Thanks, John, for reminding me about that elbow/hand swing. Haven't used it in years, but I know the kids would be in awe of me using it (lol).
I did try to teach the ballroom hold swing once several years ago -- awkward. Never tried it again. Thanks for sharing those mixers. I may be able to use one or two of them next year. On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 12:01 PM, John Sweeney <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Linda, > Do you try to teach them a Ballroom Hold Swing? I.e. a standard > contra swing? I never use that for one night stands. > > For first-timers I always teach them to put their right forearms > together, gently hook their hand around their partner’s elbow, with the > thumb below so that they can’t grip, make a hook with their left hands and > join them underneath. And don’t lean back! This gives really good > connection with space between them. The space means that they can each do > any footwork (walk, skip, polka, chassis, buzz) without worrying about > stepping on each other. The space also makes it more comfortable from a > personal viewpoint. > > I love the Gypsy into a Swing – I teach them to start the Gypsy, > "join right arms, join left hands, swing". I always demonstrate and most > of them then make a decent job of swinging. > > Or you can always do it as a Two-Hand Turn – nice big oval at > shoulder level. > > But no, I wouldn’t do Tony's dance with first-timers. My standard > first timer circle mixer is my: > > Virginia Reel Circle Mixer #24 > > A1: Partner Arm Right; Partner Arm Left > > A2: Partner Dosido; Partner Seesaw > > B1: Partner Gypsy Meltdown > > B2: Promenade around the circle; Men (those on the inside) move on > then face new partner > > Or Diane Silver’s Kid's Chaos Mixer #3 - Scatter (Mixer) > > A1: (In fours) Circle Left; Circle right (Slip) > > A2: Star Right; Star Left > > B1: Neighbour Two Hand Turn; Partner Two Hand Turn > > B2: Partner Promenade (Scatter) and find a new couple > > Make sure some of you promenade in random directions and against the flow. > OK to end up as 1, 2, 3, 4 couples together – chaos! > > Alt B1: Neighbour Dosido; Partner Dosido > > Alt B1: Partner Swing/Turn; Neighbour Swing/Turn – makes it a Mixer > > Or Dosido the one you brought, now Dosido someone new - Promenade with > this one > > Happy dancing, > John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > -- *Looking forward,Linda S. Mrosko* *102 Mitchell Drive* *Temple, Texas 76501* *(903) 292-3713 (Cell)* *(903) 603-9955 (Skype)* *contradancetx.com <http://www.contradancetx.com>* *www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy* <http://www.zazzle.com/fuzzycozy*> (Dance buttons, t-shirts, & more)*
