Sorry: In the future I'll reready my post before I hit "send". Clarification: What I meant to say is that I like the idea of using "gent/ladies" (for the reasons given) and will try to use them more when I call. Now I use "gents" and "men" interchangeably and always use "ladies" (for no good reason just habit).
Donna Hunt -----Original Message----- From: Donna Hunt <[email protected]> To: callers <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 6:49 pm Subject: Re: [Callers] Lead/Follow in a Swing Andrea wrote: Those of us who enjoy flourishes can do so, and lead them from whatever position and in whatever manner we like, but it is wrong to impose lead/follow terminology on the whole dance form because of the personal choice of some dancers. _________________ Yes! Thank you for that! I personally use "Ladies/Gents" when I call because those words are role defining--not gender defining (like the "boys/girls in MWSD or the "purple/green" as suggested earlier or "bands and barearms"). Since there are no real/true to life "gents and ladies" (according to Websters Dictionary) on the floor (at least I haven't found any where I dance/call) I have defined these words by saying "The Lady is on the right/the Gent is on the left" (side of the couple). At that point anyone assuming the position on either side of the couple is free to dance the role according to my definition. I believe using "Lead/Follow"terminology in contra dancing will confuse any dancer familiar with the terminology as used in couple/ballroom dancing which gives very different responsibilities to dancers in those positions. Donna Hunt -----Original Message----- From: Andrea Nettleton <[email protected]> To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 4:54 pm Subject: Re: [Callers] Lead/Follow in a Swing I'd like to point out that all twirls, whether entry or exit, are flourishes, added to the basic dance. The basic dance has a symmetrical pull into the swing position. As danced, and taught by most callers, on this side of the pond, both partners have a hand on the other's back, so it is as close to symmetrical as it can be. No matter which role I dance, I encounter neighbors, or sometimes have a partner, who have no idea how and when to end the swing appropriately, and I assure you, I can end it myself, from either position, without doing harm to my co-swinger. Even when people try to put me in a bad position with a poorly executed flourish, 9 times out of 10 I can reposition us as we move to end fairly close to the right position. But the dance doesn't assume flourishes. It assumes a basic swing with an open like a book exit, which it is possible to accomplish with neither party leading. Those of us who enjoy flourishes can do so, and lead them from whatever position and in whatever manner we like, but it is wrong to impose lead/follow terminology on the whole dance form because of the personal choice of some dancers. Cheers Andrea Sent from my iPhone On Jan 4, 2013, at 3:20 PM, "John Sweeney" <[email protected]> wrote: > The middle of a swing is a beautiful (almost) symmetrical move with the > man and lady (almost) completely equal. > > I added the "almost"s because it is traditional for the man to place his > right arm under the lady's left arm causing a small, but important, > asymmetry. > > Of course you can do completely symmetrical swing (Galway Swings, > Northumberland Swing, Ceilidh Swing, Sweetheart Swing, etc.), and > indeed, especially in the more reserved UK, I always go for a Galway > Swing when I meet a man for a swing. (Galway Swing = start an Allemande > Right, use your left hand to cup your partner's right elbow, buzz-step > and fly!) > > But in a swing there is also the entry and exit. > > Question 1: > In your community if one partner twirls under the other person's arm > while entering or exiting a swing, then is it the man or the lady that > twirls? > > In my experience, watching countless dancers in many US states and UK > counties over the years, it is the lady who twirls 99% of the time. > > Question 2: > When you do that type of twirl, do you find it easier if, as a man, you > provide a good lead, or, as a lady, you follow well? > > In my experience (mainly as a man) then it is MUCH easier to execute > those twirls without effort and on time if the lady is a good follower. > > Then there are more complex swing-exit-flourishes such as an extended > Apache Whip (the last part of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLttdtKOHs > then raise your arm so that the lady keeps turning under it). Also > Ladies' Chains where the lady wants to twirl half a dozen times. These > work MUCH better if there is good lead and follow (in fact, you can do a > lot of damage in an extended Apache Whip exit if you DON'T have good > lead and follow). > > Question 3: > In a swing, who decides when to stop turning? Have you ever been jerked > by someone deciding to stop the swing earlier than you had planned? Or > been left late for the next move by someone carrying on for an extra > turn when there is no time? > > Is there lead & follow in deciding when to stop? > > So, yes, the middle of a swing doesn't involve lead and follow. But > taken as a whole maybe it does! > > :-) > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers _______________________________________________ Callers mailing list [email protected] http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
