strathspey@strathspey.org:28064

Oberdan Otto

Re: Changing of hands.

Nov. 6, 2001, 11:29 p.m. (Message 28064, in reply to message 28021)

>[Anselm:] As far as Dalkeith's Strathspey is concerned, personally I 
>don't think
>crossing one's partner over with the right hand after leading down the
>middle and up is enough of a bother as to imply leading down the middle
>with a left hand instead, and I wouldn't suggest it to my class, but if
>anybody desperately wanted to do it on these grounds I'd say feel free.
>It's not as if it were a nuisance to the rest of the set.

Although I am one to prefer the "natural hand" lead (opening away 
from the body centerline), I agree with Anselm on this one.

>[Martin:] I don't remember anyone suggesting leading *down* LHJ.
>There's no reason why one should not go down RHJ, change hands, then lead
>up LHJ,

This goes against a little personal rule of mine which says: "Don't 
change (hands or feet) until the change is needed. In this case there 
is no imperative that makes the left hand needed for the lead up.

>[Martin:] or, alternatively, lead down RHJ, lead up RHJ (to respect the
>Memory), and politely offer LH on bar 16 to help the lady over to face 2nd
>man.

This satisfies the my little personal rule, but then I think that a 
hand change at this point really isn't needed--probably OVERLY 
helpful! She knows where she is going, so a somewhat early release of 
hands allows both of you to get where you need to be. Oh! I see that 
Frans describes this very nicely:

>[Frans:] At the end of lead down the middle and up, drop hands early 
>enough (end of bar 7) to have time to cross to your back to back 
>position. The lady goes in front and the man holds back a bit for 
>the crossing.


Cheers, Oberdan.

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