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Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Waltz123
5/26/2007  10:56:00 PM
There is a version of pivots with man's leftward (lady's rightward) sway, usually with a promenade shape. Common entries are (1) Inverted Tipple Chasse (man forward, lady back), or (2) the Outside Spin variation where the man sways to L on 2 and opens the lady to a promenade shape.

The Running Spin Turn is also often accompanied by leftward sway on steps 3-4. The sway actually begins to kick in slightly earlier, between steps 2-3.

As for a pivoting type of action with rightward sway, you may have heard of something called a Lunge Roll. It's probably most common in Tango (preceding the Stop Lock), but versions exist in Waltz, Foxtrot and Quickstep, too. Technically it's not a rightward sway that's held throughout the entire turn; You generally transfer weight to the RF (LF for lady), then commence sway. And mind you, this is not just any normal sway, a good lady will really lay this one out (hence the "Lunge"), pivoting all the while.

And here's another one: The Overturned Spin Turn to Turning Lock to R. It's not just a spin with straight rightward sway, however. Like the Lunge Roll, the sway starts kicking in mid-movement. Think of it as a smooth Lunge Roll with rise... The body is straight as you approach the RF, then sway begins once the weight begins transferring, and continues to increase as you move away from it and towards the next step. The rightward sway is then held through the beginning of the Turning Lock, straightening out between steps 2 & 3.

Regards,
Jonathan
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by anymouse
5/27/2007  8:40:00 AM
"And here's another one: The Overturned Spin Turn to Turning Lock to R. It's not just a spin with straight rightward sway, however. Like the Lunge Roll, the sway starts kicking in mid-movement. Think of it as a smooth Lunge Roll with rise... The body is straight as you approach the RF, then sway begins once the weight begins transferring, and continues to increase as you move away from it and towards the next step. The rightward sway is then held through the beginning of the Turning Lock, straightening out between steps 2 & 3."

Yes. And this plays an important role in linearizing the movement of the spin turn and turning lock, giving the overall grouping three clear line segments: The DW movement of the natural, the LOD movement of the spin turn and turning lock, and finally the DC movement of the promenade. If instead, the spin were interpreted as a sort of vertical pivot and then toe pivot, you'd tend to get the look of the partners going in circles round each other there, and loosing the clear sense of progression down the floor.
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Anna
5/27/2007  4:27:00 PM
Do we Sway on a Spin. Is the actuall Spin a progresive step or is it stationary. We step into a Double Reverse Spin and we step out of a Double Reverse Spin. Do we Sway or move as the feet come together. not if you are dancing with me you dont. Pivots can have Sway and movement Spin i think not.
My comment on a Turning Lock after a Overturned Spin Turn. If as a man you sway to the right. Have you given any thought to the ladies steps throughout this barbaric action. They would have to Sway to the left. If you want to turn an established group into something it is not then don't call it a Turning Lock which should finish in promenade position diagnal to the centre for an entry into a Running Weave.
If there was any hint of a Sway on the Turning Lock it would be the other way around and not to the man's right..
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Waltz123
5/27/2007  8:52:00 PM
Is the actuall Spin a progresive step or is it stationary.
Most rotation in closed position ballroom dancing is progressive. But progressive rotation doesn't necessarily preclude any other range of motion. There are only two things you can't do during progressive rotation: Stop moving, and stop turning. (Well, technically you can, but then it's no longer progressive rotation.

Ballroom dancing is entirely about moving through three basic ranges of motion (progression, rotation and swing/sway) in various combinations and speeds. At any given time you can have one, two, or all three. To say that only two can exist at once is silly.

Pivots can have Sway and movement Spin i think not.
The ultimate show of arrogance is to declare that just because you are incapable of doing something, it means it can't be done.

That's not to say that you should necessarily try it. Perhaps it's not for you. Pivot & Spin actions do not require sway; It is simply an option, and not one that you ever have to explore... especially if you lack the skill to pull it off.

Nonetheless, good dancers do it all the time, and they somehow manage to execute it with extreme grace and elegance. "Barbaric" is a reasonable word to describe what happens when an under-qualified dancer attempts it, but the same could be said of any movement. Even the most basic bronze sway-less Spin Turn can look "barbaric" if attempted by a beginner who is not familiar with the basic technique.

If you want to turn an established group into something it is not then don't call it a Turning Lock which should finish in promenade position diagnal to the centre for an entry into a Running Weave.
You certainly like to limit yourself. Then again, that may be exactly what you need to do at this point in your dancing, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. Just remember that not everybody requires such limitations as your own.

