On Apr 10, 2012, at 9:45 AM, Richard Mckeever wrote: > If you start the hey with the ladies turning left half way - wouldn't that > shorten the hey and avoid the timing issue for the balance?
Think of the body action following a ROM spin to the left--you are focused on your partner, and the beauty of the ROM move is the hand catch. This is especially true if you spin as opposed to slide. I think it would be awkward for the women to spin or slide and then have to redirect their momentum to pass left with each other. It might be easier just to pass R with each other at that point, but then they have to ignore their partner and get focussed on the other woman pretty quickly. You do have time for a balance before the swing if the dancers are experienced enough to move with conviction (get that half allemande R in there ), and if the music is a good measured tempo. I often call this to French Canadian tunes and I can get the balance in their most of the time, but not always. I might teach it without the balance, but if it's clear the tempo and the dancers will allow for it, then I'll just cue a balance as the dance is going. Lisa
