[Squaredancing] Subject: When in Rome

[M0220sr at aol.com]

My training with the "Tug and Twirl" is that there is a little tug
between dancers on the right hand (partner and opposite) for that
flourish.  I have never seen an "arm up" position on a Right and
Left Grand.
-- 
Larry Kilgallen


hehe...er...clarification:

What I meant is that the lady has her hand extended to you (palm facing away 
from her) about shoulder height.  If she normally twirls on a RLG then she is 
giving you the signal that she expects you to twirl her.  If I don't see that 
I normally just do an easy pull-by motion.  Actually, the man doesn't really 
have to do anything on a twirl as all he is doing is providing support for the 
lady as *she* twirls under the joined hands.  My wife has arthitic hands and 
has to announce before the tip even starts not to twirl her.  Some men are very 
rough and I've heard several ladies at times complain that they have  a lot 
of pain in their hands afterwards from those who like to twirl regardless of 
the situation.

You would normally think square dancing is a fun activity and it is for the 
most part.  It's just unfortunate that some people get their jollies in a 
square by making it known to the opposite sex that *they* are in control and you 
WILL abide by what they want to do. At that point other people get that "Oh 
yeah?" attitude and then the tip is nothing but a wrestling match or a match of 
wills set to music.

As far as the hands-up on Swing Thru's, our club adapted the 
CALLERLAB-approved style of handholds long ago. It works for us.  We just feel that when we 
have visitors, it is the visitors who should not mind using what the dancers in 
our area use for a handhold in a wave instead of trying to make us dance like 
they do when they are home.  

I like the idea of using hands-down dancing A/C and can see that it would 
produce less stress on the shoulders, etc.  I'll have to check with the A/C 
dancers in our area and ask what they do.

Thanks for the info.

Richard M.
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