10 May
2025
10 May
'25
2:24 a.m.
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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802
940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
11 May
11 May
3:57 a.m.
"I suspect that this was more willful ignorance than any actual difficulty
(they're an experienced group, I'm pretty sure they can figure out how to
do the same move they all know already with the other hand, most of them
even dance both roles already"
I think this is unlikely, but one way you could tell would be to call one a
different reversed figure that has no gendered implications and see whether
people also struggle. My guess is that a reversed petronella, swing, or
contra corners would similarly throw people, and so would a ladies/robins
left-hand chain.
Jeff
On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 9:06 AM Jim Thaxter via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
What dancers tend to forget about/not think about/not
realize is that the
two people involved in a chain are doing quite different moves. One is
moving forward and the other backing up. One has to change position and
then change orientation to accommodate the courtesy turn. Each learns their
own role, but generally doesn’t realize what the other person is doing, or
thinks about how they would do that if they were in the other role.
When I teach a chain that is other than a “standard” ladies chain, I go
back to square one, slowly walking through it to make sure they each know
which hand to use, where it should be, which direction they need to be
going to get to the courtesy turn. Those who have never role changed before
grumble a little at first, but most pick it up and even seem to enjoy
experiencing the other role after a few times through.
Jim Thaxter
Columbia, MO
On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM Sam Whited via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I suspect that this was more willful ignorance
than any actual
difficulty (they're an experienced group, I'm pretty sure they can
figure out how to do the same move they all know already with the other
hand, most of them even dance both roles already). It's not up to me to
ruin their fun of course if they just want to do "the traditional way"
for some reason, but I do wonder if just calling it something different,
over time, would get them accustomed to it and then eventually get them
doing it without thinking about it, making the dances more fun for
everyone.
This is one of those places too where I like to joke "new people, I'm
going to need your help teaching the experienced dancers this move".
Since they just do what you tell them and haven't learned the bad habit
of "it must be done this one specific way" yet.
—Sam
On 2025-05-10 08:38, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers wrote:
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
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"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(a)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:
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
> 07802 940 574
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- To
unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to 
10 May
10 May
6:06 a.m.
What dancers tend to forget about/not think about/not realize is that the
two people involved in a chain are doing quite different moves. One is
moving forward and the other backing up. One has to change position and
then change orientation to accommodate the courtesy turn. Each learns their
own role, but generally doesn’t realize what the other person is doing, or
thinks about how they would do that if they were in the other role.
When I teach a chain that is other than a “standard” ladies chain, I go
back to square one, slowly walking through it to make sure they each know
which hand to use, where it should be, which direction they need to be
going to get to the courtesy turn. Those who have never role changed before
grumble a little at first, but most pick it up and even seem to enjoy
experiencing the other role after a few times through.
Jim Thaxter
Columbia, MO
On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM Sam Whited via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
I suspect that this was more willful ignorance than
any actual
difficulty (they're an experienced group, I'm pretty sure they can
figure out how to do the same move they all know already with the other
hand, most of them even dance both roles already). It's not up to me to
ruin their fun of course if they just want to do "the traditional way"
for some reason, but I do wonder if just calling it something different,
over time, would get them accustomed to it and then eventually get them
doing it without thinking about it, making the dances more fun for
everyone.
This is one of those places too where I like to joke "new people, I'm
going to need your help teaching the experienced dancers this move".
Since they just do what you tell them and haven't learned the bad habit
of "it must be done this one specific way" yet.
—Sam
On 2025-05-10 08:38, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers wrote:
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
"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(a)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:
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
> 07802 940 574
>
> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Contra Callers mailing list -- To
unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
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To unsubscribe send an email to 
5:45 a.m.
I suspect that this was more willful ignorance than any actual
difficulty (they're an experienced group, I'm pretty sure they can
figure out how to do the same move they all know already with the other
hand, most of them even dance both roles already). It's not up to me to
ruin their fun of course if they just want to do "the traditional way"
for some reason, but I do wonder if just calling it something different,
over time, would get them accustomed to it and then eventually get them
doing it without thinking about it, making the dances more fun for everyone.
This is one of those places too where I like to joke "new people, I'm
going to need your help teaching the experienced dancers this move".
Since they just do what you tell them and haven't learned the bad habit
of "it must be done this one specific way" yet.
—Sam
On 2025-05-10 08:38, Jeff Kaufman via Contra Callers wrote:
"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(a)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:
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
_______________________________________________
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
5:38 a.m.
"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(a)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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to
contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
--
Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
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To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
5:10 a.m.
Hi Sam,
The list of names I provided was the result of the collective wisdom of these forums. I
hope I covered all the possible names! :-)
Personally, I still say, "Ladies' Chain" for most of my groups. It was
hard work when making the video not to use the word "Lady"!
(Took lots of retakes and edits!)
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Whited via Contra Callers <contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: 10 May 2025 12:26
To: contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: [Callers] Re: Video: Chain Figure - Teaching, Twirling Technique, Open Chain,
North Country Chain
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
4:26 a.m.
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(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362 &
07802 940 574
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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Sam Whited
sam(a)samwhited.com
1
days inactive
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days old
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6 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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Jeff Kaufman -
Jim Thaxter -
John Sweeney -
Sam Whited