strathspey@strathspey.org:28063

Oberdan Otto

RE: lead up - which hand?

Nov. 6, 2001, 11:07 p.m. (Message 28063, in reply to message 28022)

>My experience in 12 years of Scottish dancing has been akin to the first
>situation ("it's always this way"); that is, the lead in SCD today is RHJ
>unless otherwise indicated in the instructions.  I don't know the rationale
>behind this decision.

ditto, except >12 years.

Some may think this an odd point-of-view for an SCD Teacher, but I 
treat my dancers as intelligent adults capable of independent 
thought. I try to provide background, some insight, suggestions, 
skills practice, etc., but in the final analysis, the subtleties in 
the "how" of dancing they have to feel for themselves. That also 
includes real-time decisions on what hand to used in a particular 
circumstance. I don't baby my dancers. If it is truly a "don't care" 
situation, we will go over the alternatives and the dancers choose 
the one they like the best. If a dance or formation stipulates that a 
particular hand be used then they will be so informed, but they also 
know that they are responsible for their own choices on the dance 
floor.

If one needs rules, I find the best "rules" have natural 
consequences.  For example, if a particular handing feels awkward or 
sends one or both dancers in the wrong direction, it was probably the 
wrong hand!

Cheers, Oberdan.

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