Here is my pitch for teaching the buzz step: 1) If you watch what happens to a person's body when you say the word "walk", a non-dancer will automatically lean forward and catch their weight on a foot thrust forward, without regard to which foot. This is bad for swing in two ways: the weight is now on their partner, and the inside foot might or might not be tracing a smaller cycle than the left. Believe me when I say that a big guy leaning on a smaller woman and pulling her off center by walking with evenish steps is unpleasant, even painful. 2) if you teach the walk, and people become accustomed to it, even doing it badly, why would they change to a buzz step? 3) a buzz step is rhythmic, right foot landing on the heavy beats. Walk swing is often not as done by new dancers. You can teach the buzz step easily and most dancers will be able to do it. The simple note that all energy that goes up and down is wasted energy gets all but the I curable hoppers to settle down. I always tell dancers that if they need to modify the swing step for whatever reason, be sure to continue allowing their mass to flow outward as is natural due to the rotational force, and to keep their right foot taking smaller pivoting steps past their co swinger's right foot. I personally add that a wide stance will pull coswinger of their center and thus strides should be kept tight. Aim high, and take the time and attention to give new dancers the skill to manage this most ubiquitous of dance calls. Their satisfaction and that of all their partners and neighbors will be much greater for it. Some may still settle on a walk swing, but proper teaching will have clued them in to how the swing should feel and you are less likely to have leaning and other bad habits. You have given them permission and tools to adapt as needed. Cheers, Andrea Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 11, 2012, at 3:34 PM, Donna Calhoun <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree with the previous posts. The "good" dancer will adapt to the > conditions. I find that when dancing with an experienced dancer who maintains > a good frame and gives good weight the buzz-step is the most satisfying swing > (with the right partner, nirvana) If I am swinging with a partner who gives > too much or too little weight, the walking swing is more comfortable, > allowing me to complete my swing on time and stay on my feet. > > > Donna Calhoun > > On Mar 11, 2012, at 12:00 PM, [email protected] wrote: > >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:36:44 -0400 >> From: John W Gintell <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [Callers] American with Style >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >> >> >>> Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:08:08 -0400 >>> From: Bronwyn Woods <[email protected]> >>> To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]> >>> Subject: Re: [Callers] American with Style >>> Message-ID: >>> <CAC+nW6+1u7uAcbJ_FZz6zEhBY=gfrf4mxhovhcmu5sfztjh...@mail.gmail.com> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 >>> >>>>> I'd like to see the phrase "good contra dancers use a buzz-step swing" >>>>> changed--I'd say really good contra dancers sometimes use a buzz step >>>>> and sometimes use a walking step, depending on the choreography or >>>>> music; medium-good contra dancers use a buzz step for all swings. >>>> >>>> >>>> Would other people like to comment on that one? >>> >>> Most (but not all) people I've seen either use the buzz step or the >>> walking step rather than switching between them. But some of my very >>> favorite partners use a walking swing. If they dance with a nice >>> smooth swing, I often can't tell the difference when I'm dancing with >>> them unless I look at their feet. I would be very hesitant to say >>> that "good contra dancers use a buzz step". It is true, at least >>> where I dance, that _most_ dancers use the buzz step. >>> >>> -Bronwyn >> >> I'm an advocate of promoting a walking swing to beginners. It helps cure >> the tendency for new dancers to think you have to bob up and down. Also >> then they don't have to think about it at all and eye contact with their >> partner is a bit easier. >> >> John >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 2 >> Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:43:48 -0400 >> From: "Bree Kalb" <[email protected]> >> To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] American with Style >> Message-ID: <AC252987060940C38A7FD80E9A5C3259@BreeHomeLaptop> >> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; >> reply-type=response >> >> I would suggest saying "most" contra dancers" rather than "good." I think >> good contra dancers adjust to the person with whom they are swinging. I >> agree with David that one can do a walking swing while the other does a buzz >> step but I often switch to a walking swing to match my partner or neighbor. >> >> Bree Kalb >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Colin Hume >> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 3:42 AM >> To: Caller's discussion list >> Subject: Re: [Callers] American with Style >> >> On 11/03/2012 05:41, Read Weaver wrote: >>> I'd like to see the phrase "good contra dancers use a buzz-step swing" >>> changed--I'd say really good contra dancers sometimes use a buzz step >>> and sometimes use a walking step, depending on the choreography or >>> music; medium-good contra dancers use a buzz step for all swings. >> >> Would other people like to comment on that one? >> >> >> Colin Hume >> >> E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.colinhume.com >> >> End of Callers Digest, Vol 91, Issue 19 >> *************************************** > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
