Someone in my community who teaches swings often likes to explain the sharing of weight as, "If my partner let me go, I would stumble a step or two, but not fall." Seems to be a good benchmark when used in conjunction with some of these other explanations.
One I've had in my head for a while now but not actually used is explaining it in terms of that amusement park ride where you're in a big, really fast-rotating cylinder and the floor drops out--you're held against the wall and it feels like your entire back is pushing against the wall. That's how sharing weight in a swing should feel--it's not a lean (which, as Jonathan aptly points out, to many people suggests a bend at the waist), it's a sort of pressing back with your entire torso against your partner's hand. On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 11:20 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I do 2 hand turn first. > On Jun 24, 2015 4:22 PM, "Rich Sbardella via Callers" < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> My main concern is how to acquire that tension/counterweight in a swing, >> if you do not lean back. >> Rich >> >> On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 3:33 PM, Kalia Kliban via Callers < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> On 6/24/2015 11:29 AM, Rich Sbardella via Callers wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> How do you descibe giving weight, and how do you teach it for circles, >>>> allemandes, and, swings? >>>> Rich >>>> Stafford, CT >>>> >>> >>> In my beginner sessions, I have them form a ring and then circle left >>> and right a couple of times. Then I ask them to bend their elbows and feel >>> "that springy tension between you and the dancers next to you. If you can >>> keep that elasticity while you're connected to other dancers, then you're >>> all supporting each other as you circle and turn, and it makes everything >>> easier." And then we circle again, with the extra bit of sproing, and then >>> do the same with allemandes. Just for fun, sometimes I'll have them go >>> back to the floppy arms, just to feel the difference. I also let them know >>> that with a little bit of tension in the connection, it's easier for the >>> person they're dancing with to give them physical cues. >>> >>> And I know there's a better word than tension, and I'm pretty sure I've >>> used it in the past, but right now I can't think of it. >>> >>> Kalia >>> Sebastopol, CA >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Callers mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Callers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > >
