling for a group with a dozen newcomers in the
> hall
> > out of 100 people, and the organizers said you could have two minutes
> > teaching before you started the first walk-through, what would you teach?
> > For me the answer is obvious, every dance has a buzz-step swing; teach a
> > buzz-step swing.
> >
> > Another reason for teaching swinging is that there are a significant
> number
> > of "experienced" dancers who have bad swinging habits.  I dance all over
> the
> > USA and the UK 

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Tom Hinds via Callers]

Thank you for letting me know about the date of my computer.

On Jun 21, 2015, at 10:51 AM, Aahz Maruch via Callers wrote:

With Ladies Chain, two dancers change places.  If they fail to execute
that part, it's likely that the progression will get affected.  That's
probably not going to happen with a swing that ends up with the  
dancers sashayed or otherwise in the wrong place.


Aajz, I'm glad you pointed out that you're not calling much.  There  
are some other situations you might not have observed yet.  How about:


-the combination, swing neighbor, right and left through.  Let's  
assume a caller spends a great deal of time teaching the right and  
left through but little time on a swing.  If the dancers end the  
swing sashayed what happens just before the right and left through?
Confusion maybe?


-there's a neighbor swing at the end of the tune.  The beginning of  
the dance starts with an allemande or swing or some other move with a  
new neighbor.  How confusing is it for the beginners (and frustrating  
for the others) when they end the swing wrong?


I teach my beginning callers this:  If you don't get the newbies to  
correctly end a swing, the caller, the newbies and everyone else will  
be frustrated at various points during the evening.


T

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Donna Hunt via Callers]

Personally, I never use the "skateboard" example because folks plant the right 
foot and never move it forward essentially becoming the "sun" while their 
partner revolves around them.  Think about it...when you use a skateboard the 
only foot you move is the left one...the right one is on top of the skateboard 
and you, personally, don't move it.

My approach is after a short explanation about ballroom position and with the 
dancers in that position I introduce the buzz step after the walking swing.  
AFter a short demo, I say, " Put your right foot in front and think about 
"galloping"".  (most folks remember that from grade school).  "Ok ready?  
Gallop."  while I deetle, dum the "The Lone Ranger" aka "The William Tell 
Overture".  This really works!  Folks can gallop to "The Lone Ranger" faster 
and easier than a reel.  And it brings a smile to their faces.

Most newcomers get it the first time through.  Occasionally I have to work with 
someone with a 2 hand turn so they get the idea and then move into the ballroom 
hold again.


If I had 2 minutes for a lesson, I'd do walking swing, buzz step swing, and 
address dizziness and techniques to minimize that and encourage new folks to 
dance with other people.  

In my first dance I would teach allemandes and giving weight to the entire room 
as well as talking/teaching through each and every move I introduce and address 
safe hand holds.  A few words, not a lecture.  If necessary I also remind 
experienced dancers to use gestures not words when helping a new dancer.

BTW: I strongly believe that teaching does not stop when the beginner lesson is 
over.  I usually talk/teach every move in the first couple of dances as a rule. 
 It takes seconds to say, "Ladies chain, Ladies give right hands to each other 
and pull by, give your left to the gent and Gents put your right hand on the 
ladies back and courtesy turn with Gents backing up and ladies going forward.  
And then you give necessary information to the new dances who just arrived (and 
missed the lesson) as well as the 2nd or 3rd time attendees who may need a 
refresher (and missed the lesson).

Contra dancing uses a foreign language with vocabulary that must be learned.  
We're the callers, I believe we should be the teachers as well.  



Donna Hunt

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Aahz Maruch via Callers]

On Wed, Dec 31, 1969, Tom Hinds wrote:
> 
> I'm not sure what you're saying in your email.   Do you teach a right and
> left through plus the chain in the beginning lesson because learning those
> moves is critical to the success of the evening?  And are you saying that
> you spend little time with the swing because those other moves are difficult
> and deserve/need more time?

I'm not doing enough calling to be teaching; I'm talking about my
observations of what other people are teaching.

> You also said, "so wrong swings have little effect on the overall
> structure/flow of the dance".   Can you explain this to me?

With Ladies Chain, two dancers change places.  If they fail to execute
that part, it's likely that the progression will get affected.  That's
probably not going to happen with a swing that ends up with the dancers
sashayed or otherwise in the wrong place.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
"If you're black, you got to look at America a little bit different. You 
got to look at America like the uncle who paid for you to go to college, 
but who molested you."  --Chris Rock

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Donald Perley via Callers]

One maxim of the quick intro is don't load them with things they don't
need to know.  Buzz step is something they don't need, and they can
learn by observation in their own time.

Highest priority to me are basics, like "What is a contra dance?"
(partner for the whole dance, neighbors for 1 iteration, move down the
line...)

