"When trying a chain left with a group of experienced dancers recently I got a lot of grumbling about how 'difficult' things were, which seems silly, maybe I should start trying to normalize 'this is just like any other move, sometimes you'll go one direction, sometimes the other' "

There are a lot of moves we usually do in one direction, from "almost always" (circle left, dosido) to "very nearly 100% of the time" (petronella, contra corners, swing).  I see chains as in between these two groups: left hand chains are less common than circle right but more common than left hand contra corners.  But I don't see something fundamentally silly about having moves that are only done in one orientation, at which point it's not surprising that the mirror version would be difficult.

Jeff

On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM Sam Whited via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
On a slightly tangential note, I've called this a "chain" or a "[right
hand role term at this dance] chain", but I kind of like the idea of
saying "chain by the right" instead to normalize that it could be in
either direction. When trying a chain left with a group of experienced
dancers recently I got a lot of grumbling about how "difficult" things
were, which seems silly, maybe I should start trying to normalize "this
is just like any other move, sometimes you'll go one direction,
sometimes the other".

—Sam

On 2025-05-10 05:24, John Sweeney via Contra Callers wrote:
>
> This video demonstrates the standard Chain Figure and how to do it well.
>
> We also teach you good technique for adding twirls, and variants such
> as the Open Chain and the North Country Chain.
>
> While it is traditionally known as a Ladies' Chain, it is also known
> as a Second Corner Chain, a Robins' Chain, a Right-Hand Chain, Chain
> by the Right, Chain Across or just Chain.
>
> I hope you enjoy the video and find it useful!
>
> https://youtu.be/dS8LxpVHB3M
>
>          Happy dancing,
>
> John
>
> John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
> 07802 940 574
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
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--
Sam Whited
sam@samwhited.com
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