As for the no-thumb allemande: Years ago, I started having a problem with my left thumb aching for days after a dance, from the allemande lefts. This started almost 30 years ago, so I can't blame that problem on advancing age. As far as I'm concerned, doing an allemande without locking thumbs is an improvement which has been made necessary by the modern tendency to do an allemande all the way around in four beats instead of six or eight. I'm always delighted when I run into another dancer who gives me a no-thumb allemande. Anything that prevents injury is a good thing.
Jacob Bloom [email protected] On Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 12:00 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 00:03:40 -0700 > From: Erik Hoffman <[email protected]> > To: jean francis <[email protected]>, Caller's discussion list > <[email protected]> > Subject: > > Re: [Callers] First-time Contra Dancers and similar figures > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > > [1] An aside: many people call this the "wrist grip" form. I encourage > us all to remove the word "grip" from out teaching lexicon, as gripping > has led to griping, and that (IMHO) horrid no-thumb allemande... The > connection is through hooks and surfaces to lean on, not through > gripping. And, although I don't like the no thumb allemande, when do I > teach this form of star, I encourage all five fingers, thumb included, > going over the top of the wrist in front - no grip. > > erik hoffman > ~oakland, ca >
