Slip steps in a circle

Rod Downey

Message 61910 · 15 Oct 2011 23:20:37 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Simon said:
>
> Anselm
>
> I am certainly with you on this. There are established dances/teachers who
> can, and do, complete eight steps to the left, and one would presume were
> taught that way initially. I respect that.
>
> For me the "laws of physics", as you mention, along with a controlled and
> even change of direction is better accomplished, gracefully, with seven slip
> steps and a close on the eighth beat in order for and equally controlled
> circle in the opposite direction.
>
> I have always danced and taught that way.
>
> Simon Scott
> Vancouver
>

The trouble is that if there is one person doing something else in
a circle from what the others are doing it is pretty disruptive to the
team.

I do find it hard to reconcile the two manual instructions
one which says hands round and back has 16 slip steps (implying
8 each way) and ``To prepare for the change of direction,
at te end of bar 4 there is a slowing down or the momentum of the circle
and the heels are brought gently together.''
I can't see how that could happen with 8 steps. Together, possible,
gently I don't think so.

I am sure the natural way suggeted by Anselm is the way to go,
as a teacher what I care about is that the dancers make sure to finish
the movement by closing at the end of bar 4. An old teacher of my children
taught it as (and I use this for beginners)
``and one and two and three and four and five and six slow down and come
back''

Regarding not finishing travelling or setting step, whereas the
the suggested movement in circles for slip step is a
functionality thing enabling good natural dancing, not finishing a
travelling step is simply bad phrasing and not using all the music
you have paid for. The point is that i the circle you are doing something
on the last beat of the music, whereas when you don't finish the step,
dancers do nothing for half a step.

rod