On Jun 24, 2015, at 2:14 AM, Aahz Maruch via Callers wrote:
And the fact that many people teaching newcomers concentrate more on things like R&L Thru than swing makes me suspect I'm not alone in my perception.
You're definitely not alone. Aahz, each of us has a different system for calling. I find many of these discussions a little meaningless because we are talking about specific issues in isolation. It's all the other details......
Some of us would never present for the first time a right and left through and a ladies chain in the same contra or square (or workshop). With that said it's possible that callers are introducing moves in a way that's harder rather than easier.
Try teaching the chain in the newbie workshop and have them use it in one or two contras or better yet a contra and a square. The right and left through is much easier learned after they dance a ladies chain. When I first introduce the right and left through, the courtesy turn is done with one's neighbor, not partner. I don't seem to recall it ever being hard for them to get. Sure, put it in the first dance and it's going to be tough and sure, there are some directionally challenged people who'll struggle no matter what you do.
My question to you and the others is do you teach the right and left through with words or do you demo it? Could make a big difference.
T