Turning locks can sway to the left OR right, can be ended in closed OR promenade position, and can be followed by just about anything. If you're into the whole 1994 thing, yes, a Running Weave or Quick Open Reverse to Tumble Turn is a lovely pattern to follow with. Tried and true. But it doesn't need to be followed by anything to be called a Turning Lock. The defining qualities are not what comes before or after, but what it is: A lock step that turns.

Regards,
Jonathan
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Anna
5/28/2007  8:21:00 PM
The main point of this discusion is the Turning Lock following an Overturned Spin Turn to back the LOD. Not the one that follows a Spin Turn backing diagnal to the centre which we all know does not have Sway to the right. I might add that ordinary Lock Steps Quickstep or Waltz plus an Outside Spin has no Sway at all. Neither does a Double Reverse Spin. So who teaches a Sway to the right for a man on a Turning Lock backing LOD. It is not a Tipple Chasse which would Sway left anyway. It is interesting but the Turning Lock it is a deep cross and not the half hearted one we so often see. Main point. There should be no Sway to the right for a man on a Turning Lock that has an alignment of backing LOD. So i am told. This is the Internation Style of Ballroom Dancing. For the other styles i haven't a clue.
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by phil.samways
5/29/2007  2:44:00 AM
Hi Anna
It's interesting because we do a spin turn, back turning lock (backing LOD) opening out to promenade.
I've been told that 'no sway' is the English style. Correct and nice if done properly. Sway to the right is the 'italian' style. More volume, harder to do well, but more interesting.
We do the sway to the right version. I find it brings my body round, helping my partner move round me smoothly, and there is an 'over-the-top' feeling about opening in promenade, which is nice.
I have a habit of collapsing a bit to the right, instead of projecting myself up and out to sway. But i know about it, and i'm working on it.
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Anna
5/29/2007  4:41:00 PM
Hi. Phil. This goes back to Harry Smith- Hamphire who i think quite rightly stated that. If we are going to allow changes to the technique. The books must be regulaly upgraded. If it isn't the different styles will become chaotic. It is the book that has kept the style on the straight and narrow all these years. The judges have a duty to, if they want to find a difference to mark between two couples , the one who is doing the correct technique should get the vote. And it does happen that way. Best wishes
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by Anna
5/30/2007  5:44:00 PM
Phil. When we do a normal Lock Step we stop Locking when our thighs meet. It is not a tight Lock. A Turning Lock is not a normal Lock Step. The foot goes past otherwise it is not a Lock that we turn on. If i swayed to the right as a man That crossing foot will not go into the correct position. If the Sway is first to the left and only to the right after the Lock. Then it does make some sense if it can be controlled. I was thinking twice about putting this in, but here goes.
This is how we are taught the Turning Lock finishing in Promemade.
At the end of the Spin Turn the man finishes facing against the LOD and holding that position extends his right leg behind without turning pointing the toe diagnal to the centre. From there it is a clean step straight into the Turning Lock. I wonder if i have written this so it is understandable. I think you will find that done this way the turning is over the Lock.
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by quickstep
5/31/2007  2:23:00 AM
I have had a look at Marcus Hilton on
Ballroom Competition Figures 2. There is a Turning Lock in both Quickstep and Waltz. Neither of them have Sway to the right. The Sway to the right might be something that has crept in in recent years. And maybe it will go like that near splitz that an Italian introduced a year or two ago in the Tango.
On the Chasse Roll to the Right by Marcus Hilton there is just a slight sway to the left looking at the line of his shoulders. Some people might be excused from thinking that they are watching a Turning Lock, but as we know they start on different feet on beat one.
Re: Spin Sway
Posted by anymouse
5/31/2007  8:28:00 AM
"Turning Lock in both Quickstep and Waltz. Neither of them have Sway to the right."

Two places to look for the sway:

1) As the man passes the lady during the second step of the spin turn action, you will usually see a sway to the right there, because he tends to SWING past her.

2) At the transition between the spin turn and turning lock. Many of the top English teachers refer to the proper body positions at this point as being a "mini oversway" And I use those quotation marks literally!

Incidentally, remember that the primary location of sway is in the HIPS. Inexperienced dancers often create it by collapsing their ribcage so that it shows up as an incline of the shoulders, but on experienced dancers it is in the hips. The shoulders may either incline with the hips, or remain more level than them, depending on preference. So just because you don't see an incline in the shoulders does not mean that there is no sway! Nor does seeing an incline in the shoulders on lower quality dancers necessarily mean that there is - you might simply be seeing broken sides.

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