OSHA?? Really??? You mean the government has finally recognized the
beauty and joy of contra dancing (as opposed to contra gun-slinging)?
And, it is an interesting discussion. I started my more formalized
thoughts after a discussion with Brad Foster about our mutual sense of
displeasure at this "government approved" version of the allemande.
Aahz mentioned that I'm a big person. It's true. Still, I know and have
taught protective techniques that will work with a person of any size,
and I've had had my hand twisted using this "avoid the thumb" hold: when
it, too, turns into a grip.
Now there is a place where I strongly advocate what I call, "The Rule of
No Thumbs." That's in circles. I find it very uncomfortable when a thumb
clamps down on the back of my hand. It's another place where the
practice of "hooks" is preferred, no thumb-clamps necessary. And, no
grips! Or I gripe...
And, as I've stated before, with so many divergent opinions, I think we
should teach the basic rule of safe practices:
Rule One: Hooks, not Grips
Rule Two: Connect Smoothly -- no jerking, please
Remember, every connection is a negotiation, and it should be easy to
back out or say "no."
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 2/18/2014 4:45 AM, Lindsay Morris wrote:
Don's photo illustrates the "OSHA-approved" grip I mentioned. It's not the
intuitive thing to do, so callers would do well (IMHO) to promote it.
Jonathan, the "thumbs-up" position is different, and puts one at risk of
injury or just awkwardness (like, when a new dancer grabs my thumb with
their whole hand- ick).
"Hand manners" in general would be a good topic - and how callers can
promote good ones.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
[email protected]
On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Don Veino <[email protected]>wrote:
[Lots of other posts trimmed...]
Similar to a previous comment, and knowing one size does not fit all, I try
to preface any "style points" with a fellow dancer with "it would help me
if..." and then describe or show my desired interaction behavior. Puts the
issue totally on me and makes it sound like I'm asking a favor of them to
adjust to my needs, not correcting them -- if it leads to further good form
from them generally thereafter, so much the better. I've not had a negative
reaction to this since I started doing it.
BTW, for allemandes I use a connection that I picked up somewhere in my
contra travels (which sounds a lot like some of he best practices described
to this point). I find this to be fairly common where I dance. As a picture
is worth a thousand words, here it is (note I'm torqued slightly in these
due to holding the camera with the other hand for the photo -- the normal
connection is neutral and unstressed but results in good weight):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3My2DFMxZpOb3g1MVJWSS1lOGc/edit?usp=sharing
-Don
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