| Simple
Hand Changes: Core
1.
Hand changes during a HALO™ turn for Followers
Demonstration
View the clip:
Hand
change, left to right - merengue_handchange_halo_ltor_clock.avi (4.4
Mb)
This example
shows a transfer of the Follower's hand from Lead's left to right during
a clockwise turn. Nathan demonstrates two variations of the hand change,
and the difference is subtle but important. Notice that:
- the first
hand change occurs before the halo is completely traced;
- the second
change occurs as Nathan's hand is being lowered after the halo
has been completed;
- all other
aspects are identical to those described in the HALO™
turn tutorials covered before.
Principles
There are two separate skills involved in hand changes. The first is
the method of transferring the follower's hand from one hand
to the other; the second is recognising when the most appropriate
time to change is. It's a good idea to practice the mechanics of the
transfer first, before incorporating the hand change into the HALO™
turn context. So here goes...
Part
I. Method of the transfer
Preparation
Stand facing each other with a partnership offset, follower's right
hand in lead's left at waist level (as in the “HALO™ turn
for Followers” tutorial).
Description
Reminder:
The follower's fingers should be hooked over the “gun” fingers
of the lead's left hand.
- Lead: form
a “gun” with the fingers of your right hand.
- Lead: slip
the “gun barrel” of your right hand in between your
left hand “gun” and the follower's palm. The pads of the
fingers of your right hand, should be touching the back of the “gun”
fingers of your left hand. The follower's right palm should be touching
the back of the “gun” fingers of your right hand. Check
that:
- your left
hand “gun” is closest to you and pointing to your right;
- your right
hand “gun” is pointing to your left, behind and in contact
with your left;
- your partner's
“little hooks” should curl over the gun fingers of both
your hands;
- the first
two fingers of your right hand are, in effect, sandwiched between
the back of your left hand and your partner's palm.
- Lead: complete
the transfer by slipping the fingers of your left hand downwards
from under the follower's “little hooks”.
Repeat this practice,
then try its converse i.e. transferring Follower's right hand
from Lead's right to left hand. Do so at waist-level and at halo-height.
Part
II. The “when” of hand changes
Preparation
& Description
The
set-up and execution of this example is the same as that of “Follower's
right in Lead's left, clockwise turn”, with the addition
of a hand change.
In general, there
are three places where hand change can occur during this class
of turn. They are:
- when the follower's
halo is three-quarters complete;
- as the hands
are being lowered back down to waist level (indicating the
end of the halo); and
- as the hand-hold
is being raised to initate the halo.
You should practice
the hand changes repeatedly at each of the three points, so you can
use them automatically when you dance.
Goals
Once this is mastered, work out the other three simple permutations
of this exercise:
- Transferring
from Lead's right to left hand, during a clockwise HALO™ turn
for Followers (No video clip available);
- Transferring
from Lead's left to right hand, during an anti-clockwise HALO™
turn for Followers (No video clip available);
- Transferring
from Lead's right to left hand, during an anti-clockwise HALO™
turn for Followers.
[merengue_handchange_halo_rtol_anticlock.avi
(3.3 Mb)]
2.
Hand changes during a Neutral Turn for Leads
Demonstration
View the clip:
Hand
change, left to right - merengue_handchange_neutralturn_ltor_anticlock.avi
(4.6 Mb)
Nathan demonstrates
how the pivot point contact is transferred from his left to right hands,
within Shirin's right hand. Notice that:
- the hand change
occurs after Nathan's turn is one-quarter complete;
- the pivot
point created via the fingertips of Nathan's left hand is transferred
to the thumb of his right hand;
- the fingers
of his right hand “flow” over Shirin's knuckles as the turn
is completed;
- all other
aspects are identical to those described in the “Neutral
Turn for Leads” tutorial (previous).
Principles
Again, the two separate skills involved in hand changes are the method
of transfer (of the pivot point), and knowing when it should
occur. Unlike the previous section, we will address both simultaneously.
Preparation
& Description
Stand facing each other with a partnership offset, follower's right
hand in lead's left at waist level (as in the “Neutral Turns for
Leads ” tutorial).
- Lead and Follower:
perform an anti-clockwise Neutral turn for Leads, stopping when the
Lead has completed one-quarter of the turn. This is the recommended
place for the hand change. Check that:
- Lead's left
hand is palm-upward;
- the pads
of Lead's first and second fingers should be in contact with the
base of Follower's fingers where they join the palm;
- Follower's
fingers should curl loosely over Lead's fingers.
- Lead: place
the pad of your right thumb on the nail of your second finger of you
left hand. Curl the fingers of your left hand loosely around the little-finger
edge of your partner's right hand. Check that your right hand is now
sandwiching the pivot point, with:
- your right
thumb pad on the nail of your left second finger;
- the fingers
of your right hand curled around the edge of, and covering
the knuckles of your partner's right hand.
(Replay the video, and verify this action using the seek bar.)
- Lead: transfer
the pivot point by slipping your left hand out from in between your
thumb and your partner's hand, and re-establishing contact with your
thumb.
- Lead and Follower:
complete the remainder of the turn.
- Lead and Follower:
repeat this practice, then try its converse - transferring Follower's
right hand from Lead's right to left hands.
Goals
There are four basic permutations to master in this class of turn:
- Transferring
from Lead's left to right hand, anti-clockwise turn;
- Transferring
from Lead's right to left hand, anti-clockwise turn;
- Transferring
from Lead's left to right hand, clockwise turn;
- Transferring
from Lead's right to left hand, clockwise turn.
|