Then things like weight, defense against twirls, some basic moves
(yes, swing, but buzz step is an unneeded option)


On Wed, Dec 31, 1969 at 8:38 PM, Tom Hinds via Callers
 wrote:
> Aahz,
>
> I'm not sure what you're saying in your email.   Do you teach a right and
> left through plus the chain in the beginning lesson because learning those
> moves is critical to the success of the evening?  And are you saying that
> you spend little time with the swing because those other moves are difficult
> and deserve/need more time?
>
> It's understandable that these two moves are difficult because they're so
> similar, not to us but to the newbies.
>
> What if you didn't use right and left through AND ladies chain in the same
> dance or the beginning lesson?  In other words, let people practice/digest
> one before learning the other.
>
> You also said, "so wrong swings have little effect on the overall
> structure/flow of the dance".   Can you explain this to me?
>
>
> T
>
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Tom Hinds via Callers]

Aahz,

I'm not sure what you're saying in your email.   Do you teach a right  
and left through plus the chain in the beginning lesson because  
learning those moves is critical to the success of the evening?  And  
are you saying that you spend little time with the swing because  
those other moves are difficult and deserve/need more time?


It's understandable that these two moves are difficult because  
they're so similar, not to us but to the newbies.


What if you didn't use right and left through AND ladies chain in the  
same dance or the beginning lesson?  In other words, let people  
practice/digest one before learning the other.


You also said, "so wrong swings have little effect on the overall  
structure/flow of the dance".   Can you explain this to me?


T

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Aahz Maruch via Callers]

On Sun, Jun 21, 2015, John Sweeney via Callers wrote:
>
> Question: If you were calling for a group with a dozen newcomers in the hall
> out of 100 people, and the organizers said you could have two minutes
> teaching before you started the first walk-through, what would you teach?
> For me the answer is obvious, every dance has a buzz-step swing; teach a
> buzz-step swing.
> 
> Another reason for teaching swinging is that there are a significant number
> of "experienced" dancers who have bad swinging habits.  

How often does it happen that you get to do your teaching to the entire
hall?  IME, the teaching rarely reaches the experienced dancers.

Another point is that aside from the issue of where the swing ends,
swings create minimal change on location or formation, so wrong swings
have little effect on the overall structure/flow of the dance.  What I
see most teaching sessions concentrating on is Ladies Chain and R Thru,
both of which move dancers around and rely on correctly doing courtesy
turn -- and which a lot of new dancers have trouble with.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

Okay, so what about my first comment?:

Some people are not physically capable of a buzz step.

It can be too fast for any variety of physical limitations. If it could be
that some dancers simply can't get it easily. (Some dancers never "get" the
buzz step, and that's okay.)

The single most important thing to teach a dancer is "it's okay to make
mistakes". If we want to make our dances spaces where brand new dancers
feel comfortable, stating that all dancers need to learn the buzz step adds
an unwelcoming environmental factor.

I agree that a buzz step doesn't need to take long to teach, but I do it in
the context of teaching for beginners. I teach that the dosido works
spinning or not. That almost all moves can be done walking. That people
dancing lady role can refuse a flourish. (God forbid we teach lady role
dancers that they can initiate flourishes, but that's a different
discussion.) So teaching an optional swing method is contrary to these
other lessons. And I be sure, when I teach buzz step, to demonstrate that
one can buzz while the other walks.

