Handedness

[Stuart M]

What's the statistical breakdown amongst the Forum crowd, and as a general topic, does anyone think it makes a difference? As a lefty myself I'd definitely say it does - am I the only guy here who does (left arm) shoulder-rolls on a return?

Or is that nothing to do with handedness, and more about me trying to show off ? :sorry

[Franck]

Interesting question...

As men can use both hands, I wonder if they favour right-handed moves etc...

What about women, they have to use their right hand! Does that make a difference if you are left handed? Do you find you use your spare hand to create style effects more often / easily?

I had never thought of that aspect before, so keep the statistical data coming, we might be breaking new grounds.

As for the shoulder roll, well, it is a hard move regardless of which hand you use... What about the right-handed archiespin? I know most men hate it... though I suspect it is a feet problem rather than a hand one.

Franck.

[robd]

What about the right-handed archiespin? I know most men hate it... though I suspect it is a feet problem rather than a hand one.

Thread from the dead!

I love this move, assuming I am thinking of the same thing - R to R, travelling return for the lady and a 1.5 CW spin for the man so you end up facing the lady still in a R to R hold? However it has taken a long time for me to get to a stage where I am vaguely happy with my execution of it. First attempts saw me ending up miles from my partner and having to let go mid turn so I didn't break our wrists Having sorted that I could then only manage 1 spin in time which left me facing away from my partner (which can actually work as a variation). I think the thing that has helped me (IMHO) improve most is realising that I don't need to step forward and can pretty much turn on the spot leaving the ladies momentum to create the necessary distance and tension between us at the move's end to go into the next move smoothly (though I still feel I lack control at this point, my handhold is often higher than I feel it should be and I often feel there is a bit too much tension between myself and partner but it's lots better than it was)

The Right-handed Archie is a great move, and done well is very fluid, smooth, and can create that 'Wow' factor... But more often than not, it ends up looking like a pachyderm attempting a triple salto!

Doing the move well requires good balance / body awareness, spinning / turning technique and a good lead so that the timing can be perfect!

Generally, all the above is considered far too much effort for a move your partner is not supposed to even notice!

I think the phrase 'pachyderm attempting a triple salto' has a certain 'Wow' factor even if I don't understand it.

And it is quite amusing how some partners regard you quite warily after you do this move. It's as if they know you've done something but aren't quite sure what it is.

Robert

[robd]

{Me eulogising about a R/H Archiespin}

Well, having posted that a couple of days ago I now find that my (self-perceived) improvement at this move has all but disappeared and attempts at performing it during Weds and Thurs nights dancing saw me all but fall over trying it. The curse of the forum has struck, it appears

God night at Bedford last night though. Always a bonus when you turn up and find Marc F is the (stand-in) teacher and not just because it means Rachel is likely to be in attendance too

[Dazzler]

As for the shoulder roll, well, it is a hard move regardless of which hand you use... What about the right-handed archiespin? I know most men hate it... though I suspect it is a feet problem rather than a hand one.

Franck.

Does anyone fancy enlightening me as to what these moves consist of?

[whitetiger1518]

I'm a left handed female, and although I love dancing with my right hand being led, I have less grip and feeling in my right hand.

I am therefore a willing victim for anyone in Glasgow that wants to practice L - L or even R - L (ladies left) - (if these exist??) moves.

Franck I think did a R - L (ladies left) side to side with me last night. and I didn't have to think about it at all, it was so easy and natural. My left is more responsive to a smaller lead than my right, so I was probably a little easier to lead on those moves too ...



Whitetiger

[Stuart M]

Anyone not answered this yet? Right-handers please answer (have to encourage them to avoid response bias, you see, as lefties are naturally inclined to respond in such polls: the current poll ratio is way out of kilter with the general population's 1 in 7 ratio)

Seeing as how this is a forum about dancing, I think the question of handedness is actually more interesting than age or ethnicity

[Dreadful Scathe]

Seeing as how this is a forum about dancing, I think the question of handedness is actually more interesting than age or ethnicity

In lieu of a marmite poll or "which smurf are you", probably THE most interesting

[Gav]

Anyone not answered this yet? Right-handers please answer (have to encourage them to avoid response bias, you see, as lefties are naturally inclined to respond in such polls

Is that because lefties are more anal?

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Franck
What about women, they have to use their right hand!

I sometimes lead basic moves (eg yoyo) with the lady's right hand. I usually get a smile for a couple of moves, but then her left hand comes back out, and a look on her face implying "That was different, now go back to leading normally!".

