Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Kalia Kliban]

On 2/19/2014 8:52 AM, Linda Leslie wrote:

As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning" can
have some dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance the gent's
role. I tend to avoid using this word, but do like "relax",
"connection", and other concepts that might get to a better swing
experience. I would love to hear about other words that seem to work for
dancers/callers.
Linda


When I'm teaching a beginner lesson and we're doing our first circles, I 
describe it as "springy arms, so we can all support each other as we 
circle."  That concept of mutual support seems to click for a lot of new 
dancers.


Kalia

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Les Addison]

my theory:

if you don't dance both roles, and don't have experience dancing with
someone of a similar size differential (e.g., men who dance as ladies with
a taller person dancing as a gent or women dancing as gents with a shorter
person dancing as a lady), then you shouldn't be telling someone what to do
when dancing the same role as you.

you can tell your dance partner what feels best for you, but you can't
speak to what works for others, particularly when you've never been in
their shoes.

Les


On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 8:52 AM, Linda Leslie wrote:

> As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning" can have
> some dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance the gent's role. I
> tend to avoid using this word, but do like "relax", "connection", and other
> concepts that might get to a better swing experience. I would love to hear
> about other words that seem to work for dancers/callers.
> Linda
>
>
> On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:25 AM, George Mercer wrote:
>
>  The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious problem for
>> me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once in a
>> while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my hand
>> further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to do. I
>> hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning back."  As
>> for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that one uses
>> for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.  Tension but not
>> stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself when dancing with
>> new
>> dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or stiffness is not the
>> answer
>> and it doesn't help them or the person their dancing with at that moment.
>> Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson 
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always
>>> taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies shoulder
>>> blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs so they can lean
>>> back
>>> into it to balance with swing and it doesn't hurt their back.  (We have
>>> some gents that insist on swinging at around 90 RPM.)  One of the more
>>> difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is get used to leaning
>>> into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly grip my right shoulder
>>> rather than relax.  It can be a difficult concept for a newbie.
>>>
>>> Harold
>>>
>>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Harold E. Watson]

Gotha.  That never bothered me so I never thought about it that way.

Harold

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net 
[mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Linda Leslie
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 11:39 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

My arm will actually ache from the pressure of my swing partner leaning back 
too much.
Linda

On Feb 19, 2014, at 12:02 PM, Harold E. Watson wrote:

> While "relax" would actually be a better description than "leaning"  
> into hand behind you, "relax" has so far not proven very effective in 
> keeping a beginner dancer from leaning INTO the swing which makes it 
> much more difficult.  Goes right along with death grip on the right 
> shoulder.  It is a challenge.  What exactly do you mean by dramatic 
> consequences for your arm?
>
> Harold
>
> -Original Message-
> From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net 
> [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net
> ] On Behalf Of Linda Leslie
> Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 10:52 AM
> To: Caller's discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential
>
> As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning"  
> can have some dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance the 
> gent's role. I tend to avoid using this word, but do like "relax", 
> "connection", and other concepts that might get to a better swing 
> experience. I would love to hear about other words that seem to work 
> for dancers/callers.
> Linda
>
> On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:25 AM, George Mercer wrote:
>
>> The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious problem 
>> for me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once 
>> in a while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my 
>> hand further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to 
>> do.
>> I hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning 
>> back."
>> As for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that 
>> one uses for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.
>> Tension but not stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself 
>> when dancing with new dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or 
>> stiffness is not the answer and it doesn't help them or the person 
>> their dancing with at that moment.
>> Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson <hwat...@uark.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've 
>>> always taught the gents to place their right hands between the 
>>> ladies shoulder blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs 
>>> so they can lean back into it to balance with swing and it doesn't 
>>> hurt their back.  (We have some gents that insist on swinging at 
>>> around 90
>>> RPM.)
>>> One of the more difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is 
>>> get used to leaning into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly 
>>> grip my right shoulder rather than relax.  It can be a difficult 
>>> concept for a newbie.
>>>
>>> Harold
>
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Linda Leslie]

My arm will actually ache from the pressure of my swing partner  
leaning back too much.

Linda

On Feb 19, 2014, at 12:02 PM, Harold E. Watson wrote:

While "relax" would actually be a better description than "leaning"  
into hand behind you, "relax" has so far not proven very effective  
in keeping a beginner dancer from leaning INTO the swing which makes  
it much more difficult.  Goes right along with death grip on the  
right shoulder.  It is a challenge.  What exactly do you mean by  
dramatic consequences for your arm?


Harold

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net 
] On Behalf Of Linda Leslie

Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 10:52 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning"  
can have some dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance  
the gent's role. I tend to avoid using this word, but do like  
"relax", "connection", and other concepts that might get to a better  
swing experience. I would love to hear about other words that seem  
to work for dancers/callers.

Linda

On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:25 AM, George Mercer wrote:


The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious problem
for me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once
in a while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my
hand further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to  
do.
I hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning  
back."

As for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that
one uses for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.
Tension but not stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself
when dancing with new dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or
stiffness is not the answer and it doesn't help them or the person
their dancing with at that moment.
Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.


On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson <hwat...@uark.edu>
wrote:

Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've  
always

taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies
shoulder blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs so  
they
can lean back into it to balance with swing and it doesn't hurt  
their
back.  (We have some gents that insist on swinging at around 90  
RPM.)

One of the more difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is
get used to leaning into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly
grip my right shoulder rather than relax.  It can be a difficult
concept for a newbie.

Harold


___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Harold E. Watson]

While "relax" would actually be a better description than "leaning" into hand 
behind you, "relax" has so far not proven very effective in keeping a beginner 
dancer from leaning INTO the swing which makes it much more difficult.  Goes 
right along with death grip on the right shoulder.  It is a challenge.  What 
exactly do you mean by dramatic consequences for your arm?

Harold

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net 
[mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Linda Leslie
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 10:52 AM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning" can have some 
dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance the gent's role. I tend to 
avoid using this word, but do like "relax", "connection", and other concepts 
that might get to a better swing experience. I would love to hear about other 
words that seem to work for dancers/callers.
Linda

On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:25 AM, George Mercer wrote:

> The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious problem 
> for me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once 
> in a while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my 
> hand further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to do. 
> I hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning back."  
> As for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that 
> one uses for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.  
> Tension but not stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself 
> when dancing with new dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or 
> stiffness is not the answer and it doesn't help them or the person 
> their dancing with at that moment.
> Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson <hwat...@uark.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always 
>> taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies 
>> shoulder blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs so they 
>> can lean back into it to balance with swing and it doesn't hurt their 
>> back.  (We have some gents that insist on swinging at around 90 RPM.)  
>> One of the more difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is 
>> get used to leaning into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly 
>> grip my right shoulder rather than relax.  It can be a difficult 
>> concept for a newbie.
>>
>> Harold

___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Linda Leslie]

As a dancer who often role switches, I have noted that  "leaning" can  
have some dramatic consequences for my right arm when I dance the  
gent's role. I tend to avoid using this word, but do like "relax",  
"connection", and other concepts that might get to a better swing  
experience. I would love to hear about other words that seem to work  
for dancers/callers.

Linda

On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:25 AM, George Mercer wrote:

The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious  
problem for

me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once in a
while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my hand
further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to do. I
hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning  
back."  As
for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that  
one uses
for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.  Tension  
but not
stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself when dancing  
with new
dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or stiffness is not the  
answer
and it doesn't help them or the person their dancing with at that  
moment.

Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.


On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson   
wrote:



Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always
taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies  
shoulder
blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs so they can  
lean back
into it to balance with swing and it doesn't hurt their back.  (We  
have
some gents that insist on swinging at around 90 RPM.)  One of the  
more
difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is get used to  
leaning
into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly grip my right  
shoulder

rather than relax.  It can be a difficult concept for a newbie.

Harold

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Aahz Maruch]

On Tue, Feb 18, 2014, Les Addison wrote:
> 
> (though if anyone has tips for hand placement as a gent during a
> swing, I'm all ears.)

The point on the shoulder blade where your palm should be is roughly six
inches below the shoulder itself.  I generally try to aim for it by
starting with my hand a bit lower and bringing it up until my arm is just
below the armpit.  Starting that way also makes it easier for the woman
to place her arm over mine.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Aahz Maruch]

On Wed, Feb 19, 2014, Harold E. Watson wrote:
>
> Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always
> taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies
> shoulder blades.  

The way I think of it, the man's right hand should be placed so that the
fingertips would be at or just past the woman's spine if the hand were
flat, but it should be slightly curved around the woman's shoulderblade.
That off-center spot helps if you're going to whirl at the end of the
swing (*not* pushing, but providing support and a *little* bit of guiding
pressure).

At speed -- and particularly given that I focus more on avoiding trapping
the woman's hair, I often don't get perfect placement, but I rarely get
bad placement.
-- 
Hugs and backrubs -- I break Rule 6http://rule6.info/
  <*>   <*>   <*>
Help a hearing-impaired person: http://rule6.info/hearing.html

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[George Mercer]

The "Where to place the gent's hand for a swing" is a curious problem for
me.  I've generally been told I have a good swing, but every once in a
while I'll be dancing with someone who insists/demands I move my hand
further up on the back or much lower.  I do what I'm asked to do. I
hesitate to suggest to anyone that swinging involves "leaning back."  As
for body tension/giving weight, I suggest they use the guide that one uses
for gardening and even child rearing -- firm but gentle.  Tension but not
stiff or rigid.  You can do both.  I also find myself when dancing with new
dancers telling them to relax, body rigidity or stiffness is not the answer
and it doesn't help them or the person their dancing with at that moment.
 Relax. Firm but gentle.  Let me know you're there,  Thanks.


On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Harold E. Watson <hwat...@uark.edu> wrote:

> Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always
> taught the gents to place their right hands between the ladies shoulder
> blades.  This provides support for the ladies' backs so they can lean back
> into it to balance with swing and it doesn't hurt their back.  (We have
> some gents that insist on swinging at around 90 RPM.)  One of the more
> difficult thing I've had to teach beginner ladies is get used to leaning
> into that hand.  They have a tendency to tightly grip my right shoulder
> rather than relax.  It can be a difficult concept for a newbie.
>
> Harold
>
> -Original Message-
> From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net [mailto:
> callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Les Addison
> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 5:33 PM
> To: Caller's discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential
>
> I recently danced with a neighbor who always had his hand perfectly on my
> scapula.  It was like there was a magnet between his hand and my back, and
> i loved it.  When I had a chance, between dances, I let him know how much I
> appreciated it, and asked him what his trick is, hoping that I could
> emulate it.  He had no idea, and suggested that maybe I'm just the right
> height/size for dancing with him.
>
> (though if anyone has tips for hand placement as a gent during a swing,
> I'm all ears.)
>
> Les
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 3:24 PM, Dale Wilson <dale.wil...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > An interesting topic.
> >
> > We have women at both ends of the height spectrum.  I don't (as far as
> > I
> > know) have trouble with the short ones, but it took me a while to
> > adapt to dancing with women who were considerably taller than I am.
> >
> > Finally I just asked some of them, "Where should I put my hand to
> > support you best during a swing."
> >
> > The answers varied from one woman to another, and they might well vary
> > based on my height, weight and style, but I will say that asking
> > worked well.
> >
> > Dale
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 8:23 AM, George Mercer <geopmer...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > A number of years ago I danced a number of times with a woman who
> > > was
> > much
> > > shorter than me.  I am about 5'6" or so on a good day.  She was
> > > probably 4'8" give or take an inch. When we'd go into a swing, as my
> > > arm went
> > around
> > > her to her back, she'd lock her left arm down so that I could hardly
> > > get
> > my
> > > right hand past her side.  At first I thought it was bad form on her
> > part,
> > > but let it be.  Then as I watched her dance with others, I realized
> > > that when her co-swinger managed to get his arm around her to the
> "normal"
> > place
> > > it had the result of lifting her left side up to what appeared to me
> > > to
> > be
> > > a discomfort level.  The taller the man, the further her left side
> > > was forced to go.  I had to learn a new approach to entering a
> > > swing, even to lean toward bad form when the height of the other
> > > dancer led me to an adjusted approach.  I'm not suggesting we should
> > > teach this, but thinking about how your technique (good or bad) can
> > > cause another discomfort is worth thinking about.  Over the year
> > > I've danced enough with men that
> > I've
> > > also experienced discomfort with this height differential.  Just
> > > thinking out loud.  Thanks.
> > > ___
> > > Callers mailing list
> > > call...@sharedweight.net
> > > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> > 

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Harold E. Watson]

Sometimes we'll hold a quick swing teach during a break.  I've always taught 
the gents to place their right hands between the ladies shoulder blades.  This 
provides support for the ladies' backs so they can lean back into it to balance 
with swing and it doesn't hurt their back.  (We have some gents that insist on 
swinging at around 90 RPM.)  One of the more difficult thing I've had to teach 
beginner ladies is get used to leaning into that hand.  They have a tendency to 
tightly grip my right shoulder rather than relax.  It can be a difficult 
concept for a newbie.

Harold

-Original Message-
From: callers-boun...@sharedweight.net 
[mailto:callers-boun...@sharedweight.net] On Behalf Of Les Addison
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 5:33 PM
To: Caller's discussion list
Subject: Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

I recently danced with a neighbor who always had his hand perfectly on my 
scapula.  It was like there was a magnet between his hand and my back, and i 
loved it.  When I had a chance, between dances, I let him know how much I 
appreciated it, and asked him what his trick is, hoping that I could emulate 
it.  He had no idea, and suggested that maybe I'm just the right height/size 
for dancing with him.

(though if anyone has tips for hand placement as a gent during a swing, I'm all 
ears.)

Les


On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 3:24 PM, Dale Wilson <dale.wil...@gmail.com> wrote:

> An interesting topic.
>
> We have women at both ends of the height spectrum.  I don't (as far as 
> I
> know) have trouble with the short ones, but it took me a while to 
> adapt to dancing with women who were considerably taller than I am.
>
> Finally I just asked some of them, "Where should I put my hand to 
> support you best during a swing."
>
> The answers varied from one woman to another, and they might well vary 
> based on my height, weight and style, but I will say that asking 
> worked well.
>
> Dale
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 8:23 AM, George Mercer <geopmer...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > A number of years ago I danced a number of times with a woman who 
> > was
> much
> > shorter than me.  I am about 5'6" or so on a good day.  She was 
> > probably 4'8" give or take an inch. When we'd go into a swing, as my 
> > arm went
> around
> > her to her back, she'd lock her left arm down so that I could hardly 
> > get
> my
> > right hand past her side.  At first I thought it was bad form on her
> part,
> > but let it be.  Then as I watched her dance with others, I realized 
> > that when her co-swinger managed to get his arm around her to the "normal"
> place
> > it had the result of lifting her left side up to what appeared to me 
> > to
> be
> > a discomfort level.  The taller the man, the further her left side 
> > was forced to go.  I had to learn a new approach to entering a 
> > swing, even to lean toward bad form when the height of the other 
> > dancer led me to an adjusted approach.  I'm not suggesting we should 
> > teach this, but thinking about how your technique (good or bad) can 
> > cause another discomfort is worth thinking about.  Over the year 
> > I've danced enough with men that
> I've
> > also experienced discomfort with this height differential.  Just 
> > thinking out loud.  Thanks.
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > call...@sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
>
>
>
> --
> *So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix 
> it?* ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>
___
Callers mailing list
call...@sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Les Addison]

I recently danced with a neighbor who always had his hand perfectly on my
scapula.  It was like there was a magnet between his hand and my back, and
i loved it.  When I had a chance, between dances, I let him know how much I
appreciated it, and asked him what his trick is, hoping that I could
emulate it.  He had no idea, and suggested that maybe I'm just the right
height/size for dancing with him.

(though if anyone has tips for hand placement as a gent during a swing, I'm
all ears.)

Les


On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 3:24 PM, Dale Wilson  wrote:

> An interesting topic.
>
> We have women at both ends of the height spectrum.  I don't (as far as I
> know) have trouble with the short ones, but it took me a while to adapt to
> dancing with women who were considerably taller than I am.
>
> Finally I just asked some of them, "Where should I put my hand to support
> you best during a swing."
>
> The answers varied from one woman to another, and they might well vary
> based on my height, weight and style, but I will say that asking worked
> well.
>
> Dale
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 8:23 AM, George Mercer 
> wrote:
>
> > A number of years ago I danced a number of times with a woman who was
> much
> > shorter than me.  I am about 5'6" or so on a good day.  She was probably
> > 4'8" give or take an inch. When we'd go into a swing, as my arm went
> around
> > her to her back, she'd lock her left arm down so that I could hardly get
> my
> > right hand past her side.  At first I thought it was bad form on her
> part,
> > but let it be.  Then as I watched her dance with others, I realized that
> > when her co-swinger managed to get his arm around her to the "normal"
> place
> > it had the result of lifting her left side up to what appeared to me to
> be
> > a discomfort level.  The taller the man, the further her left side was
> > forced to go.  I had to learn a new approach to entering a swing, even to
> > lean toward bad form when the height of the other dancer led me to an
> > adjusted approach.  I'm not suggesting we should teach this, but thinking
> > about how your technique (good or bad) can cause another discomfort is
> > worth thinking about.  Over the year I've danced enough with men that
> I've
> > also experienced discomfort with this height differential.  Just thinking
> > out loud.  Thanks.
> > ___
> > Callers mailing list
> > call...@sharedweight.net
> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
> >
>
>
>
> --
> *So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix it?*
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>

Re: [Callers] Height diffferential

[Dale Wilson]

An interesting topic.

We have women at both ends of the height spectrum.  I don't (as far as I
know) have trouble with the short ones, but it took me a while to adapt to
dancing with women who were considerably taller than I am.

Finally I just asked some of them, "Where should I put my hand to support
you best during a swing."

The answers varied from one woman to another, and they might well vary
based on my height, weight and style, but I will say that asking worked
well.

Dale


On Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 8:23 AM, George Mercer  wrote:

> A number of years ago I danced a number of times with a woman who was much
> shorter than me.  I am about 5'6" or so on a good day.  She was probably
> 4'8" give or take an inch. When we'd go into a swing, as my arm went around
> her to her back, she'd lock her left arm down so that I could hardly get my
> right hand past her side.  At first I thought it was bad form on her part,
> but let it be.  Then as I watched her dance with others, I realized that
> when her co-swinger managed to get his arm around her to the "normal" place
> it had the result of lifting her left side up to what appeared to me to be
> a discomfort level.  The taller the man, the further her left side was
> forced to go.  I had to learn a new approach to entering a swing, even to
> lean toward bad form when the height of the other dancer led me to an
> adjusted approach.  I'm not suggesting we should teach this, but thinking
> about how your technique (good or bad) can cause another discomfort is
> worth thinking about.  Over the year I've danced enough with men that I've
> also experienced discomfort with this height differential.  Just thinking
> out loud.  Thanks.
> ___
> Callers mailing list
> call...@sharedweight.net
> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
>



-- 
*So if you knew what was broken...how long would it take you to fix it?*

[Callers] Height diffferential

[George Mercer]

A number of years ago I danced a number of times with a woman who was much
shorter than me.  I am about 5'6" or so on a good day.  She was probably
4'8" give or take an inch. When we'd go into a swing, as my arm went around
her to her back, she'd lock her left arm down so that I could hardly get my
right hand past her side.  At first I thought it was bad form on her part,
but let it be.  Then as I watched her dance with others, I realized that
when her co-swinger managed to get his arm around her to the "normal" place
it had the result of lifting her left side up to what appeared to me to be
a discomfort level.  The taller the man, the further her left side was
forced to go.  I had to learn a new approach to entering a swing, even to
lean toward bad form when the height of the other dancer led me to an
adjusted approach.  I'm not suggesting we should teach this, but thinking
about how your technique (good or bad) can cause another discomfort is
worth thinking about.  Over the year I've danced enough with men that I've
also experienced discomfort with this height differential.  Just thinking
out loud.  Thanks.