Hi All--
Over the past few times I've called it, I've been playing with how I
walk contra corners thorugh....
I've never really liked the ID your first and second corner (look at
your partner, look to the right of your partner, that's your first
contra corner; look to the left, that's your second, now allemande
your partner by the right.....) For one thing, I never remember it
helping when I first learned contra corners. For another thing, it
gets you to look at the faces, but not really pay attention to the positions.
So, after calling it last night (Labor of Love, by Kathy Anderson), I
came up with another possibility (which I haven't tried yet). I'd be
interseted to hear how you teach contra corners (assume that about
1/4 of the group hasn't done it, 1/4 doesn't understand it, and 1/2
just doesn't do it very often -- that's approximately the way things
generally are in this part of the world).
So, here's the idea:
Get proper
Point out corner number 1 -- across the set and to the right.
#1 w/ partner allemande R 1/2. Turn a little farther to form short
waves on the diagonal with a person of the opposite gender (this is a
chance for the caller to see that everyone has the right person)
Let go of partner, All L 1x w/ 1st corner, reform wave
All R exactly 3/4 to someone ELSE of opp gender (#2's face across and
left to look for that person coming at you, #1's you may have to tap
this other person on the shoulder to get them to turn in)
Catch them by the Left Hand to Form Wave
W/ Corner #2, All L 1x back to P
#1 B&S
I know that there is more information there than I would want to
actually *say* in a walk through, but some of it (like which way the
#2 corners are going to end up facing) is stuff I want to be aware of
and maybe stuff that would be a problem for this way of teaching
contra corners.
Having come up with this, I also thought that this series of moves
could (or possibly has been) make a good dance: Wave with first
corners, balance, allemande L, balance, allemande R, wave with 2nd
corners, balance, Actives swing. Anyone know of a dance already like
that that I should be aware of?
Jack
