Giving of hands in Rights and Lefts (was A dancing question re: arms)

Iain Boyd

Message 53008 · 9 Jul 2008 05:46:25 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Dear Tom,
 
I was interested in your comments about turning, particularly, the following -
 
"Cross RH; half RH turn; R&Ls and the like all demand a curved pass - the radius of the curve being determined by the time available".
 
I have noticed that a subtile change has occured in the way Rights and Lefts is being danced.
 
When I started dancing the emphasis was on the shape as well as the way hands were given.
 
Compared with a Grand Chain, Rights and Lefts was taught as a square figure. The outside dancers danced directly along the sides of the square while the inside dancers curved inwards to allow the outside dancers to do so. Dancers released hands after the first bar and danced into the corner of the square before changing direction.
 
Now, I notice that both dancers dance a curve as they pass making the figure more 'rounded'.
 
This may be because we are not teaching rights and lefts in as much detail as was done in the past or because there has been a change in the way the figure is to be danced (which has not flowed down to me) or dancers have decided they prefer the more rounded figure and no-one is correcting them.
 
Regards,
 
Iain Boyd

Postal Address -

P O Box 11-404
Wellington
New Zealand

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com