June 9, 2006, 7:36 p.m. (Message 45491, in reply to message 45482)
On Fri, 9 Jun 2006, Thomas G. Mungall, III wrote: > 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. My understanding is that the thumb hold is very common in some non-RCSDS Scottish Dancing Circles, to the point where it is expected. It isn't dangerous, even at speed, *provided that it is done right and every one uses it*, so *not* using it may be frowned upon and considered dangerous.