NZ Monkey
07-07-2008, 01:05 AM
There is something that’s been bothering me for some time (read: about a year now) that I haven’t been able to answer on my own, so I’ve decided to finally bring it to the forum and see if somebody out there can help me.
I’ve been taught never to twist my partners wrist in WCS as part of lead/prep, or at any other time really. Importantly, I’ve even been in workshops where it was specifically demonstrated just how uncomfortable it can be and how it can start to break down the followers frame by winging their elbow out.
So far so good, but I can’t help but notice that many youtube clips of pros seem to do exactly that during preps a great deal of the time. It doesn’t seem to be restricted to just a handful of pro’s either. The following clips show some pretty reasonable examples of what I’m talking about, although there are many more from many dancers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf5BooCG_28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5dQ2Kxxz7I
I’m wondering if anyone in their travels (or anywhere else really) has seen this addressed. I’m reluctant to think it’s a case of “do as I say, not as I do”, because they’re so sharp. I don’t understand it’s purpose though, or why I’ve never seen anything like it taught specifically. I’m running on the assumption that there’s something subtle happening between the partners there, possibly a prep for a turn that avoids stepping forward for the follower much, but I'm not convinced yet.
Unfortunately I'm a long way from anyone with the experience to give a well informed opinion in person so here I am throwing the question out there to the interweb thingy. Does anyone have any ideas?
I’ve been taught never to twist my partners wrist in WCS as part of lead/prep, or at any other time really. Importantly, I’ve even been in workshops where it was specifically demonstrated just how uncomfortable it can be and how it can start to break down the followers frame by winging their elbow out.
So far so good, but I can’t help but notice that many youtube clips of pros seem to do exactly that during preps a great deal of the time. It doesn’t seem to be restricted to just a handful of pro’s either. The following clips show some pretty reasonable examples of what I’m talking about, although there are many more from many dancers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf5BooCG_28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5dQ2Kxxz7I
I’m wondering if anyone in their travels (or anywhere else really) has seen this addressed. I’m reluctant to think it’s a case of “do as I say, not as I do”, because they’re so sharp. I don’t understand it’s purpose though, or why I’ve never seen anything like it taught specifically. I’m running on the assumption that there’s something subtle happening between the partners there, possibly a prep for a turn that avoids stepping forward for the follower much, but I'm not convinced yet.
Unfortunately I'm a long way from anyone with the experience to give a well informed opinion in person so here I am throwing the question out there to the interweb thingy. Does anyone have any ideas?