Another fun one is leading a move in reverse ie from the end to the beginning. It looks and feels better if you do the move normally first.

Of course both of these variations shouldn't be tried with a beginner, or with someone you have never danced with before, or to fast music. They can get very confusing both to lead and follow, and quite often they lady will not be set up to go where you want her. And don't spend the whole song doing it - it loses the effect.

One thing I have never managed to do is lead a mirror image of a basic move eg a yoyo with my left hand, her right hand, going to my left side.

David

[Franck]

Originally posted by DavidB
I sometimes lead basic moves (eg yoyo) with the lady's right hand. I usually get a smile for a couple of moves, but then her left hand comes back out, and a look on her face implying "That was different, now go back to leading normally!".

Assuming you mean her left hand, then yes, that can be fun, for a change... Though I suspect more from our perspective than theirs...

Originally posted by DavidB
Another fun one is leading a move in reverse ie from the end to the beginning. It looks and feels better if you do the move normally first.

Yes, I like that, though the effort in thinking backwards is significant and takes away from your partner's enjoyment of the concept, especially if she ends up with a dislocated shoulder in the process

Originally posted by DavidB
One thing I have never managed to do is lead a mirror image of a basic move eg a yoyo with my left hand, her right hand, going to my left side.

David

For this, you would need to take your partners left hand in your left, and then lead 10 times more than usual :sorry
It can be done, when the music slow and you are feeling bored (don't tell your partner that though :reallymad

Franck.

[DavidB]

Sorry Franck - I was getting her left and right hand mixed up. My wife usually says the right hand and the wrong hand.

David

[jiveoholic]

Originally posted by Stuart M
am I the only guy here who does (left arm) shoulder-rolls on a return?

Or is that nothing to do with handedness, and more about me trying to show off ? :sorry

Could you describe this move please Stuart...especially if it good to show off!

[Forte]

Could you describe this move please Stuart...especially if it good to show off!

I have been on the receiving end of a sTuart shoulder roll and can confirm it is fun, original and he does it well! I also don't think anyone else has ever done it when I have been dancing with them...It's a Stuart thing in my mind...

[philsmove]

At the moment over 10% of us are three-handed mysterious dancers

Are they male or female

I only have two arms. Is this why I cannot get to grips with double/triple trouble

[Stuart M]

At the moment over 10% of us are three-handed mysterious dancers

Are they male or female

I only have two arms. Is this why I cannot get to grips with double/triple trouble

Another problem with this poll is that it contains an element of response bias - left handers are more likely to respond because they tend to notice handedness issues more. So even the apparently scientific angle to this poll should be ignored...

As to those three-handed mysterious dancers, how on earth are they able to remain mysterious?

[Daisy Chain]

At the moment over 10% of us are three-handed mysterious dancers


I

Personally, I'd be more interested in 3-legged men

Daisy

[Flash]

I have been on the receiving end of a sTuart shoulder roll and can confirm it is fun, original and he does it well! I also don't think anyone else has ever done it when I have been dancing with them...It's a Stuart thing in my mind...

Hmmm....nope!!

Chris D, Edinburgh dancer does it with both left and right arm, sometimes at the same time. And I personally witnessed this move first with William another Edinburgh (taxi) dancer.......so for me he was way down the list on who had done this move with me.

But Stuart does manage to pull it off in rather a sleek manner

[Forte]

Hmmm....nope!!

Chris D, Edinburgh dancer does it with both left and right arm, sometimes at the same time. And I personally witnessed this move first with William another Edinburgh (taxi) dancer.......so for me he was way down the list on who had done this move with me.

But Stuart does manage to pull it off in rather a sleek manner

Is that Chris very tall? I think I might have been shouder rolled by him too, now you come to mention it...

[Stuart M]

Originally posted by jiveoholic

Could you describe this move please Stuart...especially if it good to show off!

It's not really a move per se, just that as your partner comes out of a return, you bring your arm over hers (as if trying to trap her hand in your armpit) and roll your shoulder as you step back out to the usual position. It gets a good reaction if you've done it well but a bad one if her hand gets too close to the armpit . And be careful with that elbow!

I doubt if it can be done on a right handed return, never tried, but the lady being on her right hand too would make it awkward I guess. Of course, you could try it in a mirror position, right hand to her left - hold on, I'm getting confused now

Maybe I've got the wrong name for it?