New title: Not Always Right (much better, thanks!) I haven't had a chance to actually "dance" it yet, but I would (gently) remind the gentlemen that we ladies have gotten accustomed to a certain amount of institutionalized awkwardness (I suppose we could call it the Ginger Rogers syndrome) so a little turnabout seems fair. In squares, for instance, to allemande one's corner is easy for the men -- you use the natural (outside) hand. For the ladies, however, the natural hand to use would be the right hand -- that's OUR outside hand. We ladies must turn 45 degrees and reach across with our INSIDE hand to allemande our corner smoothly and gracefully -- something which many callers I've danced to fail to point out for the beginners on the floor. And of course in virtually all contra corners dances with a "cast off" figure, the man's free hand, as he comes into the center, is his right hand, so he's ready to begin the contra corners figure. But the lady "castee's" right hand is around the waist of the lady "caster." I've seen many women beginners try contra corners and "not get it" repeatedly because they try, over and over, to start with their natural hand -- the left (free) hand. (I was a source of considerable "prop wash" the first time I tried contra corners. A helpful neighboring woman dancer kept repeating "RIGHT hand" in my direction until I finally got it "right"). Having spluttered on defensively however at far too much length, I agree that the dance should flow smoothly.
What about: B1: Half a hey on the LEFT diagonal, ladies chain across to the new neighbor (16 counts). B2 Balance the ring, Petronella LEFT (8) one place. Balance the ring, Petronella LEFT one place, turn around and form a new left hand star with the next neighbors? April Blum **************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)
