I don't know why it's disappeared, but I do have a comment on this in general. I've danced the follow role a bunch recently, and have found that many newer leads hold me in a position in which it is VERY awkward to do a buzz step. I think I understand now why so many new follows tend to sidestep during the swing.
On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 13:40, John Sweeney <[email protected]> wrote: > When I learnt contra dancing (after 30 years of dancing other forms of > traditional dancing) I was shown the swing hold from "Zesty Contras" - > depicted on the cover and described on page 15 as "a modified ballroom > position with the man's left hand near the woman's right elbow as shown > in the "Zesty Contras" logo". > > I would describe it more as the man's left hand cupping the lady's right > elbow, with the lady's arm lying on the man's arm, and her hand curving > round his upper arm just above the elbow. > > I find it an excellent way to swing because: > - it brings you closer together > - it reduces the angle between your bodies and makes it easier to look > at each other > - it provides more support for the lady by holding her elbow > - it takes up less room on a crowded dance-floor > > I just spent a weekend in America dancing with 350 people. I use this > hold all the time in a standard swing, but when I initiated this hold > most of the ladies didn't seem to know where to put their arm and hand. > When I watched other dancers I didn't see anyone else doing it. > > Can anyone tell me why this wonderful hold, which appears to have been > the standard 30 years ago, has virtually disappeared? > > Thanks, > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 & > 07802 940 574 > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk <http://www.contrafusion.co.uk/> for > Dancing in Kent > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
