Hi Harris,
Julian and others have already given you some great points.
I never talk about weight. I refer to it as connection. See
https://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#connection for more information.
Thumbs:
I have often thought of putting a sign on the door saying, “Leave your thumbs
here – you don’t need them for the dance!”.
Ask the dancers to make a Wrist-Lock Star – tell them to put their thumbs on
top so that they can’t grip.
Ask the dancers to hold hands in a circle – give them permission to tell their
partners or neighbours if they are gripping with their thumbs.
Swings:
See https://contrafusion.co.uk/Contra.html#swinging for lots of hints and tips.
Tell the dancers to get in a Ballroom-Hold ready for a Swing. Then ask them to
relax! It is amazing how much just this one concept can improve a Swing.
Tell the dancers to get in a Ballroom-Hold ready for a Swing. Give them
permission to tell their partner where they are feeling pressure. There are
lots of common faults: ladies pressing on the back. Men gripping too tightly.
Hanging, clamping, gripping, leaning, etc. During a Swing you never get time
to mention it, even if you dared. Most people don’t realise that they are
causing their partner discomfort. Giving them permission to share information
can really help.
Allemandes:
See https://contrafusion.co.uk/Allemande.html for some great tips and quotes
from the callers on this list.
The Allemande 1.5 times is the worst-performed move in contra dancing in my
experience.
Explain to the dancers that, although it may look like arm-wrestling, it is
not! In fact, if your hand moves towards your body you lose! Just connect.
Focus then on moving your feet quickly to get around. Increase the tension as
little as possible to counteract centrifugal force and to keep the hands
exactly half way between you.
Timing:
Circle three-quarters and Pass Through. The Circle is six steps, leaving the
last two for the Pass Through. Lots of people think they have to use up all
the music in the Circle then Pass Through at the beginning of the next phrase,
arriving late for the next move.
Down the Hall and Dixie Twirl or California Twirl: You only take four steps
down the hall.
I hope that helps.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 & 07802 940
574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
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