Ryan Smith said:
Out of a post-swing position (Man on Left, Lady on Right) the man's
partner
can give weight and assistance for him to go into an allemande Left,
similarly the ladies partner can help her into an allemande Right.
That's
not really true for the Man doing an Allemande R or the lady doing an
Allemande Left.
It's a small thing, but it's the reason that men usually use lefts and
ladies usually use rights (because you're usually in a post-swing
position). Breaking this convention doesn't typically ruin the
dance, but
it does make it less satisfying.
I agree that there are instances where partners (and neighbors) can
help each by giving weight etc. Sure, after a swing it's very
useful. In my opinion, men rolling their neighbors away followed by
a ladies chain is actually bad flow but It's the team work that makes
that combination fun. I believe this combination would really suck
without giving weight.
But I have to disagree with you on the need to use outside hands in
all cases. In many dances there's a forward and back followed by
for example, the ladies doing an allemande left. One is Ashoken
Hello. There are many ways that choreographers give dancers new
combinations instead of the same old thing. Allemandes with 'the
other hand' after forward and back is just one example.
I too have the ladies allemande left in 3-33-33 but it's after a
forward and back, not after a swing. If you're dancing with someone
who is absolutely clueless simply take her left or his right and lead
it into the center of the set. I don't see using 'the other hand' as
a problem for those with any experience or ability. If you have many
dancers who don't have the skills, then calling 3-33-33 is probably a
bad idea no matter which ending you use.
tom
