Hand position in MWSD
October 1978)
The formation of CALLERLAB in 1974 established definitions and helped modern square dancing become more standardized. This does not mean that everything fell neatly into place!
The cover illustration from American Square Dance in September 1974 was linked to these comments:
---COVER TALK
September suggests many things to those of us who represent the square dance "community". Square Dance Week. Back to school. The big fall PUSH for new dancers. And this September a special campaign is starting. It's HANDS UP for better dancing. Every caller is being urged to teach the HANDS UP version in classes this fall for ocean waves, swing thrus, spin the tops, and the like. It's a standardization attempt from Callerlab, and it makes good sense.
Let's all encourage it for new and experienced dancers alike.
HANDS UP for fall fun, for better dancing, and a unanimous vote for consistent dance styles.
---
Clearly, there was not widespread agreement. The 1978 article (see Additional Files) discusses regional variations for handholds in various figures and argues again for the "hands up" position in most cases.
See the Item Relations for a discussion of the controversy around Docey-doe / Do Paso / Do-si-do / Dos a Dos and how that was resolved.
Subjects: Modern Western / Mainstream
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: Dosido / Docey-Doe / Do Paso |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Docey-doe / Do Paso agreement |
| Item: How Do They Swing? | is related to | This Item |
Additional Files
Citation
Dublin Core
Title
Subject
Description
The formation of CALLERLAB in 1974 established definitions and helped modern square dancing become more standardized. This does not mean that everything fell neatly into place!
The cover illustration from American Square Dance in September 1974 was linked to these comments:
---COVER TALK
September suggests many things to those of us who represent the square dance "community". Square Dance Week. Back to school. The big fall PUSH for new dancers. And this September a special campaign is starting. It's HANDS UP for better dancing. Every caller is being urged to teach the HANDS UP version in classes this fall for ocean waves, swing thrus, spin the tops, and the like. It's a standardization attempt from Callerlab, and it makes good sense.
Let's all encourage it for new and experienced dancers alike.
HANDS UP for fall fun, for better dancing, and a unanimous vote for consistent dance styles.
---
Clearly, there was not widespread agreement. The 1978 article (see Additional Files) discusses regional variations for handholds in various figures and argues again for the "hands up" position in most cases.
See the Item Relations for a discussion of the controversy around Docey-doe / Do Paso / Do-si-do / Dos a Dos and how that was resolved.
Creator
Source
American Square Dance, Vol. 33 No. 10, pp. 40, 69
Date Created
October 1978