A lot of people teach the catapult that way. I think it shows a mis-understanding of body leading and frame.
In the catapult, the follow is stepping past the man and turning - exactly the same as a right to right travelling return. The only difference is that the lead doesn't turn himself. So, you lead the follow towards you by moving your weight back, then give her space and raise your arm as she passes; if necessary, step forward to help the follow complete the pass. Through the connection, the follow's turn is natural and doesn't require any special lead.
That's entirely body led. This is such a basic principle of body leading that to skip it for one move creates an inconsistency in the dancing, which makes it more complicated. If it's not body led and involves the frame breaking, then should all moves requiring the same movement - such as the right to right travelling return - not be body led? And if a right to right travelling return isn't body led, then why is a left to right travelling return? What's the difference? Or do all these moves require you to break your frame?
Alternatively, perhaps the frame is important enough and easy enough that it can be maintained through all moves. The reason I like this approach is the catapult stops being a move and becomes a variation that you can throw in any time you have a right to right hold and are leading a right side pass. It moves the dance from set moves to technique and movement that helps people dance.
And, to get back on topic, all of this is built on a good frame!
Bookmarks