On Tue, Aug 23, 2016, George Mercer via Callers wrote: > > Just a note: I always teach the right and left through. It is a > simple move in the grand scheme, but it doesn't make much sense > for beginners. Saying it is like a ladies chain only both dancers > are crossing doesn't really help. Right-hand pull by across with > the dancer directly across, then left-hands on the side and you > courteously help each other turn via a courtesy turn.
Most of my teaching has been in a square dance context, but I teach Pass Thru, Courtesy Turn before I teach R&L Thru. And I teach sashayed Courtesy Turn -- probably wouldn't bother with that in a contra context. There's a regular argument in the square dance community about whether it's better to teach the handed version or no-hands version of calls first (e.g. California Twirl vs Partner Trade). I overall favor the handed calls first because it's better body flow and the guide makes it easier to learn the call. However, I switch with R&L Thru because learning how to take and drop hands while passing is a bit of a tricky skill for many people (the biggest culprit usually being Square Thru). -- Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6 http://rule6.info/ <*> <*> <*> Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html