I don't like to assign roles in the lesson. A lot of good discussion, and a couple points I'll add:
- my lesson teaches the swing as allemande R -> 2 hand turn -> swing, and so the concept of the swing being symmetrical except for handholds is established, and then Left/Right side. (And handhold) being the concept introduced as the difference with role. - if there's a small number of new dancers, experienced people in my general region will typically help show the ropes in terms of dancing either role. - for larger groups, I am more likely to specifically have them try both roles - I do like to tell new dancers that for the first couple dances, they should consider sticking with the role in the lesson. I'll say something like "if you're feeling comfortable, absolutely try dancing the other role, too". In dance, Julian Blechner He/Him Western Mass On Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 6:23 PM Winston, Alan P. via Contra Callers < [email protected]> wrote: > I don't know whether I was that someone. If it was, what I talked about, > if you have a large enough group to do it (say, 10 or more, which I rarely > do), is to have them all circle up [which I always do as part of the > implicit dancing-to-the-phrase, things-take-standard-numbers-of-steps, > early success because they're responding to a call that means what they > think it does portion), and after we've done all that, I squish the circle > into a longways set and take hands four from the top. If they came with > someobdy that person is probably in another couple now (unless they're at > the top or bottom). "As you face the other couple, one of you is on the > left - you're dancing as a lark; the other is on the right - you're > dancing as a robin.) > > You could also circle up, pick someone to start, and have them count off > around the ring "robin, lark, robin, lark". > > In principle this means roles are arbitrarily assigned. In practice these > new partners might negotiate. I try not to notice. > > -- Alan > > ________________________________________ > From: Michael Fuerst via Contra Callers < > [email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2024 8:24 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Callers] Re: "Assigning" roles in the beginners' lesson? > > Sometime within the past 3 years or so someone posted an excellent > procedure in this forum, which I did not copy, and could not find a year or > so later when I tried. maybe someone can find it. > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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