Tom Fromm writes:
15. COURTESY TURN: Starting formation -couple, facing dancers. (Limited
at
Mainstream to couples with man on left, woman on right.) The man (left
hand dancer)
takes the lady's (right hand dancer) left hand (palm down) in his left
(palm up) and places
his right hand in the small of the lady's back. Working as a unit, the
couple turns around
with the left hand dancer backing up and right hand dancer walking
forward. Unless
otherwise specified, the couple faces the center of the set or the center
of the formation in
which it is working.
STYLING: Men, the extended left hand serves as a direction indicator and
the man uses
his left hand to lead, not pull. Place the right hand in the small of the
lady's back. Ladies
use the right hand to work the skirt. The call courtesy turn is limited
to turning a woman
on the man's right.
TIMING: 4 steps.
I must have read the definition 50 times, and just now noticed I do
something wrong. I
have the girls put their right hand in the small of their back. I tell
them to only put their
hand where they want the man to put his hand. I was taught that way, and
this entire area
dances it this way. I thought the flow was bad, when chaining over and
back, that second
right hand star was awkward. I shall repair this immediately. Does anyone
else see this in
your area?
When I teach this move, I start by demonstrating first. I will tell
them the name, then my
wife and I will demonstrate the hand hold and positioning. We will walk
around the inside
of the square so the new dancers can see it. A large class will require
demonstrating in the
front of the hall. After we show the position and handhold, I will ask
each of them to do it
with their own partner. I will only have them turn 1/2 way around at
first, and tell them
that everyone will be looking out of the square. I will have them try it
a few times, till they
feel good with it. Then I will tell them that if I don't tell them to do
otherwise, they should
turn till they are facing the center of the square. I will tell the man,
that he will need to
back up as the girl walks forward. I will say that they are pivoting at
the point between
their bodies.
I will start by having the heads pass thru, and do a Courtesy turn.
Then I will Have the
side do the same. This brings me to an AL, or I can do it again and have
them back home.
I will dance them around, so they get a chance to courtesy turn with
everyone of the
opposite sex, in the square. I will use pass thru and courtesy turn, to
set them up later for
R&L Thru. I will also call a Courtesy Turn cold to them, to see how they
do.
writes:
One thing I use in teaching this call is my "prop". It consist of a 3
pound coffee can
filled with small stones. In the middle of the coffee can I place a
broom stick handle. This
becomes my "visual pivot point" for the student to observe as I
demonstrate, with a
partner, the courtesy turn. I point out to them that the broom stick is
always between
myself and my partner. For this to happen the left hand dancer must back
up while the
right hand dancer walks forward.
Jim Penrod