Hi Colin,
The book does mention it. In my copy it is on the next page. Maybe
you didn't turn the page...
= = = = = = = = = =
GIVE-AND-TAKE: General definition adopted by some callers and composers: The
"swingers", a man and a woman facing across the set, meet, join free hands,
retreat to the designated side of the set, and prepare to swing. Unless
otherwise specified, the dancers retreat to the man's side.
Original implementation: I visualized a very crisp, four-count interpretation.
The previous twosomes (not the new twosomes) end the previous figure (perhaps a
swing, a promenade, or a courtesy turn) in half shoulder-waist position. The
previous twosomes move forward at the start of the phrase, and the swingers
form new twosomes by joining free hands (woman's right, man's left). The woman
resists for a moment while they establish firm but elastic connection, and they
take only two more counts to position themselves to swing a step cw around the
entire set from where the man started. This puts the set in SAWTOOTH FORMATION.
I was put on the defensive by a woman who let me know in no uncertain terms
that she was not about to be given or taken by any man. I felt much relieved,
therefore, to find "give-and-take", with the hyphens even, in the dictionary:
"the practice of compromise." Now that's my kind of attitude; I even invite you
to compromise with your swinger (and with me) by taking up to as many as eight
counts for your implementation.
= = = = = = = = = =
I really like the original implementation and am very disappointed when
the caller teaches it as: wander across the set, bring the other person back.
I wish someone would make up a new name for that move and keep the original
move as well!
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England [email protected] 01233 625 362 & 07802 940
574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Hume via Contra Callers <[email protected]>
Sent: 01 August 2024 13:59
To: Shared Weight Contra Callers <[email protected]>
Subject: [Callers] Re: What are your favorite �style points?�
On Thu, 1 Aug 2024 08:06:03 -0400, Rick Mohr via Contra Callers wrote:
> Give & Take can have more connection than most dancers put in. In the
> walkthrough I say for example (from Joseph
> Pimentel) (and, I think, as its creator Larry Jennings envisioned it)
> — "Walk forward, take your partner's free hand. Take a step back to
> make some tension in those arms; robins, release that tension by zipping
> across the set into a partner swing."
I seem to have learnt Give & Take differently from most people. I asked Sue
Rosen, who said:
> You are correct that Larry's intention was that the move follow a
> swing which opens up facing across the set in what Larry told me was
> "half shoulder-waist position": staying connected from the swing.
> Couples advance to the opposite couple and extend free hands to the person
> across for the tug and resist element, followed by a swing on the designated
> side.
But in the book "Give-and-Take it doesn't mention the half shoulder-waist
position or the resisting, and therefore people aren't doing it. They go
forward in lines, or just with inside hands joined, and the men draw the women
back to their side of the set with no resistance, just like part of a poussette.
Colin Hume
_______________________________________________
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]