Ron
On Jun 21, 2015 6:44 AM, "John Sweeney via Callers" <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> Yes, of course I always tell dancers that they can walk instead of buzz,
> but
> the buzz-step is so much more fun that it seems crazy not to teach it when
> every dance is going to have a swing and usually two.
>
>  Yes, I love swinging, and have been loving it for fifty years
> now, but why does every new dance have to have two swings?  Oh no, not
> Neighbour Balance & Swing, Circle Left 3/4, Partner Swing again - that's
> half the dance gone with nothing new or interesting in it! (And changing
> the
> Circle Left 3/4 to Men/Ladies Allemande 1 & 1/2 does not make it more
> interesting!)  I write lots of dances with one or zero swings - a
> zero-swing
> dance can have so much good stuff in it that the dancers don't even notice
> there is no swing; they are having too much fun. It always puzzles me when
> people take a great one-swing dance and re-choreograph it to add a second
> swing, losing part of what made it a great dance just for the sake of even
> more swinging. 
>
> I found it interesting that Ron said, "the buzz-step swing gets axed if I'm
> short on time".  If I only had time to teach one thing then the only thing
> I
> would teach would be the buzz-step swing, and how to finish it so you end
> up
> in the right place.  I can't think of anything else that newcomers can't
> learn during the walk-throughs.
>
> Question: If you were calling for a group with a dozen newcomers in the
> hall
> out of 100 people, and the organizers said you could have two minutes
> teaching before you started the first walk-through, what would you teach?
> For me the answer is obvious, every dance has a buzz-step swing; teach a
> buzz-step swing.
>
> Another reason for teaching swinging is that there are a significant number
> of "experienced" dancers who have bad swinging habits.  I dance all over
> the
> USA and the UK and wherever I go there are always some people who:
> - grip, clamp, squeeze, hang, press
> - hold their partner in the wrong place so it is uncomfortable
> - use too much strength and try to do silly things like making their
> partners feet leave the floor
> - lean sideways or backwards
> - start twirls too late and when they are facing the wrong way so that they
> end up in the wrong place
> - etc.
>
> If just a couple of those dancers pick up on any of these points and
> improve
> their swinging then you have done good work!
>
> Yes, I hate it when callers talk too much and take time out of dancing
> time.
> But this can be really short:
>
> Sample teach:
> = = = = = = = =
> Hi, I'm John.  We have some new people here today and they are going to
> spend half an hour swinging tonight, so please let's spend a minute or two
> on showing them how it's done.  And all you great dancers out there why not
> see if you can't make your swing even better for you and your partners.
>
> This is called a buzz-step swing.
>
> First, let go of you partner completely. Put your left toe just behind your
> right foot like this. Now walk fast on the spot. Now push with your left
> foor as though you were on a skateboard and turn clockwise by yourself on
> the spot. Relax your knees so you don't bounce up and down.  See how
> smoothly.you can turn with the minimum of effort.
>
> Now take your partner in a ballroom hold - the man's hand on the lady's
> shoulderblade - it is far more comfotable for the lady if you hold them up
> high.  Now relax - make sure you are not pressing on any part of your
> partner.
>
> And swing - it should be a gentle embrace where, as a single
> counterbalanced
> unit, you glide smoothly and effortlessly around. Smile at your partner and
> you won't get dizzy.
>
> Now think of your joined hands as an arrowhead and finish pointing at the
> other couple.
>
> If you are having trouble with the buzz-step then you can always just walk.
> = = = = = 

Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[Ron Blechner via Callers]

Not everyone is physically able to do the buzzstep swing. While I include
the buzz step as part of my beginner lesson, it gets axed if I'm short on
time. Other dancers will teach them that.

What's way more important is teaching giving weight. A good-weight walking
swing is vastly more pleasurable than a bad-weight buzz-step swing.

Ron Blechner
On Jun 20, 2015 10:28 AM, "Lindsay Morris via Callers" <
callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> John, respectfully, I have to disagree with your disagreement. A simple
> walking swing works just fine  even when the other person is doing a buzz
> step.
>
> The HUGE problem that I see with beginner lessons is that people stand
> around bored while the teacher talks and talks. All the air goes out of the
> room. Keeping the beginners moving is job number one.
>
> So, I have them do a right elbow swing, to get the body dynamics right.
> Then maybe 30 seconds of talking about ballroom position, have them do a
> walking swing, a moment on how to  balance, and they are good for the
> night. Especially if they get to practice that with three or four different
> people during the lesson.
>
> I can move a competent newcomer from walking-swing to buzz-step swing
> during the dance, just with "look at my feet."
>
> Always appreciate the perspectives on this list though.
>
> > On Jun 20, 2015, at 5:16 AM, John Sweeney via Callers <
> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> >
> > Dale said, "Don't teach advanced techniques to new dancers.  Forget the
> buzz
> > step."
> >
> > Sorry, but I must disagree most strongly.
> >
> > In an average evening of contra dancing you will spend nearly thirty
> minutes
> > swinging (if the dances are in the Modern Urban Contra Dance style rather
> > than the older styles).
> >
> > I think it is incredibly unfair to a newcomer to make them suffer for
> thirty
> > minutes rather than teach them how to swing.  They can also cause a lot
> of
> > suffering to whomever they are swinging with if they have lousy
> technique.
> >
> > I would not agree that it is advanced either. I strongly believe that a
> > couple of minutes teaching the basics of a buzz step swing will give
> > everyone a much more enjoyable evening.  Some of them won't get it, but
> for
> > those that do it can completely change their experience of the evening.
> >
> > Happy dancing,
> > John
> >
> > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362
> > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
> >
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Re: [Callers] Buzz Step Swing

[John Sweeney via Callers]

Dale said, "Don't teach advanced techniques to new dancers.  Forget the buzz
step."

Sorry, but I must disagree most strongly.

In an average evening of contra dancing you will spend nearly thirty minutes
swinging (if the dances are in the Modern Urban Contra Dance style rather
than the older styles).

I think it is incredibly unfair to a newcomer to make them suffer for thirty
minutes rather than teach them how to swing.  They can also cause a lot of
suffering to whomever they are swinging with if they have lousy technique.

I would not agree that it is advanced either. I strongly believe that a
couple of minutes teaching the basics of a buzz step swing will give
everyone a much more enjoyable evening.  Some of them won't get it, but for
those that do it can completely change their experience of the evening.

Happy dancing,
John

John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent