Who says don't touch? (was Special reels)

Dewdney Andrew

Message 17622 · 11 Jun 1999 17:33:13 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

In some dances, it's nice to 'touch' hands, simply because it reinforces the
social aspect, and encourages people to look at and interact each other:
which I consider to be the main point of it all!!
I wouldn't in the various dem teams I've danced with, but at a Ball? Of
course!
Andrew

> -----Original Message-----
> From: XXxxxxx@xxx.xxx [SMTP:XXxxxxx@xxx.xxx]
> Sent: 11 June 1999 13:48
> To: xxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx-xxxxxxxxx.xx
> Subject: Re: Who says don't touch? (was Special reels)
>
> To touch or not to touch becomes as much an issue as to how hands X should
> be
> done. When I first learned mirror reels there was never a discussion
> about
> touching. You simply did not do it. These reels were just another
> variation
> on the endless ways one could dance a reel of three. When the Gates was
> introduced we were encouraged to touch because the dance was about Gates
> and
> the touching was symbolic of the gates opening and closing. Joining hands
>
> was encouraged in moving up or down the dance and in setting.
> Now I hear teachers encouraging touching during the mirror reels as an aid
> in
> teaching beginners. From this comes the custom of touching always.
> We can look at it from the viewpoint of a living tradition and that these
> traditions change. However, if you are a history buff or learned to dance
>
> with Miss Milligan, as many of us older dancers did, it is nice to
> preserve
> this history.
> Cheers,
> Sylvia Miskoe, concord, NH USA
>
> --
> XXxxxxx@xxx.xxx