The Wham Connection is an example of the non-smooth connection, and, I
think should be used with a lot of caution. The problem is, in the
negotiation of connection, it's a one-sided deal. Another place that
this sometimes occurs is the "push-off" at the end of an allemande.
These mover seem OK, for people who are familiar with each other and
have a pre-negotiated (even if it's unspoken) agreement that they like
this kind of connection seem OK.
And, it comes back down to, how do we teach these points? I do think at
least pointing out that every connection requires that instant
negotiation. Things that come into the decision process are:
familiarity: those of us who come a lot know who's in for the
spins, and who we have to get to know first
peripheral awareness: keeping our eyes open as we come into a minor
set, seeing how a person dances
Just to name two.
~erik hoffman
oakland, ca
On 2/18/2014 7:49 AM, Lindsay Morris wrote:
Great point.
Hard to naysay vigor and enthusiasm in dancing, yet I get hurt that way too
sometimes. Guess all a caller can do is encourage respect and attention.
--------------------
Lindsay Morris
CEO, TSMworks
Tel. 1-859-539-9900
[email protected]
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 10:46 AM, Linda Leslie <[email protected]>wrote:
Dear George,
I am so glad that you brought up this issue. I have noticed it, too, and
also see that the whacking has become a prelude to a balance (yikes!) for
some dancers. It will be interesting to hear from callers how we might
approach this challenge. For me, although I have no particular arm or
shoulder problems, I simply don't like the gesture. Usually I do say
something like "a gentle connection works better for me", or a related
sharing. But I have also used the "ouch!" with success.
I wonder if it comes from "high five"??
Linda
On Feb 18, 2014, at 9:12 AM, George Mercer wrote:
I guess this is tangential to the hands/allemande discussion, but it has
been a source of personal pain for me for some time. Over the past decade
or so more and more people, many of them pretty good long-time dancers
(both men and women), have approached me for an allemande with a
percussive
force akin to a punch or slap. Wham! I have a variety of hand/arm issues
and the percussive impact of the initial allemande contact sends a jolt
all
the way up to the shoulder. I have been forced to hold my hand/arm back
until the last second (when the force has dissipated) or even set it up so
the other dancer whiffs past my hand altogether. When did whacking
someone's hand for an allemande become acceptable or appropriate? This
may
not be a problem for others, but for me it has the same result as the
death
grip, bent wrist, thumb wrench, and other allemande problems -- pain.
Thanks.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 7:45 AM, Lindsay Morris <[email protected]
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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