strathspey@strathspey.org:45482

Thomas G. Mungall, III

Regarding Dance Technique and Etiquette

June 9, 2006, 4:27 p.m. (Message 45482)

Regarding dance technique and etiquette -- I attend both Scottish Country
dance classes and vintage dance classes and I have been presented with a
problem...what to do when people want to turn using the so called "thumb
hold". I was always taught that this turn is incorrect and in most Scottish
classes people use the correct handshake hold for turns. However in the
vintage classes (which dance a pretty good number of Scottish Country
dances) have what I call an American influence and while not all use the
thumb hold, a good many do. My arguement is it can cause injury. Well that
was what I was always told. My wife says that I should do in Rome as the
Romans. My arguement is that they are wrong and I will dance correctly in
order to avoid injury and I wish to avoid "bad habits" carrying over into
Scottish dancing. I am however at a loss to explain what sorts of injury the
thumb hold can cause. Can someone please throw some light on this practice.
Any suggestions on how to approach this issue as not to cause offense?

Another irritant is the propensity of the vintage class to want to dance the
"Postie's Jig" using the Tulloch turn rather than the usual turns by the
right and left giving the handshake hold.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Yours aye,

Tom Mungall