Talk:Connection (dance)

Previous page contact was more a discussion of open & closed body positions, so I moved some of it to open position and closed position and frame. But both were misleading: the described positions were specific to certain styles of swing dance. As described, the open position discussion only applies if the partners have a similar height.

As well, the previous author mentioned that high pressure signals a move. Only movement signals a move. Force (perhaps very subtle) is required for movement, but significant pressure may be applied without movement, especially in modern day Lindy Hop or Blues.

-- User:Bryan_Larsen Nov 01, 2003

Not all dances are the same ! I've generalised it, as others have done - in Modern Jive (similar to a 4-Beat Hustle?), we generally obey Newton's Laws of Motion for smoothness ! We (esp. the follow) move according to the applied forces. That's a consequence of power-lead-and-follow connection, as opposed to signal-and-response connection (Ooh - that's another distinction worth making on the page ...). I also generalised an existing assumption that tension=rigidity. A frame can have tension and still be elastic. Tension is not the same as being tense ! (Google "define:tension" gives 'latent hostility' first ! )

Maybe there is a subtle American/English language difference ? Some people use 'Compression' to mean 'moving inwards' (flexion) instead of 'a pushing force' - but I don't think anyone uses 'tension' to mean 'moving outwards' (extension) instead of 'a pulling force'. I have seen 'Tone' used instead of 'Tension' ... and 'leverage' instead of ' compression tension', but that's very misleading. In Physics, 'leverage' involves forces acting at two different distances from a pivot/fulcrum ! The word could be more useful in that sense even in dancing - you get more leverage turning someone by her extended hand than by turning her by her waist (even with the same tension!).

('Force' is another ambiguous word - to some (eg Martial Arts) people it means 'violence', in Physics the weight of a feather is force !)

--195.137.93.171 07:52, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Syntax
This page involves a great number of syntax errors. It needs to be edited by someone who knows the subject and also has the requisite editing skills. --

Is the anonymous statement above still true ? The syntax looks good to me, and I'm quite fussy. Just fix syntax/grammar/unambiguous-spelling errors - no need to discuss ? --195.137.93.171 07:30, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Delete Open/Closed Details ?
In closed position with body contact, connection is achieved by maintaining a frame, a stable structural combination of both bodies maintained through the dancers' arms and/or legs. The follow moves to match the lead, maintaining the pressure between the two bodies as well as the position.

In an open position or a closed position without body contact, the hands and arms alone provide the connection, which may be one of three forms: tension, compression or neutral.

This seems horribly confused to me.

Connection occurs in both open and closed dance positions (also called "open frame" and "closed frame").

Connection is achieved by maintaining a frame, a stable structural combination of both bodies maintained through the dancers' arms and/or legs. The follow moves to match the lead, maintaining the pressure between the two bodies as well as the position.

The connection may be one of three forms: tension, compression or neutral. seems better - 'open position' and 'closed position' are now linked - and on the 'frame' link page.

--195.137.93.171 08:35, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps my question is best asked here (and maybe not). I have tried to read through this article as well as the ones on open position and closed position. What is the consensus about dancing in promenade position (side-by-side)? Is this open or is this closed? I do not see that this is addressed on either of these two pages. I would like some direction here as I am trying to improve the article about Promenade (dance move) and I cannot avoid making some general comments about the promenade position. Sfdan 12:04, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

-- seems to depend on body contact, not direction of facing ... promenade could be either ? Promenade position implies International Standard / American Smooth are closed - Ballroom, Latin / Rhythm, Lindy usually open, Square and line dancing, Country/Western open except probably closed in cuddle/wrap. But I wouldn't call that a consensus ! 195.137.93.171 07:30, 20 August 2007 (UTC)